Re: Forms Packages -- BPCS-L

there are several such packages out there. but let me offer a personal comment. 
we started to use one several years ago and we found out that we wanted 
additional data on the laser formatted report that did no exist in the standard 
bpcs spool file. so we modified the bpcs programs that generated the spool file 
to include this additional data. we were able to then generate the laser forms 
quite well using the package.

but then as we upgraded bpcs, or applied ptf's, we found that we were always 
having to go back into these programs and reapply the changes to put the 
additional data on the spool file. i have been told by some of the forms 
software vendors that they have exit programs that will read a spool file, pick 
up a key (such as part number), and then go into the data base and pick up 
additional information that is not on the spool file and merge this additional 
information with the spool file data to create the output form. i do not know 
if this feature is common to all such packages.

if you are going to need additional data that is not on the spool file. you're 
either going to have to modify the bpcs program or use some form of exit 
program. this may or may not be an issue to you when you are selecting to forms 
software. if i had to do it over, i'd look seriously at using the exit program 
approach rather than modifying the bpcs programs.

chick doe
barton instrument systems



>>> TJedrzejewicz@contessa.com 07/09/02 07:46AM >>>
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Folks --

We are considering a forms package, such as FormsPrint, to take the
standard output and make is laser-friendly and cleaner.

Have any of you implemented such packages and what suggestions do you
have?  Are there any that have generic BPCS forms already built?

We are at 4.0.03 with Y2K done custom using windowing.

Many thanks!
Tom Jedrzejewicz
Contessa Food Products


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