For years, IT teams have struggled with complex IBM i code, limited visibility, and slow development and modernisation projects.

Traditional IBM i development tools weren’t built to keep pace with today’s evolving demands on the IBM i enterprise with manual analysis no longer enough. 

The good news? 

With the integration of AI into X-Analysis, Fresche Solutions is eliminating bottlenecks and bringing intelligence-driven insights to the IBM i developer community. 

Application documentation with X-Analysis

Andy Nicholson takes a deep dive into X-Analysis in this video – and there’s also a demonstration of the new AI feature in the video below:

X-Analysis itself has been supporting the IBM i community in application discovery and documentation for many years now.

It does this by building a repository of data on your IBM i landscape. 

X-Analysis could be considered as akin to an MRI scanner for your IBM i estate. It forensically analyses your RPG and COBOL application and provides insightful analysis documentation and graphical representations of your IBM i applications.

This not only helps you know what is where, but also supports the UNDERSTANDING of your IBM i enterprise.

While X-Analysis is unrivalled in its ability to extract and document your IBM i applications, this information was largely limited to experienced users. 

Now, powered by natural language processing and AI, the new X-Analysis lets you ask questions on your code – questions in plain English. 

‘What programs use this file?’ and get understandable answers, in a natural, conversational manner.

This opens up your IT resource. Not just for developers, but for Project Managers, Business Analysts — even C-levels. 

They can all get actionable insights from the same tool, without getting lost in the code.

Whether you’re tackling database redesigns, looking at an UI overhaul, or untangling a monolithic application, the AI-enabled X-Analysis will provide you with a clear, visual roadmap.

Look at it like getting a blueprint for your modernisation journey.

It’ll be like talking to a knowledgeable colleague. It’ll be comprehensive, understandable and quick. 

In fact, moving to their platform, in some cases, Fresche have recorded more than a 10x in response speeds against the legacy system.

Andy Nicholson, Proximity’s Sales Director, caught up with Steve Cast, Fresche’s newly appointed Practice Director, to discuss the new AI-powered X-Analysis product.

>> Watch the interview here

Steve explained that the new release of X-Analysis “will allow you to understand your RPG code and your DB2 for i database as you currently do within X-Analysis in a kind of graphical format but being able to ask intelligent questions of the AI agent that has been built into X-Analysis.”

One of the key benefits of the AI-enabled interface is making accessing information much faster and easier. 

“Rather than you having to know the right question to ask, and that’s what has always been the problem with X-Analysis, in that all the information is there in the repository but sometimes being able to find it, you’ve got to almost point and click and hope for the best” explained Steve. 

“The new AI enabled X-Analysis provides a much simpler interface. So, the same great repository information that X-Analysis has always built for us, but being able to interpret the information in a way that is more interactive and more intuitive for us to use.”

Steve also confirmed that the new release won’t be the only Fresche product that will be treated to a new UI and be AI-enabled:

“This is the direction of travel for Fresche Solutions. We’re making sure we AI-enable the tooling that we have. So I think you can probably guess that X-Analysis is not the only tool that’s going to be AI enabled – there’s more to come on that.  I’ve seen sneak previews of our AI enablement of some of those other tools. 

“Testing would be an obvious one to be looking at. Watch this space!”

Fresche’s AI-enhanced X-Analysis stands as a significant advancement in IBM i application discovery and understanding. 

It offers IBM i shops a smarter, faster, and more accessible path to support and modernise their legacy systems.

Contact us to learn more about the new AI-enabled X-Analysis

Interested in reading more about X-Analysis?

These articles will be of interest for learning more about X-Analysis’ IBM i application documentation and code analysis capabilities.

The post New UI added to an AI-enabled X-Analysis appeared first on Proximity.

However, to remain competitive, modern businesses must evolve their IBM i applications to meet new technological challenges and demands.

The Challenge: Legacy Code and Technical Debt

Many IBM i (AS/400, iSeries) applications have been in production for decades.

Over time, they accumulate technical debt, undocumented code, and hidden dependencies, making modernisation efforts slow and risky. As senior developers retire, businesses face:

• Lack of documentation – Maintenance becomes time-consuming and difficult.
• Hidden dependencies – Small changes can trigger system-wide issues.
• Slow modernisation efforts – Poor visibility into RPG and COBOL applications leads to stalled digital transformation.
• High maintenance costs – Inefficient code increases IT spending
• Risk to Business Continuity – With knowledge retired, any failure may cause significant downtime to the enterprise resulting in expensive shutdown of operations.

Without automated tools, IT teams are left guessing how applications function and interact, making modernisation a risky process.

The need for IBM i application modernisation

IBM i application modernisation is crucial for businesses aiming to use the latest technological innovations while maintaining the integrity of their existing infrastructure. 

As we’ve explored in other articles, modernisation of IBM i applications encompasses a range of strategies, including the integration of open-source utilities, modernising interfaces, integrating IBM i application with other back office systems internally and externally – the list goes on.

By employing these strategies, businesses can ensure that their IBM i systems are not just operational but fit for purpose for current and future demands.

Understanding Automated Code Analysis

Automated code analysis involves the use of specialised tools to examine codebases systematically. 

