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ProData Introduces ProTools Utility Suite
by Dan Burger
Everybody has his favorite tools. The right tool gets a job done quicker and with fewer hassles. Some
people get by with only a few tools and others have a special tool for every conceivable task. Over the
years, ProData Computer Services has come
up with an assortment of handy utilities for those who "bust their knuckles," to borrow a mechanics term,
working on the iSeries and AS/400.
Because OS/400 programmers love tools, ProData has packaged all of its utilities and announced that the
whole kit and caboodle is now available for $495. ProData calls it the ProTools Utility Suite. You could
call it your first-aid kit, because the contents will likely prevent headaches and relieve stress. Most of the
ProTools utilities will find their way into daily use, especially if you work on a small team of application
developers. (You say you are a team of one? Perfect!)
It surprised me to find that the source code for each of the tools in the ProTools suite is included in this
package. So users can not only gain the functionality of each tool but also use the code to create
functionality that can be integrated into other processes.
As you review the suite of tools, you'll find a file-based menu system, an e-mail message system, a zip/unzip
file utility, and a program/file cross-reference tool.
The file-based menu system stores all menu options in a physical file, so there is nothing to create or
compile. It consistently executes the functions in the same manner for each menu system required. With the
e-mail message system, users can send e-mail messages from a traditional green-screen command line or
from a batch or interactive program. Users can also compress and uncompress stream files and send them as
attachments in their e-mail messages. The program/file cross-reference is particularly useful in system
analysis research. It provides programmers with the capability to discover which programs are accessing
which files.
The package also includes utilities for scanning message files, executing CL source, and sorting files.
Because message files can be difficult to maintain, the scan message file tool allows messages to be filtered
in order to be examined for specific phrases, words, or even partial words, within message text. The execute
CL source tool provides the capability to create and run a job stream or a series of CL commands.
Programmers doing database analysis during development are the most likely users of the sort file tool.
A few of the other utilities in this package are: display member, indent CL source, save/restore library list,
save/restore local data area, send user break message, view PC document, work with group jobs, and
interrupt job.
For more information on ProTools, contact Shelli Peck at speck@prodatacomputer.com. ProData Computer
Services is a long-time iSeries and AS/400 software vendor based in Omaha, Nebraska.
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