Each year, Jim Sloan, Inc. has a contest to allow customers to
describe a tool they would like to see that is not already in the TAA
Productivity Tools product.
A $1000 prize is awarded for the best new tool idea.
You do not have to be a customer to enter the contest. All submitted
ideas become the property of Jim Sloan, Inc. Only 'ideas' are
accepted and not 'code'.
The contest ends Dec 31st of each year with the winners announced
early in the following year.
All TAA customers become winners because many of the suggestions are
incorporated into the product.
You can E-mail, fax, or mail your ideas to:
Jim Sloan, Inc.
1 Graham Court
Rye, NY 10580
Telephone: 914-251-9494
Fax: 914-251-9406
Web site: www.taatool.com
E Mail: sales@taatool.com
Requests that were already in the product
-----------------------------------------
The majority of requests we receive are for tools that are already in
the product. With over 1,800 tools, its not always easy to determine
if an existing tool will meet your needs. If you are not familiar
with the DSPTAACAT command, spend some time with it so you know how
to navigate your way to find a tool.
DSPTAACAT lets you enter a category such as *SPL or the word 'spool'.
Once you get to a category, each tool is arbitrarily assigned a level
of 1, 2, or 3 based on its assumed popularity. You can set your
default to the level you want to see. Use F11 to include or subset
the levels. You can reduce the number of tools shown for a category
by entering a second category at the top such as *RTV.
Another good command is FNDCMD which allows you to enter a string
like JOBD and see a subfile of all commands on your system (both
system and TAA) that have JOBD in the name.
Or if you know want to search on values in the text description of
commands, use FNDOBJTXT.
2012 Contest
------------
This is the 10th year we have awarded a winner for the best idea.
The following tool waa declared the winner.
CHK1STMBR The Check 1st Member command checks one or more
files to determine if the first member has the same
name as the file. Exceptions are displayed or
listed. Source files are implicitly bypassed. Only
data base data files that can have members are
checked (DDM is excluded).
Suggested by:
Bob Nason
American Board of Pediatrics
Chapel Hill, NC
Some other good requests came in for:
CHGFUNCNAM The Change Function Name command allows you to
change the description of the Function field on
WRKACTJOB to provide a better indication of what a
job is doing. The command must be used in a CL
program and not from a command entry line. The
value on WRKACTJOB would appear as USR-xxxx where
xxxx is the 10 bytes specified on CHGFUNCNAM.
DSPEMTLIB The Display Empty Libraries command displays or
lists one or more libraries that have no objects.
The command performs quickly as the simplest form of
the API to retrieve object information is used.
RTVCCSID The Retrieve File CCSID (Code Character Set ID)
command retrieves a summary of the CCSIDs specified
for a data base file. CCSIDs are assigned to each
field in a file and normally all character fields
will use the same CCSID. If different CCSIDs are
used within the file, different processing may be
required. RTVCCSID allows you to determine if a
file uses a standard CCSID for all character fields
and what the value is.
2011 Contest
------------
The following idea to enhance the CPYSPLFIFS tool to allow the
creation of a PDF was declared the winner.
CPLSPLFIFS The Copy Spooled File to IFS command copies a
spooled file to the IFS as a stream file. The
default is to convert the spooled data to a plain
text format. Options exist to convert to a rich
text format, HTML format, or create a PDF. Blank
lines are inserted so that the stream file gives the
same appearance as the spooled file. This allows
further use of spooled data to be handled by PC or
Internet applications.
Suggested by:
Al Poehnelt
Weathershield
Medfor, WI
Some other good requests came in for:
CHG128PWD The Change 128 Password command is intended for
those environments using 128 byte passwords where a
change to a user password should be replicated on
one or more systems.
DLTPNDJLG The Delete Pending Job Log command deletes job log
information (not QPJOBLOG spooled files) where the
job log information is in a 'PENDING' status. A
'number of days' pending may be specified to delete
only the job log information that has been pending
for n days. Specific, generic, or all jobs/users
may be named. The QWTRMVJL API is used.
STRWTR The Start Writer command is intended to be used to
start either a local or remote output queue. Based
on the named output queue, a command prompt appears
for either STRPRTWTR or STRRMTWTR.
