e-Commerce

EXTOL Presents Bundled EDI Solution for SMBs

EXTOL International, Inc., announces the EXTOL EDI Appliance. The new offering is optimized for small and medium businesses that have limited IT resources to support EDI or supply chain participation.

The EXTOL EDI Appliance, based on the System i Express model 515, provides all software applications needed for EDI participation, coupled with scalable EDI processing capability and flexible implementation. The bundled hardware/software offering is a ready-to-use package that includes facilities for transaction management, partner enablement, intercompany communications, application integration between partners, and internal databases. Because the applications are located behind a firewall, it enables integration with existing applications. This appliance provides preconfigured transaction sets and communications, AS2 support, VAN functionality, predefined reports, user view features for business departments, and automated notifications.

Businesses can take advantage of EXTOL Managed Services to deploy or operate their EDI operations but later change to internally managed EDI when needed.
EXTOL International, Inc. 201-847-1200. extol.com.

Application Software

CYBRA Announces Native System i RFID Control Software

CYBRA Corporation presents EdgeMagic, an integrated RFID control software application for System i. EdgeMagic integrates with System i enterprise resource planning (ERP) and warehouse management applications and is designed to manage edge devices and read RFID tags.

EdgeMagic controls fixed and handheld RFID readers, light stacks, sensors, diverters, and other edge devices. The software includes RFID Tag commissioning and a print engine that supports a variety of RFID smart label printers and printer applicators.

EdgeMagic also includes an EPCGlobal Application Level Event-compliant interface to filter raw RFID information for ERP and WMS applications. The software can manage pallet and case relationships to retain the integrity of transport units with load units. EdgeMagic retrieves item, pack, and order information from Vormittag Associates' S2K and J.D. Edwards software.
CYBRA Corporation. 914-963-6600. cybra.com.

Database

Centerfield Technology Introduces Autonomic DB2 Optimizer

Centerfield Technology announces AutoDBA, an autonomic database assistant component for HomeRun, the company's database performance-tuning suite for System i. Designed to optimize DB2 for i5/OS, AutoDBA provides expert DB2 advice and optional automated implementation of that advice to help system managers make RPG programs using SQL and ad hoc SQL queries that process large amounts of data perform more efficiently. The advice consolidates thousands of pages of DB2 documentation detailing best practices for optimizing database tables, indexes, and program access. AutoDBA also graphically shows prioritized advice and includes granular policy controls, full audit support, and the capability to undo all changes.
Centerfield Technology. 507-287-8119. centerfieldtechnology.com.

Document Management

Ricoh Software Facilitates AFP/IPDS Printing

Ricoh Americas Corporation releases RA2K Integration, a print-control solution that works with IPDS on System i and System z. With the product, customers can print laser-quality copies and access standard finishing and paper-size options without additional programming.

The RA2K Integration resides directly on the Ricoh print device's hard drive and lets users receive AFP/IPDS print jobs in native formats directly from their servers.

The software can accommodate both standard network print jobs and AFP/IPDS. Users can select input and output trays, three-hole punch documents, duplex, staple, and print documents edge to edge. The solution also supports print elements created for standard Windows environments, including TrueType fonts, JPEGs, and GIF graphics.
Ricoh Americas Corporation. 800-742-6438. ricoh-usa.com.

Programmer Tools

LANSA Upgrades App Modernization Tool

LANSA updates RAMP, a development tool that enables users to prototype a new System i browser or rich-client business application and plug in portions of existing applications or add new functionality in self-paced stages. With this upgrade, end users can open and control multiple application framework windows at the same time. Users can also create personalized favorites folders and replace 5250 screens with screen wrappers, graphical components that provide a fully functional and extendable user interface, without requiring changes to server-side code.
LANSA. 630-874-7190. lansa.com.

Services

Lawson Delivers Managed Hosting for Enterprise Applications

Lawson Software provides Lawson Total Care Platinum, a managed-hosting solution that builds on the existing Lawson Total Care solution, the company's tiered maintenance and support program. Total Care Platinum lays the groundwork for Lawson to offer its products on an optional software-as-a-service basis by providing the application and technical expertise needed to maintain and optimize Lawson applications, many of which are compatible with System i, throughout a customer's life cycle. The program also handles tasks such as corrections, fixes, and custom modifications to installed Lawson applications, which previously had to be done by the customer's IT organization.
Lawson Software. 800-477-1357. lawson.com.

