Save 5 Hours a Day by Integrating RPG to SQL Server, Excel, and Other Databases

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Save 5 Hours A Day by Integrating RPG to SQL Server, Excel, and Other DatabasesProvide Real-Time IBM i Access to Remote System Data from RPG

Save 5 Hours A Day By Integrating RPG to SQL Server, Excel, and Other Databases

Your Presenter

Richard SchoenDirector of Document Management Technologies


• HelpSystems overview

• Common use cases for IBM i data integration

• RPG2SQL Integrator overview

• Demo

• Q&A

Agenda


Flexible IT Software Solutions

IT Operations Management

IT InfrastructureMonitoring

Cybersecurity

Document & Forms Management

Business Intelligence

Compliance & Audit Reporting

• Workload Automation & Job Scheduling

• Business Process Automation

• Data Backup Management

• Disk Space Management

• Message & Event Monitoring

• Performance & Application Monitoring

• Remote Monitoring & Management for MSPs

• Network Monitoring

• Vulnerability Assessment

• Virus Protection

• Identification & Access Management

• Security & Integrity Monitoring

• Security Policy Management

• Intrusion Prevention & Detection

• Encryption

• Document & Image Management

• Automated Process & Workflow

Management

• Electronic Forms Management

• Signature Capture & Approval

Management

• Enterprise Data Access

• Executive Dashboards &

Reporting

• Mobile Data Access

• Data Warehousing

• Compliance Reporting

• System & Audit Reporting

• SOX Compliance

• HIPAA Compliance

• PCI Compliance


Document Management Solution Overview








Key Information Lives on Many Platforms

Business Need

Integrate data across platforms

Solution: RPG2SQL Integrator

• Databases across different platforms don’t talk to each other:

– DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Dbase

• Data comes in from vendors and customers in various formats

– Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, CSV Files, Flat Files

• RPG2SQL Integrator brings these platforms together.


Lowering the Cost of Processing Multiplatform Data

Business Need

Utilize multiplatform data with IBM i apps


• Eliminate data replication

• Stop manually merging and re-keying data

• Reduce the risk of data validation mistakes

• Automate the processes used to re-distribute information

• Reduce the need for specialized PC business analysts to create PC formatted output in Excel and other formats

• Eliminate time-consuming manual processes for uploading and reformatting data

• Lower labor costs and streamline data processing and reporting


Manufacturing Use Case

Business Need

Manufacturing businesses run many disparate systems


• Use multiple systems:

– ERP runs on IBM i

– Shop floor data collection runs on AIX system with Oracle database

• Send shop floor orders to the data collection system as they are generated on IBM i

• Return information from data collection system to IBM i

• Get real-time interaction between systems


Reporting and Data Visibility

Business Need

Consolidate and access data from multiple platforms for reporting


• Speed up decision-making with adequate reporting

• Go beyond creating simple text reports is not enough

• Give management and power users data in more complex formats

• Utilize IBM i-focused skills of an internal team

• Utilize existing development team resources to generate high-quality complex reporting

• Take advantage of an existing data access tool for reporting


Grocery or Retail Store Use Scenario

Business Need

Consolidate and report on retail point-of-sale data

Solution: RPG2SQL


– Accounting systems runs on IBM i

– Point of Sale (POS) system runs on Windows Server and uses SQL Server database

• Move transactions to IBM i at end-of-day

• Merge transaction data into the accounting system

• Write IBM i reports to perform daily reporting

• Leverage existing core IBM i development staff to build reporting


Property Management Use Case Scenario

Business Need

Simplify complex government tax reporting



– Accounting system runs on IBM i

– Complex reporting spreadsheet template is received from state tax authority

• Meet requirements to report data back using state-supplied template

– Template contains multiple sheets and protected cell areas

• Accumulate data for an entire year and report back to state

• Stop manually re-keying information from IBM i into the spreadsheet template each month-end

• Automate the entire spreadsheet generation and reporting process


Casino Executive Reporting Use Case Scenario

Business Need

Give the executives what they need to manage effectively



– Accounting and casino systems run on IBM i

• Fulfill management’s need for multi-tab complex spreadsheets for month-end and periodic reporting

– Spreadsheets can’t be simply generated by an SQL query—existing RPG business logic was involved

• Accumulate data in the spreadsheets across multiple tabs

• Automate the entire spreadsheet generation and reporting process

• Generate regular management spreadsheets using existing RPG development staff


Hospital Use Case Scenario

Business Need

Provide one view of patient data across systems



– Hospital software and financials run on IBM i

– Several other systems run on different database platforms

• Interchange patient data between systems automatically

• Show data from one central IBM i application

• Utilize existing RPG development skill sets


What is RPG2SQL Integrator?

• Use RPG and COBOL programs to read and write to any database

• Support any ADO, OLEDB, or ODBC data source

• Interact directly with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets

• Support Excel formatting

• Insert, update, and delete records

• Run SQL-stored procedures

• Do selective data copying or replication

• Use Excel import and export commands for RPG and COBOL


Real-Time Access to SQL Server and Other Databases

Business Need

Interactive and batch program access to any database


• RPG or COBOL applications use any database with an ODBC driver

• Embedded service program calls to existing RPG programs

• Sub-files, interactive, and batch mode applications

• Sub-second response time


Read and Write Excel Files

Business Need

Interactive and batch program access to Excel files


• RPG or COBOL applications create and use Excel spreadsheets

• Embedded service program calls to existing RPG programs

• Sub-files, interactive, and batch mode applications


Export from IBM i Files to Excel

Business Need

Quickly export IBM i data files to Excel


• Use Excel Export Command: SQLXLSEXP

• Select any physical file to export

• Select record range to export

• Select field column range to export

• Export field names as column headings

• Append or replace Excel output file

• Select worksheet name


Excel Export Command Example

SQLXLSEXP INFILE(QIWS/QCUSTRPGSQ)

OUTXLS('c:\rjstemp\qcustcdt.xlsx')

OUTSHEET(*ACTIVE *REPLACE)

HEADER(*COLHDG)

LOGMSG(*YES)

HOST(*CURRENT)

RCDFIRST(*FIRST)

RCDLAST(*LAST)

FLDFIRST(*FIRST)

FLDLAST(*LAST)


Import Excel Data to IBM i Files

Business Need

Quickly import to IBM i data files from Excel


• Use Excel Import Command: SQLXLSIMP

• Select spreadsheet to import

• Match spreadsheet column names to PF (required)

• Use first row of Excel as column names

• Append or replace file data on import

• Select worksheet name

• Skip blank rows


Excel Import Command Example

SQLXLSIMP INXLS('c:\rjstemp\qcustcdt.xlsx')

INSHEET(*ACTIVE)

OUTFILE(QIWS/QCUSTRPGSQ)

OUTMBR(*FIRST *REPLACE)

HDRROWS(1)

LOGMSG(*YES)

HOST(*CURRENT)

BLKROW(*SKIP)


System Requirements

IBM i Server

RPG Program

RPG2SQL Service Program

PC Server Component


System Requirements

• IBM i library: V5R4 and above

• RPG2SQL service programs and sample code

• PC server component: Windows 7, 10, Server 2008 and 2012

• At least one PC server instance

• Appropriate database ADO, ODBC, or OLEDB drivers on PC server

• Microsoft Excel loaded on server (if interacting with Excel workbooks)

• ILE RPG Application bound to RPG2SQL Service Program

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Demo Time

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Questions and AnswersPlease enter your questions in the chat log


Thank You for Attending

For More Information:

Website:

http://www.helpsystems.com/rjs

Telephone:

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Technical Experts:

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