IBM i: How modernized applications facilitate interactions with PCs?

EXPERIENCE FEEDBACK – WMG INFORMATIQUE / ALLWAN SILVERDEV MODERNISATION PROJECT RPG & DB2 SUMMIT 2012

Experience feedback Modernisation project with

BY WMG INFORMATIQUE / ALLWAN


BEFORE…

SITUATION IN 2006

• Management IT applications in 5250 mode

• Ergonomics degraded by the various “patches”: overloaded

screens

• Web communication but no office tool communication


“BEFORE…”

USER REQUESTS

• To have graphic screens

• To have as much information as possible in an optimised

space

• To be able to archive and consult customer documents

(contracts, letters, etc.)


HOW TO MODERNISE THE EXISTING SYSTEM?

CONSTRAINTS

• Improve ergonomics without affecting the stability and

robustness of the applications

• Continue to use System i to its full potential

• Interact with user PCs without having to migrate to Windows

applications



CHOICE OF SILVERDEV

• Everything is stored and runs on System i

• Only an emulator is installed on the client workstation, and it

takes less than 30 seconds

• 100% graphic applications

• Interaction possible with PCs, use of printers, office tools,

PC/IFS exchanges



CHOICE OF SILVERDEV

• Design using the drag/drop method that is familiar to

developers

• RPG IV language

• Personal contact with the technical team

• We speak the same language


THE RESULTS, OR “AFTER…”

FIRST STEP: EXTRACTIONS

Conditional formatting



Links and images clickable in “web” mode



FINAL STEP: REWORKING THE INTERACTIONS

“AS400-like” action buttons with

keyboard shortcut Lines can be moved by drag/drop

Automatic printing

and export to

Excel



File present in the IFS:

button to request

display

File present in the IFS:

miniature



Excel export

via POI

Call to generate

Word lists in RPG

Wait screen or

progress bar


FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

•Validation of the choice made

•Perenniality of our investment in research, training, module

creation

•Improved productivity and return on investment for our

customers

•Easy training for developers of all generations, who have

welcomed the tool with great enthusiasm

•Plenty more modernisation projects to come, each one using

SilverDev

Business

IBM i: How modernized applications facilitate interactions with PCs?