Here are tips on using SEQUEL’s Client Table feature

Do your end users want to slice and dice their data many different ways? Do some of your users need access to data even when they are not connected to the network? SEQUEL’s Client Table feature can help.

What is the Client Table feature?
SEQUEL’s Client Table is an interactive online analytical processing (OLAP) tool that gives end users the ability to interact with System i data and allows them to summarize large quantities of data quickly.

When a Client Table view is executed, data is copied to the user’s PC. The data is static until the next time the view is executed. Users perform interactive analysis locally on their copy of the data. This allows them to disconnect from the network and continue to work with the data. Users can filter data, pivot (rearrange) data, drill down for more detail, preview (and print) results, and export their data to Microsoft Excel.

Getting Started
Select a view and choose New > SEQUEL Client Table. The Client Table Wizard creates a table from any view in four easy steps:

1. Give the table a title. (The Wizard creates a default title which you can change.)

2. Identify the rows or dimensions for the table. The rows are the unique records listed down the left side of the table. You can group your data by customer, salesperson, country, state, or other fields. You can even select multiple fields as the unique rows in your table.

3. Select the field(s) that will be the columns or categories of data across the top of your table. This spreads the data across the table as it is built. You can identify product class, sales region, month, year, or any other field as your column. Again, you can choose multiple categories, such as fiscal year and quarter.

4. Decide what field(s) you want as your table data. People usually choose a numeric field, such as year-to-date sales, expenses, or budget, that can be summarized in the body of the table.

Note: Help/Systems recommends that you select all of the fields in the underlying view with which you want to work.

Design mode
Once the Wizard has created the table, you can work with a subset of your data in the Client Table designer. In design mode, you can change the rows or columns by dragging and dropping from the list of available fields. You also can apply data markers, create percentages (for rows and columns), or add ranking.

To add calculated fields, go to Format > Calculated Fields. Click on add and enter your formula. Once you close the panel, your table is updated instantly with the new column.

Go to Format > Layout to change display characteristics of the fields, hide fields, or apply ranking or percentages.

Data markers provide a powerful way to add visual impact to the information displayed. You can apply background and font colors conditionally for any number of ranges. Go to Format > Data Markers to add high and low values for a specific field and define the colors you want to apply based on this range. Continue adding data markers until all the ranges are defined.

The result
Once you have defined the view, files, and fields, added calculations, data markers, and other layout changes to the table, you are ready to run the view.

While displaying table data, you can filter the results by using the drop-down menu for any field. When you identify the data to be filtered, the field is highlighted in the display to indicate that the data has been filtered.

One of the most powerful Client Table features is the ability to pivot (rearrange) data once it’s displayed. By moving fields in and out of the rows and columns, or swapping a row or column, data can be analyzed and displayed in many ways. And, because the data is local on your PC, this analysis happens almost instantly!

Another Client Table feature is the ability to drill from summary data into detailed records. Select the summary value you want to drill into by double-clicking its cell. A new window with the detail data displays.

Finally, you can decide which levels of data you want to show or hide, depending on the analysis you are trying to perform. Simply expand or collapse fields to create your custom view.

Summary
There are many advantages to using the Client Table feature. It offers dynamic pivoting and filtering capabilities that you don’t have with the Host Table feature. You can apply data markers, create calculated fields, and save the results as a special object that can be viewed without SEQUEL ViewPoint. You can take data with you, even when you are not connected to the network. You even can export your table to Excel for further flexibility. It’s time to take a closer look at the SEQUEL Client Table feature.

Contributed by Jill Martin, Technical Services Manager

Use the available tools to make the conversion smooth and painless

Robot/SCHEDULE 10.0 is a great new release with many wonderful new features and Help/Systems has some tools to make the conversion process run smoothly.

Run the pre-checker program
The first tool is a pre-checker program. The pre-checker program checks to see if the conversion will complete successfully. We highly recommend running this program to help you identify issues that need to be resolved before you can have a successful conversion.

If the pre-checker fails, execute the WRKSPLF command and locate the RBTINSTP log. Read the log and look for statements marked F (for failure). Determine why each statement failed, correct the issue(s), and rerun the pre-checker program until it runs successfully.

Why might the pre-checker fail? A common reason is that there are locks on Robot/SCHEDULE files. Execute a WRKOBJLCK command on the library ROBOTLIB. There should be no locks.

If you don’t see any locks, consider whether or not you are mirroring ROBOTLIB. Mirroring programs may lock files intermittently. Or, they may share files rather than lock them. Either way, active mirroring is likely to prevent a successful conversion. We recommend that you turn off mirroring while converting. You may need to get permission from upper management to do this.

When the pre-checker completes, review the output for warning messages. Warning messages are not fatal errors, but you should review the information and consider if any additional actions are appropriate.

No Robot/SCHEDULE jobs with a status of R (Running) or S (Submitted to Queue) can be running during the conversion. The pre-checker program looks for these jobs and notifies you if there are any jobs in either status. You can either end these jobs or wait for them to complete.