For IBM i applications, this may mean scrutinising RPG (Report Program Generator) and COBOL code to identify potential inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, or outdated practices.

Tools like X-Analysis are vital in the process, providing comprehensive insights into the code structure and functionality.

The strength of automated code analysis lies in its ability to enhance code quality, reduce technical debt, and facilitate smoother transitions during system upgrades or migrations. 

Why IBM i applications need automated code analysis

Many IBM i (AS/400, iSeries) applications have been in production for decades. 

As senior developers retire, businesses face:

• Lack of documentation: making IBM i application maintenance time-consuming.
• Hidden dependencies: changes to one program can impact multiple others.
• Slow modernisation and development efforts: without clear visibility into legacy RPG and COBOL applications, digital transformation projects stall.
• High maintenance costs: unoptimised code leads to inefficiencies and increased IT spending.

Without IBM i code analysis tools, IT teams can be left guessing how their applications function and their code interacts leading to high risk and uncertainty when making changes.

Using IBM i documentation tools

Documentation is a cornerstone of effective system management. For IBM i systems, robust documentation tools are indispensable. 

They provide a clear blueprint of system operations, facilitating better understanding and management of complex IBM i applications.

Tools designed for IBM i code documentation play a critical role here. 

They not only help in maintaining up-to-date documentation but also assist in the onboarding of new developers by providing them with a comprehensive understanding of existing systems.

How X-Analysis Transforms IBM i Code Analysis and Documentation

X-Analysis by Fresche Solutions is a powerful IBM i code analysis and documentation tool that helps businesses streamline legacy application management.

It offers a suite of features designed to streamline the analysis process, making it easier for IT managers and developers to uncover hidden complexities within their codebases. 

From identifying obsolete code to pinpointing performance bottlenecks, X-Analysis provides a detailed roadmap for maintenance, development and modernisation.

Furthermore, its integration capabilities allow businesses to seamlessly incorporate modern development languages and frameworks into their IBM i applications, ensuring that these systems remain agile and responsive to new demands.

Key Features of X-Analysis for IBM i

• Automated Code Documentation – Analyses RPG, COBOL, and CL programs and from this, creates detailed, structured documentation.
• Business Rule Extraction – Identifies critical logic embedded within IBM i applications, enabling easier modernisation.
• Graphical Code Visualization – Displays application data flows, object dependencies, and impact analysis.
• Cross-Referencing & Impact Analysis – Quickly assesses how code changes will affect the entire system.
•  IBM i Cloud Migration Support – Prepares legacy applications for cloud-based IBM i environments.

Future-Proofing IBM i Applications

Future-proofing your IBM i applications is not merely about maintaining functionality; it is about enhancing it.

Automated code analysis is central to this process, offering a clear pathway to optimising existing systems while laying the groundwork for future advancements.

Embracing Modern Development Languages

The integration of modern development languages is a key component of IBM i modernization efforts. 

Languages such as Java, PHP, Python, and Ruby can be used alongside traditional RPG and COBOL, allowing for more versatile and dynamic application development.

By using these languages, businesses can unlock new functionalities and improve user experiences, all while maintaining the robust operational backbone provided by IBM i systems.

The Business Impact of X-Analysis

Using X-Analysis for automated IBM i code analysis can help organisations:

• Reduce IBM i maintenance costs by improving code visibility and documentation.
• Accelerate IBM i development & modernisation projects with automated business rule extraction.
• Lower development risks by identifying potential issues before making changes.
• Enable faster onboarding of new developers by providing clear IBM i application insights.
• Support IBM i cloud migration by understanding legacy system architectures.

Conclusion

Future-proofing IBM i applications through automated code analysis is a strategic approach that combines the reliability of legacy systems with the dynamism of modern technologies.

By employing comprehensive code analysis tools like X-Analysis, businesses can enhance code quality, streamline system operations, and ensure that their applications are equipped to meet future challenges.

Ready to automate your IBM i application documentation? Learn more about X-Analysis here.

We have created a video demonstration available on YouTube. It shows how to develop IBM i applications confidently using X-Analysis.

Interested in reading more about X-Analysis?

The post Future-Proof Your IBM i Applications: The Power of Automated Code Analysis appeared first on Proximity.

What are IBM i Application Support Services?

IBM i, formerly known as AS/400, is a versatile computing platform that integrates a robust operating system with a wide array of business applications. Its seamless integration of hardware and software components allows businesses to run critical applications with high reliability and security. However, the complexity of these systems necessitates specialised support services to manage and maintain their functionality.

The Role of IBM i Application Support Services

Keeping IBM i systems running efficiently requires more than just routine maintenance — it demands proactive, expert-driven support to prevent costly downtime and performance issues. That’s where specialised IBM i application support services come in.  These services include:

• Application Monitoring: Regular monitoring and maintenance of your IBM i applications to detect and resolve issues before they impact operations.
• Application Maintenance: Maintaining the system to provide regulatory compliance, optimal uptime and operational resilience.  Ensuring a secure and reliable system for the long term.
• Application Development and Modernisation: Enhancing the system with developments and improvements – not just for the core enterprise system, but through enhancing legacy IBM i interfaces with modern web GUIs, enhancing connectivity through integrations and APIs and providing native mobile applications.
• Performance Optimisation: Analysing application performance and making necessary adjustments to optimise resource utilisation and enhance efficiency. Plus, refactoring code to improve maintainability and performance where necessary.
• Technical Support and Troubleshooting: Providing expert technical support to address any issues or concerns that may arise with your IBM i applications.

