Category: IBM
IBM i Solution Edition
Posted on June 30, 2020at 3:09 pm
Buy CoolSpools to get the Boost!
From June 9th through to September 30th 2020 IBM is offering to give your business a ‘boost’ with their IBM i solution Edition Booster Pack.
With the Booster Pack, clients can purchase software from any IBM i PartnerWorld registered ISV (instead of specific named solutions) to be eligible for the 4-core or 6-core IBM Power Systems S914 with all the software and benefits.
Ariadne Software Limited is an IBM PartnerWorld registered ISV, making CoolSpools an eligible part of this solution. The IBM i Solution Edition enables you to upgrade to IBM i 7.4 and Power 9 whilst at the same time benefitting from significant reductions in the cost of the IBM i Software stack.
To learn more about the program visit:
https://www.ibm.com/it-infrastructure/power/os/ibm-i-solution-editions
For further information about this offer and CoolSpools please contact sales@ariadnesoftware.co.uk
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It’s Time to Upgrade Your Best-Kept Secret: IBM i
Posted on November 18, 2019at 4:15 pm
IBM just released a new version of IBM i 7.4 — with some significant new capabilities.
This white paper describes the unique nature of the IBM i platform in a world of otherwise thin, kernel-based operating systems. It also discusses why organizations that are running their operations on IBM i can benefit from upgrading to IBM i 7.4, whereas businesses that currently do not have IBM i in their data centre could benefit from introducing the platform into their environment.
Peter Rutten, IDC
September 2019
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Sending emails to Office 365 from applications using IBM i 7.1?
Posted on August 27, 2019at 11:03 am
What’s the problem?
Microsoft plans to discontinue the support for Transport Layer Security (TLS) versions 1.0 & 1.1 in Office 365 and Office 365 GCC as of June 2020.
This means that starting in June 2020, any commercial clients, devices or services that connect to Office 365 using TLS 1.0 and 1.1 will not succeed.
Microsoft recommend that all client-server and browser-server combinations use TLS 1.2 (or a later version) to maintain connection to Office 365 services.
However, TLS 1.2 is only supported from IBM i 7.2:
Check if your hardware supports 7.2 here:
https://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssm1platformibmi
How can we fix it?
To fix the problem you can upgrade your IBM i release to 7.2 or above or alternatively you can implement CoolSpools software SMTP.
CoolSpools has its own SMTP engine to communicate directly with the target email system to deliver emails. This allows us to address the many shortcomings of the IBM SMTP method, namely:
- We think it’s easier to set up and manage.
- We believe the diagnostic and logging information provided is much improved.
- We can now take charge of the entire process of sending an email from beginning
to end and give you the ability to tell very easily whether a particular email has
been successfully sent or not, and if not, why not.
The CoolSpools software email module has an API available to send emails straight from your AS400 (IBM i) applications. It supports multiple attachments and can send data extracts and alert messages. Plus there are also facilities for saving and resending emails.
CoolSpools email is part of the ‘All Options’ bundle which besides email includes modules for Spool Converter, Database and Spool administration. There is a special offer on until October 31st 2019 for new ‘All Options’ licences and those looking to upgrade to ‘All Options’ licences, please visit for more information http://www.coolspools.com/pricing/
Further information about CoolSpools email can be found here http://www.coolspools.com/email/
Contact us now for a demo of CoolSpools software Email using TLS 1.2 and authenticating with Office 365.
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IBM Power Systems – Spectre and Meltdown
Posted on February 08, 2018at 11:26 am
On January 9, IBM confirmed that Spectre and Meltdown does affect IBM POWER Systems servers.
These new vulnerabilities are further reason for ensuring your System i server is running a supported OS release with the latest PTFs installed. The latest official word on this from IBM can be found at:
https://www.ibm.com/blogs/psirt/potential-impact-processors-power-family/
and details regarding the PTFs can be found on IBM’s Security Bulletin.
To ensure you are notified of future security alerts such as this you can subscribe to IBM’s Security Bulletins.
Information regarding compatible OS release levels and Coolspools versions can be found here:
http://www.coolspools.com/faq-supported-versions/
Occasionally during an OS/400 upgrade customers find their CoolSpools license keys have expired. We believe that this happens if a scratch install is done or if library QUSRSYS (where OS/400 stores its license keys) gets overwritten or restored as part of the upgrade. If this happens you just need to re-enter your original license keys by re-running the ADDLICKEY command you were sent when you first purchased the license.
If you no longer have a note of your license key(s), please contact our support team via our Help Desk portal and ask for a reminder.
