JDE Integration

JD Edwards has been a leader in IBM i-based software for over 30 years, and Oracle® JD Edwards World has the largest IBM i installed base in the world. The software consists of several applications, each with its own group of modules for specific functionality. When purchasing JDE World, the customer chooses the functionality their business requires. In addition, most JD Edwards customers have customized the code; in many cases, these customizations are extensive. The delivery of a new version of JDE - either a full application or a subset of corrected components – always involves the same well-defined tasks that are critical to the overall operation of the information system

THE SOLUTION

The ARCAD-Integrater solution has a JD Edwards interface that can work with "Dream-Writers," UDC, VO, and menus.  When these “JDE objects” are modified, they are associated with a version, and are managed with application components (programs, files, etc.) which have been modified in the same version.  Therefore, they are transferred to test or production in exactly the same way as the other components in the application.

This interface provides the most comprehensive change management solution on the market. It allows the developer to utilize the tools already inside of JDE World and builds on these tools to provide all the functionality of a state-of-the-art application lifecycle management solution. ARCAD’s extensive “behind the scenes” control provides a smooth interface to the JDE tools.

Soft-Coded File Management

One of the most powerful assets of JDE World software is the extent to which the customer can customize the product. These customizations are managed through soft-coded files that allow the customer to manage everything from the description of a field to how that field will be used. Users have access to a set of JDE tools to maintain the contents of these soft-coded files.

The ARCAD JDE World interface allows the customer to continue to manage these files through the JDE tools, and the results of the changes are captured through an ARCAD tool known as DTC (Data Type Components). DTC provides transparent check out and easy promotion of these record-level changes from development, through test, and into production. It even supports distribution of records, including the following types:

• Vocabulary Overrides and Function Key Definitions
• Data Dictionary Items
• UDC (User-defined Codes)
• Menus
• Dream Writers – managed in a group or in individual versions; users can copy and create their own unique versions
• Processing Options – part of Dream Writers
• World Writers

Software Version Repository (SVR)

The SVR is the backbone of the JDE World development environment. A part of JDE  customers use the SVR to some degree, and many use the SVR exclusively for new and modified programs that relate to their JDE applications. The ARCAD interface Can work either with or without information available in the SVR and allows the developer to work with the SVR tools or not, including editing and compiling programs, using the functionality associated with JDE World. Unique functions, such as those associated with display and printer files, are maintained in the JDE fashion, and are managed through the check in/out and promotion cycle. Interfacing directly with the SVR functions, the ARCAD interface prompts the developer for check out and request related details.

THE ADVANTAGES

This ARCAD for JDE solution, the result of our collaboration with various vendors and JDE customers, manages and streamlines the entire delivery process. It guarantees that the elements transferred to production do not cause any regression in the information system, and that no component is omitted during the integration phase.

It provides auditable tracking of program changes and captures information about these changes in the SVR and in the ARCAD repository

• Utilizes specialized JDE create commands and pre-processing options
• Tracks soft-coded functions that have a high impact on the JDE environments
• Rollback changes if necessary
• Minimizes the learning curve for the JDE programmer because he will be adding to his toolset rather than replacing it

The solution also eases compliance with both internal and external auditing requirements, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Basel 2 Operational Risk, and prepares for quality certification processes such as ISO and CMM.