LawsonGuru Letter

December 2004

The LawsonGuru Letter is a free periodic newsletter providing provocative commentary on issues important to the Lawson Software community. The LawsonGuru Letter is published by-and is solely the opinion of-John Henley of Decision Analytics. Visit Decision Analytics at http://www.danalytics.com. For subscription information, see the bottom of this message.

The LawsonGuru Letter is not affiliated with Lawson Software.

We're going to take a break from our reporting series this month, as Keri White returns to the Guest Spot (for the fourth time!). Keri will share with you a post-processing technique that I have worked on with her and a number of other Lawson clients. Ready to write your own Guest Spot? Send me an email at letter-editor@lawsonguru.com.

In this issue:
1. Guest Spot: Leveraging Scripts for Post-Job Processing
2. Cube Farm: You'll laugh, but wish it hadn't been written
3. First Look: Lawson Receiving & Delivery (RAD)
4. Worthwhile Reading
5. Lawson Tips & Tricks

1. Guest Spot: Leveraging Scripts for Post-Job Processing
By Keri White

Custom scripts are very handy and versatile tools to use for post-job file-processing purposes. You can write scripts to archive, email, transmit files to and from FTP servers, and send files to other servers for a third party application to use. In order to "call" a custom script, the Lawson program that utilizes it upon completion must be modified slightly. It is recommended that if you need to modify a Lawson program that you make a copy of it and make the modifications to the copy.

Calling a script is just another example of calling an OS command. For an example of calling OS commands from Lawson COBOL programs, see Tip #3 in the September 2004 issue of the LawsonGuru Letter (http://www.danalytics.com/guru/letter/archive/2004-09.htm).

Integrating a Script into a Lawson COBOL Program

In order to use a script, the following needs to be added to the Working Storage (WS) and the Procedure Description (PD) of the program. Note that, in this case, the script is called as the last action before the program ends.

WS
02 WS-EXTRACT1-FILE-NAME PIC X(60) VALUE "MYFILE".

02 WS-CMD-SCRIPT.
05 FILLER PIC X(06) VALUE "sh -c ".
05 FILLER PIC X(01) VALUE x"22".
05 FILLER PIC X(27) VALUE "<path & filename of script> ".
05 WS-CMD-PROD-LINE PIC X(60) VALUE SPACES.
05 FILLER PIC X(01) VALUE x"22".
05 WS-CMD-FILE PIC X(60) VALUE SPACES.
05 FILLER PIC X(01) VALUE x"22".
05 FILLER PIC X(01) VALUE x"00".

PD
* -- This is the file you want to transmit
MOVE WS-EXTRACT1-FILE-NAME TO WS-CMD-FILE.

* -- This is the product line the file was created in
MOVE WS-DB-PRODUCT-LINE TO WS-CMD-PROD-LINE.
CALL "system" USING WS-CMD-SCRIPT.

The above code to modify program working storage and procedure description can be used for each example in this article.

Here is an example of a script that archives and emails files:

if [ "$1" = "-?" ] || [ "$1" = "-h" ] || [ "$1" = "" ] || [ "$2" = "" ]
then
echo "Usage: prpospay.sh ProductLine PosPayFileName"
echo ""
exit 1
fi

#set variables for upper/lower case product lines
PL_UC=`echo $1 | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]'`
PL_LC=`echo $1 | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]'`

## Create Archive directory if it doesn't exist
if [ ! -d "$LAWDIR/$PL_LC/work/PositivePay" ]
then
mkdir $LAWDIR/$PL_LC/work/PositivePay
fi
if [ ! -d "$LAWDIR/$PL_LC/work/PositivePay/Archive" ]
then
mkdir $LAWDIR/$PL_LC/work/PositivePay/Archive
fi
#
if [ "$2" != "" ]
then
#
# convert file to fixed-length 52-byte records
cnvexp -f $2 52 > tmp1.$$
#
# copy to archive directory
cp tmp1.$$ $LAWDIR/$PL_LC/work/PositivePay/Archive/`date '+%Y%m%d_%H%M%S'`.`basename $2`
echo "File copied to: $LAWDIR/$PL_LC/work/PositivePay/Archive/`date ` +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S'`.`basename $2`"
#
ATTACHNAME=`basename $2`
#
for RECIPIENT in `cat $GENDIR/custom/prpospay.email.txt`
do
echo "From: payroll@example.com" > tmp3.$$
echo "To: $RECIPIENT" >> tmp3.$$
echo "Subject: Payroll Positive Pay" >> tmp3.$$
echo "MIME-Version: 1.0" >> tmp3.$$
echo "Content-Type: text/plain;" >> tmp3.$$
echo " name=$ATTACHNAME" >> tmp3.$$
echo "Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable" >> tmp3.$$
echo "Content-Description: $ATTACHNAME" >> tmp3.$$
echo "Content-Disposition: attachment;" >> tmp3.$$
echo " filename=$ATTACHNAME" >> tmp3.$$
#
cat tmp1.$$ >> tmp3.$$
#
/usr/lib/sendmail -v -f payroll@example.com $RECIPIENT < tmp3.$$
done
#
# remove temp files
rm tmp1.$$
rm tmp3.$$
fi
echo "Processing Complete"
echo ""
exit 0
#

