One of my favorite programming techniques is linking together functionality to make even-more-powerful functionality. An example of this is wrapping an SQL user-defined table function (UDTF) around a System i list API to retrieve a given list through an SQL interface. As an example, let's explore a service program that can be used for exactly that purpose.
SpoolFlex's ability to convert spool files into native Excel spreadsheet format with predictable results impresses even the most seasoned IT pros.
Written by Chris Smith
SpoolFlex from DRV Technologies is a tool for converting and distributing reports, or spool files, that makes children's play out of formatting report data into Excel. Unlike outputting to a comma-delimited file, when a report is converted directly into Excel's XLS format, report headers are in the right place, lines break where they are supposed to, and output retains the crisp formatting that was always intended.
Written by Mike Faust
Written by Chris Smith