Each year there are about 100,000 computer systems purchased with BASIC as the primary language, approximately half being BUSINESS BASIC. No other language except COBOL sells more systems. This is estimated to be one billion dollars of equipment purchased every year. Most of these purchasers cannot seriously consider the IBM AS/400 as a platform for their solution.

These potential customers have invested millions of dollars in software that will not operate on any of IBM’s popular mid-range systems. The problem is that these users have invested heavily in applications written in BASIC.

Business BASIC users chose their hardware because of the programming environment it supports. In addition to running large numbers of production programs, they need the ability to write custom programs in a short time. Several of the super micro and mid-range computer manufacturers including DEC, H-P, PRIME, MAI/BASIC FOUR, NCR, UNISYS, and ALTOS have successfully sold thousands of Business BASIC systems. The annual sales numbers for these companies demonstrate the size and importance of the market for Business BASIC systems.

Since the introduction of the IBM AS/400 family of mid-range systems, IBM has a new state of the art platform that is a leader in price, performance and value. With the introduction of Southwest Data System’s X/TEND, IBM can now offer customers the opportunity to run their Business BASIC applications on the AS/400. In the near future X/TEND will arrive on IBM’s complete range of systems from the PS/2’s (running OS/2) to the RS/6000 line (running AIX). The focus of Southwest Data Systems is to put X/TEND on each system and allow the Business BASIC programmer to transparently take advantage of the underlying Relational Database Management System.

X/TEND will allow Business BASIC applications to run ‘native’ on the AS/400. Applications developed in X/TEND can be designed to be SAA compliant.

The application System 400 (AS/400) is a family of IBM mid-range computers based on a single hardware and software architecture. Also referred to as part of IBM’s Advanced Business Systems, these machines are multi-user computers designed for commercial applications. Built into the Micro-code of the AS/400 hardware is a true relational database manager so that all data is stored in a relational fashion.Since all of these systems are software compatible, applications developed on the smallest system will still run on the largest system.

By using a combination of faster processors, more storage and improved fixed disk systems, the AS/400 has superior performance when compared to earlier systems.

The AS/400 is easier to use that other advanced systems because of the standardized common user access to all system services. All system access is by menu selection.

Some of the capabilities that are available on the AS/400 are as follows:
Office Automation
Image Processing
Business Graphics
Voice Processing
Communications
Networking
Electronic Data Interchange
PC Support

MIGRATION TO THE AS/400

Since 1976 Southwest Data Systems has moved many users to new systems. With this experience, Southwest Data Systems can handle your migration from an existing Business BASIC environment to the IBM AS/400 computer system. The time and resources necessary to perform the migration will vary depending on the Business BASIC system and the state of the existing software.

The key to this task is X/TEND, the Advanced Database Access Language that enables Business BASIC to run on the IBM AS/400. This product includes utilities that transfer existing programs and data files to the AS/400 via magnetic media or Personal Computer. The preferred method of migration is 1/2" Magnetic Tape Reels. In addition to transferring the source code, several tests are performed on the programs to correct minor problems and flag sections needing a programmer’s attention.

While X/TEND handles most Business BASIC application programs and data files, several important parts of your overall conversion may need to be addressed outside of the Business BASIC environment. System administration skills are required for proper support and implementation of the new system. For example, System Resource Management needs to be addressed before migrating, this includes: printers, spoolers, communications, disk allocation and system security (i.e. passwords, user codes).

Software with proprietary, hardware dependent or operating system dependent features may require close individual attention to convert from the host to the AS/400 system. Software languages including FORTRAN, C and Assembler will also need to be analyzed and, in most cases, converted outside of the X/TEND environment.

Southwest Data Systems’ technical services department can evaluate all software and can locate system unique features and system dependent functions that need special handling. These may include: system calls, disk access utility programs, spooling, hexadecimal coding, semaphores and other operating system and hardware dependent functions.

The X/TEND programming environment is well suited to interactive development and debugging. It also provides a Business BASIC programming environment and many powerful features that are designed to be compatible with Business BASIC programs written for most Business BASIC computers. Business BASIC is a computer language embodying features that provide the rapid development of commercial and scientific applications.

Included in X/TEND is a set of utility programs that control system and file maintenance as well as communication with computers running Business BASIC. There is also available utilities to transfer programs, files and entire application systems between computers. Utilities for customized systems with unique commands and features may also be provided depending on specifications.

