• The Four Hundred
  • Subscribe
  • Media Kit
  • Contributors
  • About Us
  • Contact
Menu
  • The Four Hundred
  • Subscribe
  • Media Kit
  • Contributors
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Quadrant Adds a Slew of Updates to Forms Software

    July 21, 2009 Alex Woodie

    Quadrant Software added a number of new capabilities with Formtastic version 5.4.3, which was recently unveiled. The new release brings close integration with Infor XA (MAPICS) and the capability to automatically e-mail XA-generated spool files as PDF files. This release brings a number of other useful enhancements, including support for the 4-State barcode, new auto-merge functions, better duplex printing, new e-mail APIs, and improvements to the signature capture module.

    Formtastic is a suite of software products that make spool file output from i OS applications more attractive and more flexible. The suite includes a Windows-based form design tool, templates for specific documents such as tax forms or MICR checks, a runtime engine that merges i OS spool files with pre-defined templates, e-mail and fax add-ons, signature capture, and archiving modules.

    Quadrant worked closely with developers at i OS ERP giant Infor to ensure the integration between Formtastic and ERP XA. As the result of that work, XA R7 and R7.8 users who install a certain PTF (SH84792) gain the new capability to automatically create and e-mail XA output as PDF files. Thanks to the integration work, all of this is handled automatically behind the scenes. All the XA users have to do to obtain this capability is download the PTF.

    Infor XA customers aren’t the only ones to benefit from Formtastic version 5.4.3. This release also brings support for the new “intelligent mail” barcode from the United States Postal Service, also known as the 4-State barcode. The new barcode stores more data by varying the height and position of vertical marks in a two-dimensional barcode. Companies can save on postage by using the 4-State barcode.

    This release also brings enhancements to Formatter, one of the add-ons to the Formtastic suite. This release introduces a new offline mode for Formatter’s editor, allowing customers to create and design templates even when they’re not connected to the Power Systems (i5) server. This release also brings a new auto save function to help reduce the chances of losing changes.

    Formtastic’s duplex printing has been enhanced with the introduction of support for the dynamic merging of form data. Quadrant says users can now use the same information on the front and back of their documents, or dynamically set up different information to be merged on the back of their forms or checks. This makes it easier to include items such as disclaimers, warranty information, or confidentiality statements on the front or the back of a document, according to Quadrant.

    Customers using Formtastic’s PDF module can now save multiple copies of newly merged PDF documents in up to five different places. This will make it easier to keep an archive of generated documents. Also, changes have been made to Formtastic start-up procedures. With this release, the auto merge function is automatically readied when Formtastic starts up. Customers can specify certain auto-merges to load automatically, or to activate all of them at start-up.

    Quadrant has also bolstered the product’s e-mail capabilities. With this release, Formtastic can automatically e-mail an i OS spool file as an attachment immediately after it has been merged with a form. Also, new API commands give Formtastic users more control over the e-mail subject line and the file names of attachments.

    Last but not least are the enhancements to Formtastic’s signature (or image) capture module. With this release, users gain the capability to add a batch of images dynamically to a merged form. This could allow, for example, a purchase order to include sketches of the materials ordered, a pick list to include images of specific parts to pick, or an invoice including a diagram of the goods purchased, according to Quadrant. Images are supported in the JPG format, and file names can be up to 64 characters.

    Formtastic 5.4.3 is available immediately. Formtastic customers on previous releases will gain significant advantages when upgrading to the latest 5.4.3 release. The upgrade is free for customers currently enrolled in the maintenance program.

    RELATED STORIES

    Formtastic Gains More Flexibility in Managing i OS Output

    Quadrant’s Formtastic Keeps Closer Watch on Print Jobs

    Quadrant Updates Forms Package, Content Management System

    Quadrant Boosts IntelliChief Integration with Formtastic 5.3.3



                         Post this story to del.icio.us
                   Post this story to Digg
        Post this story to Slashdot

    Share this:

    • Reddit
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Tags:

    Sponsored by
    ARCAD Software

    Embrace VS Code for IBM i Development

    The IBM i development landscape is evolving with modern tools that enhance efficiency and collaboration. Ready to make the move to VS Code for IBM i?

