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Presentations for the 2002 Sirius Users Group
June 9 - June 12
Salem, Massachusetts

Introduction to Web concepts and Janus Web Server
Robert Waggoner (Nodus)

Sunday 1000 - 1230

Begins with a look at internet application programming in general. We'll look at the pertinent issues of the http protocol, the role of the browser and server, directory structure, Mime types, and basic HTML. Next we'll see how the Janus Web server, and some of the $WEB functions delivers the goods. The wrap-up will be a look at an existing 3270-based User Language query program, and beginning the process of "converting" that query to an internet application using Janus Web Server.

A simple Janus Web application from soup to nuts
Robert Waggoner (Nodus)

Sunday 1330 - 1700

Step by step we'll change the User Language code to present a form, use form fields to perform a database lookup, and present the resulting data. Along the way, a number of questions will arise, such as:

  • How does the browser point to this User Language Program?
  • What is the difference between GET and POST?
  • What happens when I press the "Back" button?
  • What about security?
  • How might the HTTP protocol affect program design?
The brisk pace will preclude in-depth detail, but the accompanying workbook should fill in any gaps.

Robert is the founder of Nodus. Nodus has been continuously developing and delivering training for Model 204 and Sirius products for seventeen years. The material presented is an excerpt from Nodus' week-long Janus Web Server training workshop, which Robert can teach at your site.

Introduction to XML, XPath and XML APIs
Alex Kodat

Sunday 1000 - 1130

This presentation sets the stage for an in-depth discussion of the issues framing the Sirius XML API. No experience with XML is assumed and the technical level will be readily accessible. A high-level overview of XML concepts with examples is followed by a brief mention of XML parsing and navigation options. The presentation closes with an introduction to the standard XML document navigation language, XPath.

XPath concepts and simple XPath expressions
Dave Evans

Sunday 1130 - 1230

Introduces the basic concepts of the XPath XML document navigation syntax. Uses examples to reinforce the notions of context, location paths and location steps. Although the material is technical, liberal use of examples should allow most people to follow along.

Advanced XPath expressions with examples
Dave Evans

Sunday 1330 - 1430

Assumes a familiarity with XPath concepts and simple XPath expressions. Builds upon the XPath base to introduce the concepts of axes, node tests and predicates. While examples help to make the material understandable, the topics are complex.

Janus SOAP - Basics
Alex Kodat

Sunday 1430 - 1530

Janus SOAP is the Sirius XML API that contains extensive facilities to assist User Language programs with the management of XML documents. This presentation covers simple import and export of XML documents, long string support, XML character encodings (including unicode), and the integration of SOAP RPCs with Janus Web Server.

Janus SOAP - XPath & $XML_xxx
Dave Evans

Sunday 1530 - 1630

Janus SOAP is the Sirius XML API that contains extensive facilities to assist User Language programs with the management of XML documents. This presentation covers the portion of the API that provides facilities to either "input" or create, modify, retrieve from, and "output" a document tree. The role of XPath expressions for node navigation and selection is explained with examples. An understanding of XML and XPath fundamentals is assumed.

Transforming XML to HTML with XSLT
Alan Brooks

Sunday 1630 - 1730

The eXtensible Stylesheet Language can be used to Transform (XSLT) XML documents to HTML for display by a browser. The use of XSLT provides a clean separation of data (the XML document) from presentation (the XSLT style sheet) and can dramatically simplify the coding of User Language applications that support browsers. XSLT supports XPath expressions for filtering and reordering data from XML documents and XSLT is a useful way to hone your XPath skills. This presentation assumes a basic familiarity with HTML, XML and XPath.

Sirius News
Gary Gregory

Monday 0910 - 1020

We've been busy since the last Sirius User Group, and it shows! This presentation will review what Sirius has accomplished over the last year as well as preview our plans for the future. Significant developments in our customer base will be discussed along with their implications for the future.

Model 204 Version 5.1.0, Making the Connection with the Power
Bill Laub & Steve Nelson - CCA

Monday 1030 - 1200

Model 204 V5R1.0 builds on Model 204's traditional strengths. This new version is faster, more powerful, more robust, more flexible and more cost effective to run than ever before. Bill Laub,Model 204 Chief Product Architect will take a look at some of the new features in the nucleus - including 64-bit support and 7*24 processing. The director of CCA's Connectivity Development group, Steve Nelson will talk about new developments in Connectivity for Model 204.

Janus Web and advanced DHTML
Gary Bailey - Roadway

Monday 1300 - 1400

This presentation will include the demonstration of a Roadway Express web application that combines Model 204, Janus Web, DHTML, and XML to deliver a sophisticated end user tool. This presentation walks through the advanced web authoring techniques used in the development of this powerful application.

Janus and the Centrelink Architecture
Steve Crisp - Centrelink

Monday 1400 - 1455

This session describes how Centrelink is handling connectivity - both through MQ Series and Janusweb. It discusses how we are switching between 3270 screens and browser-based applications. It describes a number of Janusweb applications (both connectionless and persistent thread) and then descends into the bizarre with some results from our attempts to tune response time on the browser using XML/XSL/CSS and wrestling our caching rules with UPPER CASE URLS. Finally we cover future directions such as Web Services, SOAP and Microsoft .NET.

What is XML and why is it so hot?
Alex Kodat

Monday 1505 - 1600

The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and a few allied standards - the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) and the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) - are redefining how applications are being built. These few standards form the basis for sophisticated architectures supporting the entire spectrum of application requirements. This high-level presentation reviews the relevant technologies and outlines the Sirius products that support them. It will be of interest to everyone and assumes little knowledge of the subject area.

Janus SOAP concepts and facilities
Dave Evans

Monday 1600 - 1700

Janus SOAP is the Sirius standards-based API for processing XML documents. The combination of Model 204 User Language and Janus SOAP provides an extremely powerful and productive platform for developing and deploying applications of the future. This presentation provides a high-level overview of the Sirius XML API and how it can be used to extend the reach and life of Model 204 applications. It will be of interest to everyone and it assumes only a passing familiarity with XML and SOAP.

Fast/Unload special interest group discussion
interested parties

Monday 1700 - 1800

Fast/Unload Version 4.1 is currently under construction. This session will review the features already planned and discuss some design issues and tradeoffs that are not yet clear. All users with an interest in Fast/Unload are invited.

Administering Janus Web Server
Tom Thoresen

Tuesday 0900 - 0955

As Janus Web Server has evolved into an ever more sophisticated application platform, the command language used to administer it has also grown. The Janus Web Reference Manual is now well over 400 pages in length. This presentation walks through the process of configuring and managing Janus Web Server, with plenty of examples and "cook book" recommendations for many parameter settings. It will be of special interest to new Janus Web customers and prospects, but may also benefit old hands.

Janus Sockets - Plugged in at Roadway Express
Pam Wells - Roadway

Tuesday 0955 - 1025

Roadway Express recently implemented its first application using Janus Sockets. This presentation reviews the fundamentals of SMTP and the techniques used by Roadway to issue HTML e-mail.

Janus Web legacy support and Cascading Style Sheets
Alex Kodat

Tuesday 1035 - 1200

The Janus Web Legacy Support is a no-cost feature of Janus Web that lets existing Model 204 applications designed for 3270 terminals work "out of the wrapper" with browsers. Release 6.2 of the Sirius Mods contains significant enhancements to the legacy support, providing more faithful rendering and improved user control. The Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) language is central to the improved browser support. This presentation will demonstrate the new powers of Janus Web Legacy, followed by a brief tutorial of CSS and how it may be used to enhance Janus Web applications. The application will appeal to a large range of users, from the programmer responsible for developing web applications to the managers that want to see how quickly they can rejuvenate existing application suites.

Web enabling the Eclipsys Sunrise Decision Support Manager
Garrett Bernstein - Eclipsys

Tuesday 1300 - 1330

Eclipsys is the premiere provider of knowledge-driven applications to the healthcare industry. Eclipsys also markets the most successfull vertical application to be built upon Model 204. Eclipsys has chosen Janus Web Server to web enable future upgrades of their Sunrise Decision Support Manager application.

Overview of XPath with examples
Dave Evans

Tuesday 1330 - 1430

XPath is to XML documents what SQL is to relational tables. Most XML documents, like most Model 204 record structures, are more complex than typical relational tables. Accordingly, XPath is much more powerful than SQL. XPath is an integral component of the Sirius XML API provided by Janus SOAP. This presentation provides a high-level introduction to XPath, with numerous examples. It will be especially useful for managers and programmers new to XML who wish to understand the Sirius XML API.

Centrelink performance update with Model 204 V5.1
Leon Rasheed - Centrelink

Tuesday 1440 - 1535

Centrelink is one of the largest Model 204 shops in the world. This presentation will outline the scale of Centrelink's Model 204 processing and show just how much faster Model 204 has become.

