Sessions

These are sessions that we are offering at the Plex/2E Virtual Conference, based on input from the Community at our July 8^th Webcast.  The session description is provided as a general outline of what the sessions will offer.  They are not necessarily the final abstract (the final abstract will likely be even better).  If you are interested in the session, please press the “Like” button to indicate your interest.  If you are interested in co-presenting at a session , please reach out to me.  If you have a session in mind that is not on this list, please let me know we have a couple open slots.  If you see a session that you have expertise in, I am looking for you – we love to have multiple presenters!

We are determined to make this the best conference possible, and your input is crucial to ensure that the sessions meet your needs.

You can reach me at Roger@Plex2E.com.

General

CA 2E

CA Plex

Technology 1

Technology 2

Spanish

Thursday October 22nd (All Times USA Central Time)

7:00AM – 8:00AM

Preconference Country Sessions

Preconference introduction sessions hosted by partners, in local language.

Mark O’Brien, Bruno Leconte

8:00AM – 9:00AM

Green Flag / Broadcom Roadmaps

Roger Griffith, President, Plex/2E User Community and official Driver of Pace Car, will conduct a Driver’s Meeting to discuss the Race To The Future Virtual Conference, and give the official Drivers Start Your Engines command. He will then drive the pace car for a few warm-up laps to get everyone revved up.

After this, Dheeraj Pershad, Principal Product Manager Broadcom will be up.
Dheeraj takes the pole position and will lead the drivers to the green flag. He will present the Roadmap for CA 2E and CA Plex.

Roger Griffith, Deeraj Pershad

9:00AM – 9:30AM

Sponsor Introductions

Conference Sponsors will be introduced, and each will give a short intro about their respective technologies.

Mark O’Brien

9:30AM – 10:30AM

CA Plex Deep Dive

There are many things in Plex that we tend to not use, because we do not know more about the feature. Just as an example, the Plex API’s allow us to develop tools that can interface with information that exists in the Plex model. There are probably no fewer than 10 of these Plex features that are not widely understood. Once you have a better understanding of the capabilities of these features, you will be able to use them in your organizations to better leverage your investment and get immediate value from Plex.

Roger Griffith

9:30AM – 10:30AM

Web Services / Web Option

Adding a RESTful web service layer or a responsive Web Application to your legacy CA 2E (Synon) IBM i application is a common requirement. In this session, we will outline and compare potential solutions that customers have used including the new CA 2E 8.2 options and using native IBM techniques. We will also do a deep dive into CM MatchPoint / CM EvolveIT web service generation as solution that makes sense for many.

Mark Schroeder

9:30AM – 10:30AM

Robotic Process Automation

Both Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Intelligent Automation (IA) have the potential to make business processes smarter and more efficient, in very different ways. Both have significant advantages over traditional IT implementations. In this session we will look at these two technologies, especially as they apply to typical CA Plex and CA 2E generated applications.

Roger Hammer

9:30AM – 10:30AM

IBM DB2

DB2 keeps evolving, with many new features added each year. In this session, an IBM DB2 expert will discuss recent DB2 features as they apply to application developers.

IBM

10:30AM – 11:30AM

Outside the Lines

Most of the users in the Plex community have found ways to give their Plex applications unique features that add the wow factor to their applications. Folks often mention things that they have done that make your Plex applications much more robust than what Plex delivers out of the box. This session will be an opportunity to see some of the unique things that people have done with Plex to keep their applications fresh and modern. There are many things that can be done to dramatically enhance the look and feel of a Plex application, it just takes come creativity. This session will give you some ideas on new ways to take your Plex applications to the next level.

Roger Griffith

10:30AM – 11:30AM

Tips and Techniques

There are many obscure features in 2E that are not documented, but in many cases known to many in the 2E Community. Most of these are only known to the 2E Community by word of mouth, and many of these might only be known by one person. Some of these are so powerful, and beneficial, you will wish you had known them decades ago. This session will attempt to gather as many of these tips and techniques as possible and shared them with the 2E Community.

