Solution Overview
The CQ-Forms Manager™ productivity solution provides an
efficient way to manage the send and receive file transfer processes in the
micro/mainframe environment. The solution, used in conjunction with a CQ
connectivity solution such as
CQ-EE™, CQ-3770EE®, or
CQ-3770®, allows you to both
receive forms from a mainframe queue and to also send forms to a mainframe site.
The solution is customizable according to your organization’s forms download
needs in that it allows you to pick and choose the files you download from
mainframe queues, and then rename or redirect these files according to your
needs.
The CQ-Forms Manager solution can be divided into two
components: the Receive Component and the Send Component.
Receive Component
Historically, the JES application running on the mainframe provides a queue
for print jobs. Some example print jobs might include collections reports
or year-end reports. Often times, these print jobs are stored in a queue
on the mainframe computer with a "form report" name that describes the print
job. Some example "form report" names include COLL and YEND.
Typically, an operator in charge of retrieving these forms (or reports) will
retrieve the queue list from the mainframe and then request one of the reports.
This review of the mainframe queue and the retrieval of "forms" are done using
the mainframe application’s JES commands.
While the
CQ-EE™, CQ-3770EE®, or CQ-3770®
connectivity solution enables the operator to accomplish these tasks through the
JES commands, it is a time-consuming, multi-step process to specify the
destination (either a file or printer), view the mainframe queue, specify the
wanted form with or without a banner page, request the form download, and
finally to close out the mainframe queue.
The CQ-Forms Manager productivity solution provides simple,
point-and-click access to user-customized forms lists and even allows for
unattended forms downloads of the mainframe queue. With CQ-Forms
Manager, all forms download jobs can be setup and saved in advance and
then run with ease when it is time for a download to occur.
Receive Component
Technical Features
- Customize Form Retrieval Specifications.
CQ-Forms Manager downloads forms according to "form download
descriptions" that you create. These descriptions contain the
identifying items of the form as it appears in the mainframe queue. For
each "form download description" that you create, you can customize
specifications such as the form name as it resides on the mainframe queue, the
form’s type of device which helps to identify the part of the mainframe queue
where the form resides (PR1 identifies the printer queue, PU1
identifies the punch queue, etc.), the class of the device as designated by
the mainframe site personnel (useful for instances when a class is designated
as other than Class A for a printer device or Class B for a
punch device), and an option on whether or not to include a banner page in the
form download. All of these specifications help to identify the exact
type of form that you want to download from the mainframe queue.
- Configure Multiple Form Download Descriptions.
For each form download that needs to occur with the mainframe, CQ-Forms
Manager allows you to set a unique "form download description".
This can mean setting up one "form download description" that downloads all
forms with a Form Name of BFHA and another that downloads all
forms with a Form Name of ZYHA. Rather than having to
manually reset the settings for this minor change, you can simply open another
"form download description" through a convenient drop-down list and perform
the download through the click of a button.
- Group Form Download Descriptions into Lists.
CQ-Forms Manager provides operators with the tools to easily
group multiple "form download descriptions" into convenient lists, or
configurations. This is useful for two main reasons:
- The mainframe site may designate hundreds of forms for downloads, all
with different form names and specifications. It is easier for an
operator to select specific forms to download if presented with smaller,
more manageable lists.
- You may want to perform multiple form downloads at the same time.
By placing multiple "form download descriptions" into a single configuration
file, you can accomplish this with ease.
You simply create a configuration file for each group of forms downloads
and begin to add form download descriptions and specifications for each form
download. Then, each individual "form download description" within a
configuration is available from a convenient drop-down list.
- Customize Destination Specifications.
Each individual "form download description" can be customized with unique
destination specifications. These specifications include a destination
location for the downloaded form. Possible locations include to a
printer, to a user-defined filename, or to the
CQ-Print Administrator™
solution, CQ’s print management productivity solution.
- Dynamic File Naming.
CQ-Forms Manager allows you to rename downloaded files through
dynamic file naming features. The dynamic file naming feature allows you
to rename files using date options and/or incremented index numbers.
This feature allows you to rename files with variables such as the current
month, day, and/or year as well as an incremental 3-digit numerical index.
- SmartKey Pad Integration.
The easiest way to download forms using CQ-Forms Manager is
through one or more SmartKeys on the SmartKey Pad. The
SmartKey Pad is accessed through the Emulator screen of the
CQ-EE, CQ-3770EE, or
CQ-3770 connectivity solution and appears on the desktop as a separate
floating keypad window. The SmartKey Pad contains one or more
SmartKeys that, when selected, perform the command(s) assigned to them.
SmartKeys are similar to toolbar buttons in that they both quickly
access 3770 commands or scripts.
The SmartKey Pad
can be customized for the operations of individual sites. The user can modify
the number of SmartKey buttons, the arrangement of the buttons, the
title on each button, and the action of each button. For example, in the
SmartKey Pad pictured here, $DF displays the queue, StdForm
displays a standard subset of forms for possible download, 2:00AM
represents unattended operation of forms retrieval at the early morning hour
of 2:00 AM, and YearEnd downloads the year-end reports. This is
an example of what can be done to easily integrate and customize
CQ-Forms Manager for the specific needs of your sites and operators.
- Attended Downloads.
