02
Sat, Nov
2 New Articles

What Is Modernization?

General
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Modernization is once again a hot topic. But what does it really mean? Is it using TR8 and the latest version of DB2? Or does it relate to other things too?

 

The focus seems to be on modernization again with the pre-release of the new IBM modernization Redbook. True, it's in a draft status, but I dare themno, I double-dog dare themto completely rewrite it at this point. I don't think it will happen, so you're probably safe to look at it.

 

Steve Pitcher, who I have to respect both for being Canadian (they are so much more civilized than Americans) and for living in such a rigorous climate on the edge of North America, wrote an excellent article on modernization and the new book. And about polar bears. I have no comment on that, although bears are one of my favorite animals.

 

The thing about modernization is it's a broad term and may mean many things to many people. I tend to define it, as I do most things, in my own way.

GUI Interface

For most people, modernization means one thing: going from green-screen to GUI. I mean that's the way to modernize, right?

 

And I'm not going to dispute that, although I'm not going to agree either. I just don't feel like getting in a fight. There are a lot of nice things you can do with GUI screens, and that's overwhelmingly the direction of the future and what people expect. I must admit, however, that I have used numerous GUI screens that were just a plain pain in the posterior to use. The truth of the matter is that just using GUI alone does not guarantee that you will create a superior user experience or one that impacts the bottom line.

SQL Replacing RPG IO

The second thing that people jump all over is using SQL instead of the "normal" RPG IO database interface.

 

I don't blame them. SQL is the worldwide database standard. And if you're going to do any web work, you will run into it. Plus, it can do all sorts of things that you can't do with the RPG IO. So what's not to love?

 

And I do love SQL. But, to be honest, 95% of the time all you need for the business world can be provided by RPG IO. And I don't see too many people connecting to the RPG forums indicating they have a problem with RPG IO that they can't figure out, although there are a fair amount of people who get in over their heads trying to do 70 lines of code in a 10 line SQL procedure. And in the end, many times you end up just where you started. You get the result you want but with a different method.

What Is Modernization?

So forgive me if I don't wonder from time to time what modernization is really about. The problem for me is that it seems that we look at modernization from a strictly technical point of view. Want to modernize? Then use a different language to display the screen and use a different database to access the information. And maybe it is that simple, although "simple" is probably not the best word to use. But technology isn't the only way to look at things, and it's not the only path to "modernization."

 

My background is not really technical. My background is not really user. It's somewhere in between. My background is in terms of what the system does for you. That is, more from the design side. And in my opinion, design and what the system does for you should be more or less independent of the language and the database. Know what I mean, Vern?

 

So let's start from scratch and see what we get.

Quicker Data Entry

I know that in a way it sounds silly, but a quick way to modernize is to reduce the amount of data entry required, either by reducing the number of fields that have to be keyed or reducing the number of key movements required.

 

Key movements? This is something that tends to show up in GUI environments rather than green-screen. We switch to GUI because it is by nature more user-friendly, but what often happens is that, with a GUI screen, you key a few fields and then use the mouse to open a combo box, select a field, go back to keying, repeat, and rinse.

 

But is that modernization? I disagree with the common conception that GUI screens are by definition more efficient than green-screen. I know they're cooler and people expect you to have them, but do we build our business systems to make people happy or to be efficient? If you go into any company in America (maybe Canada too), the thing that most people want is to minimize or speed up data entry. True, barcode is one great option, but there's a lot of data that barcode can't do. So, for me, the first step in modernizing is reviewing the screens to see how we can streamline to reduce the number of not just keystrokes, but keystrokes and interrupts and switches from one entry format to another.

 

Is redoing the screens more work than standard modernization? Well, it's not trivial, but certainly it's easier than replacing your database or learning a new language. And it's the kind of thing that helps users on a daily basis. What's important is to make it easy for people to do their part.

Multiple Screens

But the biggest complaint that people have about their business systems is that they have to go to too many screens to get the info they need. Much of that is because we tend to build one-size-fits-all ERP systems and every company, despite their similarities, does things slightly differently.

 

What makes a system good or bad for users is how easy it is to gather information. So take a particular type of information that we need to find. Not a field on a screen, but an end result that users actually need. How many fields or screens do users need to look at to get that information? And how many key strokes/switches are involved? Suppose you had to do four strokes/switches in order to get that info. And suppose you had to get that info all the time. Would there be a benefit to redesigning that so you could get it in two?

 

Both of these items, of course, are oriented around screen design. Back in the olden days, when men wore handlebar mustaches and drank beer by the bucket, a lot of attention was paid to screen design. And the reason was that it was not easy to code screens (a lot of trial and error was required). And a lot of people were not really familiar with doing screens.

 

But today we don't give as much thought to it. It's not sexy enough. But in the end, the fields that we need to enter data into, the way that data is entered (key entries or stopping to do a combo box), and the number of screens we have to go to in order to enter the data we need are critically important.

The Point?

The point here is that modernization is about more than just new technologies. And it's about more than just redoing your screens. It's about both.

 

Modernization is not about "modernizing." I don't even know what that means. It's about improving. It's about reducing wasted time, increasing what the system can do for you, and making the application more of a strategic weapon than it was before. And many times, that has less to do with the technology we use than the way we look at the application.

David Shirey

David Shirey is president of Shirey Consulting Services, providing technical and business consulting services for the IBM i world. Among the services provided are IBM i technical support, including application design and programming services, ERP installation and support, and EDI setup and maintenance. With experience in a wide range of industries (food and beverage to electronics to hard manufacturing to drugs--the legal kind--to medical devices to fulfillment houses) and a wide range of business sizes served (from very large, like Fresh Express, to much smaller, like Labconco), SCS has the knowledge and experience to assist with your technical or business issues. You may contact Dave by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (616) 304-2466.


MC Press books written by David Shirey available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

21st Century RPG: /Free, ILE, and MVC 21st Century RPG: /Free, ILE, and MVC
Boost your productivity, modernize your applications, and upgrade your skills with these powerful coding methods.
List Price $69.95

Now On Sale

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: