Application Development

Chrono-Logic Releases iAM for Management

Chrono-Logic, a developer of change management solutions and productivity tools for IBM i, announced the general availability of iAM for Management, a new solution that provides IT professionals with the information needed to manage project costs throughout the entire application development, maintenance, and distribution cycle. iAM for Management provides a GUI and includes development and maintenance project management, workflow management, time tracking, customer-defined values (drop-downs, check boxes, etc.), customer-defined reports for auditors and managers, email templates, and mailing lists. A free trial is available. Chrono-Logic. 450-227-7940. chrono-logic.com.

Systems Management

CCSS Extends BRMS Monitoring Capabilities of QSystem Monitor

CCSS has added new monitors to its QSystem Monitor (QSM) V12.5 R03 product to help backup and recovery users manage their backup processes on IBM Power Systems and System i platforms. The two new commands focus on the message log and media status of the BRMS (Backup, Recovery, Media Services) application and complement the existing BRMS monitoring features of QSystem Monitor that surround BRMS jobs, subsystems, job queues, library attributes and file management. The first new command, MONCHKBML (Check BRMS Message Log), lets users monitor the total number of a nominated message in the BRMS log. Through the command, users can identify critical messages and take necessary action before the condition impacts a process. The second new command, MONCHKBMS (Check BRMS Media Status), lets users monitor the total number of tapes in a specified status by location, container, media class, system, or type of value. CCSS. 919-256-8260. ccssltd.com.

Application Modernization

LANSA Upgrades aXes Modernization Tool with Design Workbench

LANSA announced that it has completed a major upgrade to the aXes product suite that it acquired in April. This new version of aXes (1.33) introduces a design workbench from which IBM i 5250 screens can be rendered with Rich Internet Application (RIA) functionality and look and feel. The aXes product provides users with on-the-fly, browser-based access to 5250 applications. The aXes upgrade includes aXes eXtensions that go beyond reproducing a 5250 terminal session in a web browser to provide a range of screen-customization options and drag-and-drop GUI enhancements, resulting in an RIA that can be the first step in modernizing a legacy application. According to LANSA, the upgraded aXes product is unique among modernization tools in several ways. For instance, aXes has zero-client deployment architecture with no software to install on the client and only a few small programs running on an IBM i server. Also, the aXes product suite employs the standard HTTP/S (ports 80/443) protocols to avoid network configuration problems caused by firewalls blocking the ports required by non-web connections, such as Telnet and VPN. LANSA. 630-874-7000. lansa.com.

Application Development Tools

mrc Announces Google Maps Integration for m-Power

mrc announced that its m-Power software development tool now includes integration with Google Maps. This enhancement enables m-Power users to now chart their data directly into a Google map embedded in their web applications. Google Maps integration can be useful for web applications, such as a product purchase map that show potential customers where products can be purchased; a shipping visualization web app that tracks shipments, monitors a fleet, or lets customers view shipping progress on a map; or an executive dashboard, that includes an embedded map to provide a clear picture of which areas are performing well and which are performing poorly. You can view a live demonstration page for the new Google map integration at www.crazybikes.com/mrcjava/servlet/CBB2E.I00190s. mrc. 630-916-0662. mrc-productivity.com.

CL

Bruce Vining Services Releases New PowerCL Command Set

Bruce Vining Services has announced the availability PowerCL: CL for Files (CLF), a new development tool that lets IBM i professionals work directly with database, display, and printer files from within CL programs. It provides a complete set of CL commands, enabling full access to database, display, and printer files. Surpassing RPG’s database capabilities, PowerCL: CLF improves productivity and lets CL developers with no knowledge of RPG, Cobol, or C create efficient system maintenance utilities, application control programs, and test scripts. CL is an efficient language used extensively within the IBM i environment. However, it has never provided full access to database, display, and printer files without additional support programs in RPG, Cobol, or C to perform database functions such as read/write/update/delete records, create reports, or build subfiles. PowerCL: CLF extends basic CL with commands that let it perform common functions with physical files, logical files, DDM files, and SQL views. A free 30-day trial is available for download at powercl.com. Bruce Vining Services. 507-206-4178. powercl.com.