X/TEND allows the Business BASIC environment to be brought over to the IBM AS/400. X/TEND is a tool designed to enable the owner of the Business BASIC computer to facilitate intersystem communication, data sharing and a complete conversion to a new computing environment with IBM.

With X/TEND the programmer has the ability to define new directives and functions specific to the application being developed. This is a powerful feature for application developers who wish to standardize coding or develop advanced language features using Business BASIC.

X/TEND uses the integrated Relational Database Manager for all disk access. This allows the Business BASIC user to take advantage of all of the other applications software on the AS/400. Business BASIC may also access files created by other programming languages. This means standard Query and SQL functions are available to anyone and apply to all data stored on the system.

Each active task operates at all times in one of two modes: Edit and Run. In the Run mode, the task executes program statements one after another until some condition occurs that causes the task mode to change from Run to Edit. The program statements may be either part of the user program area or part of a public program.

When a task transitions from Run to Edit mode, X/TEND displays some message such as error code, program statement or just READY. This message is followed by the X/TEND Edit mode prompt. Generally the Edit mode is used for program statement entry and editing as well as direct execution of commands.

In the Edit mode, X/TEND tokenizes, stores and interprets whatever is entered at the workstation keyboard. Entries are stored using an intermediate code to save space and increase speed. When X/TEND is interpreting Edit mode input, unnecessary spaces and tab characters are ignored. Spaces and tabs are not removed from REM statements. Active characters and tabs are preserved between quotes("") and square brackets ([]).

If the first active character typed after the Edit mode prompt is a digit (0-9), then X/TEND will treat that line of input as a program statement. If the first active character is a letter, then X/TEND interprets that line as a command. If the first active character is neither a digit nor a letter, then an ERROR=20 will be generated.

Program statements (line number + directive + operands + terminator) can be entered into the user program area in exactly five ways. The first four are via MERGE, VMERGE, EXECUTE and EDIT commands. The last is through direct statement entry via a task’s associated workstation.

When a program statement is entered in the Edit mode, X/TEND uses its interpreter to both tokenize the program statement and enter it into the user program area. The tokenizer scans the statement for syntax errors and various usage errors while making no changes to the user data area. Any error found by the tokenizer is flagged and stored for later use. Next X/TEND edits to tokenized statement into the user program area by first deleting any pre-existing statement with the same number and then inserts the newly entered statement in its place. The program area editor checks for several error conditions including multiple function definitions and program area overflow. If the program area editing completes without any errors, X/TEND checks the result of the tokenizing step. If a tokenizer error occurred, an error statement is displayed, otherwise X/TEND continues with the Edit mode prompt.

Edit mode program statement entry contains two special features, first, an existing program statement can be deleted by entering its line number only and carriage return. IF the line number is found, the X/TEND program area editor removes the entire statement. If it is not found, X/TEND generates an ERROR=21, meaning no such statement exists. Secondly, appending to the end of an existing statement is accomplished by entering a line number followed by a colon(:) followed by the text to be added to the statement. If the statement is found, it is copied into memory in its LISTed format and the text to be added is appended. After this operation, the statement is tokenized and edited into the user program area exactly as if the user had entered the entire statement.

 X/TEND UTILITIES

The X/TEND Utility programs consist of several sets of special programs. The following list indicates the functions performed by the Utilities:

Demonstration Programs
X/TEND System Utilities
AS/400 System Utilities
Non-AS/400 Migration Utilities
Data File Utilities
Program Utilities
Menu Creation and Maintenance
Enter X/TEND Console Mode
Exit to OS/400
Signoff

All of the Utility programs may be used from the X/TEND menu system or called by a user program for custom use of the available features. When a utility generates output, the user has the option of sending the output to a display, printer or a file.

The Utility Menu system allows a user to access the utilities in an interactive mode with prompts and on-line HELP. All menus display a number of options, the user may enter their selection or request HELP for the present menu or one of the options. After a selection is made the system will display either another menu or a utility screen. If the user exits at this point the system will display to prior menu. A description of the utility programs may be found in the following sections.