Topics Include

• Consuming a real-world JSON web service response.
• Using Group Jobs – Explanation
• Screen Design using 132 column display
• Dynamic Changing of Options or Functions within a dspfil
• EDTFIL with Add/Change/Delete on Same screen
• Sending Email with HTML attachments

Speakers Include

• Jonathon Bolton
• Russell Berkeley
• Mark Schroeder
• Eamonn Foley
• Darryl Millington
• And other CA 2E experts

Various (Moderator John Rhodes)

10:30AM – 11:30AM

Tips and Techniques to Enhance your Plex and Webclient Products

This session will cover how to transform a basic grid into a calendar on CM Webclient, how to implement web BI dashboards on your Plex-based products and other tricks!

En español: Esta sesión cubrirá cómo transformar una cuadrícula básica en un calendario en CM Webclient, cómo implementar paneles de BI web en sus productos basados ​​en Plex y otros trucos.

Jose Sanchez

10:30AM – 11:30AM

IBM i Cloud Rehosting / Managed Services

In this session a cloud replatforming expert will discuss how IBM i applications are typically being rehosted from on-premise to cloud or hybrid environments along with the savings and operational improvements they experience. Real Life Case studies will be presented.

Abacus, CM First

10:30AM – 11:30AM

Single Sign-on / Multi-factor Authentication

Interested in adding Single Sign On (SSO) and/or multi-factor (MFA) authentication to your CA 2E (Synon) or CA Plex generated application? This session will provide practical, proven advice on how to accomplish this, using open source and other popular tools.

Andrew Leggett, Abram Darnutzer

11:30AM – 12:30PM

Pit Stop

Refuel, put on a full set fresh tires, and participate in fun group games like trivia.

Mark O’Brien

12:30PM – 1:30PM

Tips and Techniques

There are many obscure features in Plex that are not well documented, but in many cases known to many in the Plex Community. Most of these are only known to the Plex Community by word of mouth, and many of these might only be known by one person (I bet I can show you one that nobody else is aware of). Some of these are so powerful, and beneficial, you will wish you had known them decades ago. This session will attempt to gather as many of these tips and techniques as possible and shared them with the Plex Community.

Various (Moderator Roger Griffith)

12:30PM – 1:30PM

Platform Migration

Many in the 2E community are looking to migrate their 2E applications to other platforms. Some are migrating from 2E to Plex, to open their options to other Platforms as well as take their applications to the Web and Cloud. There are many factors that must be considered in a migration of this magnitude. This session will explore those considerations and offer real world experience from those in the community who have successfully migrated their 2E applications.

Various (Moderator John Rhodes)

12:30PM – 1:30PM

Web Services/Web Generation – REST APIs Basics with Hsync

This session will cover the basic concepts of a REST APIs, designing a basic API, how to implement it using CM Webclient/Hsync and front-end ideas for your API.
En español: Esta sesión cubrirá los conceptos básicos de una API REST, el diseño de una API básica, cómo implementarla usando CM Webclient / Hsync e ideas de front-end para su API.

Daniel Cruz

12:30PM – 1:30PM

Automated Testing

In this session, we will look at the benefits and challenges of automated functional and load testing of enterprise applications, especially as it pertains to moving CA 2E and CA Plex applications from 5250 or Client server to true web applications.

Roger Hammer

12:30PM – 1:30PM

Graph / Big Data

In this session we will take a look at graph databases and machine learning, and how these two technologies are gradually integrating into our legacy enterprise apps. We will look at CM evolveIT as a practical example of how graph databases and AI can help analyze and modernize legacy code.

Corey Butler, Kiyoshi Terasawa

2:30PM – 3:30PM

Standards Layer

Most Plex users have developed their own Standards Layer, to enhance the look and feel of the class libraries. In many cases, we have added unique custom features to add significant value to our applications. This could be an opportunity to collect some samples of the gotta-have-it features in the Plex community. Some of the features you will see could be added to your Standards Layer to add immediate value to your applications. This will be a must see session for everyone!

