NGS-IQ Overview
NGS-IQ Business Intelligence and Reporting software enables you to expand your query and reporting capabilities of IBM Query/400 to just about any desired output (PDF, HTML, XML, CSV, TXT, Excel, Access, Word, PC Printers and other popular formats). In addition, NGS-IQ provides integration for e-mail and FTP functionality for automated distribution of your desired output format. NGS-IQ includes a Query/400 API that allows IBM System i customers to run and enhance queries developed with IBM Query/400, adding an extensive amount of reporting options and functionality while saving your users a lot of time.
Transforming existing queries into up to date Web Enabled Dashboards is just the tip of the ice berg. NGS-IQ includes run-time record selection, conditional logic, meta data, join wizards as part of its advanced query functions included for Query/400 queries. It can also run and entire series of IBM Query/400 queries in a specified order before invoking the output enhancement functions. The best part about NGS-IQ is that your entire investment in IBM Query/400 will be protected and put to good use… there is absolutely no need for you to rewrite or convert a single query. With NGS-IQ’s Query/400 API you can immediately leverage your company’s past development efforts and the database knowledge embedded in your existing queries. In addition, NGS-IQ’s Query/400 API includes a sample program with source code that lets you run up to ten Query/400 queries in sequence when executed.
The NGS-IQ suite includes the following modules:
IQ Server is an advanced-function query, reporting, and BI solution that serves as the engine for the entire NGS-IQ product line running on the IBM System i (AS/400). IQ Server offers hundreds of features, but for many customers, the single most valuable feature is its ability to produce professional reports in one step. One-step report writing means increased productivity and better system performance because your users can produce accurate reports quickly and not tie up system resources by running multiple queries.
IQ Server works directly with your DB2 data on the IBM System i and can also reach out to MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and DB2 on other platforms, so you can use it as the hub for all your reporting and BI needs.
Built-in Query/400 Integration: IQ Server provides a Query/400 API so users can run and enhance existing queries developed with IBM Query/400 from IQ Server without rewriting or converting them. This Query/400 API enables you to immediately leverage your company’s past development efforts and the database knowledge embedded in your existing queries.
Advanced Features: Conditional Calculations: IQ Server enables you to create new fields, where calculations are based on the value of the data retrieved. You can place up to 32 conditional calculations on a simple new field! You also can do the following:
Replace codes with meaningful descriptions
Create flags to draw attention to critical values in your report
Calculate percentages, exponents, square roots, and remainders
Convert fields from lower-case letters to capital letters
Define summary functions such as sum, minimum, maximum, average, and standard deviation
Substring and concatenate fields
Online Formatting: IQ Server delivers unlimited formatting capability and lets you see how your report looks online at every step. You can do the following:
- Place literal text on detail and summary lines
- Change line spacing
- Move column headings
- Rearrange report fields from a single panel
- Design reports so your page numbers restart at any or all report break levels
- Format your output for use with preprinted forms or multi-up labels
Run-Time Prompting: IQ Server lets you build queries that prompt for record selection/exclusion criteria and new field calculation formulas at run time. You can even write help text instructions for these prompts, so your users can answer them correctly. If you like, you can go beyond the standard IQ Server prompt by using the sample CL programs that come with IQ Server to create your own custom prompt panel. Run-time prompts defined in IQ Server automatically appear with your help text instructions whether your users run their queries from IQ Server, Qport Builder, or Qport Access.
Record Selection and Exclusion: IQ Server provides comprehensive record selection and exclusion logic including the not-in-the-range function to assist in exception reporting. You can use AND/OR logic to define relationships between multiple selection criteria or use parentheses to define your selections in one statement. You can even perform calculations within a record selection statement to base a selection on the result of a derived value.
Analytical Summary “Matrix” Reporting: IQ Server allows you to create up to ten tables within a query, delivering quick, detailed analysis of patterns, trends, and exceptions! Within an IQ Server table, you can instruct the product to calculate sums and cumulative sums, averages, rankings by sum and average, and special record counts. IQ Server will sort the table results from high to low, from low to high, by sum, or by average.
Adobe Acrobat File Generation: IQ Server lets you create formatted reports and turn them into Adobe Acrobat files with bookmarks assigned to pages or the break fields in your output.
Web Report Publishing: IQ Server lets you generate your reports as HTML files for viewing with a Web browser. You can assign hypertext links inside your report to support drill downs and reference cascading style sheets, banners, backgrounds, and images to create professional, presentation-quality Web reports.
