Computer Guidance Customers:  We understand that at Focus 2008 Roger Kirk announced that after year-end 2008, CGC would no longer provide electronic form overlays for the CMS spool files.  Be reassured that entire array of the CMS electronic forms will be available at no-charge to customers that are covered by software maintenance obtained from inForm Decisions.  

Some of our CGC customers have called with the concern that CGC has made the unprecedented decision to disable a basic iSeries function (spool files).  We have been hearing this for the past 7 years and do not believe that to be the case.   CMS/eCMS 3.43, eCMS 3.50, and 3.60 will always support spool files.  As far as we know, CGC's new offering (at least initially labeled eCMS 3.70), still offers the option of retaining spool files.  

Rather than removing all Printer File output from the code, CGC found it to be more efficient to delete the spool after it is generated.  Since 2003 there has always been an option to delete the spool file if eForms was enabled.  Not all CMS modules are supported by eForms, so most CMS programs will always produce spool files.  Several large CMS customers and User Groups have balked at the prospect of eliminating the spool file.  Even eForm customers wanted to retain these for archival purposes.  If these customers made it clear that they would not upgrade to a product that eliminated the spool files, CGC would be forced to retain that option.

With that being said, the new eForm technology is purported to employ XML output, Word overlays and Open Office to merge.  InFORM Decisions will be prepared to offer products that utilize this XML in conjunction with our existing flashFORM overlays, or convert the XML back to a spool file.  In this manner we will be ready to enable the continued use of our Product Suite with eCMS 3.70 and beyond.  

Most of our CGC customers have installed FORMation, or iDocs as it is known today, long ago.  Since it runs problem free many forget that it is being utilized and have not upgraded the software in years.  For those customers we invite you to contact us for a demonstration of the new product offerings.  They bring a wealth of new features like Smart Routing, and companion products like iMail and  iView that will enhance your productivity.

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