    Watch this webinar where we showcase how VS Code can serve as a powerful editor for native IBM i code and explore the essential extensions that make it possible.

    In this session, you’ll discover:

    • How ARCAD’s integration with VS Code provides deep metadata insights, allowing developers to assess the impact of their changes upfront.
    • The role of Git in enabling seamless collaboration between developers using tools like SEU, RDi, and VS Code.
    • Powerful extensions for code quality, security, impact analysis, smart build, and automated RPG conversion to Free Form.
    • How non-IBM i developers can now contribute to IBM i projects without prior knowledge of its specifics, while ensuring full control over their changes.

    The future of IBM i development is here. Let ARCAD be your guide!

    Watch the replay now!

    Share this:

    • Reddit
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Sponsored Links

    Profound Logic Software:  Tune in to Profound Logic TV for FREE educational videos and tips
    Maximum Availability:  *noMAX - Subscription edition now available (US & UK)
    COMMON:  Celebrate our 50th anniversary at annual conference, May 2 - 6, 2010, in Orlando

    IT Jungle Store Top Book Picks

    Easy Steps to Internet Programming for AS/400, iSeries, and System i: List Price, $49.95
    The iSeries Express Web Implementer's Guide: List Price, $49.95
    The System i RPG & RPG IV Tutorial and Lab Exercises: List Price, $59.95
    The System i Pocket RPG & RPG IV Guide: List Price, $69.95
    The iSeries Pocket Database Guide: List Price, $59.00
    The iSeries Pocket SQL Guide: List Price, $59.00
    The iSeries Pocket Query Guide: List Price, $49.00
    The iSeries Pocket WebFacing Primer: List Price, $39.00
    Migrating to WebSphere Express for iSeries: List Price, $49.00
    Getting Started With WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries: List Price, $89.00
    Getting Started with WebSphere Express for iSeries: List Price, $49.00
    Can the AS/400 Survive IBM?: List Price, $49.00
    Chip Wars: List Price, $29.95

    Pat Townsend Secure with New President Circumventing Two Limitations of CPYTOIMPF

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Volume 9, Number 28 -- July 21, 2009
THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY:

looksoftware
Help/Systems
Maximum Availability
Linoma Software
Tri-Delta Resources

Table of Contents

  • IBM Kills Secure Perspectives Tool
  • Bicycle Seller Rolls with Electronic Vaulting Backup and DR from UCG
  • JDA Shares Plans for E3 Fulfillment Products
  • Quadrant Adds a Slew of Updates to Forms Software
  • Kisco Gives i OS Auditing Tool a Web Makeover
  • CCSS Adds Syslog Support to QMessage Monitor
  • i OS Security Vendors Tap nuBridges for Encryption and Tokenization
  • Rimini Street Gets Equity Investment from Adams Street
  • Zobrist Offers Search-Friendly URLs for WebSphere Commerce
  • AIG-Israel Taps Raz-Lee for i OS Security Tool

Content archive

  • The Four Hundred
  • Four Hundred Stuff
  • Four Hundred Guru

Recent Posts

  • POWERUp 2025 –Your Source For IBM i 7.6 Information
  • Maxava Consulting Services Does More Than HA/DR Project Management – A Lot More
  • Guru: Creating An SQL Stored Procedure That Returns A Result Set
  • As I See It: At Any Cost
  • IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 27, Number 19
  • IBM Unveils Manzan, A New Open Source Event Monitor For IBM i
  • Say Goodbye To Downtime: Update Your Database Without Taking Your Business Offline
  • i-Rays Brings Observability To IBM i Performance Problems
  • Another Non-TR “Technology Refresh” Happens With IBM i TR6
  • IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 27, Number 18

Subscribe

To get news from IT Jungle sent to your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Four Hundred Monitor
  • IBM i PTF Guide
  • Media Kit
  • Subscribe

Search

Copyright © 2025 IT Jungle