A PC-based editor for User Language Procedures
Tony Pickering - Yoda Software

Tuesday 1535 - 1620

Yoda Software has developed a PC-based editor for Model 204 User Language procedures. The editor is aware of User Language syntax and contains extensive built in documentation and help facilities. It can access Model 204 either via Janus or Connect*. This presentation and demo will be of interest to all User Language developers (and their managers) who would like to reap the productivity gains of a PC-based language-aware editor.

Wireless connectivity and Model 204
Alan Brooks

Tuesday 1620 - 1715

A survey of the various options for wireless connectivity to Model 204 using various Janus products from Sirius. Includes demonstrations and observations on practical limitations. A high-level presentation that is accessible to all.

Model 204 trivia quiz, the sequel
the nerds

Tuesday 1715 - 1800

Test your Model 204 know-how against your compatriots. Trivia questions will cover the areas of User Language programming, file management, system management, Model 204 history and anything else Sirius Software's nerds can come up with. Entrants will compete as (somewhat) randomly chosen teams of four or five with fabulous prizes to the winning team. Choreographed celebrations and arguing with the referees is encouraged.

Managing Janus Network Security
Alan Brooks

Wednesday 0900 - 0955

Janus Network Security provides the Janus Web Server with high-perfomance support for the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) standard. SSL is used to provide commerce-strength cryptography for sensitive web transactions invoked via HTTPS. This presentation is a cookbook walkthrough of how to set up a secure Janus Web port, including how to use the internal certificate, how to request and install certificates from a Certifying Authority like Verisign, and how to self-certify for local use only. It will be of special interest to new Janus Web users and system administrators.

Clever tricks with Janus Sockets
Tom Thoresen

Wednesday 0955 - 1025

Janus Sockets provides User Language programs with direct access to a TCP/IP stack. This presentation demonstrates several practical applications of Janus Sockets. A high-level "gee whiz" demonstration of applications will be followed by a review of the relevant User Language code. Examples will include sending e-mail (SMTP), using network printers (LPR) and sending text pages (SMS). It will appeal to everyone, regardless of their technical background.

Janus Web at Marks and Spencer
Clare Stephens - Marks and Spencer>

Wednesday 1035 - 1105

Clare Stephens is an architect for the Foods division of Marks and Spencer. Clare will present their web deployment that uses Janus Web and XML in conjunction with IIS.

Special characters in Web applications
Alex Kodat

Wednesday 1105 - 1130

Standards for the world wide web include complete support for various complex issues of internationalization and character sets. This presentation explains the various coding schemes and character sets that are used, when they are used and the features within the various Janus products that support special characters. These issues are generally new to the User Language programmer and can be quite complex. However, a reasonable understanding now before you begin coding applications can save a great deal of anguish later.

SirFact@Centrelink
Heikki Malmberg - Centrelink

Wednesday 1130 - 1200

SirFact is an ad-hoc debugging tool that is particularly useful for solving data-dependent application bugs. This presentation will draw on real-world examples to show SirFact in action.

Moving from green screen to the web - tips and tricks
Don Essick - Northrop Grumman

Wednesday 1300 - 1400

Don has spent the last six months converting a variety of complex 3270-based Model 204 applications into web applications, using Janus Web Server. Don will share his experiences and present many useful tips and tricks he has learned.

Debugging Janus Applications
Tom Thoresen

Wednesday 1400 - 1455

Debugging Janus Web applications has never been easier. Enhancements to Janus Web include the ability to run SoftSpy or any other 3270-based testing or debugging tool against Janus Web applications, improvements to Janus tracing facilities and SirScan to simplify journal-based debugging and even SirFact to provide post hoc debugging capabilities. See how all these capabilities can significantly speed up the web application development cycle by reducing debugging time.

Control-Alt-Delete: Model 204 recovery
Alex Kodat

Wednesday 1505 - 1600

Model 204 implements several distinct recovery mechanisms. Transaction Backout (TBO) is used to remove the effects of incomplete transactions in the normal course of operation. Roll Back and Rollforward are used to recover from system outages. Media recovery is used to recover from hardware or human errors. This presentation reviews the various recovery mechanisms, including a discussion of factors relevant to performance.

Sirius Wishlist discussion
Peter Burlow (SEL)

Wednesday 1600 - 1645

Here's your chance to tell us what you need from Model 204 in general and Sirius products in specific and why. In most instances, you'll get immediate response as to whether a new feature is likely to be implemented and a likely time-frame. For an idea of the sorts of things that have been suggested in the past and are to some degree or another on Sirius's plate as possible enhancements visit our online wishlist page.

 

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Phone: 617-876-6677
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