Advantages of IBM i Application Support Services

The benefits of engaging IBM i application support services are manifold, offering significant advantages to businesses that rely on these systems.

Enhanced System Reliability and Performance

Regular monitoring and maintenance ensure that your IBM i systems operate at peak efficiency, reducing the likelihood of unexpected failures and downtime. By proactively addressing potential issues, support services help maintain system reliability and performance.

Cost-Effective Maintenance Solutions

Engaging IBM i application support services can be a cost-effective alternative to maintaining an in-house IT team. With access to specialized expertise and resources, businesses can optimise their systems without incurring the high costs associated with hiring and training dedicated staff.

Augmenting your IT Team

Do you have a backlog of projects that are waiting to be launched? Through the addition of external expertise, you can augment your existing team tasking them to work on developments that have been shelved due to a lack of resource or skills in other technologies./languages such as native mobile app development web app development, Open Source, A.I., Etc.

Reduce Business Continuity Risk

With an aging workforce, experienced IT developers may have either left, retired or are considering retirement.  This puts companies at a risk of business continuity.  Through the addition of a team of experienced IBM i professionals, managed and resourced by an expert service business, you immediately mitigate risk and can even add to service availability through 24×7 SLA based support.

Access to Expertise and Best Practices

IBM i application support services provide access to a team of experts with extensive knowledge and experience in managing IBM systems. These professionals are well-versed in industry best practices and can offer valuable insights and recommendations to enhance your system’s performance and security.

Scalability and Flexibility

As your business grows and evolves, your IT needs may change. IBM i application support services offer scalable solutions that can be tailored to meet your specific requirements, ensuring that your systems remain aligned with your business objectives.

Improved Security and Compliance

With ever-increasing cyber threats, maintaining the security of your IBM i systems is paramount. Support services implement robust security measures to protect your data and ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.

Case Study: Successful Implementation of IBM i Support Services

A leading manufacturing company faced challenges in maintaining its IBM i systems, which were critical to its daily operations. By partnering with Proximity, the company was able to achieve:

• Reduced Downtime: Regular system monitoring and proactive maintenance significantly reduced downtime, allowing the company to maintain continuous operations.
• Enhanced Security: The implementation of advanced security measures safeguarded the company’s sensitive data from potential threats.
• Cost Savings: By outsourcing their IBM i support needs, the company realised significant cost savings, allowing them to allocate resources more effectively.

Choosing the Right IBM i Application Support Provider

Selecting the right IBM i application support provider is crucial to maximising the benefits of these services. When evaluating potential providers, consider the following factors:

• Experience and Expertise: Look for providers with a proven track record and extensive experience in managing IBM i systems.
• Comprehensive Service Offerings: Ensure that the provider offers a full range of services to address all aspects of your IBM i support needs.
• Customisation and Flexibility: Choose a provider that can tailor their services to meet your specific requirements and adapt to changing business needs.
• Security and Compliance: Ensure your provider has the correct accreditations including ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus
• Reputation and References: Research the provider’s reputation and seek references from other clients to gauge their reliability and quality of service.

Why Proximity is your ideal IBM i support provider

With Proximity, you can be assured that we meet the criteria laid out above. Established in 2009, not has the business been running for over 15 years, the people within it have extensive experience of providing IBM i application support for companies across the globe.

Our team of IBM i developers and specialists total over 40 and all those resources are based in the UK and employed by Proximity. Our headquarters are in Leeds, but with hybrid working a norm, our team are based around the country.

As well as providing support, our team is able to deliver:

• IBM i application development

• Modernisation of applications

• Integrations between IBM i applications and other back office systems

• Infor LX, BPCS and System/21 support, development and maintenance.

As well as the services we deliver, Proximity has built up a network of software vendors who provide the leading IBM i software tools in their chosen area, including Fresche Solutions and Remain Software.

On the subject of cyber security, Proximity is both ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certified.

When it comes to references, we have an impressive portfolio of IBM i customers across a number of industries. DB Schenker, Gebruder Weiss, Imperial Brands, Amada, Coveris and GBA Group to name but a few.

You might also be interested in the IBM i Update which is presented monthly by Andy Nicholson. You can subscribe to the IBM i newsletter on LinkedIn and join more than 500 people who are already subscribed.

What does our IBM i support service look like?

In a nutshell…

• SLA backed support service for companies running IBM i applications
• Options for support during working hours or 24×5 or 24×7
• Covers bespoke & packaged IBM i applications in RPG, Cobol, Synon, PHP, Java etc.
• Includes application support, user support and maintenance
• Options for development, modernisation & consultancy as required.

And what it isn’t…

• Hardware, infrastructure or firewalls
• Operating system or applying PTF’s etc.

