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VISION:Results

Offered by

Michigan State University

Administrative Information Services

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Administrative Information Services (AIS) offers VISION:Results (formerly known as DYL-280 II) to our clients for customized report generation and manipulation/formatting of mainframe data. AIS provides consultation, training and ongoing support to all client offices authorized to use VISION:Results.

VISION:Results makes use of English-like commands and keywords in a free form structure. This makes VISION:Results easy to understand for non-data processing professionals and allows them to use it effectively. It is intended to serve as an extension to, but not as a replacement for, the complex on-line and/or batch systems available on the AIS mainframe.

VISION:Results ACCESS

VISION:Results is available to most of the AIS client community. VISION:Results requires all of the following:

1. Access to some terminal device connected to the AIS mainframe. This could be a terminal connected to the AIS Mainframe or an IBM-PC or compatible microcomputer equipped with 3270 terminal emulation.

2. Access to the Customer Information Control System (CICS), available on the AIS mainframe.

3. Completion of two courses: Client Based Computing (CBC) Overview and Introduction to VISION:Results, offered by AIS Data Administration.

For specific information, please call the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420 extension 311.

CLIENT TRAINING AND SUPPORT

Data Administration will help a client office evaluate the need for VISION:Results as a reporting language, coordinate its implementation and establish a schedule for training appropriate staff members. After initial training is complete, Data Administration continues to provide ongoing support, program consultation, problem determination, training of additional staff and maintenance of the client computing environment. In addition, AIS has a Help and Support Center available, where clients may call during business hours for help. The Help and Support Center number is 3-4420 extension 311.

Training for VISION:Results is structured into 14 different workshops, ranging from an introductory course to advanced audit and Letter-Writer topics. Each workshop is taught over the course of one (1) to three (3) half-day sessions, depending on the topic(s) being covered. Each workshop is split evenly between lecture and hands-on lab. Data Administration staff will help you to determine the appropriate workshops to take at the time you request access to VISION:Results. For information regarding the current training, see the (http://train.msu.edu/) Libraries, Computing and Technology Training Program Catalog or call the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420 extension 311.

VISION:Results Reference Manuals are also available. This manual contains additional information on the advanced features of VISION:Results. Manuals can be purchased directly from Sterling Software. If you wish to order a manual, please contact the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420 extension 311 to request an order form.

DATA ACCESS

VISION:Results has the ability to access sequential disk and tape datasets and VSAM datasets. A maximum of three tape datasets can be accessed during a single VISION:Results job.

When a client requests VISION:Results, Data Administration works with the client office to determine what data they will need. If needed data belongs to another department, authorization must be requested from and approved in writing by the data owner. If the client office has already been granted access to data for use with some other programming language (i.e., SAS), additional authorization is not required for VISION:Results access to that data.

SERVICE AVAILABILITY

VISION:Results jobs may be submitted during the hours that CICSCBC is available, generally Mon-Fri, 7:00AM to 6:00PM and Sat-Sun, 8:00AM to 5:00PM.

VISION:Results jobs may be submitted to run in various jobs classes depending on the resource requirements of the job. The allowable job classes and their restrictions include:

Job No. of No. of CPU Service

Class Disk Files Tape Files Limit Level

I unlimited max. 3 66 sec 35 minutes turnaround

4 unlimited max. 2 15 sec 20 minutes turnaround

5 unlimited max. 0 15 sec 20 minutes turnaround

6 unlimited max. 3 30 min Overnight turnaround

J unlimited max. 3 30 min Premium turnaround

* All Class J Jobs are charged regardless of client.

Tape files can not be used on Sunday unless prior arrangements are made ahead of time to have a computer operator on duty. Call the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420 extension 311 if you wish to schedule.

CHARGES

VISION:Results is available without charge to most client offices. Whether an office will be charged for the use of VISION:Results is subject to a number of variables. For more information on this subject, please contact the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420 extension 311.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If you decide you would like to use VISION:Results in your office, please contact the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420 extension 311, or e-mail us.    (Please do not change the subject line)

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