Explore LANSA Website

There is an astonishing amount of information contained within the LANSA website. Those of you reading this blog are quite familiar with all of the technical information. However, you should do a favor for some of your business colleagues and share with them why we to quote Don Nelson "Bleed Green".

The best place to get started is direct them to the following sections:

Analyst Research - Nice to know the experts agree with us.
Case Studies - One can find inspiring stories about every industry.
Webinar Recordings - On demand presentations are great. Especially when you have people like Dave Brault presenting.

Next Step: Direct them to your LANSA Representative or LANSA Business Partner

LANSA & Cloud Computing Reliability

This is really an issue of the general reliability of the cloud vs LANSA specifically. It has been my first hand experience with Salesforce.com that the reliability has been quite good---not perfect. (Our internal infrastructure is not perfect either)

I do anticipate improvement in the reliability of the cloud systems. In fact, you will note that broadband infrastructure enhancement in the United States is a significant part of the new stimulus package that President Elect Barack Obama presented on December 6th, 2008.

However, if you need a system that absolutely never never can be unavailable...it will be a long time coming before the Cloud can deliver that degree of dependability. That being a given, from what I have seen from a broad range of LANSA based applications being delivered as SaaS offering, even now, the reliability is good enough for corporate applications. Now more than ever, LANSA and LANSA focused developers/firms will benefit as this world of cloud computing expands.

Trends for 2009

Some of these might be just a fad and others will be part of our everyday IT fabric. Below is a list and R&K's status on each one of these issues:

1. Software as a Service (SaaS) - We have been delivering via this model for years.
2. Virtualization - Required in today's world.
3. Enterprise Mobility - We are a little slow in this area, but moving along.
4. Energy-Efficient Data Centers - Virtualization is helping. Our new generator runs on natural gas instead of diesel. Hmmmmm just as prices went down!
5. Security, Risk and Compliance - No simple solutions. With each passing day, threats and challenges become more complex, and complance becomes more of a concern.
6. Social Networking - A wave of sites like LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK and MYSPACE have transformed this into something I wish we could stop from time to time.
7. Web 2.0 - With the help of LANSA and other technologies we are able to deliver on the promises of Web 2.o.
8. Document Management and e-discovery - Yes, our solution Contract Guardian for Contract Management and business partner VAULT400 are on top of both of these issues.
9. Project Management and Project Portfolio Management - Time sensitivity and budget consicous organization (especially now) make this an absolute for everybody. We are starting to see tools that help mesh diverse workgroups, such as finance, marketing and IT.
10. Web and Video Collaboration -Ok, we are doing this on the cheap...GoToMeeting solves this issue for us most of the time. We do not have an elaborate conference room. Web 2.0 works fine for us on this front!

Are any of these trends one that you are facing? Let me know.

LANSA & Cloud Computing Article Published

I have recently published an article that discusses the role of LANSA & Cloud Computing. I define Cloud Computing as follows: Cloud Computing is a general concept that incorporates software as a service (SaaS), Web 2.0 and other recent, well-known technology trends, in which the common theme is reliance on the Internet for satisfying the computing needs of the users. I would love to receive feedback regarding my personal opinion of the role that LANSA will play going forward. You can read the article in R&K Resource Library.

Great BLOG

On previous post I mentioned the podcast midrange medley but forgot to give you the link to the Blog: It is called My Midrange Meddle Be sure and visit!

Great Podcast Series: "Midrange Medley"

I visited Midrange Medley this morning and found the Podcasts to be both informative and entertaining. Martin Fincham has developed the offering. Do yourself a favor and take a tour. I have also added the link from the links section. Midrange Medley

Happy Thanksgiving!

In light of how the economic downturn has pummeled many of us in business; I am offering some free advice: Focus on the turkey, and turn off the TV and yes even your computer!

LANSA Heads for the Clouds

There is no doubt that LANSA plays in the clouds and not the types with ice particles suspended in the atmosphere. As I have written last month, LANSA delivers Cloud solutions to Rippe & Kingston and could dramatically expand their offering.

I would like to hear from others if they think this is a fantastic concept or simply some marketing hype. Since I am posting this blog using software provided by Google...I guess you can tell that I am sold on the concept. However people like Larry Ellison have criticised the rash of cloud computing announcemnts as "fashinon-driven" and "complete gibberish". What do you think?