Conclusion

IBM i application support services are essential for businesses that rely on IBM systems to ensure their continued operation and success. By providing expert guidance, proactive maintenance, and robust security measures, these services help businesses optimise their systems, reduce costs, and stay competitive in an ever-changing technological landscape.

Many companies running IBM i systems have aging in-house expertise, and their IT teams are stretched thin with new initiatives. Outsourcing IBM i application support ensures:

Minimized downtime and continuous business operations

Cost savings by avoiding full-time IBM i specialists on payroll

Access to expertise from specialists who work with IBM i daily

Scalability to support growing business needs

Security and compliance to avoid data breaches and penalties

Whether you’re an IT Director, Systems Architect or software developer, understanding the benefits of IBM i application support services can empower you to make informed decisions and harness the full potential of your IBM systems.

By partnering with the right support provider, you can enhance your system’s performance, security, and scalability, driving your business forward in today’s digital age.

Contact us to learn more about our IBM i support services.

Related articles:

The post Benefits of IBM i Application Support Services appeared first on Proximity.

This is especially true when you have to work with so-called ‘legacy’ code that hasn’t been documented.

As enterprises strive for digital transformation, the need for a robust solution to manage and document legacy code becomes vitally important. 

Enter X-Analysis, a powerful tool designed to simplify the intricacies of IBM i application documentation.

In this blog, we’ll explore:

• The risks of maintaining IBM i applications without documentation.
• How X-Analysis automates IBM i code analysis and application documentation.
• The benefits of automated impact analysis, business rule extraction, and code visualisation for RPG and COBOL applications.

X-Analysis is recognised as the industry-standard for IBM i application documentation and code analysis.  Indeed, Proximity have also used X-Analysis as a key part of our IBM i support and maintenance services.  

The challenges of maintaining IBM i ‘legacy’ code

Before delving into how X-Analysis aids in application documentation, it’s crucial to appreciate the complex environment of IBM i systems. 

Many organisations still rely on IBM i (AS/400, iSeries) applications running RPG and COBOL code. 

Over the years, developers have retired or moved on, leaving behind undocumented programs with complex interdependencies.

Common challenges include:

• Lack of documentation makes code maintenance and further development difficult.
• High dependency on senior IBM i developers for knowledge transfer.
• Risk of breaking functionality due to unknown dependencies.
• Slow modernisation efforts due to poor application visibility.

Automate IBM i Application Documentation

X-Analysis by Fresche Solutions is THE leading IBM i code analysis tool that helps businesses document, understand, develop and modernise their legacy applications. 

By automating the documentation process, X-Analysis transforms the way organisations manage and understand their IBM i applications. It provides:

• Automated Code Documentation: Generates complete IBM i program documentation, including data flows, dependencies, and business rules. This alleviates the burden of manual documentation, providing a clear map of the existing codebase.
• Graphical Code Visualisation: Converts IBM i RPG and COBOL code into interactive flowcharts and impact analysis diagrams. This makes it easier for teams to conceptualize and understand complex applications.
• Business Rule Extraction: Identifies key business logic embedded within RPG and COBOL programs, essential for IBM i application modernization.
• Impact Analysis & Cross-Referencing: Understanding how changes to one part of the code affect other components is crucial. X-Analysis offers robust impact analysis, highlighting dependencies and potential issues before they arise.
• Integration Capabilities: X-Analysis seamlessly integrates with other development tools, enhancing its utility across different stages of the software lifecycle, including TD/OMS an IBM i Change Management tool.

Business impact of IBM i code analysis

By using X-Analysis, IBM i enterprises can achieve several key benefits, including:

• Enhanced IBM i application understanding with automated documentation, IT senior managers gain a better grasp of their systems, facilitating more informed decision-making.
• Reduce technical debt by automating IBM i code documentation.
• Improved maintenance as developers can quickly identify problem areas and understand the ripple effects of their changes, leading to more efficient maintenance.

• Streamlined development and modernisation: as businesses look to modernise, having a clear understanding of their current state is invaluable. X-Analysis simplifies the transition to modern development languages and frameworks.
• Minimise system downtime by reducing the risk of errors in IBM i software changes.

Real-world use cases of X-Analysis 

IBM i enterprises across various industries have used X-Analysis. This tool helps them maintain, support, and develop their IBM i applications. 

For example, a major financial institution used X-Analysis to document its many COBOL applications. This significantly cut down the time needed for system audits and upgrades.

A large manufacturing company used the tool to update its RPG applications to a modern framework. This change led to better performance and lower operational costs.

Conclusion: Embracing Change with X-Analysis

For businesses looking to future-proof their IBM i applications, using X-Analysis for automated code analysis and documentation is a game-changer. 

By making ‘legacy’ RPG and COBOL code transparent and easy to understand, IT teams can confidently maintain, enhance, and modernise their applications.

Ready to streamline your IBM i application documentation? Learn more about X-Analysis here.

We have created a video demonstration available on YouTube. It shows how to develop IBM i applications confidently using X-Analysis.

Check out the other IBM i software tools for development, modernisation and maintenance we provide.

Want to read more about IBM i Application Documentation?

Read (and watch the accompanying video) in this article entitled: Document, Manage, Enhance and Evolve Your IBM i Applications with Confidence with X-Analysis

The post Unravelling Legacy Code: How X-Analysis Simplifies IBM i Application Documentation appeared first on Proximity.

Want to bring your IBM i applications into the modern web era, but dread the thought of a complete rewrite? 

We’ve got good news. You can modernise your IBM i applications without massive overhauls using Presto from Fresche Solutions.

Presto quickly creates modern, responsive web-based interfaces for your IBM i (iSeries / AS400) green screens straight out-of-the-box. 

Greg Patterson is an IBM i modernisation expert. He is also the Presales Team Lead at Fresche Solutions. He will host a webinar on Tuesday, 4th March.

Title: “Beyond the Green Screen: Scale and Modernize on IBM i”

In this session, Greg will show you how other IBM i shops have changed their web applications using Presto. 

He will discuss practical, low-risk ways to modernise IBM i. These strategies will provide real results. The focus will be on improving usability, scalability, and integration. All of this will keep your core systems safe.

Real-World Examples of IBM i Modernisation

Greg will dive into two specific success stories, demonstrating how companies like yours have:

• Replaced outdated interfaces with modern, intuitive web applications.
• Overcome scalability issues with flexible, high-performing systems.
• Solved integration challenges to connect platforms seamlessly.

You’ll see the actual challenges these companies faced, the solutions they implemented, and the tangible business outcomes they achieved.

Why This Matters for IBM i Developers

This session will show you how to:

• Avoid costly, time-consuming rebuilds. Learn how to modernize incrementally and strategically.
• Enhance the user experience for your IBM i applications.
• Improve scalability and performance to meet growing business demands.
• Integrate your IBM i systems with other platforms and technologies.

>> Register for the webinar now

Greg has over 20 years of IT experience, including 15 years at Fresche. He’s a trusted advisor to IBM i organisations across the world. If you’re an IBM i developer or IT Director looking to modernise your IBM i applications without a complete rewrite, this session is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Modernise your IBM i applications without starting from scratch.
• Learn from real-world success stories.
• Focus on enhancing usability, scalability, and integration.
• Discover low-risk, practical modernisation strategies.

Don’t let outdated interfaces and scalability issues hold you back. Join Fresche Solutions on this session and learn how to modernise your IBM i applications for the modern web.

The post Webinar: Scale and Modernise your IBM i Applications appeared first on Proximity.

If you’re looking for information about DELMIAWorks manufacturing ERP, you can now find all that on its own dedicated domain: manufacturingerp.co.uk

The new website reflects the growing brand awareness and successful implementation of DELMIAWorks across the region.

“The decision to create a dedicated domain for DELMIAWorks underscores our commitment to providing our customers with a best-in-class experience,” said David Maskrey, Managing Director at Proximity Enterprise Solutions.

“manufacturingerp.co.uk will serve as a central hub for all DELMIAWorks information, allowing process manufacturers to easily access product details, success stories and valuable resources as well as promote Proximity Enterprise Solutions’ value-added services and in-depth manufacturing knowledge and expertise.

”The new website clearly reflects the distinct brand and messaging of DELMIAWorks, while Proximity Resourcing Limited will continue to use proximity.co.uk to showcase its portfolio of IBM i (iSeries / AS400) support, maintenance and development solutions.

Proximity Enterprise Solutions now also has its own dedicated LinkedIn company page.

Proximity’s existing LinkedIn company page will remain and will keep those in the IBM i community updated on news and information about IBM i and our services.

Finally, we’d like to thank everyone involved in the process. This marks Proximity Resourcing Ltd.’s third website rebrand over the space of a year, following the successful launch of the new Stream website.

The post New domain launched for DELMIAWorks ERP Software appeared first on Proximity.

Version 17.0 of the ever-popular tool promises to make your IBM i development process “faster and more fun”.

Remain highlights the following as key updates within the release:

Visualise errors

Compile errors in precompiled languages are now directly visible in the source editor and Compile Result plugin. This makes code debugging faster and more intuitive.

Advanced Transfer & Log History Management

Track deployments and logs within VSCode and the Web for better visibility and control over your development projects.

Detailed logs can be easily accessed for more comprehensive analysis and insights.

Optimised Task & Workflow Management

Enhanced task collaboration with improved comment management, streamlined workflows, and search term suggestions to boost team productivity.

Flexible Compilation & Customisation

Override compile commands for specific components, providing greater control over the development process.

Enhanced User Experience & Performance

UI improvements, refined navigation, and performance optimisations ensure a smoother and more efficient workflow.

Comment management for tasks

New capabilities introduced meaning you can add comments to any tasks directly for improved collaboration across development teams with the added benefit of threaded discussion with ‘Reply to Comments’. Need to edit those comments? No problems with the ability to edit comments with updates and / or corrections. 

API updates and improvements

Remain has also included a number of improvements and updates to the Rest API capabilities within TD/OMS.

A deeper dive into each of the new TD/OMS features can be found on Remain’s website.

Interested in seeing how TD/OMS can increases your team’s IBM i development speed and efficiency? Wim Jongman, Owner and Technical Officer at Remain Software provided us with an overview of TD/OMS in this video.

Want to learn more about TD/OMS?

These articles should be of interest.

The post Remain Software releases TD/OMS version 17.0 appeared first on Proximity.

Andy Nicholson sat down with Greg Patterson, IBM i Modernisation Specialist and Presto expert to ask about the latest release and what’s changed in the product in the past year.

Discussing the Presto v10.1 updates with Greg Patterson

You can watch the video above or read the conversation (with a little more on security) below:

Andy: Greg, thank you for joining me today. Can you give us an overview of the latest release of Presto and the key new features and improvements?

Greg: Over the last 18 months or so (Presto 9.6-10.1), many of the primary improvements to Presto have been related to efficiency and security upgrades, but as always our development group has added other new features to Presto as well. The latest releases have featured some functional improvements that include:

• • Security Enhancements
  • Health Check tool
  • jQuery/jQuery UI updates
  • SmartCharts updates
  • Change Management feature upgrades
  • Navigation Button enhancements
  • Easier installation in iASP environments
  • Deprecation of Exodus (Presto 9.9 officially deprecated, Presto 10.1 completely removed)

Andy: I know that Fresche are always keen to get customer feedback to help them drive forward development of their solutions. Did you use user feedback from previous versions in this update?

Greg: Absolutely, direct customer feedback, and the feedback from our Web Services (consulting) group continue to form the priority for future development work. A great, simple example of this is adding an option for Navigation function keys (typically Exit, Cancel, Submit) to be both placed at the bottom OR into the sidebar with the other function keys. Our Web Services team found that many customers requested this, and this ability has now become both a global option and a Page Level option to make this even easier.

Andy: What improvements have been made to the user interface and user experience in this release?

Greg: In addition to the Navigation Function Key options I just mentioned above, I’d like to highlight some improved charts and graphs (SmartCharts) that have been upgraded to newer versions with additional controls and designs to be more modern. All of the Freshe Web/GUI product line includes SmartCharts, and they have been upgraded across all the products (Presto, WebSmart, Nexus, Clover) to provide a nicer look and feel to match more modern designs and needs.

There have also been updates to the automatically detected Subfile Options, allowing a developer to set the behaviour of the option flyouts, and can be set to display only on clicking on a row, or hovering over the input field or both.

Many of our customers who leverage Presto in a mobile environment require the ability to capture signatures, and the Signature Pad, which has been around for many years, has been update to improve support for touch screen devices to facilitate easier signature capture … imagine doing that on a green screen!

Andy: Can you tell your favourite feature within Presto and give us a sneak peek into what to expect in upcoming releases?

Greg: Some of the items that are up for inclusion in future versions of Presto include Single Sign on, or SSO enhancements for SAML SSO schemes, continued Security enhancements ( ‘End-users’ vs ‘Admins/devs’, UTF-8/Unicode support in Presto’s SQL toolset.

Andy: Can you expand on what the Single-Sign on enhancements could mean for customers?

Greg: With Single-Sign on, or SSO becoming ever more popular for security purposes and streamlining the end-user experience, we are looking at adding SAML-based options to integrate with popular SSO offerings on the market today to make it faster and easier for platform administrators to include access to Presto more seamlessly for their user base.

Andy: And what advantages does adding UTF-8/Unicode support to the SQL tool provide?

Greg: Many international customers that use less common character sets on their IBM i have had challenges with certain characters within SQL statements, and by supporting UTF-8/Unicode, those customers will be able to take full advantage of Presto’s SQL capabilities to enhance the user experience without requiring work-arounds.

Andy: Thank you Greg, we look forward to experiencing the new version of Presto very soon!

My thanks to Greg for his time and updating us on the latest and greatest in Presto.

Presto version 10.1 is available NOW to download and install from the Fresche website.

Presto v10.1 New Features

IDE Enhancements:

