Our solution uses Rexx scripts that intercept and convert existing mainframe data/reports from plain text to HTML code, and automatically publish the HTML to web server.

What a simple solution ! Yes, all the years of legacy reporting should not go to waste. There was a lot of hard work and time devoted to it. What could be simpler than just "printout scraping". And best of all, the conversion from text to HTML is the same for each report, so you can standardize your HTML layout to include company logo, address, product photo and anything else that you might think of.

Why Rexx, you ask ? Simple answer. Rexx is the best tool for the task. It is well integrated with OS to make it easy to determine input file DCB characteristics, capture system output from JES class, interface with ftp and so on. At the same time, Rexx remains simple, readable, easy to learn and program, language.

Scheduled batch job is changed to send a copy of the report to JES output class X (or some other, dedicated class) instead of printing it. After the report is sent to output class, our Rexx script is being run to capture the report and convert it.

Scheduled batch job creates the file that is later on being sent to printer. After the job creates the file Rexx script is being run to convert the files content.

Rexx script parses through the report and formats it with pre-defined HTML tags, while obeying FBA, carriage control characters and splitting the report into pages. When it finishes formatting and splitting, it creates an Index page with links to all report pages. Each page has a link to previous and next page to provide for easy navigation.

In the last step, Rexx invokes ftp to publish the report to your web server. This web server can be either a separate NT or UNIX box or it can be just the "other" side of your OS390 machine. All recipients that would normally be receiving printed report would have access to it through the corporate intranet.

By utilizing this solution, your company or your client will gain the ability to centrally store and manage the reports. You will eliminate the need for huge printouts, double data-entering, microfiche storage, remote printing, etc. At the same time, you will cut the distribution time from days to seconds. Access to old reports will be instant as opposed to days required to order re-print of a report. Your business will emerge from an old fashioned, slow response, 20^th century organization to modern, agile and responsive 21^st century enterprise.