Newsletter September 2018

Decision Table Generators: Modernise, Consolidate or Replace?

Decision tables simplify software development and enable the implementation with clearly structured source code. Some enterprises use multiple decision table generators and the application heirs have to cope with the different techniques. An automated consolidation would facilitate the maintenance and reduce costs.

Decision tables are an important method for the clearly structured description of complex matters and the corresponding rule systems. The automated implementation of the decision logic in COBOL, PL/I and other languages is supported by various decision table generators, like VORELLE (gadiv, prev. mbp), LF-ET (Lohrfink), SWT (SWT), DETAB (Delta Software Technology) and others.

As part of the modernisation of their development environments and their IT applications, many companies today are reviewing their usage of these development tools:

• The manufacturers have discontinued the development and support for some decision table generators.
• Some generators are not available for new platforms.
• Some companies use several of these generators resulting in increased cost for tools, training and application maintenance.

Know-how Transfer and Costs

The usage of different generators for similar tasks requires that enterprises must train and keep the corresponding expertise. This unnecessarily complicates the transfer to new generations of application heirs. Therefore, it is advisable to consolidate the generator use and to stay with one technology only. In addition to facilitating the knowledge transfer, (maintenance) costs for third-party components can also be saved.

First Step: The Assessment

With the help of these generators, many very complex decision tables have been implemented. In order to get an overview of where which technology has been used in the applications and to what extent, Delta offers a comprehensive investigation. Such an assessment evaluates the feasibility of an automated replacement, consolidation or migration, shows different solution variants and identifies the problems for the project in order to create a reliable decision basis and to eliminate the risks.

Analysis, Evaluation and Transformation of Decision Tables

Using the example of a consolidation from VORELLE to DETAB.

All sources containing VORELLE table definitions are automatically analysed and evaluated with regard to the functionality actually used. For each function category it is examined how it can be replaced and solution variants are suggested, e.g:

• The code can be transformed 1:1 into the syntax of another decision table generator.
• The code can automatically be transformed into well maintainable, native source code.
• And other solution variants ...

For the automated transformation, Delta uses its proven AMELIO Modernization Platform.

And by the Way …

Our analysis tools can also enable you to do it the other way round: You can analyse complex native source code and have the contained decision logic automatically converted into clearly arranged decision tables (Delta DETAB). This helps with modernisation projects, facilitates the exchange with business departments and serves the knowledge transfer.

Find the Perfect Solution

Would you like to …

… facilitate the maintenance of your applications?
… secure the knowledge about your applications and pass on the know-how to the application heirs?
… consolidate or replace third-party products?

Our tailor-made assessment reliably identifies and evaluates the critical points and challenges for your project. This enables you to find a solution that perfectly matches your specific application and tool landscape. Of course, we can also support you in planning the on-time and on-budget implementation of your project.

Reach out and talk to us today. We are looking forward to working with you to develop the perfect solution for you.

Decision Table Generator Delta DETAB on Eclipse

Delta DETAB now available stand-alone for the development on Eclipse

Decision tables are an excellent method to describe complex issues in an easily understandable way. Delta DETAB accelerates and simplifies the software development through the automated, generative implementation of decision tables in COBOL and PL/I.

As a component of the development system Delta ADS, Delta DETAB is already available on Eclipse for some time. Now we provide Delta DETAB also stand-alone integrated in Eclipse.

Thus, the advantages of the modern development environment Eclipse can now also be used for DETAB standalone and the use of the decision table technology can seamlessly be integrated into current processes.

Further information about Delta DETAB

Our customers successfully use Delta DETAB to easily specify and to efficiently implement complex decision logic, to simplify the communication with business departments and to reduce development and maintenance costs.

Here you can find more information about Delta DETAB.

Get to know the benefits of DETAB on Eclipse

We would like to introduce you to DETAB on Eclipse. Get in touch with us and benefit from the advantages of DETAB on Eclipse.

Support Information: New Product Versions Available

Updating the development tools often collides with the project work. Why change something that works? But there are good reasons to update to the current versions:

• Old product versions cause higher costs.
• New features accelerate the development.
• Error corrections avoid workarounds that make the next update more difficult.

You do not know how much your individual installations differ from the standard products and how to determine dependencies and efforts? We help you to update to the current product versions quickly and easily.

We have released new products and new versions of the following products:

• Delta ADS for PL/I (5.2)
• ADS on Visual Studio (1.1.0)
• New: Delta DETAB on Eclipse

You can find more information about new features and fixes in the release notes at the support area of our website.

Get information and updates right now. You’ll find the list of our current product versions here.

Next Training Courses starts in November

Anyone using tools to automate software development needs in-depth knowledge of the methods, modes of operation, and capabilities of the tools. And not just "in principle", but in relation to the concrete environment and task.

Our training courses and workshops help you to use Delta tools efficiently and to optimise the development of your applications: practice-oriented, taking into account your main focus.

ADS Basics - ADS for Administrators - ADS Refresher - ADS on Eclipse - ADS What's new

Here are the new training schedules for the second half of 2018:

• 06.-08.11.2018 - ADS Basics
• 13.-15.11.2018 - ADS for Administrators
• 20.-21.11.2018 - ADS Refresher
• 27.-28.11.2018 - ADS on Eclipse
• 04.12.2018 - ADS What’s new

Learn more about our trainings and workshops ...

Contact us to discuss your requirements for a customised training.