2010 Contest
------------
The following tool was declared the winner:
FNDOBJMBR The Find Object Member command attempts to match the
source member name used to create an object with a
source member in one or more source files. This is
designed for the case where the source has been
moved or duplicates exist for the same member name.
One or more objects may be specified with one or
more libraries checked for where the source may
exist.
Suggested by:
Ken Hoffman
South Carolina Judicial Dept
Columbia, SC
Some other good requests came in for:
Over the years there have been several request to make a comma
delimited file from the data base and transfer to the IFS. We now
support the CPYTOCSV command:
CPYTOCSV The Copy to CSV command copies from an externally
described data base file to a stream file and adds
delimiters. The intent is to make a stream file for
a spread sheet processor. Options exist to add
delimiters at the end of fields, surround fields
with quotes, and to include column headings.
Some other good requests came in for:
CVTJOB The Convert Job to Outfile command converts the
information for one or more jobs to an outfile.
Selection may occur on the job or user name as well
as the status (*ALL, *ACTIVE, *JOBQ, *OUTQ). The
outfile name is JOBP which uses the model file
TAAJOFKP and a format name of JOBRCD.
Suggested by:
David Cotton
SAIA
Houma, LA
DSPRPGCPY The Display RPG /COPY tool provides two commands.
DSPRPGCPY provides a display or list of the /COPY
and/or /INCLUDE statements from one or more RPG type
source members (including RPGLE, RPGMOD etc.) in one
or more source files. An outfile is optional which
will allow further analysis by the DSPRPGCPY2
command which prints or lists the use of a specific
member named on /COPY or /INCLUDE statements. A
query may also be written.
Suggested by:
Andre Groenevel
Telesure
Cape Town, South Africa
2009 Contest
------------
The following tool was declared the winner:
CLRLIB2 The Clear Library 2 command is like the system
CLRLIB command, but also clears objects that can
cause CLRLIB to fail such as dependent logical files
in a different library, constraints specified by
ADDPFCST, receivers that have not been saved, and
output queues with entries. Some exceptions exist
that may prevent a cleared library.
Suggested by:
Kevin Battreal
Grinnell Mutual Insurance
Grinnell, IA
There is also a DLTLIB2 command.
There were several prior requests for tools to display the size of
the data on a tape and do a SAVLIB *NONSYS in batch. Based on some
new information and support from the system we were able to do:
DSPTAPSIZ The Display Tape Size command displays or lists an
approximation of how much data has been written to a
tape. Each file is listed along with a total. An
outfile is optional. Hardware compression is not
considered. DSPTAP is used to determine the
information. Because a spooled file must be read,
only lower and upper case English is supported.
SAVSYSBCH The Save System in Batch command is designed to
allow you to run backup functions in batch that
require the restricted state. This includes Save
the Entire System (Option 21), Save System Data
(Option 22), and Save User Data (Option 23). This
allows scheduling of these functions using the Job
Scheduler or the SBMJOB SCDDATE/SCDTIME function.
Both tape and virtual tape are supported.
Some other good requests came in for:
CVTJOBPERF The Convert Job Performance command converts job
performance information for specified active jobs to
an outfile. A reset capability exists. This
provides a simple summary of such things as CPU
seconds used, the percentage of CPU seconds used,
transaction count, and response time. The model
file is TAAJOFDP with a format name of JOBPERFR.
Suggested by:
Andrew Bortz
RMVSRCMBR The Remove Source Members command removes members
from a source file based on a number of retention
days. The comparison may be made to the Create
Date, the Change Date, or the Use Date. An ACTION
parameter exists and defaults to *CHECK to provide a
listing of what would be removed.
Suggested by:
Nancy Alt
Carhartt
Dearborn, MI
2008 Contest
------------
The following tool was declared the winner:
RPLJOBDLIB The Replace Job Description Library command allows a
replace of an existing library in one or more job
descriptions with a different library name. The
replace library takes the position in the library
list of the library being replaced. RPLJOBDLIB can
be useful if library names must be changed.
