What is BW*Wizard for COBOL?
BW*Wizard for COBOL is a template driven code generator which builds
industrial-strength business applications in COBOL.
BW*Wizard for COBOL will support any standard of COBOL.
Unlike other code generators, you have control over the type and style of
code generated. BW*Wizard for COBOL templates are fully customizable
COBOL programs. Site coding standards can be incorporated, existing routines can
be invoked, etc.
BW*Wizard for COBOL is a 'project-based' tool. Programs are defined
within a project.
What does it do?
BW*Wizard for COBOL automates the process of building new programs
from good examples of code (templates), a technique developers have been using
since programming began. But BW*Wizard for COBOL goes far beyond
automating a manual process.
A Template and Primary Table are selected for each application.
BW*Wizard for COBOL is supplied with a comprehensive set of Text User
Interface (TUI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) templates.
How does BW*Wizard for COBOL build programs?
Using templates, its repository, string substitutions and preferences BW*Wizard
for COBOL builds Text User Interface (TUI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI)
clients, and fully functioning SQL I/O servers. One server can support both TUI
and GUI clients.
Sophisticated COBOL programs can be built in a matter of minutes by new and
experienced developers alike. New developers will find the built programs a
valuable learning aid. Experienced developers will be able to quickly modify the
supplied templates or develop their own templates for use with BW*Wizard
for COBOL. Services to tailor templates and/or develop site customized templates
are available.
Columns to be used by the application are selected.
Item Extension can then be specified.
Minimum and Maximum values, the type of GUI part to be used, etc. Item
Extensions are extensible, allowing developers to add new extensions as
required. The code associated with a Column's Item Extension is added to every
application that references the column. Data Integrity benefits greatly from
Item Extensions as all programs ensure that the entered data is correct. After
the application is built in BW*Wizard for COBOL it is ready to be
compiled and/or have business logic added as required.
Will it help to develop systems faster?
Our users are reporting tremendous productivity gains. Some users are
reporting 40 - 50 times increased productivity in developing programs. Programs
that would normally take 5 - 10 days to write by hand, can be built by BW*Wizard
for COBOL in minutes - without any coding errors!
Using Item Extensions developers can specify different types of GUI parts to
use for each item e.g. Text, Combo Box, Radio Button, Multi-line Edit, Toggle
Button, etc. A Help file is also built and all necessary connections made for
GUI programs.
GUI and TUI clients can be built simultaneously or separately.
BW*Wizard for COBOL also generates a complete I/O server to support
either or both GUI and TUI clients. COBOL's multi-platform capabilities means
that code can be generated to support multiple targets. This eliminates the
problem of rewriting virtually the same server in different languages.
Will it help to develop better systems?
BW*Wizard for COBOL does more than just reduce the development phase
of a project, it can positively benefit all phases of a project's life cycle.
Data and Process Modeling provide an essential foundation for building today's
complex systems. But often the information gathering gets "bogged
down" in the very details essential to understanding the system. Users find
it difficult to understand complex Data and Process models and often 'sign off'
on designs hoping the system will be OK. Weeks, even months may elapse before
the users see any part of a working system. It is usually at this point the
users and developers begin to discover how far apart their understanding of the
new systems is!
Because the same COBOL code can be used on multiple platforms, it is possible
to phase in GUI support. For example a project could originally be 100% TUI, but
over time GUI equivalents could be brought on-line. The GUI clients could
replace the TUI clients or just be an alternative. This allows the most
appropriate client to be delivered to each user.
RAD
Rapid Application Development (RAD) allows users to participate in the design
and development of their system.
The theory is that prototypes are written during the requirements gathering
and refined as new information becomes available. Misunderstandings can be
spotted early and minor course changes be made to ensure that the system stays
on track. RAD for the most part has remained a theory, because it just takes
too long to hand write good prototype programs.
BW*Wizard for COBOL puts the 'Rapid' in RAD by
generating programs in minutes. Using a COBOL test facility, programs with fully
functioning I/O can be tested to ensure that both users and developers
understand the system. This approach can dramatically reduce the information
gathering elapsed time and greatly increase the quality of the system. The
generated code which on average accounts for 80% of the application is not
"throw-away", but forms the foundation to which the business logic can
be added.
Our systems are unique, templates wouldn't work, would they?
While your systems may be unique to your company, they will certainly contain
common code for navigation, User Interface presentation, error handling, etc. In
all our years in Data Processing we have yet to see an exception to this rule!
BW*Wizard for COBOL builds this common code, allowing developers to
concentrate on the unique code of each application.
Testing
Testing is greatly reduced because a large percentage of the application was
automatically built from pre-tested templates. The quality of testing increases
as users and developers concentrate on the business logic of the system.
Users could now test the programs in the Compiler's test facility, or the
Client and Server(s) could be generated for the target platform.
Business Logic can be added incrementally.
But will the code be maintainable?
The built code looks like the very best hand written code, incorporating all
site standards. The built code does not contain any run-time routines and may
be treated as any other COBOL code. Maintenance is also reduced as all the
programs have the same 'look and feel' both externally to the users and
internally to the developers.
The indentation, style of comments, spacing, etc. are all customizable to
meet an installation's requirements. The error processing, cursor/ mouse pointer
positioning, field highlighting/focus is handled in the same way by every
application. Traditionally the task of enforcing 'coding' standards is largely
performed after programs are written. This has a negative impact on productivity
as code often has to be re-written. With BW*Wizard for COBOL, a
pro-active approach is possible. By incorporating a site's standards in the
templates the built code is assured of meeting standards.
What are some of the major features/functions?
- Multi-User update checking (pseudo-conversational processing) using time
stamps, counters or all columns is generated to ensure that one user's
updates do not overwrite changes made by another user.
- Application code to enforce Relational Integrity is optionally generated.
This ensures that foreign key columns entered incorrectly, result in
user-friendly error messages.
- Allowed value, date and range validation code is generated automatically
from values in the BW*Wizard for COBOL repository.
- "Hooks" are built into every template, to allow developers to
add business logic to programs. If the application is rebuilt by BW*Wizard
for COBOL, the developer added business logic remains intact.
- An open interface allows population of the BW*Wizard for COBOL
repository from external sources e.g.: CASE tools or other repositories.
What are some of the benefits of using BW*Wizard for COBOL?
BW*Wizard for COBOL will build complete functioning I/O programs in a
matter of minutes. This can represent as much as 100% of the required code for
table maintenance programs, and the BW*Wizard for COBOL built code will
typically account for 80% of the code required in an average business
application. Developers are able to concentrate on the business requirements
(the other 20%) of the system.
The templates are completely customizable allowing an site's standards to be
incorporated in the templates.
All the programs have the same "look and feel", they only differ in
what business function they are performing. This can greatly ease the
maintenance effort, which can represent a large saving in support costs.
Because BW*Wizard for COBOL builds complete functioning I/O programs
in minutes, it is ideal for prototyping and Rapid Application Development (RAD).
Summary
By automating the large repetitive portion of application development, BW*Wizard
for COBOL frees developers from the task of "coding processing logic"
and allows them to concentrate on supporting the business requirements of a
system.
Tasks that took days and were very error prone are completed in minutes
without error.
Built code can be run on any platform supported by COBOL, e.g. MVS, CICS,
AIX, OS/2, Windows, etc.
'Time to Market' is significantly reduced.
Development times are slashed.
For more information contact us.
|
