President's Message from Peter Maher

Spring has Sprung, the birds are singing and Carson is this month's speaker!

Well after what for me has been a terribly long Winter, Spring is finally here. First let me thank those of you who sent me the words of encouragement regarding my Mom. She is doing MUCH better. In fact my Dad said the other day she was driving him crazy so I know all is more or less back to normal. We still have a ways to go but all in all I am grateful to the good Doctors and nurses.

On March 29th the JAM '00 committee met and we are much closer to finalizing this years lineup. I can tell you now it should be the best yet! So far we have confirmations from Jon Paris, Susan Gantner, Dave Prescott and Carson Soule.

Speaking of Carson, this month we are extremely pleased to welcome back Carson. Those of you who have been with us know that for as long as we have been WAM Carson has supported us. For that we can never be grateful enough. This month Carson is speaking on Transaction Processing with WebSphere and Java Servlets. My spies in Boston have given me rave reviews of this presentation. (Carson just presented this session last week in Boston at there version of JAM) we are arranging for live demonstrations for this one folks so I wouldn't miss it!

Next month we are bringing Don Denoncourt for an all day seminar on JAVA For the RPG Programmer. Folks this has got to be The Deal of The Century! As a WAM member you can attend this seminar for the unheard of price of $75.00. Your admission price includes the All Day Seminar, a continental breakfast, lunch and Don's 448-page book Java Application Strategies for the AS/400! The book alone sells for $79.00 and includes a free CD of source code! Space IS limited for this one so I suggest you register today.

There's much more coming so stay tuned.

See you on the 18th!

-Peter

This Month's Meeting

• The major steps taken to build this application from the ground up:
• JSP, servlets, Websphere, browsers, HTML, JavaScript and other tools used to build this application
• How to represent transactions in a browser client.
• How to get good performance
• Experiences building the application? And what worked and what didn't.
• How this Web development option can solve your business needs

Carson A. Soule is the CEO of Computer Applications Specialists, Inc., a national company providing AS/400, networking, software and services. Carson attended the University of Maryland and has earned Certificates in Computer Programming (CCP), Data Processing (CDP) and Systems Professional (CSP) from the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP). In addition, he is certified by IBM in AS/400 sales, technical support and networking. He has over 25 years of System/3X experience starting as a System/3 programmer and continuing through the System/32/34/36/38 and AS/400. Carson is active in COMMON as a speaker and previously as the AS/400 and System/36 Project Manager as well as being a member of ACM and IEEE Computer Society. He is also a frequent speaker at local and national user groups on midrange computer topics, a technical editor and frequent contributor of articles for News/400 under the titles of "Interactive RPG/400 Programming" and "Standards for AS/400 Installations

Tuesday April 18th, 2000
Holiday Inn College Park
US RT 1 College Park Maryland

6:00pm networking/cash bar
6:30pm Dinner
7:15pm Carson on Transaction Processing with WebSphere and Java Servlets
8:30pm Adjournment

Members Free Non-Members $25.00

Next Month's Meeting

Washington Area Midrange Presents JAVA for the RPG Programmer - with Don Denoncourt

Tuesday May 16th

This day-long course guides the student through an overview of the history of the Web, the Java language, and an introduction to Java on the AS/400. A prior knowledge of RPG is assumed. Course materials include the 448 -Page book Java Application Strategies for the AS/400. (Included with the book is a CD with ALL the source code used in the book.) The following are the topics to be covered in this seminar.

An Introduction to OOP and Java for RPG Programmer
This presentation covers how Object-oriented programming is an improvement over modular languages like ILE. It will first compare the similar structure of a program with an RPG program and then contrast the intent of a properly designed Java program with an RPG program. The presentation then introduces the concepts of OO by using hypothetical extension to RPG that makes the RPG language object-oriented (RPG++ or OO RPG). From this presentation you will understand the benefits of OO without knowing Java.

Applets and Applications
Two of the deployment options are covered in this presentation. Web browser-based Java programs (applets) and client/server or standalone Java applications.

The AS/400's Java Environment
The Java development environment is covered from installation of program products execution of Java commands. Performance optimization will be touched on.

An Introduction to Java Database Connect: DB2/400 SQL Access for Java
AS/400 programmers can use record-level access to pull data from DB2/400 but all available tools, except for AS/400 Toolbox for Java, use JDBC. This presentation covers how you can access DB2/400 data using the syntax of SQL.

HTML for DDS Programmers (or, Everything Don Knows About HTML in 45 Minutes or Less)
The most successful deployment strategy for Java is with server-side Java. That means Java servlets and Java Server Pages (JSP) using HTML as the user interface. This presentation covers the architecture of Web applications and overviews the syntax of HTML. Most books on HTML may be 4-5 inches thick but business programmers only need to know a few basics to be able to deliver server-side Java applications. This presentation covers those basics, in fact, like the subtitle says; it’s everything Don knows about HTML and its all Don says you need to know.

