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Leveraging the iSeries
with the POWER! of the PC
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Displaying an Image

MS Word Interface

Crystal Reports

Product Info editor

Shipper Tracking interface

The iSeries has served business well. Its durability, scalability, ease of use, and overall value is legendary. It is the system of choice in mission critical applications. However, there are functions that are better served by the PC.

Computer Solutions, Inc., of Miami Lakes, Florida has enabled a set of functions that synergistically enhance their iSeries ORDER POWER! ERP suite of applications (an end-to-end solution for companies that sell B2C, B2B, or do third party fulfillment).

Integration between the iSeries and the desktop leverages ORDER POWER! applications with the power of the PC. The following are examples of the co-operative features that are supported in either text-based or graphical displays.

All the applications are enabled using Visual Basic, RPG-ILE, and ODBC connectivity. A small VB program installed locally on the PC is invoked when the PC is booted. This "broker" or "socket" program runs in the background and constantly listens for a command from the iSeries to load the appropriate VB application program from the iSeries. Data and images are retrieved from the iSeries.

Many iSeries users are concentrating on protecting their RPG investment and modernizing their applications by building a graphical interface or re-facing the user interface. Computer Solutions' PC Broker technology adds Windows functionality to iSeries applications without the licensing expense and technical complications involved in using third party software and enabling tools. Consistent with iSeries philosophy, it relies only on existing and proven technologies that will endure.

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ORDER POWER! Displaying an Image
	Image Display can display up to three images of an item during Order Entry or when doing Item Maintenance.
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ORDER POWER! MS Word Interface
	Correspondence/MS Word Interface allows the user to compose letters in MS Word while doing Accounts Receivable, Order Entry, Customer Service, Purchase Orders and other iSeries functions. Each letter is based on a template that is created in advance in Word. If the user wishes to create a letter while entering a customer order, he selects a function key that presents a list of eligible letters. After selecting the appropriate letter from the predefined set of templates, the application invokes Word and dynamically does a mail merge with the iSeries data fields the user predefined to be included in the document. The application brings the user into Word and allows him to add, change or delete the letter. The letter can be printed, faxed, or emailed, and optionally saved.
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ORDER POWER! with Crystal Reports
	Crystal Reports Interface enables the graphical dominance of the PC to provide formatted text, images, charts and maps from the iSeries database. These displays deliver clear, effective graphical communication.
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ORDER POWER! Product Info editor
	Product Info editor Because product data is entered and stored in fixed fields on the iSeries, maintaining freeform product information text is difficult. This PC-based Product Info text editor is used to maintain product information. It supports word-wrap, cut and paste, and spell check, all of which make the job much easier. The application seamlessly deploys the Windows' built-in spell checker that is already on the PC.
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ORDER POWER! Shipper Tracking interface
	Shipper Tracking interface tracks shipped packages on the web by pressing a function key in an iSeries screen. The application launches Internet Explorer with the appropriate tracker number(s) retrieved from the iSeries database and embedded in a link directed to the UPS, Fedex, USPS, or Canada Post web sites.

Computer Solutions, Inc.
providing Order Management and eCommerce software
for multi-channel merchants

6187 NW 167th Street, Suite H33
Miami Lakes, Florida 33015
Phone: 305-558-7000
Fax: 305-557-0003

Leveraging the iSeries with the POWER! of the PC (White Paper)

Leveraging the iSeries
with the POWER! of the PC
(White Paper)