Suggested by:
Joe Thiel
Totes Isotoner
Cincinnati, OH
Other good ideas that became tools include:
SNDTXTMAIL The Send Text E-Mail command sends a text message to
one or more recipients. The recipients are
described by using a name and a corresponding E-Mail
address that must exist in a MAILADRP file or by
entering a specific E-Mail address. The SNDDST
command is used internally. See the SNDSPLMAIL
command for sending an E-Mail with an attached
spooled file.
Suggested by several different users over the years.
DSPLIBSIZ The Display Library Size command displays or lists a
summary of a library with size and count
information. One, generic, or many libraries may be
requested to be included. The library object record
is included in the size and count of objects. An
outfile may also be requested. The outfile model
file in TAATOOL is TAALIDHP with a format name of
LIBSIZR.
Suggested by:
Ken Tam
Mattel
Phoenix, AZ
GENRANPWD The Generate Random Password command generates a
random password of a specified length from 5 to 100
bytes. Options exist to allow digits, allow vowels
(AEIOUY), and allow lower case. No adjacent
characters will ever be the same. The first
character is always an upper case letter A-Z that is
not a vowel. The second character is always a digit
if digits are allowed.
Suggested by:
Barbie Bosch
Missouri State Employees Retirement System
Jefferson City, MO
2007 Contest
------------
The following tool was declared the winner:
SCNEXTMSGF The Scan Extracted Message File tool is a series of
commands that let you build a file of messages and
then scan for a value. This can be helpful when you
have seen a message containing a value such as
'authenticate', but no longer have the message ID to
help determine the full text of the message. You
may scan either the first or both the first and
second level text.
Suggested by:
Mitch Davidson
Collier County Public Schools
Naples, FL
Other good ideas that became tools include:
DSPOBJD4 The Display Object Description 4 command is a
problem determination aid and is similar to
DSPOBJD2. DSPOBJD4 allows any object description on
the system to be displayed if the user has *USE
authority to the TAADSPOBJ4 authorization list.
'Display only' functions for additional object level
information are also provided for most object types.
No data can be displayed.
Suggested by:
Veronica Stephens
Baxter Health Care
Deerfield, IL
DSPSELOMT The Display Select Omit command displays or prints
the select/omit criteria of a logical file. A
better display exists than that used by DSPFD
TYPE(*SELECT) which makes it more obvious what the
relationships are. Only single format logical files
are supported.
Suggested by:
Tom Benoit
PharmaCare
Pittsburg, PA
CVTPTFGRP The Convert PTF Group command converts the PTF
groups to an outfile. There is one record output
for each PTF group. This is the same information
that can be displayed with WRKPTFGRP. The API
'QpzListPTFGroups' is used. The file name is always
PTFGRPP with a format name of PTFGRPR.
Suggested by:
Billy Molintas
Hyundai Info Services
Irvine, CA
CRTEXTPRTF The Create Externally Described Printer File command
reads an RPG or RPGLE (fixed format) source member
with a program described printer file and creates
the DDS for an externally described printer file and
the printer file. Exceptions such as duplicate
output lines for the same EXCPT line are noted and a
new format name is assigned. The RPG source is not
changed. You must make changes to the RPG source as
well as correct any exceptions that are noted.
Suggested by:
Viji Manikumar
College Foundation
Raleigh, NC
2006 Contest
------------
The following tool was declared the winner:
CHKMAILADR The Check E-Mail Address command checks the validity
of an E-Mail address. The local-portion of an
address is ensured to have proper syntax. The
domain-portion is either syntax checked or checked
using APIs to determine if the domain name exists.
To check if the domain name actually exists, your
system must have access to a domain name server.
Suggested by:
Richard Bridgeford
Saint Gobain
Valley Forge, PA
Saint Gobain prevents employees from receiving such a gift. Instead,
the $1000 will be donated to Richard's favorite charity 'Christian
Children's Fund'.
Other good ideas that became tools include:
CPYSPLFDTA The Copy Spooled File Data command reads a spooled
file and outputs a file intended for a spread sheet
processor. Selection criteria exist so that only
columnar data may be output. Options exist to
remove delimiters within the data, add delimiters at
the end of fields, surround fields with quotes, and
to include column headings. An IFS object or a data
base file may be output.
Suggested by:
Jerry Harber
International Truck
Indianapolis, IN
PRTSPLANZ The Print Spool Analysis command analyzes a QSPL
library. A summary by day or month may be made.
