Automated iSeries Report & Document Distribution

2006

What is Catapult?

Catapult is a PC and iSeries Client/Server application used to automatically distribute iSeries spool files or PC files to one or more users. Reports can be formatted as PDF, RTF, HTML, TXT or even as an XLS spreadsheet and may be emailed, printed, faxed or archived to any network drive. It can also auto-file and auto-index reports and documents to the Web into organized folders in Nexus ECM (Enterprise Content Management). When you export documents to the Nexus ECM you have the ability to automatically create unlimited search indexes based on content in the document such as PO number.

Catapult includes everything needed in a complete report management solution for administrating, parsing, formatting, distributing and archiving spooled files, documents and reports. It also supports adding graphical form overlays for professional looking reports. Catapult interfaces with EZ-Pickin’s, our Report Mining tool, to automatically extract data into Excel, Access, MS-Word and more.

Catapult Highlights

Automated Spool File Distribution Management
Network Polling for PC file distribution
Forms/Graphics Overlays to transform plain text reports
Meet SOX requirements with complete distribution audit trails
Split reports

E-Mail, Fax and Print reports
Create PDF, RTF, TXT, HTML, etc
Web or Network Archiving
Integrates with the Nexus Web portal for complete Enterprise Content Management (ECM) & Archiving

Catapult Benefits

Put critical information in the hands of the people who need it – Automatically and in their preferred format.
Save time with automated distribution.
Save money by reducing printing and mailing costs (Many clients save thousands of pounds each month)
Go paperless.
Easy and reliable distribution of reports.
No programming required.
Great flexibility in selecting which reports to download automatically.
Intelligent and powerful report splitting capabilities.
Processing is off-loaded from the iSeries to the poller PC for actual splitting, archiving and emailing.
Seamless interface to EZ-Pickin’s means your users get the full power of its analytical capabilities.
Ability to run other PC applications to massage visual output before distribution.
Low cost of ownership and great technical support.
Catapult is HIPAA compliant and meets SOX requirements because it has security features that limit access to the Catapult console (so that unauthorized personnel cannot create grab rules that would result in unauthorized or undocumented viewing of patient data) and because it has facilities to log the distribution of documents to individuals. This log can be viewed in the console, and can be saved, providing a complete and accurate audit trail of access to patient data.

How Catapult Works

No programming is required to use Catapult and no changes to your programs or printer files are required. Using a Windows-based application, you indicate which spool files you want to distribute and how and where they are sent. When you distribute your documents, you can send them either to individuals or distribution groups defined within Catapult. At scheduled intervals Catapult looks at all the selected output queues on the iSeries to see if any new entries have arrived on the queue for distribution. Catapult also supports multiple iSeries hosts, so it is possible to distribute reports from any number of iSeries servers in your organization.

Available as an Independent Solution or as Part of a Complete Integrated Solution Suite

Catapult integrates tightly with other solutions such as Nexus Portal, EZ-Pickin’s, Spool-Explorer, WebSmart and ProGen Plus:

Nexus Portal: includes Enterprise Content Management where Catapult can auto-archive and auto-index iSeries spool files (with or without overlays) converted into PC file formats such as PDF, Word and many more. Nexus Portal provides secure access to web applications, documents, dashboards, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), ECM and end user productivity tools.
EZ-Pickin’s: is our PC-based Report Mining application. It lets you filter out any set of data from a report and format it for use in other PC applications, such as Excel. Catapult includes interfaces to EZ-Pickin’s that let you apply an EZ-Pickin’s model to a report as it is downloaded, to automatically reformat the data. The output from this process can then be archived or e-mailed.
Spool-Explorer: is our iSeries - System i to PC, E-mail & Web Spool File Distribution. You can create Catapult Quick rules (ZDSTSPLF) directly from Spool-Explorer for a selected spool file.
WebSmart: can be used in conjunction with Catapult to provide a web front end to existing RPG report programs that generate spool files. WebSmart can call the existing report and also trigger Catapult commands that immediately grab, convert and distribute the spool file. WebSmart is our multi-award winning iSeries web development solution.

For More Information ...

Visit the Catapult pages on BCD’s Website or contact us to arrange an evaluation, demonstration, or to discuss your exact requirements in more detail.