Jeremy Stent

2:30PM – 3:30PM

Show and Tell

Many in the 2E community have truly built some world class applications. They have used 2E in creative ways to produce cutting edge software solutions for their organizations. This session will show some of the best of the best applications in the community. This session would feature multiple speakers giving us a short presentation of some of the best of breed applications ever produced from 2E.

Speakers Include

• Russell Berkeley
• Darryl Millington
• Mark Schroeder

Various (Moderator John Rhodes)

2:30PM – 3:30PM

DevOps

In the session we will look at the current “state of the art” for CA Plex and CA 2E (Synon) DevOps and deployment automation.

Eric Giron

2:30PM – 3:30PM

UX Design

In this session we will look at some of the principles of modern UX design for productivity and information sharing.

Corey Butler

3:30PM – 4:30PM

Platform Migration – C++ to Java/C#

The main strength of Plex is its ability to develop an application that can be deployed natively in multiple languages on multiple platforms. Most of us are very familiar with the platform(s) we use but have an interest in knowing more about the other platforms available to us. As an example, those of us who generate our applications in C++ would love to see a examples of what a world class application generated in Java, .Net/C# or Web look and feels like. We will discuss the planning and process necessary to migrate an application. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the various language options. For customers who are deploying web applications (Webclient or Websydian for example), what are their impressions of developing for that environment. This session will explore the various language generators that are available and provide insight into what the journey was like to migrate from one language to another. If you are considering migrating your Plex application to another platform, this will be must attend session!

Speakers Include:

• Abram Darnutzer
• Andrew Leggett
• Darryl Millington
• Kiyoshi Terasawa

Various (Moderator Roger Griffith)

3:30PM – 4:30PM

ILE/Service Programs

In this session we will discuss how to enhance 2E using RPG ILE user source, combined with the power of ILE/Service programs. I am open to co-presenting with other customers that also have real world examples to discuss.

Jonathan Bolton

3:30PM – 4:30PM

Beyond CL: Advanced Workload Automation

Workload automation is the new way to automate “batch” or asynchronous jobs. In this session we will look at what is the state of the art for complex scheduling requirements that span hardware platforms.

Help/Systems

3:30PM – 4:30PM

Building REST Services on the IBM i
Using IWS & SQL

APIs and microservices have become a staple in today’s application development environment.  Unfortunately, for us Plex developers and to a lesser extent 2E developers, how we deliver those services is limited.  This has left us with creating REST services by hand or reluctantly using SOAP.  However, if you are on the IBMi platform, then I have great news for you.  You can create REST services on your IBMi using the included Integrated Web Services (IWS) and SQL.  I’ll show you how quick and easy it is to create and maintain these services that will give you the needed flexibility of web services without the overhead of SOAP. This technique can be used with Plex, 2E, and native programs on IBM i.

Rob McBride

4:30PM – 5:00PM

Checkered Flag / Conclude Day 1

All drivers will vote on “Best Session for Each track”. Winners will then take the Virtual Podium for awards ceremony. Recap highlights of race and discuss strategy for day 2 heat races (hands-on Labs). Followed by a virtual happy hour.

Roger Griffith, Mark O’Brien

Friday October 23rd (Hands On Labs)

8:00AM – 9:00AM

Green Flag Broadcom roundtable

Broadcom answers to roadmap questions followed by panel discussion of 5 year plan and modernization strategies.

Broadcom, Mark O’Brien

9:00AM – 9:30AM

Spanish Session Recap

This is a recap of the best Spanish sessions presented in English.