The listing includes the number of members (empty or
with data) and the corresponding sizes. PRTSPLANZ
provides a summary of how much spooled data exists.
Suggested by:
Richard Diegmann
ValueOptions
Reston, VA
CVTNETSTAT The Convert Network Statistics tool allows the
conversion of TCP network statistics to outfiles.
Options on the CVTNETSTAT command allow conversion
of TCP/IP 1) Interface status, 2) Route information,
and 3) Connection status. Each of the sub functions
is a separate command. System APIs are used to
access the data.
Suggested by:
Bob Richardson
AEGON
Cedar Rapids, IA
DSPPWDLMT The Display Password Limit command uses converted
data from QHST and displays or prints the devices
and/or user profiles that have been disabled because
the QMAXSIGN system value limit has been reached.
This provides a good review of attempted break-ins
or users who are having trouble.
Suggested by:
Ray Rhyno
World Access Canada
Kitchener, Ontario
ADDSPCAUT The Add Special Authority command allows the
addition of a special authority to one or more
profiles. This is a simpler interface than
CHGUSRPRF which requires an entry for any existing
authorities as well as the new special authority. A
RMVSPCAUT command is also provided to remove a
special authority from one or more profiles.
Suggested by:
Ken Graap
Northwest Natural
Portland, OR
2005 Contest
------------
The following tool was declared the winner:
CAPSECINF The Capture Security Information tool allows you to
capture the current information for user profiles,
system values, network attributes, and registration
information. This allows a comparison to be made at
a later time against the same information captured
on a different date.
Suggested by:
Ken Graap
Northwest Natural
Portland, OR
Other ideas that became tools include:
DSPLSTUSE The Display Last Use command displays or prints a
listing of one line per object in a library
identifying the create date, the last used date, and
the use count. Objects that have never been used
are always listed. An option exists to list those
objects that have not been used prior to a specified
number of days. DSPLSTUSE helps determines what
objects may be deleted because of lack of use.
Suggested by:
Lori Nesje
City of Ketchikan
Ketchikan, AK
DSPUSRJOB The Display User Job command is a display only
version of the system WRKUSRJOB command. Only
display options are valid for a job. An option
exists to display, work with, or prevent access to
the spooled files of a job. Any user can display
jobs and display the details of his own job. Only a
user with *JOBCTL special authority can display the
the details of a job which is not his own.
Suggested by:
Sergio DaSilva
Pfizer
Parsippany, NJ
ADDSUPGRP The Add Supplemental Group command allows the adding
of a supplemental group profile to one or more user
profiles. The companion command is Remove
Supplemental Group to remove a supplemental group
profile from one or more user profiles.
Suggested by:
Ray McLaughlin
Convergys Info Mgt Group
Lake Mary, FL
GRTAUTMSGQ The Grant Authority to Message Queue command is
intended to prevent the *PUBLIC user from displaying
and answering messages in a message queue such as
QSYSOPR. The command sets the *PUBLIC authority to
allow sending of messages, but prevents the use of
DSPMSG to the message queue. A named user may be
specified who will be able to both send messages and
use DSPMSG.
Suggested by:
Betty Daughtry
Excell Home Fashions
Goldsboro, NC
PRTOTQAUT The Print Output Queue Authority command prints a
listing of all output queues in one or more
libraries. The important security options such as
DSPDTA, OPRCTL, and individual authorizations are
listed for each output queue.
Suggested by:
Kim Kuras
Dart Container
Mason, MI
2004 Contest
------------
The following tool was declared the winner:
CRTCLPDCL The Create CLP DCL command creates CLP DCL
statements based on the field definitions of an
externally described data base file. The DCL
statements are added to the end of an existing
source member. The statements can then be moved by
a source editor to the DCL section of the source.
CRTCLPDCL may be useful when dealing with an
external definition of a data base file or a data
area.
Suggested by:
Mark Dobson
SJI Services
Larose, LA
Other ideas that became tools include:
** BUSCAL
The Business Calendar tool provides a solution for the
question 'How many working days exist between 2 dates?'. A
'business calendar' object (a *USRSPC) must be created. The
definition of 'working days' is made by use of the WRKBUSCAL
command which allows days to be 'excluded' such as 'Saturday',
'Christmas', or specific dates. WRKBUSCAL then builds a list
of the 'excluded' and 'included' dates.