Make all of the Robot products inactive during the conversion by running the RSLSHUTDWN command.

If you use auditing
If you use Robot/SCHEDULE auditing, the conversion process calls a program to convert your audit log journal receivers. The maximum number of journal receivers allowed is 500. If you have more than 500 journal receivers in the RBTJRN journal, you must save and delete them before the conversion. (The pre-checker program indicates how many journal receivers you have over the limit of 500.)

The Display Audit Log (RBTDSPAUDL) command has changed in Robot/SCHEDULE 10. If you have Robot/SCHEDULE jobs or CL programs that use this command, review the following items:

• Use the new parameter, Print Field Legend, to print the field legend used in the audit log.
• The *OUTLIB value was removed from the Output parameter. In version 10, audit log data is stored in a physical file instead of a journal receiver. You can display the audit log or create a spooled file.

Installing the GUI
In previous versions of Robot/SCHEDULE, the Graphical User Interface (GUI) was optional. In version 10, if you don’t install the GUI you miss out on major features such as the following:

• The Job Creation Wizard provides on-screen instructions for creating a job. If you are familiar with Robot/SCHEDULE, you can use the Job Creation Wizard to create basic jobs quickly. After you create a job, you can select it from the Explorer and use the Job Properties window to specify unique job information or advanced scheduling options. All instructions for using the Job Creation Wizard display online as you set up your jobs.
• The Schedule Activity Monitor (SAM) provides a visual reference to assure that your jobs are running as expected. Whether you’re new to Robot/SCHEDULE or an experienced user, SAM can help you monitor your job schedule.
• Shared Command Sets allow multiple jobs to run the same set of commands. During conversion, any jobs with the same name are changed to have a shared command set. Although shared command sets are visible from the green screen, you can modify them only through the GUI. If you need to modify a command parameter, maintenance is simple. You just change the command once in the command set—you don’t have to update every job that uses the shared set.

Another great reason to install the GUI is that you can start multiple instances of the GUI on the same PC, each connecting to a different System i. Then, switch between systems to monitor jobs or make job schedule changes quickly.

Note: If you quit at any time during the installation of the GUI, a partial install occurs. To resolve this, just restart the installation process. All existing files will be replaced and the product will be installed correctly on the PC.

Additional resources
Download the following Help/FACTS:

• Instructions for converting Robot/SCHEDULE Version 9.0 to Version 10.0
• If you used Robot/SCHEDULE security in version 9.0, refer to Robot/SCHEDULE 10 Secured Object Cross-Reference, when setting up security for the Robot/SCHEDULE 10 graphical interface. This document helps ensure that you have the proper authority in place for objects in the new interface.

Contributed by Jerry Stenzel, Robot/SCHEDULE Product Manager

Do I have to convert all of my Nodes to Robot/NETWORK 10 when I convert the Host?
No, Robot/NETWORK 10 supports limited functions to back-level Nodes. Nodes must be at Robot/NETWORK Node 9.62 to be supported.

The following functions are supported:

• Robot/SCHEDULE jobs you have set up with cross-system reactivity will continue to work. However, you cannot set up new cross-system reactive jobs. Event statuses continue to be sent to the Host.
• Robot/CONSOLE messages with cross-system redirection will continue to work, but you cannot set up new ones. Messages still will be redirected to the Robot/NETWORK Status Center and replies will be posted on both the Host and the Node.
• Robot/REPORTS event statuses will be posted to the Robot/NETWORK Status Center.

The following functions are not supported:

• Packets for Robot/SCHEDULE, Robot/CONSOLE, and Robot/REPORTS.
• The RBNSNDRBT, RBNSNDRBC, and RBNSNDREP commands.
• New Robot/NETWORK 10 Graphical User Interface (GUI) options, such as server options, are not supported in relation to a Robot/NETWORK 9 Node.
• Robot/SCHEDULE 10 is not supported on a Robot/NETWORK 9 Node.

I am looking for a program to add to my System i shutdown program that will end Robot/SCHEDULE gracefully.
We recommend using the RSLSHUTDWN command. It ends all installed Robot products automatically and then ends the RBTSLEEPER subsystem.

What you need to know about your disk space but were afraid to ask

Robot/SPACE helps you manage your disk space. This article covers some common questions users have and how Robot/SPACE helps you answer them.

Can I tell which job is using my temporary storage?
Robot/SPACE has a monitor job (SPCJTSMON) that monitors job temporary storage. You set the thresholds for both logging and notification. To view all jobs that have exceeded the thresholds, right-click on the Job Temporary Storage Monitor from the Robot/SPACE Explorer and select Threshold History. You can sort the data by Date/Time, Peak Temporary Storage Used, Job Name, and so on.