In the above example, the positive pay file that is created for the Payroll run needs to be emailed to the bank. The steps are:

PATH variables are set

Directory structure is verified

The file is converted, using the Lawson cnvexp utility, to fixed-length records.

The file is copied to an Archive directory and the date and time are attached to the file name.

The file is emailed to a recipient list, which is stored in a separate file on the same server. The recipient list simply contains the email addresses listed one after another.

Scripting for FTP Transmission

An alternative to emailing a file is to transmit it to another server or receive it from another server via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). To do this, you would add a line to the post-processing script to call an FTP script:

# FTP transmit (diff script based on prod line)
/<source path>/<FTP script name>_$PL_LC.ftp

The FTP script would be a separate script containing the FTP connection information, which looks like this:

HOST='<IP Address of target FTP server>'
USER='<user name>'
PASSWD='<password>'
FILE='<path and filename on source server>'

ftp -n $HOST <<END_SCRIPT
quote USER $USER
quote PASS $PASSWD
cd <path on target server>
ascii
lcd <path on source server>
put [append][get] <filename>
quit
END_SCRIPT
exit 0

Scripting for Printing

Another example of post-processing is that you can transmit files directly to a printer. We use a third-party application (Formscape) to print our checks, direct deposit stubs, requisitions, purchase orders, delivery tickets, and remittance advices. Virtual printers are setup on the server to execute the appropriate Formscape project for printing. Adding the following code sends the file to a printer on an alternate server:

# send to printer
lpr -P<server name>:<printer name> <file name>

Summary

The extra step in automation provided by post-processing scripts greatly enhances the program's usability and reliability. The automatic archiving of files keeps a clean and complete history. End-users don't require access to an FTP tool. Distributing files via email ensures that all responsible parties have the necessary information to complete their task. Ultimately, the scripts greatly reduce the chance for human error in repetitive processes.

2. Cube Farm: You'll laugh, but wish it hadn't been written

If you are a fan of Dilbert or movies like Office Space, Cube Farm will be right up your alley. The twist? This one's all about Lawson. Yes, Lawson, the software company you've come to know and love.

Told in first-person by Bill Blunden, a former Lawson R&D employee, this tome spins its way through several years of bungled projects and political battles at Lawson. Blunden, fresh from college with a gung-ho can-do attitude, gets his first taste of corporate America, in the pre-Y2K dot-com era. After waiting tables, and interviewing at 3 companies, Blunden treks to Minnesota to work for Lawson. (By the way, Blunden's characterizations of the Minnesotans are spot-on hilarious!)

Anointing his colleagues with pseudonyms, such as Long John Silver, the Mad Prophet, and Gigolo, Blunden describes his tenure at Lawson, unearthing the mismanagement and lack of direction we have all come to know and love as Lawson. Along the way, you'll hear tales of several long-ago abandoned projects (anyone remember Select Enterprise? Open Enterprise Desktop?) Blunden also "owned" the maintenance of the dbdef utility for a while, and shares some insight on how unforthcoming many of the original developers were in sharing their institutional knowledge.

Blunden (who refers to himself as Reverend Bill, from the "Church of the SubGenius") does a great job explaining-in plain English-various topics such as client-server, and Lawson's architecture, etc. I'm proud to say that he also echoes many of the themes that I often use, such as "It's not a 4GL, it's a 1GL!" Along they way, you'll also learn a few of Lawson's "dirty secrets", which I won't spoil for you by sharing them here.

