IBM AS400 Connectivity with BluePrism

[ReemAlSa_di]

I'm trying to connect to a mainframe application of type "IBM Personal Communicator (COM API)", the problem is when I provide the directory and everything that is needed and try to launch the application, Blueprism fails to launch it, the error that I face is attached, I tried multiple workarounds but without any luck, kindly provide me with any workaround/steps that would help me connect to the system properly.

[ZdeněkKabátek]

Hi, Reem, 

what you have in path to the application executable? It is not seen on the picture.

Regards,

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Zdeněk Kabátek
Head of Professional Services
NEOOPS
http://www.neoops.com/
Europe/Prague
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[ReemAlSa_di]

Hi Zdeněk, 

here is another picture.

another question, is the COM API Personal Communicator the right option?

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Reem AlSa'di
Developer
Inspire for Solutions Development
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[ZdeněkKabátek]

Hi, Reem,

apparently you chose Java application in Application modeller and it is not right. When I implemented IBM COM API (many times) I chose Mainframe Application option, then IBM Personal Communicator (COM API), then Application modeller asked for session file so I provided the session file and that was it. It worked like a charm ;).

Regards,

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Zdeněk Kabátek
Head of Professional Services
NEOOPS
http://www.neoops.com/
Europe/Prague
------------------------------

[ReemAlSa_di]

Hi Zdeněk, 

The reason I used it as a Java application is that the "IBM COM API" option fails to launch the application as it somehow requires a license and we are just doing a POC now, we are using a trial version.

my questions are:
1. Can I use the "IBM COM API" option without a license a still manage to connect it?
OR
2. Can I do the integration as a Java application and still manage to capture the whole elements of the application? 

The workaround we have done is to integrate the AS400 with BluePrism as a Java application, we managed to fill the form fields but we can't fully read the filed labels, success messages whatsoever, we managed to fill the fields benefiting from the cursor being pointed to the first field of the screen.


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Reem AlSa'di
Developer
Inspire for Solutions Development
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[ZdeněkKabátek]

Hi, Reem,

well, not sure why did you choose IBM software for PoC if you do not have a license? Even though I have very good experience in this software it is not the cheapest. In such a case I would search for other alternatives where you can get free trial license and it will work. In all cases clients already had the software installed so I do not have experience with trial licenses and I can imagine that you can't run it without proper license. What tool is your client using now to work with AS400? That should be your first test with Blue Prism. 

Concerning integration as a Java application I haven't done that as well as it is the new release and our clients have been using the old releases. So I can't help either in this area.

My sequence of thinking would be following:
1. what tool is the client using now
2. can this tool be used to be automated through Blue Prism
2a) yes - then test it and automate it
2b) no - then find another tool (may be not IBM PC client) and test it with it. You know where to find tools supported by Blue Prism - http://portal.blueprism.com/customer-support/support-center#/path/1139622192.

Regards,



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Zdeněk Kabátek
Head of Professional Services
NEOOPS
http://www.neoops.com/
Europe/Prague
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[ZdeněkKabátek]

One more note - one of our clients implemented this one Quick3270 claiming it was very cheap and working well. So you can try to contact a vendor and ask for evaluation license for your PoC.

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Zdeněk Kabátek
Head of Professional Services
NEOOPS
http://www.neoops.com/
Europe/Prague
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[ReemAlSa_di]

Hi Zdeněk,  and thanks for replying back.

truth is, I didn't clear out my point in the last comment, I'm so sorry for any inconvenience.

my point was meant to clear out the fact that I'm using a trial version of BluePrism, when I try the "IBM COM API" option and try to launch the application, BluePrism fails to launch it, since you mentioned that you have done the same thing multiple times, I wanted to highlight the trail version of BluePrism that I'm using and ask if it affects the integration of the applications.

P.S. the client that we are providing a POC to, has the full enterprise license for the IBM AS400 and it is installed without any issue, the issue is in my solution with BluePrism.

another point worth mentioning is that the client we are providing the POC to has specified the list of systems they manually utilize and wanted to make sure that BluePrism can in fact automate them, if BluePrism fails to automate such a core banking system as AS400, I don't think that they will consider BluePrism at all.

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Reem AlSa'di
Developer
Inspire for Solutions Development
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[ZdeněkKabátek]

Hi, Reem,

I checked the picture again and now I understand it - you are using a new IBM client all my clients were using the old Client Access Windows Software where you called the session in the Path and it worked seamlessly. Let me check if some of the clients upgraded and are using a new one.

Regards,

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Zdeněk Kabátek
Head of Professional Services
NEOOPS
http://www.neoops.com/
Europe/Prague
------------------------------

[ReemAlSa_di]

thanks so much Zdeněk, your help is appreciated.

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Reem AlSa'di
Developer
Inspire for Solutions Development
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