ASTRAC Info Center Enhanced (ICE)

Overview

ICE from Rocket is a follow-on from IBM Info Center/Enhanced (IC/E), with considerable enhancements compared with IBM ICE. It is a powerful end-user system designed to let you:

  • Manipulate and query user data.
  • Write use-defined reports.
  • Define graphic output.
  • Define user-controlled data entry.
  • Define user-controlled data validation.
  • ICE allows you to make inquiries against a range of file types in the Query System component, including large inverted files, and to produce reports and business graphics in the Reporting System component.

ICE is an optional feature of Rocket Application System (AS) and provides close links with APL2. It is an upgrade path for IC/E, IC/1, ADRS and ADI users.

ICE is an excellent solution for applications which need to perform fast queries on large volumes of data. And with AS Client Connections, you can deliver the power of ICE to your PC.

The Query System

The Query System is designed to perform queries against ICE Query System files. These files include:

  • ICE inverted Query files.
  • SQL/DS or DB2 tables.
  • DIF files.
  • ICE Transfer files.
  • ICE Application files (Reporting System store files).
  • APL variables created with the AS OUT (APL) command.

The result of each query is written to disk and displayed on the user’s terminal. The user can then do any of the following:

  • Print the results to a destination specified in the nickname file
  • Perform another query
  • Use the TOAS or TORS command to move the data to AS, or to the Reporting System, for further processing.

The Reporting System

Reporting System (RS) gives access to:

  • Report writer.
  • Data entry.
  • Data validation.
  • Business graphics.

and also to the following, if they have been incorporated into ICE:

  • Application Prototype Environment (APE).
  • Financial Planning System (FPS).

RS also gives access to the main ICE menu, and this gives access to the following additional facilities:

  • AS
  • Query System
  • User profile
  • Line mode
  • Starter Set
  • Other applications

ICE and Rocket AS

ICE has been integrated as a feature of Rocket AS. It is accessed from the Facilities menu in AS and also by command.

You can use ICE data in Rocket AS. ICE queries can be stored in AS as Query System Command Tables and the results of a query can be used as the current IN table. This provides seamless access to the many facilities of Rocket AS, including:

  • Graphics
  • Reports
  • Project Management
  • Statistics
  • Linear Programming
  • Business Planning

APL and Rocket AS

You can pass information between Rocket AS and APL2, thus linking applications in the two environments. Several utilities are available from the USEAPL workplace in the *SAMP library.

The ability to manipulate arrays in APL2 can be used from within AS procedures, or AS commands can be invoked from APL2 user-defined functions. AS procedures can use APL2 matrices as an alternative to AS data tables.

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