Re: Print Format -- BPCS-L

At our version, the source code came with BPCS, so that we could modify it ourselves. At later versions, getting the source code costs extra $, and some customers opt out of that expense. So one question is whether you even have the source code associated with the print programs.

We got it. We modified it. At 405CD on AS/400, the print programs are pretty straightforwards compared to update and other programs, assuming you know RPG and DDS. Some of the programs use old fashioned output specifications of RPG. Some of them write whole chunks of info to print file layouts defined by DDS. Someone who knows these languages and has access to the source code ought to be able to do it. With AS/Set it would go quite fast.

Depending on what you need done, it probably take longer to explain to the programmer what you want done, than the programmer get the job done, assuming all you want done is rearrange what goes where on the form, using data that is already accessible from the files being used now.

One of the big challenges is which program to modify. I kid you not ... you run some BPCS program ... it calls a bunch of others that call a bunch of others that ... many levels deep, and the ACTUAL program that does the printing is what you want to modify.

We use test libraries, so that we can test modifications, and if they not yet satisfactory, we have not messed up ability to continue running the business.

Gets more involved if you want to alter print sequence, or figure out what other files contain data you want added.

You might shop around for people who can do programming modification work on your configuration, and make sure they get paid a decent compensation, because you might want to use them again on other stuff.

You might also look for lists like this one that are on NT2000 and Oracle 8i.

- Al Macintyre http://www.ryze.com/go/Al9Mac Find BPCS Documentation Suppliers http://radio.weblogs.com/0107846/stories/2002/11/08/bpcsDocSources.html - you wrote:

We are using V8.0 on NT2000 with Oracle 8i. This from my understanding
is not widely done with this product. My questions are:

1.      how do you re-format print output for checks
2.      how do you re-format print output for invoices

I'm pretty sure I'll need more, but the answer I get from SSA to buy
Professional Service help from them ( never a good option, I have done
this once and set us back 2 months on implementation )  or get the
source and re-compile after the changes have been made.

Looking for some advice on how others got around this.

Craig Chaddock

- Al Macintyre http://www.ryze.com/go/Al9Mac Find BPCS Documentation Suppliers http://radio.weblogs.com/0107846/stories/2002/11/08/bpcsDocSources.html