The Challenge
By giving your authorized users and managers run-time access to your library of NGS-IQ queries, Qport Access quickly puts the information in your IBM i (AS/400) database into their hands, all without sacrificing security and performance.
Transform your Data
Qport Access lets Windows users run queries built with NGS-IQ™, NGS’ integrated query, reporting, and business intelligence solution, and deliver their results directly to their favorite Windows productivity and data presentation solutions in the most secure and efficient manner possible.
Qport Access communicates with NGS-IQ on your IBM i to execute your request in batch and transfer only the finished report to your target application. No ODBC middleware is required, and the full power of the IBM i can be put to work on your request. You can send results directly into Microsoft Excel, Access, Lotus 1-2-3, Word, or to SmartView™, NGS-IQ's OLAP module. You also can send your query results to a Windows display, ASCII or IBM i printer, the IBM i IFS, or a DB2 file.
When sending reports to Excel, Qport Access users can specify the workbook, sheet, and range where they want the data delivered. Workbooks and sheets can be created, replaced, and appended to as often as desired. Formatting is preserved along with expressions and other functions contained in the sheet to maximize productivity.
Qport Access’ support of TCP/IP lets you extend database access to your authorized customers, business partners, and vendors as well as to your remote sites and traveling users. With an Internet connection, Qport Access loaded on their workstation, plus an IBM i user ID and password, authorized users can access your IBM i easily from anywhere.
Advanced Functionality
Qport Access does not restrict your users to the simple reporting found in most competing products, since all the advanced functionality of IQ Server™ is harnessed from the IBM i. You can run sophisticated reports with complex record selection criteria, conditional calculations and summary level new fields, extensive formatting, file joins, member support, and summary or detail output.
Qport Access prompts users at run time for ad-hoc calculations and record selection criteria, including new fields created in the query. This flexibility allows users to change discount formulas, date ranges, customer names, item numbers, etc. without revising the query.
Automates Spreadsheet Generation
When sending data to Excel, you can instruct Qport Access to automatically convert your summaries and calculated fields into formulas, replace or append their results to an existing sheet or named range, and even load the data into one sheet and then display another when the report is done. This capability easily allows spreadsheet users to begin their data analysis immediately. If you establish live links between your Excel data and other files such as PowerPoint presentations, these other files will update each time you use Qport Access to refresh the Excel sheet.
Data Transfer to Host
You probably have at least one department that is running some of the following: a special purpose application on your Windows’ LAN, a Web server where Web site traffic data is captured, ASCII databases supplied from credit reporting or government agencies, data from third party competitive intelligence vendors, and bids and budgets generated by salespeople and accounts on their laptop computers. Qport Access allows authorized users to transfer the most valuable elements in these databases up to DB2 on the IBM i where they can be joined with the rest of your enterprise data to produce more meaningful reports and analysis.
With the “Transfer to Host” option turned on, Qport Access users can upload any data source that can be read by Microsoft Access. You simply tell Qport Access the name of the DB2 file and library where you want the data loaded, where the data is currently stored, and which fields you want transferred. You can assign attributes such as length, type, and column heading for each selected field so data loads accurately whether you are creating, replacing, or appending to a file. Recurring uploads can be automated in seconds to execute from a desktop icon.
The “Transfer to Host” option dramatically simplifies the steps involved in moving data to your IBM i.
Superior Security
To protect your IBM i database, you control who can use the “Transfer to Host” option by setting a switch in the NGS-IQ license on your IBM i server and on the individual PC where Qport Access is installed. NGS’ IQ SeQure™ module can provide further control over the use of this option by letting you limit Qport Access uploads to specified libraries and identify which users can work with those libraries. This is far greater control than you typically have when using ODBC-based file transfer utilities.
Qport Access performs in strict compliance with your i5/OS security. In addition, NGS offers IQ SeQure, an integrated security management system for NGS-IQ users. This system complements your IBM i and application security by providing field and record level security by user profile. IQ SeQure is licensed separately.
Company-Wide Solutions
NGS-IQ customers depend on Qport Access enterprise-wide to meet the diverse reporting needs of their business analysts, users, and managers. Qport Access provides their daily production reports, monthly sales analysis, quarterly P&L statements, and ad-hoc queries of their business applications’ data—information that assists them in meeting their department’s and company’s operational objectives.
Ultimate Benefits
Qport Access simplifies the entire reporting and data analysis process for IT and your on-site and remote users. With the query results downloaded into their favorite spreadsheet or application, they can confidently and skillfully manipulate or sort the results, or create charts and graphs.
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NGS-IQ, IQ Server, IQ SeQure, Qport Access, and SmartView are trademarks of New Generation Software, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
