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®, CQ-3770MC®, 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®, CQ-3770MC®, 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:

1. 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.
2. 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, CQ-3770MC, 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, CQ-3770MC, 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 by following this link - SAMPLE SCREEN SHOTS.

Free Trial
CQ also offers FREE trial versions of CQ-Forms Manager.  For the ultimate look at the CQ-Forms Manager productivity solution’s features and functionality, contact CQ today for information on receiving YOUR free trial version.