These programs allow the X/TEND environment to be customized to the needs of the installation. Some of the tasks that are accomplished using the X/TEND System Utilities are as follows:

Work with System Control
Work with Remap Files
Work with Program Library Status
Work with Ext. Function List
Work with Authorization Code
Create Application Library
Install X/TEND Help Document
Install X/TEND ECS
Start Remote Passthru
Record /Playback Session Screens
ECS and Communications Menu

Display your Library List
Edit your Library List
Change Your Current Library
Display a Library
Work with All Spool Files
Work with Your Spool Files
Work with Data Base Files
Create AS/400 Physical File
Create AS/400 Source File
Add Physical File Member
Work with Members (PDM)
Work with Objects
Copy a PC File to AS/400
Copy an AS/400 File to PC

These Utilities facilitate the conversion of Business BASIC Programs and Data Files from other computer systems to the IBM AS/400. Basically the following steps summarize the conversion process:

Download Programs/Data to AS/400
Build Conversion Control Directory
Print Control Directory
Map Names in Control Directory
Build Programs from Tape File
Build Data Files from Tape File

Display File Information
Print File Directory
Define X/TEND Files
Erase a File or Member
Clear a File of Data
Rename a File
Move a File to Diff Library
Copy a File Whole
Copy a File Record by Record
DDS File Operations Menu
Display File Records in Hex

The Program Utilities give the X/TEND Programmer tools with which to develop and maintain Program Library Files. The following list is representative of the functions in this utility set:

Renumber a Program
List / Display a Program
Cross Reference a Program
Search / Replace in a Program
Rename a Program
Erase a Program
Put Programs to a File or Pgm. Library
Retokenize a Program
Scan Program Library for ERRORs
Compare Program Libraries
List / Display a Program Library
Get Programs from a File or Pgm. Library

The Menu Utility allows a simple set of menus to be developed and maintained. The option to print a list of the menus is provided.

COMPANY PROFILE

Southwest Data Systems has served the Business BASIC market since 1976 as one of the largest independent service companies. Through telemarketing, direct mail and personal meetings, SDS has kept in contact with over fifteen thousand Business BASIC users and software vendors. These users said many times that they would prefer to purchase IBM computers, but have not done so because they would be unable to preserve their investment in their Business BASIC software.

In 1983, as SDS’s customers expanded their computer networks to include Personal Computers, we developed PLUTO. PLUTO brought the Business BASIC environment to personal Computers.

More than a programming language, PLUTO also provides communications, file and program transfer capabilities. This allows PC users to import and execute Business BASIC applications from most any other Business BASIC system.

Southwest Data Systems now brings the Business BASIC environment to the IBM AS/400 family of computer systems. This environment is called X/TEND (pronounced ‘extend’).

X/TEND is an Advanced Database Access language. Among its many features is the ability to run programs written in the Business BASIC programming language and interface with the integrated Relational Database Manager.

Southwest Data Systems is located at 1418 Graham St. in Simi Valley, California. The location is 35 miles from Burbank Airport and just off of the Simi Valley-San Fernando Valley Freeway (118).

Southwest Data Systems markets through an international dealer network and also directly to end-users where there is no available dealers. Southwest Data Systems licenses X/TEND, provides Conversion Services and On-Site Professional Services. Training for dealers on the AS/400, Conversion Utilities and X/TEND is provided at both the Simi Valley location and on-site.

When X/TEND is licensed from Southwest Data Systems, support is provided for the first 90 days at no charge. Updates, Software Modifications and Revisions to documentation will be provided at no charge during the first 90 days, except for a media and handling charge.

Support means technical assistance between the hours of 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday except for our published holidays. Technical support via a modem may also be obtained during the standard working hours. A Fax machine is available to assist the technical department with prompt troubleshooting and is on 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Support fees are quoted by written quotation only.

First year fee is pro-rated through the end of the calendar year. Subsequent renewals are for a calendar year and are payable on January 1. Modem and FAX support are included in the annual fee, however long distance charges (if any) will be billed.

User documentation and revisions to documentation will be provided at no charge. Software modifications and updates are provided at no charge, however a media and handling charge will be billed.

On-site professional services are quoted by written quotation only.

• Familiar file types of Direct, Sort, Indexed, and Serial are supported within the Relational Database Manager. However, by defining file layouts through DDS, the full power of the Relational Database Manager is made available to the Business BASIC program. All files defined this way may be accessed by other programming languages (RPG, COBOL, C/400 and FORTRAN) and X/TEND may access files created by other languages. This file definition will create, what is called in the AS/400 world, a ‘native’ file. All OS/400 programs and third party programs that are ‘native’ will work with files defined through DDS.

• ‘Logical’ files are supported.

• Display files are supported.