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Reformat Dates Within Database
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We are an AS/400 solution's specialist and our solution - MS4 is a market leader in AS/400 Year 2000 conversions. MS4 is installed in blue chip companies world-wide as a fast, effective solution for solving Year 2000 conversions in the AS/400 RPG/CL environment. Below we have answered some common questions regarding MS4 and its features and benefits.
What if we use MS4 to ensure no problems occur before Year 2000 but decide to implement BPCS V6 or SAP in 1999 or a subsequent year?
No problem! MS4 provides options to automatically reverse everything. That is, it will format the dates within the applications database to the structure they were previously and remove all MS4 code from the system. This way the normal migration routes can be effectively used to implement BPCS v6 or an alternative trading system.
Will I have problems with EDI and other interfaces to external systems after I use MS4?
No! MS4 will automatically create programs to format the Business Applications dates for interfacing with external systems.
Must we re-design all our Business Applications screens and reports to make them Year 2000 compliant?
Absolutely not! Using MS4 to ensure that your Business Applications software is Year 2000 compliant, there is no need for MS4 or YOU to make any changes to screens or reports.
Will our users require training after MS4 has been implemented?
No! There are no changes to application screens or reports, your users will see no difference in your major applications - only the correct validation and sequencing of pre and post millennium dates.
What are the minimum system requirements to run MS4?
One AS/400.
Will MS4 cause any performance issues?
As MS4 inserted code consists of 3-6 lines of code per date field, the run time performance is negligible.
How does it work ?
Encapsulation
MS4 creates an environment within which all dates are encrypted.
The recommended decrement is 28 years, since this preserves both day
of the week and leap year phasing. Within 'the environment' all
programs and files process dates as if they were still in the 20th
century, even though the real world date is in the 21st century. any
dates which are moving outside 'the environment' are decrypted back to
real world dates. this would include dates being sent for
display on screen or on reports, dates going to database files which
are outside 'the environment' , dates being passed as parameters to
outside programs and dates being passed to miscellaneous objects like
data areas and data queues. Dates from outside 'the environment'
which are going in are encrypted.
Encapsulation has many advantages over other strategies.
- It is extremely quick to implement. Our experiences with users of MS4 indicate that users can begin testing the date shifted system after about 5 days.
- The procedure is almost non-invasive. No changes are made to the layouts of files or the internal logic of programs. A small implant is inserted in those programs where dates are either passed in or out of 'the environment' in order to perform encapsulation. Beyond that no changes are made.
- The process is completely reversible. The product comes with a set of utilities which remove the program implants and unshift stord dates.
- The product works on all software standard package code, modified standard and user written. Because no changes are made to program logic, MS4 will date shift any AS/400 software irrespective of origin. Indeed the product has no built-in preconceptions about the target application software. Each installation is analysed and shifted at the customer's site and on the customer's software copy.
Date Integrity Checking
MS4 will automatically review and validate all dates on your applications database ensuring their integrity before any conversions proceed.
Reformat Dates Within Database
MS4 automatically creates RPG and CL programs, based upon its date database. These programs encrypt the dates stored within the business application database.
Auto-Modifier
MS4 automatically checks all Business Application programs, both
RPG and CL. To identify those screens or reports which display
or print dates.
Testing
Due to MS4 being essentially an automatic product, testing can
commence within days after implementation.
Developed by people who know and understand AS/400's
Maximises the use of existing code
No need to rebuild modifications
No user retraining required
Fast track Implementation
Minimal and Automatic Software Charges
No Changes to Application Screens and Reports
Choice of Multi-Lingual User Interface