Application Software

Oracle Improves JDE ERP Suite

Oracle Corporation announced the general availability of Oracle's J.D. Edwards World A9.1, an upgrade of the J.D. Edwards enterprise resource planning application that delivers more than 1,250 enhancements. Key changes improve the product's upgrade-installation process tools to make the upgrade process smoother and more efficient, as well as reduce the complexity of integration with existing applications and optimize the performance of A9.1 on the System i.

The upgrade adds a major new module, Service and Warranty Management, to help customers manage service and warranty contracts by letting them accept and track materials for return or repair, manage billing and expenses related to service and warranties, and handle service requests. A9.1 also improves the Quality Management System to help customers identify product failures, reduce the cost of unused materials, and improve product quality.

Other new tools support the import and export of data into spreadsheets, help transition from older releases to the new releases, and help users identify which reports they haven't used in months or years, letting customers essentially clean up their installation and archive data that's no longer needed. Additional reports let customers compare their current source code with the new release, which helps predict which custom code may need to be retrofitted and which code could be eliminated.
Oracle Corporation. 800-633-0738. oracle.com.

Security

PowerTech Sharpens User-Profile Control Tool

The PowerTech Group enhances PowerTech Authority Broker, a System i tool that enables administrators to better control the number of user profiles that have special authorities without disrupting normal business activity. With release 3.1, users can now integrate their own custom programs when a profile swap or release occurs. System managers can change the library list or accounting code of a user profile once it swaps, verify that a valid call ticket has been entered correctly, or require manager approval before allowing a swap to continue. Also, administrators can now interactively view a list of currently swapped users.
The PowerTech Group. 800-915-7700. powertech.com.

Backup and Recovery

Shield Provides Disaster Recovery Application

Shield Advanced Solutions announces Receiver Apply Program/400 (RAP/400), an application that provides a disaster-recovery solution for System i environments using LPAR, or those that simply need data replication rather than high availability. RAP/400 runs on i5/OS V5R4M0 or later and provides users with automatically applied journal entries from a remote journal receiver.

RAP/400 automatically applies entries from a journal receiver that's attached to a remote journal. On notification of a receiver being detached from the remote journal, RAP/400 applies all the entries from that journal to the local copies of the objects. If RAP/400 can't update specific objects, the solution will register them in an output file. RAP/400 enables continuous data updates and reduces system overhead by using C language and API calls.
Shield Advanced Solutions, Ltd. 519-940-1192. shield.on.ca.

Application Software

Kronos Offers Software and Services for Gaming Industry

Kronos, Inc., launches Kronos for Gaming, an integrated software suite on the System i and other platforms that provides gaming-industry enterprises with workforce solutions for attendance, scheduling, absence management, and hiring. The solution enables organizations to track and calculate employee time and manage employee clock-in times via biometric security. Managers can control employee tip reporting by requiring employees to enter tips on transfers, and in addition, Kronos for Gaming helps casinos track employee certifications and schedule employees by certification level and skill.
Kronos, Inc. 800-225-1561. kronos.com.

Security

HiT Software Extends Graphical Workflow Tool

HiT Software improves Allora, its bidirectional data-transformation tool that operates between XML and any database, including databases on the System i. The V5 upgrade introduces the Allora Workflow Manager, a graphical layout environment designed for creating, scheduling, and executing a group of RDB-XML transformation and related XML file management tasks. A design and a runtime component provide a workspace for adding tasks, setting parameters, and organizing tasks in execution order, while a runtime tab offers detailed explanation of transformation results.
HiT Software. 408-345-4001. hitsw.com.

Programmer Tools

Aldon Enhances Application Lifecycle Management Solution

Aldon releases Aldon Lifecycle Manager System i Edition 7.5. The Aldon solution provides IT business process automation, requirements management, software configuration management, multiple version management, and software deployment. The latest edition introduces parallel development functionality through automated conflict resolution as well as an enhanced graphical compare and merge utility. The latest version also includes a tighter link to Aldon Community Manager, the company's application for realtime management of incidents, change requests, and application requirements. The link lets users view incident, change request, and requirement reports related to a specific development project.
Aldon. 510-839-3535. aldon.com.