• Navigation buttons customization. Ability to configure Navigation buttons (eg. Exit, Cancel, Submit) to be placed in the function keys panel. You can now easily adjust the position of both main and window-specific navigation buttons by editing the config.bws for site-wide application, or using Page Options in the Visual Editor.
• Mouse actions. The mouse wheel’s Page Up/Page Down functionality on subfiles will be disabled by default, causing webpage scrolling rather than triggering next/previous record loading. This change prevents unintended navigation actions and aligns more closely with standard web navigation practices. Customers upgrading can change the option in config.bws to enable the new behaviour, or continue to use the mouse wheel for page navigation.
• PR_CHGMNG – Ability to delete pages. New Command Line Change Management option allows you to delete a page by description. This feature provides additional options for custom change management solutions which utilize the command line tool.
  Strict-Transport-Security. The Strict-Transport-Security header directive will be disabled by default, ensuring that the system continues to work out of the box on other sites not configured for TLS. Customers who want the stricter behaviour can re-enable the directive by uncommenting the line in the HTTP Server config file.
• Fixed the issue of dropdown lists not properly handling exits during edit mode. (PR-19726)
• Fixed the issue of the Presto alarm example in custom.js not playing sound by updating the example to use the audio tag instead of the embed tag. (PR-19692)
• Fixed the issue of subfile options causing a Presto error due to space insertion by trimming the value and text for subfile options. (PR-19642)
• Fixed the issue of File Upload returning “Undefined” in versions 9.8+. (PR-19787)
• Fixed the issue of the Strict-Transport-Security header impacting access to other sites by commenting out the directive in Presto, which prevents browsers from enforcing TLS on all subdomains. (PR-19757)
• Fixed the issue causing session locks when using Field+/- while screen navigating on a screen without inputs by implementing a fix to prevent JavaScript exceptions (PR-19811)
• Fixed the issue where exporting and importing a page with a formatted SQL query resulted in the removal of new lines and spaces from the query editor interface, ensuring proper preservation of formatting. (PR-19753)
• Fixed the issue where a warning about conflicting Global IDs was erroneously displayed when opening a window over another screen with a Global ID, resolving the validation error and ensuring proper functionality. (PR-18100)
• Fixed the issue where menu buttons displayed extra HTML text by adjusting the offset for the end of button HTML when style is added, providing a solution to remove the additional text without the need for manual intervention. (PR-19749)
• Fixed the issue with double quotes in menu links when set as buttons by escaping HTML for menu links, resolving the problem of quotes being inserted incorrectly and leaving text outside of the menu links. (PR-19788)
• Fixed the issue with caching SQL query results in a 2D pie smartchart, resolving the problem of menu links remaining greyed out and unclickable after navigating back to the screen when query results are cached. (PR-19736)
• Fixed the issue with importing Polish characters in code, ensuring that special characters are not replaced with SUB tags when importing pages with JavaScript containing Polish special characters. (PR-19714)

The post Fresche release v10.1 of Presto appeared first on Proximity.

And, don’t you have better things for your expensive administrators to do anyway?

Let’s explore how we can reduce the burden of data entry involved in inputting data into your IBM i systems…

If you just want to check out the demonstration of iKeyer, you can view the shorter video at the bottom of this post.

Automating data entry with iKeyer

I’m going to give you an insight into how business use technology from Utilities 400 to improve both the accuracy and speed of formerly manual processes, saving your business time and money while improving data accuracy too – it’s all rather good and it’s within a product called iKeyer – no, not flatpack furniture from Sweden, but a virtual terminal for automated data entry into the IBM i via the green [5250] screen.

So, how does it work? Well, iKeyer is a server side application that picks parsed and stored data [on the IBM i] and then enters this, with validation, via a 5250 session. It can be triggered or called from your RPG programs and integrates seamlessly with Utilities 400 data import tool, iRoute.

And, how do you create an automation… well, in one of two ways, you can record your keystrokes and then customise using calls from the file in which you want to upload or you can use just use the powerful but simple to use script editor demonstration in the video to create automations for a multitude of inputs with accommodation for variables such as date range formatting and the like.

How will this save you money? Well, here’s a quick example that you can extrapolate for your own purposes.

The cost of manual data entry

Let’s say that we’re an SME business that has a number of manual data entry tasks.

These task are spread across 6 employees from different departments including accounts, warehouse, quality, manufacturing and even IT.

On average, each employee is completing about 30 minutes of input per day, so across the business we’re looking at about 3 hours per day. That’s not too unreasonable right, you may even feel that this is a conservative estimate? But let’s add it up very simply so you can apply the same principles to your business.

So, if my sums are right, the total for the six employees would come in at 15 hours per week of manual data entry.

Let’s say they’re on a basic wage of £12 per hour. That’s £36 a day or £180 per week. On the basis of a four-week month, we’ve £720 per month. Leading to a total human resource cost of over £8,640 per year just to maintain the status-quo… at a conservative estimate.

I wonder what the costs would be like in your business?

And these ongoing costs DO NOT account for the cost of data quality and the underlying data cleansing costs these may add too.

You see, quality errors come in many guises.

A report commissioned by Experian found that the most common data errors encountered in business come in the form of incomplete or missing data with out-dated, duplicate and typo errors coming in 2nd to 4th respectively.

Each represented a REAL cost to the business depending up the nature and significance of the error.

I wonder how would a data quality error such as these impact a process or department within your business?

What is the REAL cost of these manual processes for you and how do they impact your day to day operation?

What would it mean to your business if:

• We could replace expensive human resource and repurpose this resource for less menial tasks?
• Manual processes were replaced with automated procedures that ran 24×7, 365 days per year?
• We could speed up the data input tasks exponentially?
• We could do all this without sacrificing data quality?… Or indeed, improve it greatly?

We believe that replacing manual data input would remove these problems.

How to automate your data entry on th IBM i

So how do we go about gaining these automation benefits. What would we need?

Well, first and foremost, we need a system fit for our enterprise system. Therefore our first stipulation is that it be an IBM i native solution.

Secondly, we need a solution that provides intelligence. Not just a dumb terminal following a series of instructions; a solution that will read the screen… just like a human would, then depending upon what’s displayed will act accordingly.

But intelligence shouldn’t mean it’s overly complicated and need an expert coder to implement. No, it should have the ability to record input sessions for quick set-up then have the functionality to edit these sessions to add rules and parameters via an intuitive, effortless script.

