29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. MORE
  4. Commentary
  5. Current Events & Commentary - Other
  6. Case Studies
  7. Case Study: Jacada's Studio for iSeries

Case Study: Jacada's Studio for iSeries

Case Studies
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times
For years, iSeries shops have uncovered many ways to add a graphical Internet front-end to their green-screen applications. These various iSeries modernization tools and techniques can certainly deliver the "point-and-click" environment today's Internet-savvy users have come to expect in an application, but from a developer's perspective, there is always an underlying reliance on the green-screen itself. In addition, many of the tools and techniques require RPG and COBOL developers to learn new programming languages in order to create GUI applications.

Jacada has addressed this need within the iSeries development community by launching a new application development tool designed specifically to allow RPG and COBOL programmers to build thin-client graphical applications for the IBM iSeries--without building green-screens and without the need to learn new programming skills. Mixing the simplicity and clarity of "interactive style" programming with a graphical result instead of a green-screen, Jacada Studio for iSeries allows iSeries developers to produce graphical applications that can be deployed over the Web.

HTE Enhances iSeries Applications

Utilizing the iSeries platform for application development, independent software vendor HTE Inc. continues to modify and enhance an impressive array of enterprise solutions that handle the administrative processing needs of its state and local government customers. Using the Jacada Interface Server, Jacada's traditional legacy extension software, HTE has modernized and Web-enabled its suite of NaviLine applications. As an early adopter of Jacada Studio for iSeries, HTE has used the tool to further enhance the NaviLine applications by adding new functionality in the form of Java-based graphical windows. This new functionality was added without having to develop the corresponding 5250-based functionality, allowing the NaviLine applications to run in batch mode and providing a tremendous cost savings.

"As a valued strategic partner, Jacada has delivered a tool set that brings value to HTE and our customer base," said Gil Santos, Vice President and CTO for HTE. "With a large number of RPG developers, it is important to us to maximize their skill sets. Jacada Studio for iSeries allows our developers to build compelling and efficient graphical Internet applications without having to learn new programming languages."

Complete Development and Deployment Architecture

Jacada Studio for iSeries is both a development and deployment architecture, providing a "What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get" (WYSIWYG) graphical client designer, a host-resident API for communicating with the generated Java or HTML clients and the supporting middleware, and a built-in HTTP server for managing a TCP/IP and sockets-based connection between the client and the host application.

Jacada Studio for iSeries application development focuses on creating graphical interfaces that are managed with host-based presentation coding, very similar to the way iSeries applications have been built for years. Graphical client design is accomplished through a workstation-based Interface Development Kit, which consists of a graphical standards repository; a drag-and-drop, WYSIWYG design environment; and a code generator that produces Java or HTML client source code.

Jacada Studio for iSeries also generates RPG or COBOL copybooks that define the client data exchange buffers as iSeries Special Files, along with complete RPG or COBOL shell programs with the Special File definitions and basic presentation I/O already built in. Programmers can then enhance the shell code with business logic and data management to produce conversational RPG and COBOL business applications that interact with Web clients over TCP/IP. The development paradigm is identical to green-screen development, where RPG and COBOL code performs business logic, manages data, and drives presentation.

Jacada Studio for iSeries automatically implements highly scalable sockets-based communication between the host and the graphical clients, which does not require an application server, Web server, servlet or JSPs, or any Java Bean administration. Jacada Studio for iSeries includes a built-in session listener that automates connectivity and does not employ CGI. Although Jacada Studio for iSeries applications are interactive in nature, they execute in a batch subsystem with no requirement for iSeries interactive processing support. In this way, dependency on the iSeries 5250 data stream is completely eliminated, not only from a programmatic aspect but also from a runtime deployment perspective.

Although Jacada Studio for iSeries is primarily focused on delivering graphical applications, the tool is also capable of front-ending newly built applications with programmatic interfaces in the form of XML, Java, or COM APIs, which enable the creation of Web-ready iSeries business transactions.

FREE 30-Day Downloadable Evaluation

A free 30-day evaluation version of Jacada Studio for iSeries with free technical support is available for download at www.jacada.com. Pricing starts at $995 per development kit; deployment licenses are additional.

Anna Convery is the Vice President of Marketing at Jacada.

http://www.mcpressonline.com/articles/images/2002/Jacada%20iSeries%20News%20AdvertorialV400.png

www.jacada.com
800-773-9574

Jacada is a registered trademark of Jacada Inc.
NaviLine is a trademark of HTE Inc.

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: