Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 10:47:00 -0800
Reply-To: CICS List <CICS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
Sender: CICS List <CICS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From: Cayzer Stuart <SCAYZER@DOL.WA.GOV>
Subject: Re: They want GUI. They want custom.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Here at Washington State DOL we're building a new system that fits the
description of where you want to go - it's a client/server setup with
the data under DB2 on the state DIS's 3270. We use Intersolv's APS to
generate MF COBOL for the Windows GUI and COBOL 370 for the CICS and MVS
programs. This project began several years ago and we're about to
deliver on Windows 3.11. Clearly, Windows 95 and NT 4.0 offer many
advantages and we'll eventually go there (if the project is successful).
I believe that the new release of APS (which is currently in beta) will
generate 32 bit code.
I've worked with APS for many years - it started out targetting the 3270
platform and it is much stronger there than in the Windows environment.
We've made many modifications to the macros that actually generate the
MF COBOL in order to get code that behaves well under Windows. COBOL in
Windows is a bit of a square peg in a round hole but it's nice for us to
have one generator churning out the code for both platforms. And there's
so much COBOL expertise around. However, you have more options - VB can
handle the presentation logic but is too slow for any serious processing
(eg: when you pass data to and from the mainframe you'll need to convert
ASCII to EBCDIC and vice versa - I'm told that VB can't even do that
adequately). Delphi and C are better options - actually, the subsystem
that will run in DOL's branch offices was built using Delphi for the GUI
and it looks pretty slick.
My answer is high level ... but it's a BIG question. There's many
considerations to take into account.
G'luck.
----------
From: Craig Otway
To: Multiple recipients of list CICS-L
Subject: They want GUI. They want custom.
Date: Friday, February 21, 1997 9:31AM
We provide data services to about thirty distinct clients. Each client
has its own internal LAN/WAN and soon we will connect them to a super
WAN through channel attached gateways (NT SNA/LU6.2). Most of our
client+s current LANs are Novell 3.12, but they will eventually convert
to 4.1 or NT. Some have DEC+s and AS400+s too. We are currently running
on a 9672 (MVS 5.2.2 and about to order 390 R?) using CICS4.1/DB24.1
/VSAM/COBOL. We have the OSA adapter but have not decided on a backbone
at this time.
Here+s the question. How can we convert our 3270 type CICS/DB2/COBOL
applications into GUI while keeping the data on the mainframe? We
currently offer the 3270 systems (in-house customized systems they want
to be GUI), AMS Advantage 2000 (third party mainframe/GUI non-customized
software), and a pure client server product called WINSCHOOL that may
have the data ported up to the mainframe. Do we use VB, PB, MF COBOL,
Realia, CICS WEB...?? Thanks.
--
Craig Otway
MVS/S390 Technical Support
Education Service Center Region 10
400 E Spring Valley
Richardson, Texas 75081
972-231-2582 x456
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