RE: Re: Help Systems' email about AFP support discontinued at 7.3 - not true ! - or is it ?

We offer your definition of a form as well, but we call that an input form or web form which is used to collect data and interface the data to IBM i or other databases.

iForms generates output forms (which you refer to as pre-printed forms) as PDF or printed output and/or simple or complex data driven reports and documents which is normally what we recommend these days.

However many IBM i shops are culturally engrained to generating spool files and then wanting to make them look nice.

The reason that spool files are considered as data sources at all is that people still generate them.

I prefer using databases or XML input as the source for a document. Simple SQL statements, visual design and viola a document with no RPG or COBOL programming.

If you're interested in educating yourself I'm happy to point you to some of our short topical webinars.

Regards,


Richard Schoen
Director of Document Management
e. richard.schoen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
p. 952.486.6802
w. helpsystems.com

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message: 2
date: Fri, 9 Dec 2016 14:10:25 -0700
from: Nathan Andelin <nandelin@xxxxxxxxx>
subject: Re: Help Systems' email about AFP support discontinued at 7.3
- not true ! - or is it ?

The "forms" metaphor in this case seems a bit counter intuitive, to me at least. Forms in my mind are pre-printed documents which contain input elements which one fills out manually and hands back to whoever is seeking your input. Think filling our a drivers licence application and handing it back to a clerk.

It sounds like iForms is a WYSIWYG report designer and generator which can import data from multiple types of data sources. I've never understood why people felt that spool files were good "data sources".

I must be missing something..., probably out of touch.


On Fri, Dec 9, 2016 at 10:33 AM, Richard Schoen < Richard.Schoen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

When dealing with spool files, iForms can ingest an existing spool
file and turn it into a business form such as an invoice, po, check, etc.

We don't really care what created it as long as it's *SCS.

iForms can also be used to generate output reports if needed since
documents are spool file, text file, XML file or database driven but
its main usage is normally to create business forms.

Beyond doing simple spool file driven forms, it supports
header/detail/comment and other complex sub-report options so chances
are you could do some pretty complex form documents if needed.

I'm happy to talk more offline if interested in learning more but at
least for the purpose of Verns original AFP discussion we've covered it already.

Regards,


Richard Schoen
Director of Document Management
e. richard.schoen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
p. 952.486.6802
w. helpsystems.com

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