Moderators Hugo Rodriquez, Hugo Rodriguez, Jr., Mark O’Brien

9:30AM – 11:30AM

Impact Analysis

In this hands-on lab session we will use state of the art automated static analysis to scope, plan, and execute complex application changes. This type of analysis has many use cases for Plex developers, including:

• Making major application changes to support new regulations or lines of business
• Platform migrations to C# or Java
• Moving from RPG DDS to SQL
• Improving application performance
• Creating REST API access en-masse
• Replacing Windows Clients with Responsive UX Web Applications.

John Rhodes

9:30AM – 11:30AM

RESTful Web Services

This workshop with cover deploying web services on the IBMi. We will review basic concepts of REST Web Services. Everyone will get experience in deploying REST services with manually with CA 2E and automated with CM Matchpoint.

Mark Schroeder

9:30AM – 11:30AM

Devops

This workshop will show how CM MatchPoint can help to achieve automated DevOps for the CA Plex professional.
We will look at source and object management, web application deployment, and web service deployment.

Eric Giron

9:30AM – 11:30AM

IBM i Reporting

NextGen’s NGS provides a powerful alternative to Query400. In this hands on workshop we will create great looking reports on IBM i data with a modern reporting tool.

NextGen, Mark Schroeder

11:30AM – 12:00PM

Pit Stop

Refuel, full set fresh tires, group games

Mark O’Brien

12:00PM – 2:00PM

C++ to C#/Java (CM)

In this workshop, we will discuss migrating Plex C++ application to C# or Java. First part, we discuss about ‘what is your best migration path?’ then talk about ‘Common platform migration tips’ and ‘C#/Java specific tips’.

Kiyoshi Terasawa, Andrew Leggett, Abram Darnutzer

12:00PM – 2:00PM

2E Impact Analysis 

In this hands-on lab session we will use state of the art automated static analysis to scope, plan, and execute complex application changes. The analysis will be applied to CA 2e models and generated RPG/COBOL. This advanced type of analysis has many use cases for 2E developers, including:

• Making major application changes to support new regulations or lines of business
• Platform migrations off IBM i
• Moving from RPG DDS to SQL
• Improving application performance

John Rhodes, Mark Schroeder

12:00PM – 2:00PM

Robotic Process Automation

HelpSystems will introduce basic RPA concepts with each attendee getting access to work with the Automate RPA tool live. Build your own bots in this session as you walk through User exercises or try building your own ideas.

HelpSystems, Roger Hammer

12:00PM – 2:00PM

Hands On Technology Lab

Open Slot for the most requested hands on workshop

Expert Instructor

2:00PM – 4:00PM

Plex Web Generation 

In this workshop, we will look into how to create and publish Rest APIs services by wrapping your Plex code using modern Java tools. We will also use an approach to consume Rest APIs directly from your Plex Java code.

Abram Darnutzer, Andrew Leggett, Lily Taharudin

2:00PM – 4:00PM

Platform migration

Many customers have look broadly at CA 2E platform migrations. Unfortunately it is not easy to leave the IBM i behind. We will get hands on with some practical issues around integrations, performance, and other considerations.

John Rhodes

2:00PM – 4:00PM

Single Sign On / Multifactor Authentication

This workshop will cover an introduction to Keyclock open source tool for Single Sign On and multi-factor authentication. The hands on lab will demonstrate how to integrate WebClient application with Keycloak openID connect protocol authentication.

Lily Taharudin, Abram Darnutzer

2:00PM – 4:00PM

Intro to Graph Databases

This workshop introduces the Graph Database, which have become hugely popular for Big Data and AI applications. The hands on sessions  includes answers to the questions: ‘What is Graph Database?’, ‘When is Graph better than relational?’, ‘How do I do Graph Queries and Visualization’. This will be a great time learn something new, and potentially bring significant value to your organization.

Kiyoshi Terasawa, Lily Taharudin

4:00PM – 4:30PM

Checkered Flag / Conclude Day 2

Lets take a few minutes for feedback, and to plan the next conference.

Roger Griffith, Mark O’Brien