Several commands exist to work with the business calendar and
to display/retrieve the number of working days between two
dates.
Suggested by:
Jeb Bouchard
Selectronics Corp
Waitsfield, VT
** CHKDUPAP
The Check Duplicate Access Path command checks for files in
one or more libraries that have a duplicate access path with
another physical or logical file. The system will
automatically share an access path if it can. Complete
duplicates and partial duplicates (where only the high order
keys are the same) are listed. The purpose of CHKDUPAP is to
assist in cleaning up objects that are not needed.
Suggested by:
Bob Nason
Springs Industries
Lancaster, SC
Enhancements suggested by:
Paul Fenstermacher
Bass Pro Shops
Springfield, MO
** DLTDUPRCD
The Delete Duplicate Records command deletes duplicate records
in a named file based on a series of key fields. By default,
only a listing is output with what would occur if
ACTION(*DELETE) was specified. When *DELETE is specified, the
first duplicate record of a group is retained and the others
are deleted.
Suggested by:
Randy Woods
Missouri State Employees Retirement
Jefferson City, MO
** DSPJOBSCDE
The Display Job Schedule Entries command is a 'display only'
function similar to the system WRKJOBSCDE command. This
allows making the WRKJOBSCDE command private so that only
authorized users may make changes while the *PUBLIC user can
use DSPJOBSCDE.
Suggested by:
Tom Ficarra
Barnes and Noble
New York, NY
** PRTPGMCALL
The Print Program Calls command prints a listing of the calls
from a program and optionally cascades to print the calls used
by any sub programs. Parameter lists may optionally be
printed. Only CL and RPG along with single module CLLE and
RPGLE programs are supported.
Suggested by:
Chris Maddison
E.D. Smith
Winona, Ontario
** SAVLIBSAVF
The Save Library to Save Files command saves one or more
libraries to save files in a specified library. Special
values exist and libraries may be omitted. Save files are
created if they do not exist using the name as the library to
be saved. The intent of SAVLIBSAVF is to allow you to save to
a library of save files that can then be backed up to media at
a later time. The companion command DLTLIBSAVF will delete
the created save files.
Suggested by:
Steve Jenkins
Holloway Sportswear
Sidney, OH
** WRKJOBSTG
The Work Job Storage command provides a work display or a
listing of the temporary storage used by active jobs.
Selection criteria exists for the amount of storage, by job,
and by user. This provides a simple review of the amount of
storage being used. *JOBCTL is required to use WRKJOBSTG.
Suggested by:
Bob Richardson
Aegon USA
Cedar Rapids, IA
** WRKOBJTXT
The Work Object Text command provides a simple means of
reviewing and cleaning up text for objects. A subfile of one
or more objects in a library is displayed and allows a direct
change to the text. Various selection criteria exists.
Options exist to display, change, and delete the objects along
with an option to display the object description.
Suggested by:
Bob Presser
Oddysey Data xxxxx
XXXXXXXXXX, NY
Some good enhancements were also suggested such as:
** CVTQHST
Additional parameters have been added to allow selection by
job, and from/to time.
Suggested by:
Francisco Rios
Office Depot 704
Springfield, MO
** RGZLIB
An option exists to bypass the members without any deleted
records.
Suggested by:
Krish Thirmulai
Manhattan Associates
Atlanta, GA
2003 Contest
------------
During the year many new tool ideas were suggested and several were
included in the product. We had a difficult time picking the winner
and finally decided to award two $1000 prizes. The following tools
were declared the winners.
** PRTOWNOBJ
The Print Owned Objects command prints a listing of owned
objects. The command is similar to the system DSPUSRPRF
TYPE(*OBJOWN) function, but provides better output (such as
last change date, last used date, size, etc). You can select
on the last used date and a minimum size to reduce the number
of objects that will be listed.
PRTOWNOBJ provides a good method of helping owners cleanup up
the system.
Suggested by:
Dan Doenges
Department 56, Inc.