LANSA White Paper Examines i OS & Microsfot

Read a great article the other day in Four Hundred Stuff by Alex Woodie. The teaser follows:

LANSA yesterday unveiled a new white paper that seeks to address how System i shops can build an enterprise application architecture that works in concert with software from Microsoft. A properly conceived architecture, LANSA argues, can accelerate the selection of tools to automate application development, and enable System i organizations to adapt their IT systems more quickly and efficiently.

LANSA brought in recognized System i expert Paul Conte to write "The Eight Pillars of an Enterprise Application Architecture: Building a Stable and Agile Software Foundation in a Dynamic IBM i and Microsoft World."

Interested parties can register to download a copy of the white paper at www.lansa.com/contewp2a.

LANSA eLearning Made Easy is LIVE!

We have had the pleasure of being the Alpha site for LANSA eLearning. This is one of the moments that shows you that you have a business partner/vendor that not only listens to your concerns: They Address Them!

Imagine, learning LANSA on your schedule and for a fraction of the cost. This is a win for everyone but the airlines. Put away the luggage and learn at your convenience.

What is LANSA eLearning?

With LANSA eLearning, you will get access to your own personal Virtual PC Environment with LANSA Product Suite already preconfigured and setup. You will get to learn and use our Products with self-paced lab material that will help you learn fundamental concepts through Advanced Topics.

Take a look

Certified LANSA Partners

Benefit from Powerful Partnerships
Partnerships and strategic alliances play a key role in LANSA's delivery of applications that drive results and create value for our customers. To complement our business applications, services and solutions, we have partnered with technology and hardware platform manufacturers, operating systems vendors, software and database developers, consulting firms, resellers, system integrators and service organizations.

Find a Partner
LANSA has a worldwide network of over Solution, Services and Distributors to help you make the most of LANSA. Our Solution Partners use LANSA tools as part of their strategic development platform or to provide Web, Windows and Wireless extensions to existing world leading software solutions. Our Services Partners can help you over project peaks by providing assistance with core application development or to provide Web, Windows and Wireless extensions to existing software solutions. Our Distributors and LANSA offices can, in addition to assisting you with services and application solutions, provide the LANSA products, technical support and training you need to get ahead and stay ahead in today's rapidly changing world.

Americas LANSA Partners List

5 Ways to Simplify Maintenance Management (LANSA Solution)

Mike Albers recently published a nice article that gives 5 quick tips on how to Simplify Maintenance Management. His general philosopy about any process and especially when come it comes to Maintenance Management: Evaluate every process that you repeat, simplify and eliminate where possible.
Read his article

Mike directs the METHOS 7 x 24 Maintenance Mangement solution for Rippe & Kingston. METHOS is a comprehensive maintenance management system with installations world wide. Modules include: Equipment, Work Order, Preventative Maintenance, Inventory / Storeroom, Charge Account, Personnel, Fleet, Security, Integration Control, Purchasing and Standard Jobs. METHOS is based on LANSA technology.

LANSA 1SYNC: New Lowes Extract Report from Rippe and Kingston

Lowes product introduction process includes a spreadsheet that a supplier fills out and provides to the buyer at Lowes. This spreadsheet now includes a new tab called "Page 6 GDSN Published". Rippe and Kingston is introducing a Lowes Publication Report on our 1Sync Portal support site that will allow you to easily pull your publications for Lowes to Excel. Then you can place this information into Page 6 of the Lowes product introduction spreadsheet. Rippe and Kingston 1Sync clients can sign in and gain access to the extract. This report will be available by 11.28.2008. For more information please call 800.650.1999.

Learn more about R&K LANSA 1SYNC and GDSN Services

LANSA Services Delivered by Certified LANSA Partner

As you prepare your developement budgets for next year, please consider the LANSA services from R&K.

Rippe & Kingston provides the LANSA talent and technology necessary to help you meet almost any business need with efficient reliable custom software solutions. From simple LANSA web sites to sturdy LANSA based back office systems and everything in between, Rippe & Kingston LANSA consultants bring a wealth of experience to ensure your LANSA project's success every step of the way.

Rumor: LANSA Generates CNN Hologram

Allow me to set the record straight: LANSA does many great things. However, they did not create the CNN Hologram that was used to do an interview. If you missed it, click here.

LANSA History

If you are new to LANSA or only been using the technology for a few years, you might enjoy a look back at the LANSA Track Record. This image comes from the LANSA History Page

LANSA and V6R1M0 for Power System i

With V6R1M0 looming on the horizon, rebuilding your LANSA iSeries applications can be done programmatically with a few simple programs. Here at Rippe & Kingston we used the LANSA built-in commands of MAKE_FILE_OPERATIONL and COMPILE_PROCESS to rebuild our System i applications.

