Axway accounting integration suite: the latest features of AI Suite 2.4 Plus

Major developments in Axway’s AI Suite 2.4+ include

This new AI Suite is entirely designed in HTML5, which makes it possible to avoid the disappearance of Flash Player. Its database management system is MicroSoft SQL Server 2016. The Rule Engine Server can translate files in CSV format.

From 2021, the InterPlay Designer will be replaced by AIS Studio, which will also replace the Composer (a tool for defining, testing and deploying parameter settings) in 2022. The customer experience is enhanced thanks to a centralized design tool that interacts rapidly with other components.

Finally, PassPort, which manages access and identities, is replaced by AIS Portal in all components of the AIS 2.4+ Suite: Designer, DataStore, Ruler Server, InterPlay and Composer (starting with SP30). AIS Portal natively supports SAML 2.0 (Security Assertion Markup Language, to manage authentication and access) and LDAP (for directory management).

What’s new in Composer, the configuration interface

Various functionalities have been added concerning data processing:

• management of calculations in decimal mode (fixed or dynamic format) ;
• string processing in pre-calculation ;
• 10-character date format (YYYY-MM-DD) ;
• field formatting and concatenation ;
• value replacement ;
• retrieve the value of an environment variable using the SENV function;
• direct access to MEs (movements generated by the interpretation of a CRE record which are intended to feed an accounting or financial system) from the Dictionary view;
• retrieving a CRE field from a variable ;
• the ability to call an internal table if its name is contained in a variable.

A new module RDJCSV is used to convert CSV files to flat files and vice versa. The Composer is now compatible with JRE 1.8 in 64 (Java Runtime Environment). The Topography section features multi-engine compatibility: parameter settings can be exchanged with engines of any version (latest or previous).

The customer experience has also been enhanced, thanks in particular to customized functions that make complex language operations easier to understand in business terms.

Just like standard data manipulation functions, reusable functions can be defined. In addition, SFA functions have been added to the predefined functions accessible via the LMD browser.

Finally, windows are easier to manage: multiple openings possible, quick closing, simultaneous work on several objects, etc.

Rule Engine Server modifications for the generation of postings

Thanks to the accounting and financial rules defined in the AI Suite, the Rule Engine Server, a component of Accounting Integration, transforms events into accounting entries, generating files containing new entries, as well as rejection, audit and log files.

Several improvements have been made to the Rule Engine Server regarding output files. On Windows and Linux, output files are no longer generated if they are empty. A new log file is created, named RuleEngine.log or LOGRDJ (MVS). The temporary ME file before aggregation can be kept. In addition to the audit of the CREs in phase anomaly and in rejection, the audit of the CREs in error can be obtained.

New functions are available for zones and calculations:

• calculations in decimal mode (fixed or dynamic decimal format) are supported;
• the size of the ITR501 label zone has been increased;
• the date can be up to 10 characters long in the audit file (SSAA-MM-JJ);
• character strings are pre-calculated;
• more table positions can be stored;
• the return codes for the various stages are stored.

Technical changes have also been made: the exchange zones between Rule Engine and API/Exit Cobol have been changed, and the RDJEXP script call (under Unix and Windows) has been modified.

To facilitate the work of users, it is now possible to call tables with the name in the variables. The functions EXTTAB (to return a part of the “value” column of a given table) and EXTTABD (to return a part of the “value” column of a table at a given date) can thus be used with a variable instead of the table name for short and long tables. In addition, referential data can be saved independently of rules, which is in line with DevOps methodology. Finally, the management of the treatment configuration has been added.

Improvements to InterPlay for Discharge Management

In the AI Suite, InterPlay allows you to create, modify and enrich data in a structured way via a web interface. The aim of InterPlay is to manage manual data entry and error correction in a secure and authenticated way, to recycle incorrect data flows whatever their source (specific applications, ERP, etc.), to launch and verify recycling processes, and to create entries for all types of events or transactions.

Several new features have been implemented in InterPlay. First of all, the interface is in HTML5: it keeps all the features of the previous versions while offering an improved user experience. Most of the use cases have been redesigned to be more simple and user-friendly. The transition of the client interface to HTML 5 also makes it possible to replace Flash Player, which has become obsolete. On the communication side, InterPlay now works with a lightweight, efficient REST (REpresentative State Transfer) API based on the HTTP protocol.

To enhance the customer experience, InterPlay’s ergonomics have been redesigned: a new mass update option is now available, and collection display performance has been enhanced.

With this set of enhancements, Axway accounting Suite 2.4 is definitely a must-have finance strategy tool on the market.