You want to create new fields, add automation and logic, code a report, fix a problem, and understand what your Info/Man system is doing. You've looked at IBM's training catalogue without finding Info/Man scheduled courses.

     Don't worry. You've come to the right place.

     I can give you all the information and training you would have gained on IBM's course. I can do this at your site, in fewer days and at a considerably more attractive price.

     How can I be so certain?

     Because I wrote and taught IBM's world-wide courses:- TM44 Initial Customisation, TM45 Automation & Control and TM46 Host Reporting, as well as the UK classes EA76 Info/Man for End Users and EA79 Customising Info/Man Reports.

     IBM hasn't scheduled Info/Man classes since 2000. Instead they sent me to customers to give on-site skills-transfer sessions, covering course material using the customers system. While this is a highly effective method of gaining Info/Man knowledge and skills, it was expensive for one or two people. But no longer. Now I am working independently I am able to be much more competitive.

     I left IBM in January 2003 on an early retirement package and am now working as an independent trainer/consultant. I have a passport and driving licence and can travel anywhere. Please contact me with any questions, I look forward to hearing from you.

    Info/Man Initial Customisation - PM44    

    This highly practical course teaches skills needed to perform the majority of tasks that an Info/Man administrator will be asked to do. It gives a good understanding of the fundamentals and is the pre-requisite for more complex development including migrating to the web front end.

    The course can be delivered in a classic classroom and laboratory format or as a deskside skills transfer. Students receive a 400 page detailed course book.

Objectives

On completion attendees will be able to:

• Customise Info/Man
• Use Panel Modification Facility PMF
• Move , delete & create fields
• Define Prefix and Structured Words in the Dictionary
• Create new search results Table Panels
• Manage Dialogs
• Code Control Panels and make conditionally required fields
• Code Terminal Simulator Panels
• Define and use Authority Codes
• Create and use Data Attribute and Validation Records
• Plan for PMF and Web Access

Who should attend?

Anyone who needs to customise Info/Man.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with Info/Man as a user

Course contents

Info/Man Overview
    This segment describes Info/Man, what it is, does and how it does it, its components and how they work together.

Panel Modification Introduction
    Demonstrates how to use Panel Modification Introduction (PMF), what it can do and the panel library system.. Followed by laboratory session.

The Dictionary
    How to define structured words (s-words) and prefix words (p-words) in the dictionary, what Info/Man uses them for, and how to apply them. Followed by laboratory session.

A new search result list.
    The results of searches are displayed on Table Panels, which many sites use as simple reports. This topic shows how to create new table panels for searches, add additional fields and sort the output. Followed by laboratory session.

Control Panels
    Users never see Control Panels which are used to control, automate and provide logic. This topic explains what they do and how to use them. Followed by laboratory session.

Dialogs
    Ever wonder what really happens when a user issues the End or Cancel commands? This topic explores Info/Man dialogs, shows how to discover them and how to identify and fix dialog errors. Automating data entry

Terminal Simulator Panels
    Terminal Simulator Panels (TSP) are Info/Man programs used behind the scenes to automate. This topic introduces them and shows how to code them to automate data entry. Followed by laboratory session.

Conditionally Required Fields
    If you’ve ever wondered how to make a field required only in certain conditions this topic will explain how to code the logic. Followed by laboratory session.

Data Model Records - Validation Records.
    We can use Validation Records to show the user a selectable list of valid responses to a field; this topic explains their use. Followed by laboratory session

Data Model Records - Data Attribute Records
    Data Attribute Records can be used to replace assisted entry panels and offer a number of advantages, not least that they are used by Info/Man’s web-access interface This topic explains how to create and use them. Followed by laboratory session

Authorisation
    Authority Codes. Everything a user does in Info/Man is controlled by authorisation codes, In this topic we create new ones and apply them to fields and validation patterns Followed by laboratory session.

Planning for PMF
    Planning for PMF. This topic looks at the considerations needed when starting to customise Info/Man and discusses shortcuts, hints and tips. Followed by laboratory session where skills learned throughout the class are utilised.

Course duration

Four days.

    Report Coding - RFT    

    The essentials of coding Info/Man Reports can be covered in two days skills-transfer. This would give someone who had no previous experience of Info/Man reports the confidence and knowledge to modify and maintain existing reports and to code new reports from scratch, using advanced functions. It would cover the following;

• PRINT and REPORT commands & how they differ.
• The Profile - how it controls reporting.
• What you need to know about Structured and Prefix Words
• Understanding the IBM manual
• Report Statements
  • what they do
  • what their operands do
• Searching
• Creating and using RFT variables
• Perform conditional processing.
• Arithmetic, counting and calculating totals
• Date and time arithmetic
• Using supplied exit programs
• DO loops; what they are and how to use them
• History and freeform text: how to print them
• Creating graphic reports
• Exporting data to other packages.

    Please do not hesitate to contact me with your Info/Man requirements . The above is a suggestion. Tell me what you want and let's see how I can give you and your colleagues the necessary skills in the shortest time and in the most cost effective way. I am also very happy to come and modify your panels and code your reports for you.

     Lets talk

     peter@petermay.com
     phone - 0795 223 7762 (+ 44 795 223 7762)