Evergreen Interactive Systems Announces
The AS/400 Smart File Downloader
For Windows 95/98/NT

Download All Types of AS/400 Data to Your TCP/IP Connected PCs

Free!  Full Function 30-Day Evaluation Version
Click here to download the evaluation version

Easily and Correctly Download AS/400 Physical and Logical File Data To:

What the Smart File Downloader Does
By popular demand, the AS/400 Smart File Downloader has been developed to correctly interpret and download all types of AS/400 data and to import the data into major PC applications like Excel, Word, Lotus, Netscape, Outlook or to PC text or ".csv" files.  Packed numeric, binary, hex and date/time field values are correctly interpreted with a leading positive/negative sign inserted for proper interpretation by PC spreadsheet applications like Excel.

An authorized user may browse AS/400 libraries and files, select a relative record number range and do one of the following:

  • Display the contents of a selected physical or logical file for identification or to copy file data to the PC's clipboard.
  • Load an AS/400 file directly into Microsoft Excel or Word or Lotus 1-2-3 or WordPro. Excel/Word/Lotus 1-2-3/WordPro is launched by the Downloader and the AS/400 file content is loaded into an appropriate spreadsheet or document, ready for editing, formatting, printing, etc.
  • Quick print a file on the PC's local printer (no AS/400 printer configuration necessary.)
  • Copy the selected file data to PC text file(s). Users can *ADD to or *REPLACE PC text file records.  The AS/400 file's attributes may be used as the PC text file's name for archiving of AS/400 data.
  • Download AS/400 file contents directly to an email message or attachment
  • Invoke Excel's built-in text-to-columns converter to explicitly specify parsing parameters.
  • If an advanced user employs a pre-recorded Excel or Word macro to automate processing within Excel or Word over AS/400 file data, he/she may specify the macro's name from the Downloader. The Downloader will load the AS/400 file and run the macro over the data while the user watches.
  • Download the selected physical or logical data to an HTML file.  You can even add AS/400 file data to an existing HTML document, to merge AS/400 data with your company's web page.
  • Run the entire process automatically, in batch using a PC script file or from an AS/400 interactive CL program.
    •
    Only $295. per Workstation!!

    Using the Smart File Downloader

    When launched, the AS/400 Smart File Downloader will examine your PC to see which PC applications are installed, and options allowing their use will be presented  (see figure 3.)
    The Downloader will then present the screen shown in figure 2:

    Figure 2 – Key in an AS/400 physical or logical file or you may browse libraries and files.
    Key in the name of an AS/400 physical or logical file or click the dot dot dot button to browse the AS/400's libraries and files. Once you select a file you'll see the field selection screen shown in figure 3.

    Figure 3 – Selecting the fields to be downloaded and the PC application that is to receive the data.
    Loading an AS/400 File to a PC Text File You may load AS/400 file contents to a PC text file, with comma, tab or space delimiting.  The AS/400 library, file and member names may optionally be used to create the PC text file's name.   When the "Text file" option is selected, the Downloader’s text file dialog box will be displayed as shown in figure 4.


    Figure 4 – The Downloader text file dialog box.

     Loading an AS/400 File to Microsoft Excel You may also import the contents of an AS/400 file into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet without leaving the Downloader. The Downloader will check to see if Excel is already running. If not, the Downloader will start a new instance of Excel. The downloaded data will then be imported into the Excel spreadsheet by commands issued from the Downloader. In this manner you may load several AS/400 files into Excel concurrently – each as its own spreadsheet. Very handy for cutting and pasting among files.

    Because the most common use of downloaded data is in an Excel spreadsheet, the Smart File Downloader includes a "Quick load to Excel" option (figure 1) which will bypass the field selection screen, and launch Excel and import the AS/400 data.

      The Downloader can optionally present Excel's parsing Wizard so your users can explicitly define parsing specifications!   Once started, Excel will remain active even if you’ve ended the Downloader.

    Note: The AS/400 Report Downloader will work with Excel 5.0, Excel 97 and Excel 2000. The Downloader will detect Excel and the version present on the PC.

     Loading an AS/400 File to Excel and Running a Macro Through ActiveX Automation technology, the Smart File Downloader is able to send commands to Excel telling it to load and run a pre-recorded Excel macro over an imported AS/400 file – all without leaving the Downloader.

    Macro instructions are created by the user and stored on the PC under a given name. You may specify the macro’s spreadsheet file and name from the Downloader and after the AS/400 data is imported, the macro is run. Use this feature to further automate the downloading process. Typically macros will be used for:

    Parsing the file data into cells
    Enhancing appearance
    Adding more totals to the report
    Scanning and replacing specific content
    Final printing     So with this feature of the Downloader you can record your Excel operations into a macro once and use the macro every time you process the same data.     Loading an AS/400 File to Microsoft Word You may also import the contents of an AS/400 physical or logical file into a Microsoft Word document without leaving the Downloader. The Downloader will check to see if Word is already running. If not, the Downloader will start a new instance of Word. The downloaded file data will then be loaded into a Word document by commands issued from the Downloader. In this manner you may load several AS/400 files into Word at the same time – each as its own document. Very handy for cutting and pasting among files.
    Once started, Word will remain active even if you’ve ended the Downloader. Normally, Word will be minimized to the task bar by the Downloader after the loading is finished.
    Note: The AS/400 Smart File Downloader will work with MS Word 6, 7, Word 97 and Word 2000. The Downloader will detect Word and the version present on the PC.     Loading an AS/400 File to Microsoft Word and Running a Macro Through ActiveX Automation technology, the Downloader is able to send commands to MS Word telling it to load and run a pre-recorded Word macro over an imported AS/400 file – all without leaving the Downloader.

    Macro instructions are created by the user and stored on the PC under a given name. You may specify the macro’s document file and name from the Downloader and after the AS/400 data is loaded, the macro is run. Use this feature to further automate the downloading process. Typically macros will be used for:

    Enhancing appearance
    Adding features to the report
    Scanning and replacing specific content
    Final printing     So with this feature of the Downloader you can record your Word operations into a macro once and use the macro every time you process the same data.

    To specify a macro to be run select "Microsoft Word" from the fields selection display (see figure 3.). The Downloader’s macro dialog box will be displayed allowing you to select a Word template file and macro name.

     See Also
     Year 2000 Compliance - Specifications regarding year 2000 compliance for the Downloader
     Downloader Security  - Controlling user access to AS/400 files through the Downloader
    Requirements
    PC running Windows 95/98/NT
    TCP/IP connection to the AS/400 (Ethernet, Token Ring, Internet or Point-to-Point Dial-up)
    OS/400 V3R2, V3R6, V3R7 or V4R1 and up
    Pricing and Availability
     
    Licenses U.S. Funds
    1 to 4 PCs
    295. ea.
    5 to 9 PCs
    275. ea.
    10 to 14 PCs
    250. ea
    15 Seats and Up (site license)
    3700.

    The AS/400 Smart File Downloader is available by download and/or express mail.
    The AS/400 Smart File Downloader comes with a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

    Contacting Evergreen Interactive Systems
    Toll free: 1.888.821-8218
    send us email!

    Evergreen Interactive Systems

    P.O. Box 389
    Nine Mile Falls, WA
    99026-0389