This
document is provided as an overview of the features
and benefits of the Alliance CrossData/400 product.
You can use the links below to go to a specific
section, or use the Find button on your browser to
search for a topic or phrase.
How
can CrossData/400 help with my AS/400 data
distribution requirements?
How
much programming is required to use CrossData/400?
Can
CrossData/400 create Excel files?
Can
CrossData/400 create data for my AS/400 Web site?
Can
CrossData/400 create data for my UNIX applications and
UNIX Web site?
Can
I use CrossData/400 to import CSV files to DB2/400?
How
is CrossData/400 different than the Client Access
Transfer function?
How
can I get data from my AS/400 to Oracle database?
How
can the library scan function automate my conversion
tasks?
Can
I use CrossData/400 with my e-mail application?
Can
I use CrossData/400 to send files to my PC users?
Can
I use CrossData/400 to convert spool file reports?
What
is the Programmer's Toolkit?
Can
I use CrossData/400 with my System/36 files?
What
are the hardware and software requirements?
How
is CrossData/400 Licensed?
Patrick
Townsend & Associates
How
can CrossData/400 help with my AS/400 data
distribution requirements?
CrossData/400
is designed to convert your data files into formats
that are usable on a variety of platforms including
UNIX, Windows PCs, NT Server, Tandem and other
systems. The data can be directly imported into many
PC applications such as Microsoft Excel, Access, and
SQL Server. And CrossData/400 can create data that is
compatible with Web site download formats. For almost
all eCommerce applications CrossData/400 can create
data in the format you need for distribution to
network users. Additionally, you can import Excel CSV
or tab-delimited files to AS/400 database files.
CrossData/400 will handle numeric field conversions
and will map date and time fields to DB2/400 date and
time field formats. [top]
You
can use the interactive panels and the library scan
facility to convert database files without any
programming at all. Or, if you want to create
converted files as a part of your batch routines you
can use the CrossData/400 APIs (Application Program
Interfaces) to create the files. The programming for
this type of conversion is very simple. For more
complex data conversion requirements your programmers
can use the Programmer's Toolkit to create their own
conversion routines. [top]
Yes.
CrossData/400 creates CSV (Comma Separated Values)
files from your AS/400 database that can be directly
imported to Microsoft Excel. Any file transferred to a
PC that has an extension of “.CSV” and that
conforms to the rules of CSV files are associated with
the Excel application. A user who receives a CSV file
can double-click on the file to launch Excel and load
the file. Additionally, Excel spreadsheets can execute
macros that load and manipulate CSV files created by
CrossData/400. [top]
Yes,
you can create CSV files or fixed record length files
in ASCII format that can be placed on your AS/400 web
site for access by Web browsers. CrossData/400 can
create CSV files in the ASCII character set and copy
these files to a directory used by your Web server. It
uses the Copy To Stream File (CPYTOSTMF) command to do
this task for you. CrossData/400 can even perform this
task automatically if you are using the library scan
feature. Your interactive or batch programs can create
files in a scan library and CrossData/400 will convert
the files and distribute to your Web site
automatically. [top]
Yes.
Most UNIX applications can work with ASCII,
tab-delimited files as an import format. CrossData/400
can create tab delimited files from AS/400 files that
can be used in UNIX applications. After creating the
files on the AS/400 you can use FTP or other file
transfer mechanism to move the files to a UNIX server.
If you use FTP to move the files you can even start a
UNIX procedure to process the file. [top]
Yes,
CrossData/400 can import any CSV or tab-delimited file
to an AS/400 database file. Numeric fields will be
converted to AS/400 zoned, packed, binary, and
floating point formats. The import function also
supports AS/400 date and time fields. CrossData/400
creates an import map from your existing externally
described file. Full logging functions are support for
problem analysis. All inbound conversion functions are
also available in the Programmer's Toolkit. [top]
CrossData/400
runs entirely on the AS/400 and requires no other
hardware platform or PC to perform the data
conversion. With Client Access you must initiate the
process on a PC, transfer the data to the PC hard
drive, and then move the data to its desired
destination on a Web site or server. CrossData/400
removes the requirement for the PC with Client Access
and lets you gain full control of the conversion
process. You can know immediately if the data is
converted without errors and all conversions are
logged to a history file. CrossData/400 is an
easy-to-use, AS/400-only application for data
conversion requirements. [top]
Many
database vendors include special functions to import
AS/400 database files. If you can't use these
interfaces you may be able to use CrossData/400 to
interface to the database. Oracle, and other database
applications from Sybase, Microsoft, and others,
include a bulk data copy function that can take an
ASCII fixed length file and import it directly to the
relational database system. CrossData/400 can create
the ASCII fixed length file for you to import into
these systems. After creating a converted file you can
use FTP or other file transfer application to move the
files and initiate the database load process. [top]
The
library scan function in CrossData/400 lets you set up
automatic data conversion when a file is created in
one of the scan libraries. You define which libraries
are scanned and which files in the libraries are
converted. You can specify the type of conversion and
data distribution actions for each file in a library.