Application Software

TMW Systems Releases IBM i Software for Transportation Industry

TMW Systems, whose transportation management software for the trucking industry runs on IBM i, has announced the launch of the TMW Freight Analyst application for strategic decision support in truckload businesses, plus a native IBM i version of the DAWG, its business activity monitoring tool for TMWSuite enterprise transportation software. TMW Freight Analyst integrates activity-based costing, revenue data, the impact of timing in areas like service performance, and driver hours of service. The DAWG is a cross-platform solution that includes a native AS/400/IBM i version for the TL2000 enterprise transportation software and TMT Fleet Maintenance IBM i solutions. The tool watches operational systems for any data points that fall outside the preset range and immediately sends alerts to managers and staffers via email to notify them of any issues. TMW Systems. 800-401-6682. tmwsystems.com.

ERP

VAI Rolls Out S2K Enterprise for Food Distribution Upgrades

VAI has upgraded its S2K Enterprise for Food Distribution software to help distributors manage supply chain and customer relationships more efficiently. S2K for Food Distribution 3.7.7 includes enhancements in warehouse management, employee work management, food management by expiration date ("fresh in fresh out"), advanced receiving options, and improved manufacturing capabilities. VAI. 800.824.7776. vai.net.

Application Modernization

Veryant Upgrades Cobol Application Modernization Suite with Cloud Capability

Veryant has released a new version of its isCOBOL Application Platform Suite (APS). isCOBOL APS 2009 SP1 helps developers deploy Web 2.0 applications leveraging existing COBOL skills and adds a flexible relational database engine to ISAM files without changing current program code or data. New applications in the suite include: isCOBOL Web Direct 2.0, which provides a way to deliver mission-critical COBOL applications on demand as part of cloud-based service offerings; isCOBOL SQL Server, which provides a relational database engine on top of ISAM files, eliminating the need to choose between maintaining ISAM files or moving to a mainstream RDBMS to meet evolving application requirements; and isCOBOL APS, which blends the optimized, business-oriented nature of COBOL with the openness, portability, and power of the Java platform, without retraining staff or rewriting code. Veryant. 602-553-1053. veryant.com.

Backup & Recovery

Crossroads Systems Unveils New Virtual Tape Solution for IBM Power Systems

Crossroads Systems announces general availability of its new SPHiNX for Power Systems virtual tape solution for use alongside large data centers that use IBM i. SPHiNX is designed for organizations feeling the pain around the inability to complete backups in a timely manner. Many organizations face growing tape-related operational and administrative costs and challenges related to regulatory compliance. When deployed inside data centers that have IBM Power Systems, SPHiNX lets organizations improve the efficiency and effectiveness of physical tape storage. SPHiNX enhances data backup and restores, providing for significantly more secure and protected data. SPHiNX provides the highest level of data security and privacy requirements to help fulfill HIPAA and state information protection mandates. Crossroads Systems. 866-289-2737. crossroads.com.

Systems Management

Help/Systems Updates Systems Management Software

Help/Systems has announced an enhancement to Robot/CONSOLE 5.0, its message, resource, and log management software; and an update to Robot/SCHEDULE Enterprise, its enterprise job scheduling software. Robot/CONSOLE 5.0 adds host mode, which lets the software connect to multiple Power Systems servers and centrally manage messages and resources across a network of systems from a single display. Using Robot/CONSOLE and Robot/NETWORK, Help/Systems' network management software, users can manage messages and monitor system resources such as lines, controllers, subsystems, and printers across a network of Power Systems servers or partitions. The latest version of Robot/SCHEDULE Enterprise (1.03) adds support for HP-UX servers. Users can use it to automate job scheduling and event monitoring on Windows, AIX, HP-UX, and Linux servers from an IBM i host server. Help/Systems, LLC. 952-933-0609. helpsystems.com.