If you've spent as much time around Lawson as I have, you love this book. But, you may also find it a bit depressing, since you'll discover more about Lawson's dysfunction than you really wish you had. You can pick up a copy of Cube Farm (ISBN 1-59059-403-7) at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1590594037.

3. First Look: Lawson Receiving & Delivery (RAD)

Where does your package go after it's "received"?? Well, that's an often-asked question in many organizations.

Think about the chain of events that occurs when you receive an order. After the order comes to your loading dock, where does it go?

Well, Lawson's new Receiving and Delivery Tracking (RAD) solution may be able to give you the answer to these questions.

Last month (http://www.danalytics.com/guru/letter/archive/2004-11.htm) we started taking a look at the new Lawson products-acquired from Apexion Technologies-that make up Lawson's Mobile Supply Chain Suite:

? Mobile Par & Cycle Count (MPC)
? Receiving and Delivery Tracking (RAD)
? Surgical Instrument Management (SIM)

Why use RAD?

Allow requesters to track deliveries at any time from their computers
Accurately track and deliver non-purchase order packages
Efficiently manage complex, multi-step delivery routes
Achieve accountability throughout your receiving and delivery processes
Capture signatures and recipient information on mobile handhelds

Key RAD Features:

Package Receiving

Enables dock logging and validation of carrier manifests
Uses carrier-provided barcodes and tracking numbers for faster processing
Printed barcode labels can be applied to track boxes without carrier labels
Interfaces with Lawson PO Receiving
Records non-purchase order deliveries with wireless handhelds that scan barcodes and allow data entry via a simple user interface

Delivery Management

Support for complex, multi-step delivery routes
Creates, prints and processes manifests
Prints delivery tickets and labels
Delivery Verification
- Records recipient information and signatures on handheld devices
- Tracks delivery performance, including attempted deliveries and any observed damage to items
Self-Service Tracking
- Allows requesters to track deliveries from their computers
- Displays the current status of the receiving and delivery process and location of the package
- Data may be transmitted immediately (in a fully wireless environment) or when the user returns to a wireless area (in a partially wireless setting), or when the handheld is cradled (in a non-wireless environment)

Stock Issues and Returns

Enables wireless issues and returns, using a simple scan of the item barcode or bin label

Activity Tracking and Reporting

Tracks operator activities, including actions performed and duration of tasks
Provides comprehensive productivity reporting
Can be integrated with Lawson Reporting Suite

Mobile Technology Platform

Uses the Microsoft Windows CE/Pocket PC operating system
Symbol 8846 - Pocket PC
Dolphin 7400 - Windows CE
Wireless (802.11b) technology, supporting 128-bit encryption
Supports multiple transmission modes, including real-time wireless, intermittent wireless and cradle-based synching
Handhelds can be used for any Windows-CE application-they aren't dedicated to Lawson
Lawson 8.0.3 Environment & 8.0.3 Applications

The Bottom Line

Think of Lawson's RAD as your own internal version of the ubiquitous UPS delivery truck. Now you can have your own way to account for receipts and internal deliveries.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- QUOTE OF THE ISSUE -

?So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.?
- Peter Drucker
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4. Worthwhile Reading

If You Build It, Will They Come?
KPI digital dashboards might just be the next priority for CIOs. But how many CEOs really want all that real-time data anyway?
CIO Magazine, September 15, 2004
http://www.cio.com/archive/091504/itwork.html

Bending Toward E-Spending
Supplier-relationship management software can streamline the way an organization buys products and services, by replacing inefficient paper trails and letting it take advantage of price breaks in companywide supplier contracts.
Baseline Magazine, August 2004
http://www.baselinemag.com/article2/0,1397,1630453,00.asp

Risk's Rewards
Are you on board with enterprise risk management? You had better be. It's the future of how businesses will be run.
CIO Magazine, November 1, 2004
http://www.cio.com/archive/110104/risk.html

Hard Times
Why finance executives are overworked and under stress.
CFO Magazine, November 2004
http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/3329236/c_3348416

5. Lawson Tips & Tricks
Share your tips. Send them to mailto:letter-tips@lawsonguru.com.


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Decision Analytics is an independent consultancy, focusing on Lawson technical projects, and specializing in customization/modification, data conversion, and integration/interfaces. Please visit http://www.danalytics.com for more information.
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