deutschland gmbh migrating to genero. jan. 2006 - adaptris deutschland gmbh 2 our contact adaptris...

Deutschland GmbH

Migrating to Genero

Jan. 2006 - ADAPTRIS Deutschland GmbH 2

Our contact

Adaptris Deutschland GmbHHollerallee 2628209 Bremen

+49 (0)421 / 1686-775 [email protected] www.adaptris.dewww.adaptris.com


Agenda

Why migrate to Genero?

Why change to a GUI?

Project description - (objectives, before & after)

Screen conversions

Program conversions

Our experience with Genero



Why Migrate to Genero?


How did we arrive at Genero?

Our customers develop in Informix 4GL

Existing internal Informix and I-4GL skill set

Existing experience converting text to GUI

Genero’s concept convinced us



Example converting text to GUI on an AS/400



Critical Sucess Factors:

Minimal modifications to source code

Quick results

Perspectives for future development

Portability (must support Linux)



Why Convert to a GUI?

Why convert to a GUI?


Why should you convert to a GUI?

State-of-the-art design - user acceptance, competitive positioning

User ergonomics- users now familiar with intuitive GUI paradigm

Powerful new features - list boxes, images, other widgets...



GUI requirements:

Mass data entry easier from a keyboard data entry programs optimised for no mouse

Adhere to GUI standards - respect the GUI paradigm



Project description

Conversion Parameters


Project description

Projects:

Two conversions for two customers

Original applications developed by Adaptris

Customers developed bespoke improvements


Project description

Both applications:

Highly specialized w/ complex business logic

Informix 4GL Genero

SCO Unix Linux

Development guidelines existed - but not always 100 % adhered to


Project A:

Perform 1:1 conversion

Very short term - three weeks to convert

Conversion 100% executed by Adaptris

Future development performed by customer

Project description

Key metrics: 354 programs 3.023 modules 625 screens 1.174.100 lines of source code


Project description

Key metrics: 242 programs 1.522 modules 596 screens 574.684 lines of source code

Project B: Conversion with significant enhancements Medium term – two man months to convert Conversion executed in tight collaboration at

customer site Future development performed by customer


Screen conversions

Screen Conversions


Project A – screens were…

… divided into sub programs

– header and data areas

… peppered with special characters

– alphanumeric ‘frame’ characters

… optimized for 25x80 text screens

– not changed for the 1:1 conversion

Screen conversions


Screen head

Data area

Pop up windows (like selections)

Menu

Schema of the old text screens: Header wasoutput by a sub program

Sometimes overlaid

“windows”were used

Screen conversions


Typical screen layout:

FrameCharacters!

Header

Menu

Data area

Screen conversions


SCREEN{┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────alkon02┐│ ANREDE-KZ :[a] [a1 ] ZUORDNUNG :[a7 ]││ BERUF/BRANCHE :[a2 ] SPRACHEN-SS :[a8 ] ││ TITEL :[a3 ] GEBURTSTAG :[a9 ]││ VORNAME :[a4 ] ││ NACHNAME/FIRMA:[a5 ] ┌─────────────────────────┐ ││ NAME 3 :[a6 ] │ SUCHBEGRIFF :[s1 ] │ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ ├─┤│ POSTFACH :[b1 ] │ ANSCHRIFT-NR :[s2 ] │ ││ STRASSE :[b2 ] └─────────────────────────┘ ││ LAND-SS LAND :[b3 ] [b4 ] ││ PLZ ORT BL :[b5 |b6 |b7 ] [c ]││ ORT ALT+INFO :[b8 |b9 ]│├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ KOMMUNIKATION : ART LANDVORWAHL ORTVORWAHL ANSCHLUSS KURZWAHL ANZ ││ [k1 ][k2 ][k3 ][k4 ][k5 ] [d] │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘}