XML File Generation: IQ Server can transform your reports into XML files which can be distributed with or without HTML tables and style sheets for easier viewing.
Simplified File Joins: IQ Server takes the guesswork out of joining DB2 files when building queries by remembering how your designated expert users join files. Then, as others build new queries over those same files, IQ Server suggests they join the files that same way. IQ Server also lets you pre-define join relationships spanning up to 32 DB2 files, so your end users can get to the data they need and design efficient queries over multiple files without having to understand the underlying join logic or actual DB2 file names.
Database Field Aliases: IQ Server’s alias feature lets you optionally create longer, meaningful names for database fields that otherwise might be incomprehensible to your end users. But unlike many tools that require you to build a comprehensive data dictionary before you begin using the software, the IQ Server alias feature is completely optional and can be employed on a field-by-field basis. One user may continue to display the DB2 field names while another displays the alias names. It’s completely flexible and unrestrictive.
Previous Record/Skip Record: IQ Server’s previous record and skip record functions allow you to eliminate the problems associated with “one-to-many” relationships between joined files. By using these functions, you can have a field’s current value compared to its value in the previous record and automatically skip one record, a range of records, or all remaining records in the series where the field’s value is the same. You may also use this feature to produce “top n” reports, showing your biggest orders, fastest selling items, and more.
Program Exits: To help you handle your most complex database analysis requirements, IQ Server allows you to call and execute your own custom programs immediately before, during, and immediately after query execution. You can use these exit points to run jobs that perform unique data manipulation routines, retrieve data stored on other systems, and other tasks. The data provided by your program is then available for integration into the resulting IQ Server output.
Report and Data Distribution: IQ Server allows you to assign distribution lists to your reports, so they reach multiple desks automatically after execution. You also can take advantage of IQ Server’s built-in support for e-mail and FTP. Union Support: You can create a union of files or file members to consolidate your data for reporting purposes.
New Fields/Sorts: IQ Server provides expanded support for new fields, allowing you to define up to 99 new fields in a single query. Sorting capabilities allow up to 32 sort fields in a single query. You can define up to 32 groups by fields in a single query.
SQL Command Interface: In addition to its menu-driven user interface, IQ Server provides a Structured Query Language (SQL) command entry panel for quick inquiries.
Report Management: IQ Server allows you to link up to 99 queries for sequential processing.
System i File Member and IDDU Support:
Many legacy software applications store data in multiple member files or in “flat” files defined in IDDU. IQ Server can access the information stored in these unique formats. Plus, IQ Server lets you override member selections at run time. (Learn More About NGS-IQ Server)
 NGS-IQ Client provides IBM System i users with a graphical, point-and-click, drag-and-drop, query and report writing environment they can use anywhere, anytime. It combines the ease of use and familiarity of the Windows user interface with the reliability and power of NGS-IQ and your IBM i.
The Windows “smart client” architecture of IQ Client lets you develop everything from quick ad-hoc queries to production reports and instantly copy them to the IBM i for storage and processing. Your queries and reports process as native, batch jobs without compromising performance, security, or data integrity. Users do not need ODBC drivers or even an Internet connection when developing their queries.
Users can output queries for display or to a printer, DB2 (summary or detail), HTML, XML, CSV, TXT, PDF or other format. When IQ Client is used with NGS’s QPort Access, SmartView and Dashboard modules, your output options expand to include Microsoft Excel, Word and Access, Multidimensional “OLAP” presentations and dynamic Web-based dashboards. (Learn More About NGS-IQ Client)
Qport Builder is more than Just Point and Click:
With Qport Builder and its companion module Qport Access, you can create and execute reports on demand and then download the results to your favorite desktop application. Available as a robust graphical user interface and as a Java-based applet through your favorite Web browsing software, Qport Builder features a powerful, mouse-driven, point-and-click environment; easy navigation; consistent panel design; and pop-up boxes. Qport Builder offers users much more than just another pretty graphical user interface. Qport Builder builds on the superior functionality in IQ Server (IQ) — NGS’ powerful, advanced-function query and reporting software — to create complex, customized reports.
Streamlined Workflow: Qport Builder was designed so that non-technical users can quickly generate their own ad-hoc queries and even multi-up labels without IT assistance. Power users can rapidly generate customized reports that would take other query and reporting tools five or six separate queries of their data to produce.
