RE: Restore QSPL to get back spool files

> If you're going to suck data out of a database only to format 
> it into reports so that you can save them as images on disk 
> catalogued in another database you may as well have fun doing it.
> 
> -Jim

COLD systems store the reports as ASCII or EBCDIC not as images. 

Most COLD systems will extract and build a database key on columns 
(including combinations of columns) or key-per-page for invoice and 
PO numbers and such. The result being that you can key in an invoice 
number (or screen scrape it from the AS400 application)
and in a split second bring that document up on the screen, 
complete with form overlay, and email, print or fax it.

The PC server COLD systems don't store blanks lines - as  matter of
fact the typical report takes up 10% of the space it takes on the AS400,

after removing blank lines and doing paged-zip compression.

With digital timestamping, the difference between paper and the digital 
file, is that you can prove the digital file (such as a cold report, a 
scanned image,  or audio or video recording) existing on a certain date,

and has not changed since. You are never certain with paper.

Sarbanes-Oxley is making this an issue for publicly traded companies.

Customer service makes it an issue for other companies.

The problem with being able to generate a new copy of the invoice 
from historical data at a later date, is that this makes every moment 
of control of the database a critical issue from the auditing
perspective.

Storing and retrieving a static document that can be digitally validated
Removes the need for infinite trust or infinite control.

Brad Jensen
www.elstore.com