CoolSpools Case Study – DUO, Netherlands
Posted on July 14, 2016at 9:27 am
Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) is the executive arm of the Netherlands national government for education. DUO finances and informs participants in education and educational institutions and organises examinations.
DUO uses CoolSpools for sending emails from IBM i partitions because prior to release 7.1 there was no native tool that would let you send emails with IFS based attachments. Most of the attachments are .zip files and .pdf files – the .zip files are created by DUO’s own software, the .pdf files via standard CPYSPLF functionality. The emails with attachments are used for both internal and external communications.
Ivar Eizenga – DUO’s IBM Power Infrastructure Manager says “Implementation using CoolSpools was pretty simple and working with CoolSpools and the support team has been brilliant so far. We’re currently moving our systems from Power7 to Power8 and we received all the extended licenses for our side-by-side operation without any major hassle, which in this time and age is kind of unique”.
CoolSpools Case Study – DiVal Safety Equipment
Posted on June 13, 2016at 8:45 am
Spool to PDF conversions help DiVal Safety Equipment, a large, US based distributor of safety and industrial products. They own and operate several offices and warehouses throughout the Eastern, Central & Southern United States.
How does DiVal use CoolSpools?
DiVal have hundreds of automated spool to PDF conversions for such things as emailing invoices, statements, purchase orders, acknowledgements, etc. and they are also starting to use CoolSpools to archive day-end reports which have historically been bound and stored.
CoolSpools is used by DiVal to convert (to PDF) and email artwork held on the IFS for their silk screening, needlework and tool repair processes and their team have written a CL with a prompt for a query name/library and email address, so that any member of staff who uses Query/400 can send & receive worksheets via email.
To achieve a workflow solution DiVal use RPG XML to create HTML which is put into the SNDCMN or CVT command so their customer gets an email with a “response” link, an attachment of the PDF document to be approved, buttons to Approve, Approve with Change or Decline, and a text box for comments. They are also able to embed a logo header and footer into the email using HTML pointing to a web server.
Paul McMahon of Dival Safety Equipment says “Having previously used IBM’s SNDDST with stand-alone PDF and Excel converters CoolSpools is day and night as to flexibility and ease of use, plus it’s more reliable. If you ask me to describe the CoolSpools product and support team it’s easy because I’ve said it to lots of people. They are absolutely hands down the best I’ve worked with. From guiding me through maps and template creation, to figuring out (and fixing) why certain Query/400 results error out, to help with attaching and embedding files and gifs for enhancing the display of emails. Every time I think I’m pushing the envelope, the CoolSpools folks have a suggestion or solution!”
CoolSpools Case Study – Bogod and Co (Bernina)
Posted on May 16, 2016at 9:00 am
Established in 1895, Bogod and Co Ltd are importers and distributors of sewing machines and the UK representative of the high-end Bernina sewing machines of Switzerland and the iconic Singer sewing machines.
Bogod & Co originally used CoolSpools to create PDF files from AS400 Spool files using the splitting function. Over the years their use of the product suite has increased and now they use CoolSpools to:
– Include graphics on outputs to create invoices and stationery that are used for customer communications and internal archiving.
– Email PDF’s.
– Generate Excel spreadsheets and html for business reporting
– Create and email Excel for sending information to suppliers e.g. purchase orders.
– Create order status xml AS400 reports for customers, for example John Lewis Director Stephen Bogod says “CoolSpools is very function rich and meets essential business requirements. It’s very well designed for integration with AS400 applications. Working with the CoolSpools team has been an excellent experience. The support team are just as helpful as the product developer in offering advice on how to use the product. They provide regular and responsive software updates and developments to address particular glitches or requirements – these updates are exceptionally valuable. In one example the CoolSpools team helped fix an issue we were having importing excel data into our AS400 for delivery reports from suppliers. The support we receive from the CoolSpools team is very impressive – they really do go above and beyond!”
Posted on November 03, 2015at 11:45 am
Communication in the modern world – converting iSeries files to xml
Communication has always been key to development, strategy, progress and indeed survival, but in the modern world individuals and organisations alike often suffer from communication overload. That is why it is increasingly important that information is filtered and delivered to the recipient in a meaningful and relevant way. Converting important data from your iSeries system to be shared across intranets, the world wide web and elsewhere requires a flexible file format. CoolSpools (http://www.coolspools.com/) has been developed to facilitate the conversion of iSeries spool files and database files to XML and a variety of formats including Excel, CSV, HTML, TXT, RTF and fully searchable PDFs.
Why xml?
XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. XML is a flexible, open and powerful way to help you exchange information among diverse platforms and applications, geographic boundaries and businesses. XML is widely touted as a key component in the solution to the problem of information exchange between applications and within BtoB environments. XML is simple, extensible and, best of all, nonproprietary.
