Guaranty Capital Corporation
24 School St. 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02110

When we contracted Simtech Solutions Inc. to maintain our iSeries 400 based Leased Asset and Account Management System (LAAMS) leasing application, we were not aware that Simtech was bringing an arsenal of utilities with them.

The first project requested of Simtech was to clean-up our system by identifying and removing obsolete programs, queries, and work-files. This was a project that we were dreading, as our system was in operation for ten years and had not been regularly maintained for the last three. Simtech used the Object Usage Utility within EASY400 to produce report listings of all the objects that had not been used for a year. This tool was then also used to research where the objects that are used are located, what data is in the files, and whether or not the same object resides elsewhere on the system. All of the redundant and obsolete objects were saved to tape and removed from the system. By using EASY400, Simtech consultants and GCC personnel were able to perform a system clean-up project that was expected to take three weeks, in only three days. EASY400 saved us an estimated $7,200 on the very first project.

We found that the benefits of EASY400 extended well beyond the Object Usage Utility. GCC needed the ability to retrieve information from our enormous iSeries database that was vital to our operations. We asked Simtech Solutions to train the staff on the usage of the iSeries query tool, Query/400, to accommodate this need. Simtech structured a custom training class for us and spent two days teaching personnel how to use the query tool. Our staff quickly picked up on how to use Query/400 but soon discovered they could not effectively use it because they did not know how or where to find the source of the information they were looking for.

The next day Simtech introduced The Data Detective component of EASY400 to the class. Users were able to enter in search arguments and view all of the files that resulted from their searches. Files were validated as to whether or not they contained the correct source of the information by utilizing the cross-referencing and query functions built into EASY400. Thanks to Simtech and EASY400, the trainees left with a better understanding of how to effectively use Query/400.

EASY400 greatly decreased the turn-around time for projects, improved users' ability to access information from the system, and gave GCC confidence that any enhancements that were made to LAAMS would not interrupt day-to-day operations. I would definitely recommend EASY400 to any company looking to better understand their AS/400.

Sincerely,