Typical screens with frame characters

Screen conversions


Console text output – data data area only

Screen conversions


SCREEN{+----------------------------------------------------------------------alkon02+| ANREDE-KZ :[a] [a1 ] ZUORDNUNG :[a7 ]|| BERUF/BRANCHE :[a2 ] SPRACHEN-SS :[a8 ] || TITEL :[a3 ] GEBURTSTAG :[a9 ]|| VORNAME :[a4 ] || NACHNAME/FIRMA:[a5 ] +-------------------------+ || NAME 3 :[a6 ] | SUCHBEGRIFF :[s1 ] | |+-------------------------------------------------+ +-+| POSTFACH :[b1 ] | ANSCHRIFT-NR :[s2 ] | || STRASSE :[b2 ] +-------------------------+ || LAND-SS LAND :[b3 ] [b4 ] || PLZ ORT BL :[b5 |b6 |b7 ] [c ]|| ORT ALT+INFO :[b8 |b9 ]|+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+| KOMMUNIKATION : ART LANDVORWAHL ORTVORWAHL ANSCHLUSS KURZWAHL ANZ || [k1 ][k2 ][k3 ][k4 ][k5 ] [d] |+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+}

Definition converted ASCII / ANSI Character conversion needed first, if moving to a UTF-8 file system

Screen conversions


GUI output

Screen conversions


GUI screens

Have no title (“screen”)

Special characters are displayed

Frame characters are displayed untouched

If converting to a UTF-8 file system these characters need replacing first

Screen conversions


Adaptris developed a tool to analyse and convert these old screens

The conversion program

Deleted frame characters

Redefined screen layouts with their names

Added ‘groups’ and ‘grids’ to replace frame characters

Created real, resizable GUI tables

Screen conversions


-- TOOLBARLAYOUT (text="kowin_02")VBOXGROUP (text="")GRID{ ANREDE-KZ [a] [a1 ] ZUORDNUNG [a7 ] BERUF/BRANCHE [a2 ] SPRACHEN-SS [a8 ] TITEL [a3 ] GEBURTSTAG [a9 ] VORNAME [a4 ] NACHNAME/FIRMA [a5 ] NAME 3 [a6 ] SUCHBEGRIFF [s1 ] }END -- GRIDEND -- GROUPGROUP (text="")GRID{ POSTFACH [b1 ] ANSCHRIFT-NR [s2 ] STRASSE [b2 ] ...

Result after conversion (1/2):Strip frame characters and add Genero screen layout syntax

Screen conversions


... LAND-SS LAND [b3 ] [b4 ] PLZ ORT BL [b5 |b6 |b7 ] [c ] ORT ALT+INFO [b8 |b9 ] }END -- GRIDEND -- GROUPGROUP (text="")GRID{ KOMMUNIKATION ART LANDVORWAHL ORTVORWAHL ANSCHLUSS KURZWAHL ANZ [k1 ][k2 ][k3 ][k4 ][k5 ] [d] }END -- GRIDEND -- GROUPEND -- VBOXEND

Screen conversions

Result after conversion (2/2):Strip frame characters and add Genero screen layout syntax


Conversion protocol: INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.010 Starte Konvertierung:INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.010 Eingabedatei: per_in\kowin_02.perINFO: 20060112 12:53:39.010 Ausgabedatei: per_out\kowin_02.perINFO: 20060112 12:53:39.010 Die Ausgabedatei existiert und wird überschriebenINFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 66 Zeilen gelesenINFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 Screen startet Zeile 3INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 LAYOUT & VBOX eingefügt; O-Zeile 2INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 GROUP / GRID beginnt; O-Zeile 5INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 VBOX beendet; O-Zeile 12INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 GROUP / GRID beginnt; O-Zeile 12INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 VBOX beendet; O-Zeile 18INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 GROUP / GRID beginnt; O-Zeile 18INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 LAYOUT beendet; O-Zeile 22INFO: 20060112 12:53:39.020 79 Zeilen geschrieben

Screen conversions


Screen after automatic conversion:

Screen conversions


And after 1 minute of manual fine-tuning:

Screen conversions


SCREEN{┌──────────────────────┬─────────┬─────┬───────┬──────────────────┬───────────────alkon55┐│ NAME/FIRMA │ SUCHB │ LKZ │ PLZ │ ORT │ STRASSE │├──────────────────────┼─────────┼─────┼───────┼──────────────────┼──────────────────────┤│[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]││[a ]│[b ]│[c ]│[d ]│[e ]│[f ]│└──────────────────────┴─────────┴─────┴───────┴─────────────────┴───────────────────────┘}

Table Definition with special frame characters

Screen conversions


Table output without change

Screen conversions


Output after converting

Automatic Table properties without coding: Sorting rows (click on row header) Switch rows on/off (visible/invisible) Interchange rows Scrollbar

Screen conversions


¨········································································lbn12¸¦ ÜBERSICHT ROHSTOFF ¦ ····································¼·············¼··························¾¦ ARTIKEL ¦ BESTAND ¦ LETZTE ÄNDERUNG ¦¦ARTNR¦ BEZEICHNUNG ¦ KG ¦ ZUGANG ¦ ABGANG ¦KORREKTU¦ ·····¬······························¬·············¬········¬········¬········¾[a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ]ª·····½······························½·············½········½········½········º

Problems with tables

If we have several lines of row description

Note: this is what the screen description looks like without any character set conversion

Screen conversions


¨········································································lbn12¸¦ ÜBERSICHT ROHSTOFF ¦ ····································¼·············¼··························¾¦ ARTIKEL ¦ BESTAND ¦ LETZTE ÄNDERUNG ¦¦ARTNR¦ BEZEICHNUNG ¦ KG ¦ ZUGANG ¦ ABGANG ¦KORREKTU¦ ·····¬······························¬·············¬········¬········¬········¾[a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ][a1 |a2 |a3 |a4 |a5 |a6 ]ª·····½······························½·············½········½········½········º

Problems with tables

If we have several lines of row description

Screen conversions


Example: Input fields and table in one screen

Screen conversions


Project B – conversion with enhancements

Reorder input fields (better overview)

Create screen space with new widgets (tabs)

Associative access (check box, combo box)

Pictures (e.g. for articles in stock)

Enhanced copy and paste (whole tables)

Examples ...

Screen conversions


Screen conversions


Program conversions

Program Conversions


Project A – 1 : 1

Created script to build make ‘.mak’ files - created from Informix program table

Conversion tool:

- removed CLOSE WINDOW SCREEN

- removed screen ‘header’ code

- changed SCO printer control to Linux raw data

Program conversions


audru_module= \/u80/kun/ALLGM/GP/gpbda_10.42m \/u80/kun/ALLGM/GP/gpdrs_20.42m \/u80/kun/ALLGM/GP/gpgen_10.42m \/u80/kun/ALLGM/GP/gpmes_20.42m \/u80/kun/ALLGM/GP/gpope_10.42m \/u80/kun/ALLGM/GP/gpsel_20.42m \/u80/kun/ALLGM/GP/gpszr_10.42m \/u80/kun/BOECK/AU/aaglb_10.42m \/u80/kun/BOECK/AU/audru_20.42m \

LIB=$(FGLDIR)/lib/libfgl4js.42x \$(FGLDIR)/lib/libfgl.42x \

audru_module_base=$(notdir $(audru_module))

all:: audru.42r

clean::rm -f audru.42r $(audru_module)

audru.42r: $(audru_module)fglrun -l -o audru.42r $(audru_module_base) $(LIB)

Example: Macro script for make compilations

Program conversions


Project B – conversion with enhancements

Enhanced table reads (now dynamic arrays)

Added code for toolbar and menus (on action)

Images (display to image field)

Copy and paste of whole table data

Read / write XML

Program conversions


Adaptris and Genero

Our Experience with Genero


Our experience w/ Genero

Program conversions: Genero tighter on I4GL syntax

– e.g. number of function call parameters must match

I4GL programs will run without change Future orientated add-ons (libraries) Use old and new techniques in parallel

- use .per forms or more powerful XML Dynamic User Interface

New integration possibilities- OLE access to Office

Progressive, step by step improvements


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deutschland gmbh migrating to genero. jan. 2006 - adaptris deutschland gmbh 2 our contact adaptris...

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