• HiT Software Feeds IBM i Data into Microsoft LightSwitch

  July 30, 2013 Alex Woodie

  Organizations that are using Microsoft‘s lightweight LightSwitch development environment can feed data from IBM i servers into their LightSwitch applications using the latest version of HiT Software Ritmo/i. Version 6 of the tool also adds support for Microsoft’s Entity Framework (EF) object-relational mapper for .NET using native IBM i protocols, the company says. Microsoft LightSwitch is a template-based, model-driven development environment that was first released by Microsoft in 2011. The software is intended to be used by non-technical Windows users who need to quickly generate database-powered, three-tier applications that feature modern Web interfaces. Users get started with LightSwitch by

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• Infor M3 13.1–the Last Big Release for Some Time

  July 30, 2013 Alex Woodie

  Infor is calling the newly released M3 13.1 the biggest new version of the ERP system in more than a decade. And with more than 500 new features across functional areas, as well as the Infor 10x GUI treatment, that certainly appears to be the case. But going forward, Infor plans to move away from the “big bang” approach, and toward a more rapid fire, service-pack approach, much like IBM has done with IBM i 7.1. Infor M3 13.1 is the first major new version of the Java-based ERP suite since version 10.1 shipped in 2010, which was preceded by

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• Computer Keyes Launches Automated Two-Way Communications from IFS

  July 30, 2013 Dan Burger

  Companies that are building mobile access to an IBM i-based system take note. Automated communications with access to documents on the IFS could help increase user self-service and reduce inefficiencies in workflow processes. Think of it as a strategy that includes registered users and limited access, much like you experience with online banking. Downloading and uploading information to and from an IBM i system is now available using kLink from Computer Keyes. Just two months ago, Computer Keyes introduced kLink, software that accesses IFS files from any Web browser, including those running on mobile devices. However, it was limited

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• BlueFountain Delivers a Modern Looking WMS for IBM i

  July 30, 2013 Alex Woodie

  Logistics companies that want to move beyond the green-screen experience with their warehouse management systems (WMS) may want to take a look at BlueFountain Technologies. The Alabama company says its RPG-based BlueFountain Logistics (BFL) package has a native Web interface that will make it easier to train the Facebook and Twitter generation to use and become proficient with the software. As a programming and business consultant for supply chain technologies, BlueFountain Technologies co-founder Doug Ross has seen a lot of warehouses and a lot of WMS software. Many of these packages, such as the venerable PkMS from his former

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• Automatically Answering IBM i Unable To Allocate Record Messages

  July 24, 2013 Hey, Joe

  We have a persistent problem with application jobs waiting on record locks with an RNQ1218 (unable to allocate a record in file &7) message. The record is only temporarily locked because by the time my help desk looks at it, the lock is gone and the program resumes after answering the message with an ‘R’ (Retry). Any ideas what we can do so we’re not constantly answering record lock messages? –Bob In your case, the first thing is to determine why a constantly needed record is always being locked and to devise a fix. This could be a case where

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• Value An Expression? *YES!

  July 24, 2013 Ted Holt

  I find it ironic that the most commonly used CL command suffers from an annoying (if not aggravating) limitation that does not afflict many less-used commands. Fortunately, the commands you and I write do not have to have this limitation. The command to which I refer is CALL. The limitation is that the parameters must be literals or variables, never expressions. To see what I mean, look at this CALL command. call somepgm parm(%sst(&Data 5 4)) Doesn’t that make sense to you? The first parameter consists of bytes 5 through 8 of a variable named &DATA. The compiler complains, expressing

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• Control The Flow Of Stored Procedure Result Sets

  July 24, 2013 Hey, Mike

  I have an RPG program (defined as an SQL external stored procedure) that returns a data structure array as a result set. When this procedure is called from iNavigator, I can see the result set. But in our .NET client/server environment, the result set is not returned to the .NET program. Further, the .NET program first calls a “setup” stored procedure that establishes the library list and general environment settings. Thereafter this “setup” procedure calls the RPG program that returns the result set. The RPG program runs upon request from the .NET world but no result set is returned. –B.C.

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• Working Vacations On The Rise For Americans

  July 22, 2013 Jenny Thomas

  Vacations are supposed to be a time to get away from it all to recharge your body and mind. But before you head out, don’t forget you won’t be the only one in need of recharging and grab all your cords and wires since all of your electronic devices will need to power up, too. According to a new survey by TeamViewer, a provider of remote control and online meetings software, the definition of “vacation” continues to be redefined for a growing number of Americans. In fact, 61 percent of employed Americans polled by TeamViewer say they will work

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• Cloudy Software Jump Saves SAP’s Second Quarter

  July 22, 2013 Timothy Prickett Morgan

  German software giant SAP has turned in a mixed second quarter, and as it turns out, the mix was just right. Between perpetual software license sales and cloud-style subscriptions, that is. In the quarter ended in June, SAP’s software license sales took a 7 percent dive to €982 million, which would be pretty bad news under normal circumstances. However, its cloud software subscription sales exploded by 206 percent (that means more than tripled) to €159 million, saving the day. Add it all up, and software license and cloud subscription sales together rose by 3 percent to €1.14 billion, and at

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• App Supporter Rimini Street Posts Another Record Quarter

  July 22, 2013 Dan Burger

  Third-party maintenance and support contracts seem to be a good alternative for companies feeling the pointy stick from the likes of Oracle and SAP. The popularity of that choice is readily apparent. For instance, Rimini Street, a third-party provider, just announced another record-breaking second quarter, noting 57 new client transactions and a 165 percent increase in new sales. This isn’t the first time Rimini has reported impressive increases in its business. It is the 13th consecutive quarter of financial gains. Its total invoicing for the second quarter of 2013 totaled $15.7 million, which it pegs as a 64

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