In order for your applications to work with XML content, you need an XML parser. An XML parser is a set of APIs that assist in the creation, navigation (retrieval) or modification of XML document content. CoolSpools removes the need of a parser to create XML from your data from spool files and database files.
CoolSpools Spool Converter and Database
The CoolSpools Spool Converter and Database products have been installed across the globe, providing our customers with a simple and reliable system to convert data from their iSeries spool files and database files. CoolSpools runs only on IBM iSeries servers, without the need of a PC.
To see what they think of our CoolSpools software solutions take a look at our testimonial section on our website, where you will find a selection of genuine comments from a range of our customers /Testimonials.htm. You can download CoolSpools for a no-obligation 30-day free trial from /cooldown.php
For further information on how you could implement the CoolSpools software to convert your iSeries files to into xml format then email sales@ariadnesoftware.co.uk or phone and speak to one of our experts directly on + 44 (0)1625 547962.
Do you wish you could convert your spooled files to PDF files?
Posted on February 16, 2015at 2:01 pm
Well, the good news is that you can! CoolSpools was developed primarily to convert all system i series and AS400 series spooled files into a variety of more manageable and usable file formats, including PDF.
Wave goodbye to the mountain of paper…
There are still many organisations worldwide where vast amounts of reports are produced and printed out on printers and then manually analysed and distributed to the appropriate staff. However, with the CoolSpools Spool Converter solution, you can automatically generate reports to PDF files and distribute them electronically or publish them in the cloud.
Bespoke PDF files that save time and money
You might currently extract separate sections of the data created on your system to send to different departments or individuals. This can be handled within CoolSpools as we have devised a system which allows you to select which lines or pages to include or exclude and which people you wish to receive each section of information. The CoolSpools Spool Converter will do it all for you on a weekly or monthly or annual basis depending on your business requirements. All you have to do it set it up and instruct it what to send and to whom and it will run all by itself (making you look even more efficient!).
Spool Conversion, Security and more besides…
However, the CoolSpools Spool Converter does more than just spool conversion. It provides easy to use flexible functionality to enhance the converted output. Apart from producing bespoke reports, the Spool Converter also enables the originator to password protect and encrypt the outputted PDF files, as well as adding restrictions to the PDF and including digital signatures to authenticate the report and show it has not been tampered with.
Nothing to lose and everything to gain…
So, in summary, the CoolSpools Spool Converter will definitely save your business time and costs whilst reducing its impact on the environment by saving paper. It will facilitate efficiency and transparency across your organisation and help your business to meet targets and analyse your operation in a more efficient manner. So what have you got to lose? Give us a call today and find out how CoolSpools can facilitate your information dissemination on + 44 (0)1625 547962 or email sales@ariadne.co.uk.
CoolSpools – help save the environment, time and costs.
Posted on November 24, 2014at 3:31 pm
Surely these are common objectives for most global companies these days. At Ariadne, the well-established software expert, we have developed a piece of software that achieves all three of these aims in one. CoolSpools is a specialist product which converts IBM iSeries data into spreadsheets, emails and other more manageable and usable files.
How does it help to save the environment?
Historically data taken from iSeries databases has been printed out and circulated as a hard copy. Using the CoolSpools software appropriate information can be sorted, filtered and distributed all electronically by email or by allowing key personnel to access files directly from the server, so saving printing and paper. This obviously helps organisations reduce their paper usage whilst also saving time, both of which means cost savings too.
CoolSpools Converts iSeries Data to Excel Spreadsheets
Once you have the BASE element of the CoolSpools software, you can select from a variety of options to suit your business requirements. The Spool Converter option allows the user to convert spool files to Excel and other formats. Also the Email option enables multiple attachments to be emailed including Excel files. Converting your iSeries data from your database into one or several Excel spreadsheets then allows you or your analyst or perhaps your sales managers or operations director to interpret the data and use this crucial information to direct the business going forward. The Spool Converter has the functionality to produce internal reports which can be split reports in the form of multiple Excel spreadsheets.
Professional Looking Spreadsheets
No more green screen outputs as CoolSpools allows you to manipulate the converted Excel spreadsheets even including selecting fonts, colours and shading to ensure the style of the document is in keeping with the company format.
Simple to Set Up
With so much great functionality you might be concerned that all this takes a lot of setting up. Let us put your mind at rest, as it really is very simple, there is no complex set up – in fact it just requires one single command.
So if you would like to save time and money by distributing, archiving and publishing your data and reports electronically using information from your IBM iSeries database, then contact us for a chat about how CoolSpools can work for you on + 44 (0)1625 547962 or simply email sales@ariadnesoftware.co.uk.