An Introduction to Server-side Java: Servlets and Java Server Pages (JSP)
Server-side Java is where its at. Java applets, client/server style Java applications, and stand-alone Java applications have been nowhere near as successful as server-side Java. The world is going to Web-based applications and Java servlets is the best way to develop those applications. In this presentation we will overview the architecture of a server-side Java application.

An Introduction to Enterprise Java Beans (EJB)
If you are going to completely replace your legacy application with Java then you have to use EJB. That is, unless you are a computer scientist that likes to handle a variety of complex issues that AS/400 programmers haven’t had to deal with before. EJB handles the complexities of n-tier applications, it handles database concurrency issues, and it handles scalability using “work management” for Java. In this presentation we will overview the architecture of EJB and why it should be used when you replace your RPG with Java.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Don Denoncourt is the author of Java Application Strategies for the AS/400 and dozens of Java articles. Don programmed in RPG and Cobol for eight to ten years before becoming a Systems Programmer for Amalgamated Software of North America (ASNA). During his tenure at ASNA Don was the primary developer of Extermin8 for Windows, Datagate/400, and Activ8 Pool Manager.

Don also was the co-developer of ProData's SQL/4Less. In the last two-and-a-half years, Don has delivered over 600 hours of Java training in Midrange Computing seminars in various cities across the country. Most recently Don had several "blow-out" sessions at Common Spring 2000 in San Diego, California.

Tuesday May 16th

Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:00am
Seminar 8:30-4:30pm (Lunch Included)
Tysons WestPark Hotel
Seminar Fee: Members: $75.00
Non Members: $150.00 or, With WAM Membership $175.00

Feel free to make copies as needed!

Name: _______________________________________________

Company: ____________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________

City, State, ZIP: ___________________________________

For more info call Peter at 703-834-3706 or see the web page at http://www.wash-midrange.org/

Phone: Work _______________ Home ____________________

Fax ________________ e-mail ____________________

Please mail registration and check to:

Washington Area Midrange
12023 Blackberry Terrace
North Potomac, MD 20878

or Fax registration to KB Soni 301-590-0213

Seating is limited so register early! The registration fee for members of Washington Area Midrange user group is $75.00 dollars and for non-members $150.00. (For an additional $25.00 you can become a WAM member and save $50.00 on JAM 99!) Make checks payable to WAM. Seminar confirmation will be sent back to you. Cancellations received in writing by Thursday May 11, 2000 will be refunded in full.

Directions:

From Baltimore:

I-95 South to Capital Beltway (495 West) Silver Spring/Northern Virginia, Exit at Leesburg Pike/Rt. 7 West. Proceed Six Traffic Lights West on Rt. 7, turn right at WestPark Drive, Right into Hotel.

From Washington D.C.

I-66 West Exit at Leesburg Pike/Rt. 7 West. Proceed West on Rt. 7, turn right at WestPark Drive, Right into Hotel.

From Points South:

I-95 South to Capital Beltway (495) Rockville. Exit at Leesburg Pike/Rt. 7 West. Proceed Six Traffic Lights West on Rt. 7, turn right at WestPark Drive, Right into Hotel.

Treasurer's Message

Year 2000 Membership Renewal

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members who have renewed their membership for year 2000.

However, if you are one of those who has not yet renewed, please take out that check and get it out fast. You all know the benefits of your WAM membership and we continue to make your membership more valuable than ever. The upcoming one-day JAVA seminar (described elsewhere in this newsletter) is just an example of the kind of events your Board is planning.

The JAVA seminar is specially priced at $75 for the members. Non-members pay $150. If you plan to attend the seminar, this event itself is a great reason to be a member. Please note that the member price will only be available to members of record as of April 30, 2000. If you have any questions, or if you will like to start a new membership, please feel free to call me.

Your 2000 membership can be renewed or a new membership started by sending in your check for $100 for the annual fee. The checks made out to WAM may be sent to:

Washington Area Midrange
12023 Blackberry Terrace
North Potomac, MD 20878

If you have any questions about the membership status, please call me at (301) 590-7121.

WAM Contacts:

President: Peter Maher 703/834-3706 F) 703/834-3707 1stplace@crosslink.net
Acting President: Jack Fugiel 301/489-1103 F) 301/474-1609 jack.fugiel@whihomes.com
Vice President: John Blum 410/265-1300 F) - - jblum@bcpl.net
Secretary: Don Rima 703/742-3744 F) 703/742-0448 dr2@cssas400.com
Treasurer: K B Soni 301/590-7121 F) 301/590-0213 kbsoni@aol.com
Newsletter Editor: Tom Jones 301/515-4438 F) - - twjones@erols.com
At Large: Mark Grimley 703/264-0643 F) 703/264-1753 MGrimley@MGFairfax.RR.Com
At Large: Ross Massey 410/672-3783 F) 410/799-9066 rmassey@dpsolutions.com
Associate Director: John Rodrigues 703/519-1569 F) 703/683-5100 jrod@entnet.org

Don't forget!!! JAM '00 December 1st , 2000