CrossData/400 library scan gives you a means of data
conversion that is automated and requires no
programming. [top]
Yes,
interactive panels make it easy to convert a file and
send it as an attachment to an e-mail message. The
attachment will be in MIME format. You can also use
the Application Program Interfaces to send converted
files to e-mail recipients. The CrossData/400 user
manual explains how to set up SMTP mail on your AS/400
so you can send e-mail to SMTP/Internet recipients. [top]
Yes.
CrossData/400 can be used to convert AS/400 data to a
format that can be used by most PC applications. As
discussed above CrossData/400 can convert an AS/400
database file to CSV format which can be directly used
by Microsoft Excel and Word. Many other applications
like Symantec's ACT! can also import CSV or ASCII
fixed length files. You have several options for
getting the converted data to your user's desktops.
You can copy the converted file to a folder on the
AS/400 that the user accesses with Client Access. Some
of the CrossData/400 interfaces will do this copy for
you. You can also leave the converted file in a
library that the user can access with the Client
Access Transfer function. The user can download the
data to their PC with no data conversion. If you have
a Web site on your AS/400 you can copy the converted
data to a directory on the AS/400 that can be accessed
by the user with a browser. You can also push the data
to your user's PC with FTP. If the user has the
Microsoft Personal Web Server FTP application
installed on their PC you can push the file to a
directory on their hard drive. Lastly, you can send
the converted file with your e-mail application.
[top]
Yes.
CrossData/400 can convert a spool file report to a
fixed length ASCII format for you. It expands the text
to make the report a true image of the report as it
would look on a printer. CrossData/400 also inserts
the standard ASCII top-of-form character in the data
stream when there is a page break. Many PC
applications recognize this special character and will
insert a page break when printing. CrossData/400 will
not, however, retain any graphical data in the report.
For example, you cannot use CrossData/400 to transfer
AFP (Advanced Function Print) reports with graphic
characters. Only the text content of a spool file will
be converted. After converting a spool file to ASCII
fixed length format you can distribute the file any
way you wish. [top]
The
conversion functions of CrossData/400 are implemented
in a Service Program called CVTDTA. A programmer can
link these functions into their applications and use
the functions directly. These functions are documented
in the Installation and User Guide and sample code is
provided in the product library. Access to the low
level APIs in CrossData/400 lets the programmer create
applications that meet your special data conversion
needs. [top]
Yes.
CrossData/400 can process a System/36 file (or any
internally described file) using the CrossData/400
Format API if there is a single format of data in the
file. Normally CrossData/400 reads the DDS layout
directly from an externally described file. However,
it provides you with a way to define the format of the
file if it is internally described. You can use this
Format feature to describe the types and lengths of
fields in the file. CrossData/400 will then use this
information to convert the file. [top]
CrossData/400
runs on any AS/400 hardware model on V5R1 or later
release of the operating system. No special features
of the operating system are required. CrossData/400
does not use any MI interfaces or special operating
system calls that will cause security failures on the
AS/400. [top]
CrossData/400
is licensed on a per CPU basis with unlimited user
access. A discount is available if you have multiple
AS/400s. You can download the application and its
documentation from your software vendor's web site.
CrossData/400 is available on a 30 day trial basis. [top]
Patrick
Townsend & Associates, Inc.
Patrick
Townsend & Associates, Inc. is a Washington state
corporation. The company specializes in communications
products and communications consulting services for
the Windows NT Server, IBM AS/400, and IBM mainframe
environments. Business partner companies include IBM,
Novell, Microsoft, Lotus, Infinite Technologies, and
others. Founded in 1984 the company has provided
services for Bank of America, Visa International,
Viking Freight, Roadway Regional Group, IBM
Corporation, Novell, Safeway, PMI Mortgage Insurance,
and many others. For more information and product
pricing, contact: Patrick Townsend & Associates,
Inc., 7700 Earling Street NE, Olympia, WA 98506.
Voice: (360) 357-8971. FAX: (360) 357-9047. E-Mail:
info@patownsend.com. http://www.patownsend.com. [top]