Eden Prarie, MN
** WRKCURUSR
The Work Current User command is similar to the WRKUSRJOB
system command except that the current user of the job is also
shown. This allows support for jobs that swap profiles to be
displayed and operated on. The same options as on WRKUSRJOB
such as CHGJOB are supported. Only active jobs are displayed.
WRKCURUSR provides a good method of allowing you to see who is
really using the system. There is also a 'display only'
version with the DSPCURUSR command.
Suggested by:
Phil Schmalzried
Zurn Industries, Inc.
Erie, PA
Other ideas that became tools include:
** FTP2
The FTP2 (Start TCP/IP File Transfer) command allows the use
of FTP using TCP/IP without entering the FTP subcommands. The
subcommands are generated internally and used to send a file
to a remote system. A log of FTP subcommands, errors, and
information is kept to allow error reporting.
You will also find the SAVSNDL command which front ends FTP2
to simplify saving and sending a library to another system.
Look for the SAVRCVL command which does the inverse in a
coming version of TAA.
Suggested by:
Nancy Alt
Carhartt, Inc.
Dearborn, MI
** CHKIFSOPN
The Check IFS Open command provides a method of
determining if an IFS object is available for a type
of use and allows a specified type of sharing with
other jobs. If the open is successful, the file is
closed and the command completes normally. If the
file cannot be opened, TAA9872 is sent as an escape
message.
Suggested by:
Dave Coyne
Universal Health Services, Inc.
King of Prussia, PA
** RSTMNYCHG
The Restore Many Changes command restores from a tape created
by SAVCHGOBJ or TAA tools such as SAVALLCHG which uses
SAVCHGOBJ. The command allows one or more libraries to be
restored. See the companion command RSTALLCHG which allows a
restore of all libraries from a tape with an optional list of
excluded libraries.
Suggested by:
Kim Kuras
Dart Container Corporation
Mason, MI
** CHKTAP2
The Check Tape 2 command is similar to the system CHKTAP
command. Neither the system CHKTAP nor the SAVxxx commands
will send an inquiry message to the device's message queue if
the tape is not in a 'ready' status (such as no tape is
mounted), the volume ID does not exist, the sequence number
does not exist, etc. CHKTAP2 sends an inquiry message
requesting a C = Cancel, or R = Retry response.
Suggested by:
Carl Novit
FRS, Inc.
Charleston, SC
** ADDRPYLE2
The Add Reply List Entry 2 command uses the outfile created by
CVTRPYLE on one system to allow individual entries to be added
to another system. One entry at a time is added to the System
Reply List. The command can make it easier to keep the System
Reply Lists similar on multiple systems.
Suggested by:
Diana Hicks
Town of Jupiter
Jupiter, FL
** UPDMSGF
The Update Message File command uses the MSGFP outfile created
from the TAA CVTMSGF command to update the message
descriptions in a message file. UPDMSGF allows you to keep a
data base file of messages or update selected messages on
another system.
This tool should be out in the next version of the TAA
product. It relies on enhancements being made to the current
CVTMSGF command so that all of the message attributes can be
handled.
Suggested by:
Jesse Binam
JR Simplot Company
Boise, ID
** CVTDTAARA
The Convert Data Area command converts the attributes and the
data from one or more data areas to the outfile DTAARAV. Both
*DEC and *CHAR data areas are supported. The outfile may then
be queried for consistency or searching for specific values.
Suggested by:
Kirk Yates
Rockwood School District
Glencoe, MO
Some good enhancements were also suggested such as:
** DSPUSRPRF2
An enhancement was made to allow generic user names to be
entered. This is designed to assist Help Desks when the end
user cannot remember his profile name.
Suggested by:
Paul Fenstermacher
Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine
Springfield, MO
** AUDLOG
The PRTAUDLOG command was reworked to better describe the
audit entry.
Suggested by:
Kurt Pindroh
Hampshire Designers, Inc.
Anderson, SC
** DLTOLDSPLF
Generic USRDTA and USER values are now allowed.
Suggested by:
C. Richard Adams
Western Computer Services, Inc.
Sandy, UT
** RTVPGMNAM
The performance was improved significantly when the command
was used repeatedly.
Suggested by:
Rick Pennay
American Water Works Service, Co.
Hershey, PA
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