RE: YEAR 2K TESTING

If you wish to test for Y2K by moving the actual system date ahead, do a COMPLETE system backup before you move the date ahead, then a COMPLETE restore once you are finished future testing.  If you do not, Dwight is correct, you could possibly screw up software keys, job schedules, user profile expirations, etc.  Some data areas and files in BPCS also store the last time a process was run, and if you do not restore things back to the way they were before you moved the date ahead, jobs and programs may not produce the results that you expect.  Also, objects on the system itself will have last used dates that are in the future which could have detrimental effects depending on the processing in your shop.

My advice after having worked on (and still am...) several Y2K conversions is that if you want to test the application in the future, use a date simulation utility - several are available for the AS/400 (SIMDATE, AnyDate, etc.).  The second part of the equation is even if you move or simulate the move of the system date forward so that you test out whether the programs function correctly, your data still does not look like what it will in the future.  If you test out your financials, all of a sudden everything in Accounts Receivable could be over 120 days past due for example.  If you want to go that far in your testing, there are also products available to age the data ahead for you from MKS (formerly Silvon's product), Aldon, and other folks.

Check out http://www.as400.ibm.com/developer/year2000/y2sysdat.html for a white paper from IBM titled "Year 2000 Testing and the AS/400 System Date".

Hope this helps.

********************************************
Chris Hillock
Manager, Advanced Applications
REAL Industry Solutions Group
chillock@elcamino.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Dwight Slessman [mailto:dslessman@nationalelectrical.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 1999 2:54 PM
To: 'BPCS-L@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: YEAR 2K TESTING

It seems like I read that setting the date ahead on OS/400 is generally not
a good idea.  It could destroy software keys, etc.  Only do this after
thorough investigation.

-----Original Message-----
From:   oludare [SMTP:oludare@ix.netcom.com]
Sent:   Wednesday, March 31, 1999 4:32 PM
To:     BPCS-L@midrange.com; MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com; oludare@ix.netcom.com
Subject:        YEAR 2K TESTING

GUYS,

I need to know the details involve in testing for Y2K.  Right now, I'm
preparing to set the date to 01/01/2000 and perform all normal user
daily tasks on a weekend.  I will then reset the date back to current
date and users will get back on the following Monday performing their
normal tasks.  I'm I on the right track.  My OS is V3R7MO and I'm
currently on BPCS 6.0.2.

All your input will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Oludare

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