How do I tell which user profile is responsible for using the most disk space?
The easiest way to find out who is using the most disk space is to display a graph using the Graphs/Trends feature. Right-click on Graphs/Trends and select Display. Select a collection group for the data and choose how to summarize it. Choose Summarize Total Size By Owner to view a pie chart showing the profiles using the most disk space.

Tip: Float your cursor over any piece of the pie chart to display the total amound of disk space used by that profile.

How can I determine where the disk space has gone?
Use the Critical Storage Investigator (CSI). The CSI uses a logical progression to find the source of disk space problems.

1. Open the Critical Storage Investigator by selecting its icon in the toolbar menu. The CSI displays overall ASP utilization levels and any sudden growth.

2. View job temporary storage to see if an out-of-control job is consuming your temporary storage and causing a sudden increase in ASP usage.

3. Review collection statistics to see whether a library or IFS directory has grown more than expected.

4. Run a collection group for current object size statistics.

5. If you haven’t found the problem, run the System Health report. This report lists every system object that has grown by the amount you specify and allows you to pinpoint unusual object growth. It summarizes each library by listing the current size, previous size, previous date, percentage change, and size change.

Can I be notified if an iASP or ASP has grown too quickly?
Robot/SPACE has an ASP monitor job (SPCASPMON) that runs in the RBTSLEEPER subsystem and continually checks ASP and iASP growth. If any thresholds are reached, Robot/ALERT can notify you by sending a message to an e-mail address, cell phone, PDA, or other device. Robot/SPACE can also send a message to a message queue, or send a Robot/NETWORK status message. You can monitor up to three different ASP percent usage thresholds, a growth rate threshold (such as ASP usage grew 15% over the last hour), and unprotected storage use.

Do I have any large unused *SAVF objects?
Robot/SPACE has a storage audit task to delete unused save files. Right-click in the Storage Audit section to add a storage audit. Select the tasks button and select “Delete unused save files.”

Or, you can print the results of the storage audit instead of actually deleting the unused save files. To do this, make sure the “Corrective Action” check box is set to None and the check box to print results from this audit task is selected.

How can I easily copy library statistical data to Excel?
Right-click on a collection to view Collection History. Select the date for which want statistical data and click on the Libraries section. The right panel displays detailed library information. Right-click on the library data and choose Select All. Right-click again and select Copy to Clipboard. You can keep the labels, or not, and paste the results into a blank Excel spreadsheet!

Contributed by Jenny Dischinger, Technical Consultant

Age IFS files with a new storage audit feature

For many companies, the Integrated File System (IFS) is continually growing and difficult to manage. To help you with this task, Help/Systems has enhanced Robot/SPACE. If you are using Robot/SPACE 2.14 (or higher), you have an enhancement that makes it easy to find and/or delete old IFS objects.

The Age IFS Objects storage audit task scans your IFS to find old objects for you. You can print a report of the results, or you can have Robot/SPACE delete the old files automatically. The report lists old IFS objects, sorted by directory, and the date they were last used.

Setting up the Age IFS Objects task is a simple, two-step process:

1. Right-click on the storage audit and select Properties. There is a new tab for Aged IFS File Filter. Add a filter and choose to filter by Directory or by Stream File. (Choosing Directory allows you to include subdirectories; the Stream File option lists old *STMF objects in the specified directory only.) Specify how old (in days) an IFS object must be to be listed on the report or deleted.

2. Add the storage audit task Age IFS Objects. Choose the corrective action of deleting old IFS objects, or select the option to print a report listing old IFS objects.

New version lets users export and transfer files and records

Help/Systems, the world’s leader in automated operations and business intelligence for the IBM System i, announces the release of EASY VIEW 8.0, its popular database file display package. EASY VIEW 8.0 offers export and transfer options, improved scan management capabilities, and new options for viewing records.

EASY VIEW 8.0 offers multiple options for exporting or transferring data. Now, users can export files to an Integrated File System (IFS) directory in a column-delimited format, to view in any spreadsheet program. This allows users to more easily read, organize, and share information in a database. Users also can transfer selected records of a file to a new file or to an existing file, which is useful for creating test files without compromising the original file.

EASY VIEW 8.0 includes improved scan management capabilities. Users can save scan definitions and retrieve them later for use, edit and organize saved scan definitions, include scans-and-replaces in batch job streams, and send scan results directly to a column-delimited file.

Version 8.0 also provides new options for viewing records. A new viewing mode, Expanded EZFIELD, provides more heading and text information to allow users to see all the available fields for a record. Users can press a function key to quickly switch between 10 different viewing modes.

EASY VIEW displays binary fields in three standard buffer lengths, with higher numerical limits that are more compatible with binary data from other platforms.

Next steps:

• Visit the EASY VIEW page to order a FREE information kit
• Download related HELP/FACTS:
  • EASY VIEW 8.0 Enhancements
  • EASY VIEW 8.0 Comparison Checklist
  • Instructions for converting from EASY VIEW 7.0 to EASY VIEW 8.0