Backup and Recovery

Maximum Availability Improves Replication Suite

Maximum Availability upgrades *noMAX, its suite of System i-compatible products that provides data-, object-, spooled file-, and IFS-replication services. New features include autonomic functionality, enhanced auditing, and a patrolMAX module that processes autonomic requests to replicate out-of-synch objects for quicker replication-issue response. Other enhancements include a green-screen menu option, the addition of color-coded icons representing the status of each configuration on the GUI dashboard, an option that enables users to control *noMAX processes via property settings, enhanced IFS role swapping, and object-type support.
Maximum Availability (Australia). 64-94157008. maxava.com.

Programmer Tools

Mrc Tool Modification Enables Excel Data in Web Reports

Mrc introduces a new way for businesses to incorporate desktop spreadsheet data into web reports. Users can now deploy the company's m-Power software development suite to build Java-based business intelligence and reporting applications. The upgrade lets users pull data from any spreadsheet, bring it into m-Power, and create multiple web reports. Users simply cut and paste data into the program and use data checks to ensure accuracy of the information. Authenticated users then go to a central web location to see the report. Also, users can modify existing reports each week to reflect data changes.
Mrc. 630-916-0662. mrc-productivity.com.

Systems Management

Help/Systems Upgrades Monitors and Controls System Events

Help/Systems releases Robot/NETWORK 10, the newest version of its network control, monitoring, and management software. Robot/NETWORK 10 offers a new GUI that empowers users to consolidate operational events to monitor and manage networked System i servers from a central location. In addition, new wizards help users connect to hosts, configure nodes, and apply product updates and license codes. Version 10 works with i5/OS to offer enhanced security for internal objects, including both predefined and user-defined security roles.
Help/Systems, Inc. 952-933-0609. helpsystems.com.

Systems Management

CCSS Provides Realtime DASD Growth Monitoring

CCSS, Ltd., supplies QSystem Monitor V12, an updated performance-monitoring and reporting solution for System i. The upgrade now features in-depth, realtime disk monitoring capabilities that handle DASD issues, including Auxiliary Storage Pools (ASPs) and temporary storage monitoring. Users can define monitoring of ASPs and physical disk units with multiple options, including units in use, free space, and ASP Status. With V12, operators can monitor temporary storage by job, user, subsystem, or entire system.
CCSS, Ltd. 919-256-8260. ccssltd.com.

Education

Manta Focuses Internet-based Training

Manta Technologies, Inc., updates MantaNow, its web-based System i training delivery system. New Ajax techniques eliminate the use of Java applets in the student's browser and the use of cookies so students can use higher security settings in their browsers. A new administrator interface makes all administration functions available from a single screen. Also, MantaNow lets teachers create a custom curriculum plan for a single student or group of students.
Manta Technologies, Inc. 800-406-2682. mantatech.com.

Backup and Recovery

Lakeview Adds Cluster Management to HA Solution

Lakeview Technology makes available MIMIX version 5, the latest update of its high availability and cluster management solution for System i. This release introduces self-installation, initial synch support, and new application-detection features. Another new function, AutoGuard, includes audit enhancements and improved large-object support. With the update, customers can recover data from accidental or malicious data corruption and perform planned or unplanned switches with the help of Switch Assistant. Lakeview also announces a new cluster management solution with this release; MIMIX cluster1 enables companies to manage availability across nodes, SANs, and data centers.
Lakeview Technology. 630-282-8100. lakeviewtech.com.

Document Management

S4i Updates Document Portal Solution

S4i Systems, Inc., offers S4i WebView 3.1, the latest version of its browser-based user interface for S4i Express. S4i WebView is a software module that establishes a centralized web-based document portal that grants internal and external users access to documents or reports on the System i. In version 3.1, S4i WebView users can drag and drop actions inside folders, annotate documents, and send multiple attachments within a single e-mail message. With the new Desktop Archiving feature, users can automatically save various document versions and retrieve previous revisions.
S4i Systems, Inc. 800-231-5280. s4isystems.com.