And all this technology should be affordable with a quick return on investment because let’s face it, this solution must address ALL the issues AND add value to constitute an easy business decision.

iKeyer is the answer.

Look at iKeyer as a virtual terminal that uses AI instead of human resource to enter all the data into the green screen.

And being an AI, it brings with it performance and automation offering the input potential of many humans as it adds the intelligence needed to read the screen and make decisions based upon what it sees.

Because as you enter data into the green screen, the program responds and displays data, a window or new screen depending upon the what’s been entered.

So let’s say we’re entering data from an invoice we’ve received into our ERP. No problem…Until we realise that the data we’ve received has the date in American format.

On submission, a pop up window is displayed with… ‘input value field not recognised’ or some kind of text as equally helpful. We’d hope that a human would be able to pick up on this and with a modicum of intelligence, be able to turn the day and month input characters around to reflect the UK date/time formatting.

With iKeyer, you get this same intelligence. We’re able to look and accommodate for these idiosyncrasies. Be it a data range, an existence check, or some other variable… we can add intelligence that will automatically correct or – depending upon the error displayed on the screen – will correct or add the appropriate data or commands accordingly.

So, that (I hope) provides a grounding on what iKeyer is and (and more importantly) does! But as the old adage goes, the proof is in the pudding.

Automating Data Entry – iKeyer Demo

Here’s Steve to show you how it works through a demonstration:

If you’d like more information, or a trial, on iKeyer, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The post Turn Green Screens into Automation on the IBM i appeared first on Proximity.

And, our colleagues from the Netherlands have now been doing this for 25 years – delivering on a commitment of quarterly updates and releases.

So, with the recent release of TD/OMS version 16.1, on a rainy afternoon in early July 2024, I spoke Wim Jongman, owner and chief technical officer at Remain Software, to learn what’s new and what to expect…

What’s new in TD/OMS Version 16.1

Below are some of the highlights from my conversation with Wim on the latest TD/OMS Version 16.1 release:

Andy: Wim, thank you for joining me today. Can you give us an overview of the latest release of TD/OMS and the key new features and improvements?

Wim: We released version 16.1 on the third of July. We always take a Wednesday for a release, and it is actually a combination of four Milestones that we did leading up to this release. So, four releases in one! Now, we’re ramping up already towards version 17 but version 16 has been a really nice year for us. In it we have VS code integration plus a bunch of new rest services available for APIs too.

Andy: I know that remain are always keen to get customer feedback to help them drive forward development of their solutions. Did you use user feedback from previous versions in this update?

Wim: Almost everything based on the customer feedback. Of course, we have to set out a roadmap for things that are new and that people maybe do not ask for, but the majority of our development is devoted to features and enhancements from customer requests. One, such development was from a customer that was doing a really large task. There were about 300 components programs and files in this one task and the question was, okay can this be a little bit easier to complete – make it more usable? And we basically implemented a solution for this in a month. We have something like 25-20 of these kind of improvements per release and at least 100 have been implemented in version 16 over the last year.

Andy: I see that this release is to, and I’m paraphrasing your marketing here, ‘to unleash development speed and efficiency…’ can you provide a little insight into how this new release achieves this?

Wim: Yes, and that’s not by mistake! In this release, we have seen is a big Improvement in speed because we are using our new rest APIs. With these, you skip much of the overhead from services such as JDBC and as a result are seeing a throughput speed increase of up to 10x.

Andy: Now, one of the really interesting new developments is the release of a new web development environment…

Wim: That’s right Andy, the first version of Octo brings essential functionalities of TD/OMS to the web, including work management, ratification, task and object management, and a comprehensive dashboard. This dashboard provides analytical insights, kanban tools, , and tracks the progress of DevOps activities through trend analysis charts. As an added bonus, everything that is running in the web browser. So, you can see your tasks in VS code. You can see your text components and then double clicking will open the beautiful editors within vs code.

Andy: Thank you Wim, before I let you go, can you let us know where we can get the latest released?

Wim: They can just go to the usual channels. So, it’s in the download section on our Remain Software website. If you have an installation already you can even pull it in directly from their IBM i with some command functions. Then, we need to set-up the rest server… but we have a command for that as well. Of course, if customers want some help, they are more than welcome to give us a call and we can jump online to set up this whole new environment for them.

Andy: Wim, thank you for your time, our customers really love what you’re doing and we look forward to the next release.

Wim: No problem, thanks Andy and thanks Proximity too!

TD/OMS Version 16.1 introduces enhancements that transform the development process:

• A new Web Development environment called Octo provides a seamless, zero-install development experience.
• Extended SSL configuration options for REST server instances, enhancing security and flexibility.
• Updated REST API documentation, simplifying integration and development.
• New CLI and REST APIs for various functions, significantly expanding automation capabilities.
• Integrated support for Visual Studio Code (VS Code), allowing developers to leverage the popular code editor
• Major GUI improvements, including fixes for application interface issues and enhanced tree node comparisons.
• Server-side enhancements, such as improved checkout and promotion capabilities for IFS objects.

The post Remain Software Releases TD/OMS Version 16.1 appeared first on Proximity.