Internet Capabilities: Your remote sites and traveling business users can meet all of their reporting requirements easily by using Qport Builder via the Internet. Qport Builder users who have Internet access and a current IBM System i user ID and password can build and run queries on demand. You retain complete control of the job’s priority and execution mode (interactive or batch) just as if a local user requested the query.
Advanced Features: Qport Builder lets you go beyond basic data retrieval. Advanced functions include:
- Conditional and summary new fields
- File join wizards and macros
- Meaningful database aliases
- Run-time record selection and exclusion
- Record sampling
- Union and file member support
- Extensive formatting
- Multidimensional matrix reporting
- Rankings, averages, sums, and totals
- Summary and detail output
- HTML, XML, and PDF output
- E-mail and FTP for report distribution
- Leading edge DB2 security
Cross-Platform Database Access: NGS-IQ and Qport Builder run on the IBM System i, but you can give yourself the ability to query MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and DB2 databases on other platforms by using NGS’ IQ Connexion™ module to your license. NGS also offers a Query/400 API so you can enhance and run existing IBM Query/400 queries from Qport Builder without going through a conversion process. (Learn More About Qport Builder)
 Qport Access communicates with NGS-IQ to execute user requests in batch and transfers only the finished report to your target application. No ODBC middleware is required, You can send results directly into Microsoft Excel, Access, and Word as well as to SmartView. You can also send your query results to a Windows
display, ASCII printer, the IFS, or a DB2 file as defined in the query on the System i. Qport Access’ TCP/IP support lets you extend database access to your authorized customers, business partners, and vendors as well as to your remote sites and traveling users. With an Internet connection, Qport Access loaded on
their workstation, plus an IBM i user ID and password, authorized users can run NGS-IQ queries from anywhere.
Microsoft Excel Integration: When sending reports to Excel, Qport Access users can specify the workbook, sheet, and named range where they want the data delivered. Workbooks and sheets can be created, replaced, and appended to as often as desired. Formatting is preserved along with expressions and other functions contained in the sheet to maximize productivity.
You can instruct Qport Access to automatically convert your summaries and calculated fields into formulas, replace or append your results to an existing sheet or named range, and even load the data into one sheet and then display another when the report is done. You might use this capability to automatically update and display a chart based on your query output. If you establish live links between your Excel data and other files such as PowerPoint presentations, these other files will update each time you use Qport Access to refresh the Excel sheet.
If you have fields like product numbers, account numbers, or others that begin with one or more zeros, you’ll appreciate how Qport Access lets you tell Excel to treat these fields as character fields and not truncate leading zeros when loading the data into your worksheet. Advanced Functionality Qport Access does not restrict your users to the simple reporting found in most competing products since all the advanced functionality of IQ Server is harnessed on the System i. You can run sophisticated reports with complex record selection criteria, conditional calculations and summary level new fields, extensive formatting, file joins, links to remote databases, and other powerful functions without confusing users.
Qport Access prompts users at run time for new field calculation formulas and one-time record selection criteria. This flexibility allows users to change discount formulas, date ranges, customer names, item numbers, etc., without revising the query. Qport Access also has the versatility to let your users pick where they want to send their results each time they run the query, so different users who run the same query are not limited to viewing the results in the same format.
Data Transfer to Host: You probably have at least one department that is running some of the following: a special purpose application on your network, a Web server where Web site traffic data is captured, ASCII databases supplied from credit reporting or government agencies, data from third-party competitive intelligence vendors, and bids and budgets generated by salespeople and accountants. Qport Access allows authorized users to transfer the most valuable information in these files to DB2 on the IBM i where they can be joined with the rest of your enterprise data to produce more meaningful reports and analysis.
