RE: Any way to pull data from a spool file -- MIDRANGE-L

We use this product for some things too (Monarch) and it is also relatively
cheap.  We use it for things like spooled reports for customs that we can
now send electronically.  Once you've set the template up you can use it
every time you need to.

It depends how often you need to output the same thing.  If it's just
occasionally and different documents couldn't you just drag and drop the
spool file from the Ops Navigator print queue to  your desktop then open the
file in Excel?  You have to cut the heading but otherwise they generally
come through okay?  Of course you might not have Client Access and if it's
the same file you want to output all the time this wouldn't be the quickest
way. If you are interested in Monarch I believe that you can get free
trials....

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry L. Kline [mailto:blkline@attglobal.net]
Sent: 07 August 2002 22:19
To: midrange-l@midrange.com
Subject: Re: Any way to pull data from a spool file


"Mark A. Manske" wrote:
>
> yes you can,
> there are many ways to skin this cat - however;
> one thing to remember is that you will be getting page headings,
> and for each report, you must have a program to extract out the data,
> since you know where it is located at - packages that do this will
> have you fill out a template for starting and ending locations
> and allow you to name the field, works well too, depends on how
> much time you are willing to spend on the project.
>
> Basically you can do a copy spool file to a text file, transfer it
> to a "pc" file either on your IFS or a network drive, or to a hard
> drive on the PC you are working with.  Strip out the headings either
> on the AS/400 or on the PC after the transfer, or in your VB program
> choose to ignore them.
>
> Another approach is to modify the report program to dump data
> to a file that is already formatted, then your VB can ODBC to
> the file and just read the data - depends on how much support
> time and personal you have at your disposal.
>
> On the other side of the coin, if you know what files and what
> logic is being used to create the report, the VB program can
> simply do the same thing (re-invent the wheel as it where) via
> odbc to the database files on the AS/400.
>
> HTH
>
> Mark A. Manske
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
> [mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com]On Behalf Of
> Bman9111@collegeclub.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 12:36 PM
> To: midrange-l@midrange.com
> Subject: Any way to pull data from a spool file
>
> --
> I wanted to connect to an AS/400 spool file and take the text and place it
> into certain fields. Is this possible. I have had consultants say that
there
> programs can in fact connect to spool files and puts the data into fields
> that can be pulled out by a visual basic program. I just can see how
someone
> could idenitfy the text to know where to go.
> Any help is much appreciated!!
> Jon
>

One product that I've used is called Monarch.  It works extremely well
and can differentiate between heading, detail and (sub)total lines on
a report.  It can output into any number of different formats.

Barry
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