June 1996

• In This Issue -
• Industry Report -
• Impromptu 3.0 - Roger Pence reviews Cognos, Inc.'s Windows-based query and reporting product, which provides good data dictionary support, strong graphical output capabilities, and numerous security and administrative features.
• Nirvana 3.0 - Roger Pence reviews Synergy Technologies' Windows-based query, reporting, and charting tool, which connects to the AS/400 via APPC.
• Select! Professional 5.1 - Roger Pence reviews Attachmate's 16-bit Windows query and reporting product, which, although lacking in modern interface features, offers the handy ability to direct query results from one data source to another.
• Spooled File Manager/400 - Chuck Lundgren reviews TCS' Spooled File Manager/400, a Windows-based utility that simplifies downloading AS/400 spooled files to a PC and provides an easy-to-navigate user interface but is somewhat slow.
• Year 2000: The Clock Is Ticking - Although the Year 2000 problem isn't difficult to understand, it will be difficult to find and fix all the affected fields, files, and programs. However, these project management and coding tips from Dave Sheridan can help you defuse your century-date time bomb in time for the next millennium.
• Taronga Zoo Explores SAP R/3 for the AS/400 - SAP R/3 makes its debut on the AS/400 this month. This Australian zoo, which was one of five pilot sites for the AS/400 launch, tells how the client/server application suite is supporting its conservation efforts.
• Using AS/400 Report Data in Your Windows Apps - Chuck Lundgren surveys the Windows-based applications that let you download AS/400 reports to a PC and extract AS/400 report data into PC applications, such as spreadsheets and databases. Article includes a Buyers Guide.
• Users Harvest AS/400 Report Data with Monarch 2.0 - Scott Steinacher describes how his company, General Instrument Corporation's Power Semiconductor Division, uses Datawatch's Monarch 2.0 to create custom reports by extracting and analyzing data downloaded from AS/400 spooled files.
• Is It Just Me. . .? The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Programmers - Roger Pence provides some light-hearted advice about how to become a highly effective programmer.