Attended operation of CQ-Forms Manager means that an operator
supervises the forms retrieval process. For example, an operator selects
a form for download and initiates the download through the click of a button.
Attended operation is provided through a specialized program within
CQ-Forms Manager as well as through scripts and programs written by
CQ’s engineering staff.
- Unattended Downloads.
Unattended operation of CQ-Forms Manager means that multiple
forms are downloaded for a single request and, as needed, this process can be
scheduled. For example, an operator can select a configuration file that
contains multiple "form download descriptions" and schedule the download to
run at 2:00 AM.
Unattended operation is provided through a specialized program within
CQ-Forms Manager as well as through customized scripts and programs
written by CQ’s engineering staff. Unattended operation can most easily
be scheduled through the CQ-Event
Scheduler™ event scheduling productivity solution. This
optional solution is the most convenient means to schedule CQ-Forms
Manager for unattended operation.
CQ’s engineering staff can provide an engineering cost estimate to
accomplish your specified unattended operation requirements. Simply
provide CQ with a "scope of work" that includes your specific requirements and
CQ will then customize CQ-Forms Manager to automate these
procedures in a more efficient way.
Send Component
The second component of the CQ-Forms Manager program is the
Send Component.
The Send Component allows you to send forms (i.e., reports) to
the mainframe site. Through this component of the solution, you can setup
separate configurations for unique sets of forms that you can send to the
mainframe site manually (attended) or through a command line in a script
(unattended).
Send Component Technical Features
- Customize Sending Process Specifications.
CQ-Forms Manager sends forms according to "form upload
descriptions" that you create. These descriptions contain the
identifying items of the sending process. For each "form upload
description" that you create, you can customize specifications such as the
name of the file to send, the send priority of the file, and JCL options such
as adding a JCL header file or changing the JCL date in the file. All of
these specifications help to identify the file you want to send to the
mainframe.
- Configure Multiple Form Upload Descriptions.
For each form upload that needs to occur with the mainframe, CQ-Forms
Manager allows you to set a unique "form upload description".
This can mean setting up one "form upload description" that uploads all forms
from the directory called Daily Business and another that uploads all
forms from the directory called Monthly Business. Rather than
having to manually reset the settings for this minor change, you can simply
open another "form upload description" through a convenient drop-down list and
perform the upload through the click of a button.
- Customize JCL Specifications.
Each individual "form upload description" can be customized with unique JCL
specifications. These specifications include adding a JCL to a file and
then, if needed, changing the JCL date in the file. You can specify the
exact location of the JCL date to change by entering the Row and
Column of the date’s location. Other JCL options include specifying
the location of the JCL Header file and also specifying the location of
the JCL Trailer file, if needed.
- SmartKey Pad Integration.
The easiest way to send files using CQ-Forms Manager is through
one or more SmartKeys on the SmartKey Pad. The SmartKey
Pad is accessed through the Interface screen of the
CQ-EE, CQ-3770EE, or
CQ-3770 connectivity solution and appears on the desktop as a
separate floating keypad window. The SmartKey Pad contains one or
more SmartKeys that, when selected, perform the command(s) assigned to
them. SmartKeys are similar to toolbar buttons in that they both
quickly access 3770 commands or scripts.
The SmartKey Pad can be customized for the operations of individual
sites. The user can modify the number of SmartKey buttons, the
arrangement of the buttons, the title on each button, and the action of each
button.
- Attended Uploads.
Attended operation of CQ-Forms Manager means that an operator
supervises the sending process. For example, an operator selects a form
to send and initiates the upload through the click of a button. Attended
operation is provided through a specialized program within CQ-Forms
Manager as well as through scripts and programs written by CQ’s
engineering staff.
- Unattended Uploads.
Unattended operation of CQ-Forms Manager means that multiple
forms are uploaded for a single request and, as needed, this process can be
scheduled. For example, an operator can select a configuration file that
contains multiple "form upload descriptions" and schedule the uploads to run
at 2:00 AM.
Unattended operation is provided through a specialized program within
CQ-Forms Manager as well as through customized scripts and programs
written by CQ’s engineering staff. Unattended operation can most easily
be scheduled through the CQ-Event
Scheduler™ event scheduling productivity solution. This
optional solution is the most convenient means to schedule CQ-Forms
Manager for unattended operation.
CQ’s engineering staff can provide an engineering cost estimate to
accomplish your specified unattended operation requirements. Simply
provide CQ with a "scope of work" that includes your specific requirements and
CQ will then customize CQ-Forms Manager to automate these
procedures in a more efficient way.
CQ Access Point
Agreement
(CQ’s Annual License Activation and Software Maintenance
Agreement).
CQ recognizes the importance of providing our customers with
access to comprehensive technical services and support. CQ also feels that
access to product upgrades and updates is an integral part of an
organization’s overall software deployment strategy. With this in mind, CQ
provides the CQ Access Point agreement to its customers. With each
license acquisition, you receive annual license activation as well as access
to the product upgrade and technical support features of Software Maintenance.
Sample Screen Shots
CQ provides our web page visitors with a quick look at several sample
CQ-Forms Manager screens.
CQ-Forms Manager Screen
This screen is the starting point for managing your forms through the
CQ-Forms Manager program.
Alternative Naming of Files Screen
This screen allows you to name incoming forms using date options and/or
incremented index numbers within the filename.
