May 2005

• Industry Observer - Check out these resources for information about the government's security report card, the XQuery standard, the current state of WLAN, and the deployment of municipal-sponsored wireless networks.
• Accessing Hierarchical Files with Primary and Foreign Keys - Unique keys for every file can quickly turn your database into a management nightmare. Use this "auto-increment" method to bring everything together under one naming structure and simplify file access.
• RPG and the IFS: Getting Information About Your Files - In this fifth article in the "RPG and the IFS" series, Scott shows you some ways that you can obtain information about the files in the IFS and change those files' attributes.
• Fitting Forms to Their Purposes - Forms management products today need to let end users generate electronic and paper forms, including secure checks, without programmer help. Elite Document Solutions' eliteFORM product typifies this kind of flexibility.
• f.y.iSeries -
• Understanding and Implementing DB2 UDB Encryption - The DB2 UDB encryption functions in V5R3 provide another layer of protection around DB2 columns containing sensitive data. Learn how to use these functions to secure your sensitive business data.
• Replacing a DDS Physical File with an SQL Table - Here's a step-by-step plan for replacing a physical file with an SQL table and handling the associated logical files and access paths -- without requiring your HLL apps to be modified or recompiled.
• Dr. I Doctor - Dr. I Doctor explains the best way to set up a video conferencing device and discusses the importance of diverse secondary DNS servers.
• Debugging Programs in WDSc - WDSc's debugging tools may be one of its strongest features for RPG programmers. In fact, once you get that first breakpoint hit and see how easy it is to debug in WDSc, you won't want to go back to green-screen debugging!
• Database Harmony: "Traditional" and SQL Coexistence - SQL should be the ultimate goal for iSeries shops that want to use the iSeries database to its maximum ability. Learn the most effective approach to transitioning, including taking advantage of SQL and traditional database coexistence along the way.
• Feedback -
• Tech Corner -
• 400 Is Old - IBM's Initiative for Innovation is a long-term strategy for bringing modern solutions to the iSeries. But the company may be a couple of years late.
• Solutions that Download iSeries Data to MS Excel - User requirements for the ability to download data into Microsoft Excel from databases, reports, and other iSeries sources are increasing. If you don't have time to build your own utility to accomplish this, one of these 36 products that can already do it may help you.
• IBM Announcements -
• Taking Single Sign-on for a Spin - Use this guide to configure Single Sign-on for your Management Central servers and you will never again have to synchronize your user profiles and passwords across multiple systems. Plus, gain a fuller understanding of what Single Sign-on really is, how it can be used, and how powerful it really is.
• Performance Comparison of DDS-Defined Files and SQL-Defined Files - There are many reasons to use SQL DDL rather than DDS to define your database files. But the most important may be performance. For many situations, access is faster for files defined with SQL DDL than with DDS.
• Sorting List Entries with QLGSORT - With QLGSORT, you can sort on multiple positions, data types, and ascending or descending sequences all without having to manually move any data. What's more, you can use it with output from a list API to sort user space entries before presentation.
• The Wi-Fi Time Bomb - Wi-Fi is wonderful, but it's so hard to deploy securely that many network administrators are simply ignoring security and deploying easily hacked networks. The result is a ticking time bomb of trouble for enterprises everywhere.
• FAQs: iSeries Access Family -
• The Five Absolutes to ERP Implementation - Because an ERP system serves as the central nervous system of an enterprise, a successful implementation is critical. Here are the five absolute musts for a successful ERP implementation effort.
• Checking Out the Wallpaper - Today's document-management solutions can save money and make back their purchase price in short order, but those virtues aren't always obvious.
• That Slamming Sound - A worldwide outbreak of laptop abuse has news anchorman Wolf Blitzen guessing about the root cause.
• Navigating the Blogosphere - The number of Internet blogs has exploded, with tens of thousands being created daily, many of which are used for business purposes. But to deal with blogs effectively, IT professionals must understand what blogs are and how they can affect your company.
• The Fall (and Rise?) of iSeries Education, Part 2 - The current state of iSeries education in community colleges, technical colleges, and universities isn't a pretty picture. Ultimately, the programs that survive are the ones that can fill seats and provide job placements for graduates.
• Hot New Products -
• The Essential Guide to Free-Format RPG - Say goodbye to unforgiving C-specs. This guide introduces you to the leaner, cleaner world of free-format RPG and helps you through the transition from RPG IV.