High Availability

Bug Busters Enhances IBM i High Availability Offering

Bug Busters Software Engineering announces release 8.4 of RSF-HA, the high availability (HA) version of Bug Busters' flagship RSF product. RSF-HA is a complete HA and data replication solution for IBM i. RSF adds a new compare feature, a new archive/refresh feature, role swap improvements, and many other enhancements. With the new compare feature, users of RSF can compare the contents of any two libraries or IFS directories to see if they match. A list of non-identical objects can be displayed, printed, or sent to an outfile. Various options let users specify how deep to dig when comparing objects. The new archive/refresh functions let RFS users take a snapshot of a library or IFS directory, experiment with the data, make changes, and then refresh the library or directory, putting it back to the state it had before any changes were made. A free 30-day trial of RSF 8.4 can be downloaded from www.bugbusters.net. Bug Busters Software Engineering. 206-633-1187. bugbusters.net.

Application Modernization

Profound Logic Updates Green-Screen Modernization Tool

Profound Logic Software has announced new enhancements to Genie, its visual green-screen modernization tool. Genie modernizes green-screen systems on-the-fly without requiring source code, letting organizations modernize entire applications to a browser interface. Genie also provides sophisticated development tools, such as a visual rich internet application (RIA) designer, to improve the legacy system’s user interface and functionality. One of the most notable back-end changes in this release is the addition of smart caching for screen definition files. Front-end enhancements include the ability to perform inline editing of elements in the visual designer, the addition of property value highlighting for values that have been altered and are being saved to the screen definition file, and improvements to the installer and the administration interface. A free, 30-day trial of the tool along with an updated development guide is available online at profoundlogic.com. Profound Logic Software. 937-439-7925. profoundlogic.com.

Data Access & File Transfer

Linoma Software Releases New Solution for Managed File Transfers

Linoma Software releases GoAnywhere Services, a new collection of secure data transfer services for the enterprise. GoAnywhere Services can be installed on most operating systems, including IBM i, Windows, Linux, Unix, AIX, and Solaris platforms. GoAnywhere Services lets trading partners (e.g., customers, employees, vendors) securely connect to exchange files, documents, and other types of data. The solution eliminates the need for departmental standalone tools and removes the risk of using unsecure email to exchange information. Using a best-practice approach to Managed File Transfers (MFT), GoAnywhere Services provides industry standard protocols (i.e., FTP, SFTP, FTPS, HTTP, and HTTPS) through a server-centric solution. GoAnywhere Services provides organizations with full audit records of all system activity enabling regulatory compliance and enhanced reporting. GoAnywhere Services can "trigger" other actions or notify stakeholders of activity based on system events. For example, an action could be configured to automatically decrypt incoming files and import that data into existing corporate databases. Pricing starts at $2,995. Visit GoAnywhereMFT.com to download a 30-day trial. Linoma Software. 402-944-4242. linomasoftware.com.

Web Development

Zend Technologies Releases Studio 7.0 for IBM i

Zend Technologies has released Zend Studio 7.0 for IBM i, the next generation of its professional-grade PHP application development environment designed to maximize developer productivity by enabling them to develop and maintain code faster, solve application problems quickly, and improve team collaboration. Features such as refactoring, code generation, code assist, and semantic analysis enable rapid application development. Studio release 7.0 adds support for PHP 5.3, which includes long-awaited features such as namespaces, late static binding, and closures. Zend Studio 7.0 also provides comprehensive debugging and testing support that helps analyze and resolve problems. It supports both local and remote (on server) debugging, profiling, code inspection and quick fix, and test generation and reporting. Zend Technologies. 408-253-8800. zend.com.

Document Management

ACOM Introduces New Workflow Process Manager for its IBM i Document Management System

ACOM Solutions has introduced a reengineered workflow module for its browser-based EZContentManager 3.8.0 electronic document management solution, reducing the need for paper-based processes and extending visibility and access to documents. The Process Manager module was redesigned to provide visibility at any point in a process while streamlining and simplifying user interaction through a drag-and-drop graphical interface. Additionally, the module is open to processes external to the ACOM environment, including email applications, line-of-business applications, and various custom-developed programs. A free upgrade is available to customers with current maintenance contracts by calling 800-603-6768. ACOM Solutions. 800-699-5758. acom.com.

