GT Software, represented in SA by JMR Software, has introduced tcACCESST, an SQL-based solution that combines the advantages of the S/390 with the flexibility of client/server and Internet technologies. It enables any PC or Web application to easily access and retrieve any selected data from any S/390 data source.
"tcACCESS uses an existing infrastructure and standard ODBC/JDBC interfaces to quickly and efficiently access and move data between legacy applications and distributed computing resources. Once installed, you can access and integrate S/390 data sources without any host programming," says Leon Theron, Marketing Director of JMR Software.
tcACCESS was recently successfully implemented and utilised by two Germany-based companies. BRUNATA H"urth needed a tool that could assist the company in the migration of data stored in hierarchical DL/1 databases to a relational DB2 database.
The company made the decision to replace the DL/1 based data model with IBM`s DB2 relational database based on the following: increasing demands as a result of the Internet/intranet; emerging new technologies (ie mobile data entry devices and systems); management requirements for data warehouse solutions; as well as the inherent inflexibility of the existing data base.
"BRUNATA looked for a software tool that supported the migration process and which also allowed us to access and join the classical mainframe resources DL/1, VSAM and DB2, using the relational SQL language," said a spokesman for the company. "Also, we wanted a tool that could be used with standalone utilities, and that could be accessed by an API from in-house application programs."
Since the purchase of tcACCESS, BRUNATA has been extremely active. BRUNATA use a fourth Generation package from Lattwein, Germany, called CPG5 for the development of their Batch and Online-Applications. An interface has been developed which enables CPG5 programs to transparently access any VSE resource using SQL syntax. "The integration of the API functions into our CPG programs was simple and straightforward," says Ulrich Schmitz, application developer and database specialist.
Another company that recognised the benefits of tcACCESS was ""Arzteversorgung Niedersachsen" (Support of the medical profession) or AEN. The company wanted to develop PC applications for end-users using DELPHI as the standard programming language.
"However, one significant hurdle had to be overcome: the data to be used by the DELPHI applications resided in the mainframe. The solution that tcACCESS offered was very convincing and attracted our attention," explained Bernd Wedermann, Application developer at AEN.
Wedermann attended a tcACCESS road show in Hanover. "It was fascinating to see how a simple PC application could access mainframe data using standard SQL-syntax. The product was demonstrated in a live environment, accessing a mainframe using an Internet connection. We decided on the spot to put tcACCESS on trial."
The first DELPHI prototype was developed immediately after the first installation. "The installation was really simple and not at all complicated," said Wedermann. "We could already access our VSAM files and DB2 tables the next morning. Defining a View which combined a VSAM file and a DB2 table was not a problem at all." This view was used by a DELPHI program using the ODBC-component of tcACCESS. During the trial period some smaller applications were developed and have been used in production.
In addition, Bernd Wedermann developed several tools that provided easy and graphical access to the POWER-Queues, called the POWER-Explorer. "The DELPHI developer uses relational views and therefore the way in which mainframe data is organized or accessed appears seamless," says Wedermann on the advantages that tcACCESS provide for AEN.
"These two examples illustrate the ways in which tcACCESS can be adapted to suit different companies` requirements. It is a tool that offers clients a complete solution - it`s feature rich, reliable, comprehensive and offers high security and fast performance," concludes Theron.
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Established in 1987, JMR Software specialises in delivering turnkey custom-developed applications for mainframe, client server, and Internet-based platforms, and has made major contributions in a range of industries, particularly banking and insurance. The company has over 120 employees, including a large contractor base, which is deployed both in SA and the UK.
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