With the MAKE_FILE_OPERATIONL built-in, you can recompile all your file I/O modules. There is a little work up front to create a file with all the file names, but a query over file DC@F12 can give you the file and library data. You then copy the queried data into a LANSA defined file and you are ready to run. The code might look something like this:

********** Process all identified files.
SELECT FIELDS((#LIBNAM) (#FILNAM)) FROM_FILE(MAKEFLS)
**********
********** Submit job to make file operational
USE BUILTIN(MAKE_FILE_OPERATIONL) WITH_ARGS(#FILNAM #LIBNAM NNY) TO_GET(#RETCOD)
**********
ENDSELECT


The COMPILE_PROCESS built-in will allow you to recompile all your processes and functions. There is a little work up front here as well to create a file with all the process and function names, but a query over file DC@F23 will give you this data. You then copy the queried data into a LANSA defined file and you are ready to run. The code might look something like this:

********** Define a Process and Function working list
DEF_LIST NAME(#WKPRCL) FIELDS((#PRCN)) TYPE(*WORKING) ENTRYS(500)
DEF_LIST NAME(#WKFUNL) FIELDS((#FCTNAM)) TYPE(*WORKING) ENTRYS(90)
**********
CLR_LIST NAMED(#WKPRCL)
**********
********** Load all the unique Process Names into the working list
SELECT FIELDS((#PRCNAM)) FROM_FILE(PROCFIL)
LOC_ENTRY IN_LIST(#WKPRCL) WHERE('#PRCNAM *EQ #PRCN')
IF_STATUS IS_NOT(*OKAY)
CHANGE FIELD(#PRCN) TO(#PRCNAM)
ADD_ENTRY TO_LIST(#WKPRCL)
ENDIF
ENDSELECT
**********
********** Run through the Process List to build the related
********** Function working list and submit the compiles
SELECTLIST NAMED(#WKPRCL)
**********
CLR_LIST NAMED(#WKFUNL)
**********
SELECT FIELDS((#FCTNAM)) FROM_FILE(PROCFIL) WITH_KEY(#PRCN)
ADD_ENTRY TO_LIST(#WKFUNL)
ENDSELECT
**********
********** Submit the Process/Function compile
USE BUILTIN(COMPILE_PROCESS) WITH_ARGS(#PRCN #WKFUNL) TO_GET(#RETCOD)
********** Check if submission was successful
IF COND('#RETCOD *NE ''OK''')
MESSAGE MSGTXT('Process Compile NOT submitted successfully')
ENDIF
**********
ENDSELECT

One note, it is always best to make sure the submitted jobs go to a single threaded job queue so that compile locks are not a problem.

If you need a little help, don’t hesitate to contact us! It is FREE.

LANSA Delivers Cloud Computing to Rippe & Kingston

Definition of Cloud Computing: Cloud computing is a general concept that incorporates software as a service(SaaS), Web 2.0 and other recent, well-known technology trends, in which the common theme is reliance on the Internet for satisfying the computing needs of the users. For example, Google Apps provides common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers.

LANSA delivers Cloud Computing to Rippe & Kingston and our clients through the incorporation of the following LANSA Products:

• RAMP - is the fastest and most certain way to modernize your System i (iSeries and AS/400) business applications and in our case, deliver it via the web.


• Visual LANSA - provides us the development tools for creating Web Application Modules


• LANSA Portlet Generator - allows us to plug our LANSA applications into a central portal

Rippe & Kingston has incorporated the technology into their Contract Guardian Product, METHOS and LMS. If you are curious about learning more about how Cloud Computing might be in your future, contact us.

LANSA Case Studies

If you ever need to be inspired by what others have done with LANSA, take a look at the long list of Case Studies provided by LANSA. Case Studies.

Microsoft targets IBM midrange server customers

Microsoft plans to link hands with hardware and services companies on Tuesday in a push to win over IBM's midrange server customers, ZDNet UK sister site CNET News.com has learned.

The Midrange Alliance Program, or MAP, will see Microsoft join up with Fujitsu, LANSA, EDS and a half-dozen other companies to try to convince businesses to look at Windows-based alternatives to IBM's iSeries servers, the latest in the AS/400 family. See complete article