With the “Transfer to Host” option, Qport Access users can upload any data source that can be ready by Microsoft Access. You simply tell Qport Access the name of the DB2 file and library where you want the data loaded, the location of the Access table, and which fields you want transferred. You can assign attributes such as length, type, and column heading for each selected field, so data loads accurately — whether you are creating, replacing, or appending to a file. Recurring uploads can be automated to execute from a desktop icon. The “Transfer to Host” option dramatically simplifies the steps involved in moving batches of data to your IBM i. NGS offers the module known as IQ Connexion™ for higher volume, real-time, remote data access. Ask your NGS product specialist for more information. (Learn More About NGS-IQ QPort Access)
 SmartView is the powerful, Windows online analytical processing (OLAP) system for users that require quick and comprehensive data analysis. With SmartView, any Windows user authorized to run NGS-IQ reports can build an unlimited number of multidimensional reports. SmartView can show you what you need in seconds without any programming or custom database design work on your IBM i (AS/400). SmartView provides an intuitive, drag-and-drop graphical user interface to pivot and reformat your report as needed, filter out unwanted data, and graph selected slices of information. SmartView also gives you the flexibility to refresh your data from your host system as often as required. (Learn More About NGS-IQ SmartView)
NGS-IQ Dashboards is a complete information delivery solution that gives an organization the ability to view, present, and interact with live business data via a Web browser. Presentations can include charts, tables, gauges, maps, and other visualization tools to help make business information easy to see, understand, and analyze at a glance.
The NGS Business Performance Dashboard leverages NGS-IQ, the IBM System i (AS/400) DB2 database, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Flash. NGS-IQ is used to extract the needed data and creates the XML files and Excel sheets linked to the dashboards. Users design the dashboards by choosing the graphic components to present the data. Then, they export the dashboards as Adobe Flash files that can be displayed, distributed via e-mail, or published on any Web server. Dashboards also can be exported to HTML; Microsoft PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, and SharePoint; and Adobe PDF. Users can instantly take advantage of the dashboard design to view charts and maps as well as filter and analyze the data. Users can design their dashboards to update automatically when they run the associated NGS-IQ queries that generate the underlying XML files. By combining the power of NGS-IQ with IBM or third-party job scheduling software, these updates can be automated to satisfy unique business needs. (Learn More About NGS-IQ Dashboards)
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NGS-IQ SeQure is a build-in security management system which gives you control over the authority of your users and the data they can access when running Query/400 queries. IQ SeQure extends the security features of the IBM i operating system by letting you establish profiles that control database access at the library, file (table), field, and record level. You can also secure queries against unauthorized modification and execution. Field level control enables you to restrict a user or group of users from including specific fields in their reports. Record level control enables a single report, without modification, to return different records for different users, based on their authority. This capability means a single query can serve the needs of multiple users in different territories, divisions, etc., if the structure of their report is the same.
IQ SeQure allows you to define rights to the System i DB2 database at the library, file, field, and record level by User or Group Profile, as well as identify who has authority to change, copy, delete, and/or run each query; specify who can e-mail or FTP the query output; and specify who can down¬load the query output to a PC file. Companies concerned with SOX, HIPAA, PCI or other compliance regulations can rest at ease! (Learn More About NGS-IQ SeQure)
NGS-IQ Connexion extends the reach of the NGS-IQ business intelligence and enterprise reporting from the IBM System i to Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL databases, Oracle, IBM DB2 on other platforms. This module enables you to use NGS-IQ to develop queries, reports, dashboards, spreadsheets, OLAP models, Web reports, and other forms of output from data in all of these popular databases.
Setting up IQ Connexion is easy. You simply identify the connections to the data sources you need to access, write and save SQL requests that will extract the data you need, and refer¬ence the needed SQL request inside your query. When you submit the query, NGS-IQ automati¬cally runs the IQ Connexion program, retrieves the requested data and loads it into a DB2 file on the System i, processes the NGS-IQ query, and produces the requested output.
IQ Connexion extracts remote data and trans¬forms it into DB2 on the IBM System i so you can work with it in NGS-IQ just as you would any other DB2 file. If there are common fields between the original DB2 files on the IBM System i and the files created by IQ Connexion, NGS-IQ lets you join them to create valuable reports that bring to¬gether important and previously isolated data el¬ements. This multlple database access feature makes NGS-IQ and IQ Connexion particularly valuable to IBM i customers who run a mix of business application software on multiple serv¬ers and platforms such as Windows, LINUX, AIX, Unix, and IBM z/OS. IQ Connexion puts the extracted data into the QTEMP library so it is only stored until the end of the session. If you want to retain the data, you can modify IQ Connexion to output the file to another library. (Learn More About NGS-IQ Connexion)
How do you know if your company needs NGS-IQ:
Do your executives, analysts or users require you to extract data across multiple servers, operating systems, or databases to produce reports, respond to auditors, or analyze business trends?
Do you find yourself using different tools to access these different databases?
Do your users complain that data is out of date by the time it’s available to them or in the format they can't use?
Do you need to simplify, speed the report creation and distribution process while maintaining security and performance?
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