A Look Back at the Agile Business Suite Release 8.0 Tech Preview 2

The Agile Business Suite (AB Suite®) Release 8.0 tech preview program continues to build momentum.

In May, users took part in the second preview of AB Suite 8.0. Offering significantly expanded ClearPath® OS 2200 functionality from the initial tech preview, this event also included some great new features for the ClearPath MCP and Microsoft® Windows® runtimes, as well as a sneak peek at our Modern Information Center.

Below, you’ll find a summary of the exciting new features and functionality our users had the opportunity to explore.

AB Suite for ClearPath OS 2200

The AB Suite for ClearPath OS 2200 runtime as previewed was essentially identical to the EAE Runtime (IC 3700).

And, the AB Suite modelling and runtime functionality was extended from the first preview to include:

• Segment attributes (GSDs), including session persistence (part of Glb.Work)
  
• Segment methods (performable GLGs) with variables (local SDs)
  
• Profiles
  
• LDL commands to read database records, including “Lookup” and “Determine” (all variants)
  
• AutoEntry commands to store records from LDL logic
  
• Other miscellaneous LDL commands, such as:
  
  • Flag
    
  • Message
    
  • DoWhen with compound conditions
    
• Change Analysis in Builder

AB Suite for ClearPath MCP Runtime

The second tech preview allowed participants to explore the following features for the AB Suite on ClearPath MCP runtime:

• Secure FTP to transfer code: Uses TLS 1.2 to improve security between the Builder Client and the Host FTP server.
  
• Support for DMSII structure level encryption: Extends data encryption to complete datasets (tables) and all associated sets/subsets (indexes).
  
• BigBuffer support: Allows the AB Suite HUB to support data packets of up to 65KB, supporting larger data transfers between AB Suite 8.0 applications.
  
• Allow big parameter strings: Increases the non-persistent string limit from 262KB to 8MB, enabling larger data strings and method parameters to be managed.
  
• Sumlog message length increase: Displays a maximum string length of 250 bytes on the “SMG ODT” command and “ME ATTENTION” message.
  
• Variable Sort Defaults: Introduces two new segment configuration properties on the “General” page: default sort disk size and default sort memory size.
  
• DMSII VSS-2-Internal Structures: Allows VSS-2 Optimize to be selectively enabled on the Internal, ROC, and HDBA database structures.

AB Suite for Windows Runtime

Support for RATL over TLS 1.2 was extended to the AB Suite for Windows Runtime during this preview, allowing participants to explore how a secure connection will help to protect the data exchanged between the client and Windows Runtime.

Modern Information Center

The AB Suite 8.0 Modern Information Center is a web-based repository that delivers product information
in a more dynamic, intelligent, and engaging way.

Participants were able to explore its attractive interface and many user-friendly features, such as:

• Powerful search functions
  
• Displays of related topics
  
• Analytics-based displays of frequently visited topics and downloaded PDFs
  
• Specific “Information Centers” for products with multiple flavors or user roles
  
• Displays of overview and how-to videos, paired with recommended video content

Tech Preview 3 – Now Underway!

The third tech preview for AB Suite 8.0 just started. It expands upon what was made available in the second preview by including support for Microsoft Visual Studio® 2019, Azure DevOps Services, Microsoft SQL Server® 2019, and Open JDK.

On the OS 2200 side, this preview adds:

• More online system functionality, including graphical forms, Component Enabler, and copy, persistent-only, “big buffer,” and multikey Ispecs
• General report functionality
• Additional LDL logic commands, such as “Attach,” “Loop,” “Initialize,” “Purge(),” and “Print()”

Meanwhile, MCP shops can test such new features as:

• The ability to capture all failed reorganization backup files in the “ERROR” file
• Support for the “Segment” and “Class” Data Exchange properties
• Support for additional MCP native data types

And the AB Suite for Windows runtime receives enhancements that help to encrypt the RATL connection between CT and the Windows runtime.

Please email us at ABSuite@unisys.com if you’re interested in joining tech preview 3.

A resounding “thanks!” to everyone who participated in the second tech preview. It was great to watch you engage with and explore AB Suite 8.0. As always, your time, effort, and input will lead to a stronger release for the entire AB Suite user community.