Presentation materials and streaming videos are now accessible on the All Access Sessions page.
Now open to the public.
GE
General
2E
CA 2E
PX
CA Plex
T1
Technology 1
T2
Technology 2
SP
Spanish
Thursday October 22nd (All Times USA Central Time)
GE
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.
GE
9:00AM – 9:30AM
Sponsor Introductions
Conference Sponsors will be introduced, and each will give a short intro about their respective technologies in video format.
PX
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. This session will feature 4 lightning talks to help Plex developers get the most out of Plex. Andrew Leggett: “A brief refresher of Plex general options, model options and .INI file settings”. Roger Griffith: “Creative Enhancements to Frame-Based Patterns”. Abram Darnutzer: “In-depth look at Plex custom SQL queries. Using Select Where and Exec SQL to the fullest”. Kiyoshi Terasawa: “Plex API: Feature exploration”
Andrew Leggett (Moderator), Roger Griffith, Abram Darnutzer, Kiyoshi Terasawa
2E
9:30AM – 10:30AM
Web Services / Web Option
The session will look at some additional capabilities CA 2E 8.71 that will help a 2E developer build RESTFUL web services. We will discuss some basics of REST as well and how to build RESTFUL web services in 2E. Three methods of deploying 2E web services that will be discussed and demonstrated.
T1
9:30AM – 10:30AM
Robotic Process Automation vs Digital Process Automation
Both Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Digital Process Automation (DPA) 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, and how they can be combined to reach higher value.
Marcel Pruegel, Tim Harris
PX
10:30AM – 11:30AM
CA Plex 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.
Roger Griffith will moderate the session and discuss some aspects of this.
Kiyoshi Terasawa will discuss use of CA Plex with VS code and Git.
Roger Griffith (Moderator), Kiyoshi Terasawa
2E
10:30AM – 11:30AM
CA 2E 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
- Using RDi
Russell Berkeley, Mark Schroeder
SP
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.
T1
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.
Chris Carlson, Mark O’Brien
T2
10:30AM – 11:30AM
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Overview
Your IBM i/AS400 system is the heart of your operations. But entering data, pulling reports, and other manual IBM i processes are slowing you down—and costing you money. And if your administrators are retiring, are you ready to bridge the gap? You need a solution that can make your IBM i processes more efficient and prepare your business for what’s next.
When you unleash the power of robotic process automation (RPA) at your organization, you can transform your IBM i processes—like automated data entry, extending single sign-on (SSO), and dynamically pulling reports—to increase productivity, eliminate errors, and save money. Watch HelpSystems and CM First in this on-demand webinar to discover how to boost your digital transformation efforts with RPA.
See firsthand how RPA bots can mimic your repetitive, manual tasks and communicate across Windows and IBM i applications to streamline critical business processes. You’ll learn:
- Why RPA should be a pillar of your digital transformation efforts
- How RPA can fit within your organization, no matter where you are with IBM i
- Real use cases that show the impact of bringing front-end automation to your green screen
Pat Cameron, Roger Hammer
GE
11:30AM – 12:30PM
Pit Stop (Lunch)
Refuel, put on a full set fresh tires, and participate in a fun trivia game
GE
12:30PM – 01:30PM
IBM Security Keynote
Why worry about Security? An IBM Perspective on how security is affecting business.
Charlie Neimi, Ash Fahm
PX
1:30PM – 2:30PM
CA Plex 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.
Eric Giron: “Improving BlockFetch/Processgroup performance with automatic SQL construct pattern”
Kiyoshi Terasawa: “Using Preferred Source Editor with Plex”
Abram Darnutzer: “Using Plex the Lazy way. Shortcut techniques to speed up your development.”
Roger Griffith (Moderator), Abram Darnutzer, Eric Giron, Kiyoshi Terasawa
2E
1:30PM – 2:30PM
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)
SP
1:30PM – 2:30PM
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.
T1
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Automated Testing
In this session we are going to talk about the whys, whats and hows of Automated testing. We will introduce some approaches to automated testing using RPA and review the different types of testing on CA 2E/Plex and other applications that can be accomplished through automation.
T2
1:30PM – 2:30PM
IBM I Reporting and Analytics
NGS-IQ modernizes and automates operational reporting and analytics processes on IBM i. During this session you’ll see how you could use NGS-IQ’s Web reporting features to integrate graphical HTML reports with charts and hyperlinks into a intranet or Web application interface.
Bill Langston
PX
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 will present several useful changes to your standards layer that my save you time and effort
Jeremy Stent
2E
2:30PM – 3:30PM
CA 2E 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.
Russell Berkeley
SP
2:30PM – 3:30PM
Your Own Pattern Library en Espanol
Why use our own pattern instead of some of them from CA Plex? Reasons, outcomes, and conclusions. A long time ago we decided it and it has been a success key in our capacity to adapt market and business needs.
¿Por qué utilizar nuestro propio patrón en lugar de algunos de CA Plex? Razones, resultados y conclusiones. Hace tiempo que lo decidimos y ha sido una clave de éxito en nuestra capacidad de adaptarnos a las necesidades del mercado y del negocio.
Alberto Calvo Garcia
T1
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.
T2
2:30PM – 3:30PM
Web Application Case Study
In this session we will at how a modern web application was implemented using CA Plex.
Giandomenico Allegri
PX
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)
2E
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.
T1
3:30PM – 4:30PM
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.
Abram Darnutzer
T2
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
GE
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.
Friday October 23rd (Hands On Labs)
GE
8:00AM – 9:00AM
Green Flag Broadcom roundtable
General Discussion of Broadcom Roadmap followed by Sponsor panel discussion of 5 year plan and modernization strategies.
Broadcom, Mark O’Brien
SP
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
PX
9:30AM – 11:30AM
CA Plex 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.
2E
9:30AM – 11:30AM
CA 2E 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.
T1
9:30AM – 11:30AM
CA Plex 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.
T2
9:30AM – 11:30AM
Robotic Process Automation – Basics
In this session we will focus on the basics of RPA develppment. Each attendee will be provided with the ability to get hands on experience with RPA.
Pat Cameron, Roger Hammer
PX
12:00PM – 2:00PM
CA Plex C++ to C#/Java
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’.
2E
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
T2
12:00PM – 2:00PM
Robotic Process Automation – Advanced
In this session we will take a deep dive into some of the more advanced capabilities of RPA. Each attendee will be provided with the ability to get hands on experience with RPA.
Dan Smith, Roger Hammer
PX
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.
2E
2:00PM – 4:00PM
Cancelled – To Be Rescheduled. CA 2E 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.
TBD
T1
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.
T2
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.