Systems Management

SEQUEL Software Releases Date Simulator for Power Systems Running IBM i

SEQUEL Software, a Help/Systems company, has released AnyDate, a date simulator for Power Systems running IBM i. AnyDate lets users run date or time-sensitive applications without resetting the system date by simulating any date and time between the years 1928 and 2071. Because the date and time overrides are restricted to the job that starts AnyDate, it is completely safe to use when other jobs are running on the system. With AnyDate, users can control the System i time. They can freeze the system date or time in a job stream as part of procedure testing. And, if a System i server or partition is part of a network spread across different time zones, AnyDate can display the correct time and date at each location. AnyDate users can "look" into the future to test the effect of running System i applications or revisit the past to rerun jobs that use the system date as a parameter. For example, after a production job fails, AnyDate can help simulate the original environment when the job is rerun. SEQUEL Software. sequel-software.com.

RPG

CNX Unveils Valence 2.0 for Web 2.0 on i System

CNX has announced the general availability of version 2.0 of the Valence Web Application Framework for System i. This release adds new functionality and programming APIs to the Valence package, enabling System i programmers to create true "Web 2.0" browser applications using RPG. Designed for ILE RPG programmers, Valence uses ExtJS JavaScript components on the front end and communicates directly with RPG business logic on the back end using only the System i's integrated Apache server. No additional servers or hardware is required. This latest version of Valence includes new features and enhancements: enhanced SQL integration, aValence "AutoCode" module, back‐end RPG functions, improved back‐end support, Valence Portal improvements, and an updated front‐end ExtJS framework. You'll find additional Valence release 2.0 details and online demonstration videos at cnxcorp.com/valence. Valence 2.0 is available for a free 90‐day trial download. CNX. 312-251-0840. cnxcorp.com.

Systems Management

Kisco Upgrades Twitter Interface for IBM i to Add File Monitor Function

Kisco Information Systems announces another new release of its interface to the Twitter social networking service. SNDTWEET runs on the IBM i and can be used to post messages through Twitter. The latest version, release level 1.08, includes an integrated file monitor function. Using this new feature, SNDTWEET can be used to "watch" for activity on any native IBM i database on the system. It can be configured to watch for records being added, changed, or deleted and even for records being read from the database. Files can be configured for instant detailed notification of events or for summary event notification after a predetermined activity threshold has been reached. Kisco offers a free 30-day evaluation at kisco.com/sndtweet. Kisco Information Systems. kisco.com.

ERP

iNfinite Answers Gets New 'unERP' Moniker

3B Dataservices's enterprise software, iNfinite Answers, is getting an ironic new moniker: unERP. IT leaders and all levels of corporate management praise the merits of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) information systems, 3B Dataservices says, but they also tend to find ERP integration as not only time-consuming and expensive, but also confusing, difficult to administer, and a pain to maintain once integration efforts are complete. 3B Dataservices says some of the common evils of traditional ERP systems include the inability to easily diversify corporate activities or direction, and the fact that upgrades tend to be costly and disruptive--so disruptive that many corporations simply choose to ignore them. 3B Dataservices. 506-635-8195. infiniteanswers.ca.

High Availability

Vision Solutions' High Availability Software Certified on IBM BladeCenter

Vision Solutions announces its solutions for small, medium, and large companies. The company received official validation after extensive testing at the IBM Innovation Centers in Massachusetts and California. The "Ready for IBM Power Systems Software" mark indicates that iTERA HA, MIMIX HA, and ORION Solutions for IBM i passed standards for compatibility and reliability. The Vision Solutions software was tested on Blade Center S, also designed for medium-sized organizations, using multiple IBM JS12 BladeServers that support IBM i, AIX, and Linux environments. The BladeServers also support virtualization and Dynamic Logical Partitioning (DLPAR) capabilities. Vision Solutions. visionsolutions.com.