Implementing field-level database encryption on the IBM i server is about to get a whole lot easier, according to the folks at Townsend Security Solutions. The company today is announcing the general availability of AES/400 version 6, which adds new features that automate the implementation of encryption and decryption processes with DB2/400 data using the so-called “field procedure” function that was released with IBM i 7.1.

Implementing field- or column-level encryption on DB2/400 was a long and painful task prior to the release of the FIELDPROC exit point with IBM i 7.1 a year ago. Due to intricacies of

RPG programmers often have to deal with cobwebs and skeletons in the closet. Their companies have them locked away doing maintenance work on legacy code. Days are filled with routine tasks to keep applications up and running and repairing breaks in code when things go wrong. Frequently their knowledge and skills are vastly underutilized. At the Harry Fox Agency (HFA), a couple of IT managers decided the RPG resources were far too great to squander.

The development team at the nation’s leading provider of rights management, licensing and royalty services for the music industry rose to the occasion when the

InterForm A/S is getting a big chance to show its chops in the U.S. market for output management software as the result of an expanded partnership with ERP giant Infor. The deal involves replacing an outdated and unsupported output management system that’s installed with one of Infor’s IBM i-based applications.

While InterForm isn’t well known in the United States and Canada, its software–which is marketed in North America under the name ArtForm for copyright reasons–is actually used fairly extensively. InterForm COO Peter Sørensen chalks up a large part of that success to InterForm’s 25-year history developing output management software

Halcyon Software is using this week’s COMMON conference to launch several new products and updates to existing ones. Among the new offerings is the Advanced Reporting Suite, which tracks the performance of IBM i and Windows servers and allows administrators to keep on top of service level agreements (SLAs). The British company also unveiled a new iPad interface for its core operations system console, bolstered the performance of its Spool File Manager, and released Snapshot version 11.

The new Advanced Reporting Suite is a Windows-based tool that tracks the performance of IBM i and Windows server environments. The product covers

Nearly 100 IBM i vendors will be displaying their wares in the exposition portion of this week’s COMMON conference in Minneapolis. For some attendees, the expo is a place to learn about the latest IBM i solutions from the vendors themselves. For others, the vendor booths represent an excellent opportunity to stock up on free pens, toys, squeakers, jumpy things, and of course food. This year, many vendors will be giving away high-end devices, like iPads and Kindles, which is sure to attract the attendees.

No fewer than four vendors contacted by IT Jungle confirmed they will be holding drawings

Building on its existing partnership with JDA Software Group, IntelliChief has enhanced its content management system based on tighter integration with JDA’s i OS-based Merchandise Management System (MMS). This latest development brings JDA users electronic document management capabilities directly from their MMS screens–adding convenience and increased efficiency to processes like invoice routing, approvals, and paperwork filing.

IntelliChief vice president of sales and marketing Michael Rooney said in a statement the improvements in integration and implementation is expected to result in more JDA users converting from paper-based to digital-based systems. Rooney cited the capability to search and retrieve documents directly

Infor is consolidating its various ERP suites for the distribution industry to two main products, the company announced recently. The IBM i platform will be represented with Infor Distribution Enterprise i, which is based on the A+ product that Infor obtained with its 2004 acquisition of daly.commerce. Eventually, the company will merge the two distribution ERP suites to a single product with a common code base.

Infor chief strategy officer Bruce Richardson discussed the future of the company’s ERP development strategy in a recent posting on his blog, The View From Inside. According to Richardson, the company is currently

VAI has signed Maryland-based BDK to become its latest reseller for the IBM i-based ERP suite, S2K, the companies announced last week. BDK cited S2K’s support of the Apple iPad as one of the reasons for choosing VAI.

BDK was founded by Bruce Kimball in 1999 as a reseller of IBM AS/400 servers and related offerings. Today, BDK sells Power Systems and storage gear through the Avnet sales channel. It also sells Lenovo PCs and laptops and Cisco networking gear, and provides software and consulting for Microsoft Windows, VMware, Lotus Notes/Domino, Vision Solutions, and LANSA.

The capability

The folks at Motorola Solutions device that retailers commonly use as a price scanner store into a fixed kiosk-based scanner that plays a key role in the tractor company’s Kanban inventory control system.

Since IMCORP installed the RF system at Kubota’s U.S. manufacturing facility in northern Georgia year ago, the vendor had a lot of familiarity with Kubota’s technology and processes, which includes IBM i applications and servers. So when Kubota began inquiring as to a solution that could streamline the restocking procedures for small parts and miscellaneous hardware, the vendor was well-prepared to suggest a solution.

Previously, when supplies

IBM i business intelligence software developer SEQUEL Software has joined IBM‘s successful Solution Edition program, the company announced last week. The move is expected to help the Help/Systems subsidiary sell more software, while helping IBM to move Power Systems hardware.

The IBM i Solution Edition program was launched last summer to make it easier and less expensive for customers to acquire and deploy the combination of IBM i software and Power Systems iron. IBM says the program saves customers up to 35 percent off the cost of buying the hardware and software separately. With a starting price of $6,500,