New release adds message set wizard, XML support, and more

Here’s an overview of some of the great new features you can look forward to when you upgrade to Robot/CONSOLE 5.0.

Robot/CONSOLE Explorer
Robot/CONSOLE 5.0 features a totally new graphical user interface (GUI), the Robot/CONSOLE Explorer. In the past, the graphical portion of Robot/CONSOLE gave you access only to message centers. Now, the Explorer gives you full access to all Robot/CONSOLE functions. From the Explorer tool bar, you can view message history, export and import messages sets using XML, view resource status history, check active jobs or spooled files on the system, and even create new message sets using the Message Set Creation Wizard. When you “float” your cursor over the icons on the tool bar, you see information about the options available to you.

To start the Explorer, add the systems to which you want to connect to the System tab. You can connect to any system on which Robot/CONSOLE 5.0 is installed. If you have multiple systems, you can run multiple instances of the Explorer on your PC to connect to each system individually.

Under Tools > Preferences, you can set up notification and resource monitor status preferences. Some options include: having a window pop up on your PC when a new message arrives in a message center, playing sounds when you start or stop Robot/CONSOLE, and being notified automatically whenever updates are available for the Explorer.

The Robot/CONSOLE Explorer gives you full access to all Robot/CONSOLE functions.

The Message Set Creation Wizard
Robot/CONSOLE 5 includes a new Message Set Creation Wizard that lets you quickly create simple message sets using the Explorer. The Wizard allows you to create the most frequently used types of message sets: unconditional message sets and message sets that use the OPAL PAGE or REDIRECT functions. To use the Message Set Creation Wizard, select the Wizard icon on the tool bar and step through the windows. The Wizard automatically creates the message set and makes it active.

Export/Import function
Robot/CONSOLE 5 makes it much easier to replicate your setup from system to system. You can use the export function to copy message sets, message centers, message queue monitors, message tables, OPAL tables, resources, and notification lists. When you select the export function, Robot/CONSOLE exports the data to an XML file on your PC. You can import this file to another system using the Explorer. In the past, exporting message sets required you to export the data, save the RBCMRGLIB library, restore it to the target system, and run the import process. The new process is much simpler.

View Monitored Resource Status
Use the new Resource Monitor Status window to see the status of your monitored resources. You can display any combination of resource statuses including passed, failed, pending, unknown, or held. Then simply right-click on a resource, to access resource or message history, and hold or release the resource.

Data filters
Robot/CONSOLE 5.0 lets you create customized data filters for viewing message history, displaying the message center, or viewing resource statuses. Standard sort criteria are available, but filters allow you to meet specific needs. Filters make it easier to find the messages you’re most interested in.

Reports
Robot/CONSOLE’s new Message Tables report lists all current message tables and the message IDs associated with each, or lists an individual message table and its message IDs. This report helps you quickly determine the content and usefulness of each table.

History
If you do not remove Robot/CONSOLE’s message history regularly, the files can become very large. Robot/CONSOLE 5.0 introduces a new command,  Delete Message History (RBCDLTHST), to remove history records. You can specify a date range for the deletion. We recommend that you run this command weekly.

Conversion
Robot/CONSOLE 5.0 is the first product you can convert from Help/Systems Web site. In the past, if you wanted to convert to a new release, you needed to order a CD. With Robot/CONSOLE, you can download the conversion file whenever you are ready to convert.

Contributed by Terri Preston, Technical Consultant

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 10:28 am and is filed under Home, Robot/CONSOLE. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.