Re: Websphere, Websphere Development Tools and Webfacing definitions

 >> Websphere Development Tools- Is a group of some products (like
CODE/400) that may be useful in designing web apps.

Too narrow a definition.  Useful in designing AS/400, iSeries, and just
about other apps would be better.  Code/400 for example can edit and
compile programs (PDM + SEU) design 5250 and Print layouts (SDA and RLU),
edit and compile Java code, edit HTML, etc. etc.  It is also the editor
used by VARPG - the Visual RPG that is also part of the tool set.

 >> WebFacing - Must be some kind of screen scraper.

IBM get upset when you call it this but in effect this is what it is used
for.  The difference is that it taps into the basic display buffer _before_
all the 5250 datastream stuff gets added - so no interpretation of the data
stream is required at the client it is all handled in OS400

 >> Is there a page that really explains all this or can someone in the
List do it.  I would like to know what is needed for each one to run
(version, ptf, etc.).

IBM's home page for the tools is www.software.ibm.com/ad/wdt400 - the title
WebSphere Development Tools (WDT/400) applies to the whole product set from
the host based compilers to the workstation pieces.  The workstation
components are also know as WebSphere Development Studio (WDS/400) because
they can be purchased separately (e.g. if you were a consultant and didn't
own an ISeries of your own to order WDT/400 against).

To order WDT/400 you need to be on V4R5 or V5R1.  These are the only
releases supported for WebFacing and the only ones on which you can get the
whole compiler package (which includes C, C++, COBOL and RPG as well as PDM
etc).  If you are on software subscription these packages are orderable as
a no charge refresh as long as you own PDM and at least one compiler.

For releases earlier than V4R5 you can order and run all except the
WebFacing piece of WDS/400 i.e. the workstation tools.  If you already have
Code/400 and/or VARPG it is a no cost upgrade I believe otherwise you have
to pay or wait until you are one of the releases mentioned above.

Hope this helps.

Jon Paris
Jon.Paris@e400.com

www.e400.com - A new wave of iSeries and AS/400 Education

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