Product Overview

NS/Portfolio 3.1 for AS/400 meets the Windows PC user's need to access AS/400 applications and data while providing administratiors with powerful tools for client manageability. It combines the most commonly used 16 and 32-bit AS/400 client services into one managable package. It is the only managable, Microsoft Office integrated, full-featured AS/400 connectivity solution for all Microsoft Windows platforms.

Office integration support includes OpenWizard and OpenWrite. These products allow users to download AS/400 data directly into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or Word document. The following traditional AS/400 clients are also included and are more fully-featured than ever: NS/Router, NS/Transfer, NS/Elite, 5250 display and print emulation, NS/Folders, NS/Queues, NS/ODBC R/O and R/W, NS/Utilities, and NS/Commander CL.

By offering multiple ways to acces the AS/400, NS/Portfolio for AS/400 allows users to choose the tool that works best for a specific task. Each tool provides different capabilities as well as API support.

NS/Portfolio Select provides 5250 display/print emulation, download data transfer and Microsoft Office integration in a fully-integrated, single-license package for Windows 3.x, 95 and NT. The product's advanced technology sets new standards for performance, manageability, and ease of use.

NS/Portfolio for AS/400 includes:

OpenWizard & OpenWrite
OpenWizard and OpenWrite are high performance add-in tools that provide simple, manageable access to AS/400 data from a Microsoft Office desktop. OpenWizard allows users to easily download AS/400 data directly into an Excel spreadsheet. OpenWrite allows users equivalent DB2/400 access into Microsoft Word for mail-merge or database publishing. No complex training is required to use these tools. A powerful wizard tool allows administrators to predefine queries to protect sensitive host data.

NS/Portfolio Manager
NS/Portfolio Manager provides a powerful set of facilities to install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot remote NS/Portfolio clients from a central desktop. E-mail facilities can be used to perform remote client setups and configurations. Remote configuration features allow the administrator or help desk team to view and edit remote client confgurations and expedite user needs.

Link Services

Most complete set of link services available. Connect via TCP/IP or a LAN or gateway with one single product. The link services of NS/Router include:

• 802.2 LLC: In the Windows 95 and NT environment runs in 32-bit protected mode and supports Microsoft's 32-bit DLC driver. In the Windows 3.x environment, supports Microsoft's 16-bit DLC driver.
• AnyNet: Supports client PCs equipped with Microsoft's WinSock 1.1 or compatible TCP/IP protocol stack.
• Async: Supports dial up to an AS/400 over switched telephone networks. At the AS/400, an SNA protocol is used via ASCII workstation controllers. Also supports non-switched connections.
• AutoSync: The AutoSync link is used to connect via an asynchronous modem to a synchronous modem on the SLDC port of an AS/400. Supports the Hayes AutoSync I protocol.
• Direct IPX/SPX: The Direct IPX/SPX link is used to communicate with a host using Internetwork Packet Exchange/ Sequenced Packet Exchange NetWare communication protocols.
• Direct TCP/IP: The Direct TCP/IP link is used to communicate with a host using the Microsoft TCP/IP stack provided with Windows 95 or any other TCP/IP stack that supports Winsock 1.1 or above.
• Elite/400 Gateway (IPX/SPX or NetBIOS): Supports client PCs via IPX/SPX connections.
• SNA Server: The SNA Server is used to communicate with your host via an MS NT SNA server.
• NetWare^® for SAA. Supports client PCs using IPX/SPX or TCP/IP via a Novell NetWare for SAA gateway.
• Renex: The Renex Async Protocol link driver facilitates PC-to-host communication through the Renex TMS-5, a remote access communication controller.
• SDLC: Supports synchronous connection over switched or leased line (non-switched) telephone networks via IBM SDLC cards.
• Twinax: Supports IBM and other Twinax adapters via device driver and TSR interfaces.