Revolutionizing 5250 Application
Modernization
LANSA’s Rapid Application Modernization Process (RAMP) is the solution for legacy system modernization that addresses
both your immediate tactical needs and strategic long-term modernization requirements. RAMP is a reengineering toolthat lets you rapidly consolidate your 5250 applications into a graphical application framework to create composite
applications. You can then incrementally replace your 5250 programs with new components in a timeframe that makes
sense to your organization.

Why is RAMP different?

Modernize at your own pace

RAMP’s ability to combine the old with the new addresses both yourimmediate tactical issues for green screen to GUI modernization andyour long-term redevelopment and replacement strategies for 5250
application modernization.

You determine the extent and speed of 5250 modernization. You
determine the level of consolidation. You determine the most usefulenhancements to your application. You can Web-enable parts of yourapplication to provide a self- service portal, consume and publish
Web services or deliver new .NET components – all within the same
application framework that will serve as your platform for full enterpriseapplication modernization.

With RAMP you start with a modern application. The application
framework is already a desktop or Web application where you combine
your 5250 application with other applications to assemble a composite
application. You evolve the resulting composite application by adding
new parts and gradually replacing the 5250 application.
RAMP raises the legacy system modernization bar to a new level anddelivers much more than conventional refacing technologies thatprovide little more than presentation enhancements. Applications
modernized with RAMP also expand your choice of client devices
including, Windows, Linux, Apple Mac, iPad and Android tablets.

What is RAMP?
RAMP is an application framework deployable as a Windows desktop
or Web browser application. You use the framework to consolidate
functionality by combining 5250 and Windows applications with newcomponents to create composite applications. The framework allows
you to assemble composite applications from components built withRPG, Visual LANSA, Visual C# .NET, HTML pages, and many more.
The framework includes a graphical user interface comprising aworkspace with navigation tools, search filters, search results lists andone or more panels. The panels display details from business objects
and application components. For example, a panel showing details fora customer business object may include customer name, address andcredit rating. Panels can contain existing 5250 screens, C# components
or HTML pages.
No specific IBM i hardware upgrades and no operating system upgrades
are required to deploy an application modernized using RAMP.

Run your modernized applications on
a wide selection of client devices
Provide your users with flexibility in their choice of client device. Your
RAMPed applications deployed to the Web support the Chrome, Firefox,
Safari and Internet Explorer browsers running on netbooks, laptopsand mobile devices such as iPads and Android tablets. This meansthat existing 5250 RPG or COBOL applications are available to anyone
anywhere!

How long does modernization take?
The answer depends on how much of your application you intend tomodernize and the extent to which you add new components.
The key points are:
• Navigation modernization is very rapid.
• Application modernization takes longer, but adds significantly
more business value.
• You can deliver a modernized 5250 application incrementally. You
don’t have to do it all in one go.
• RAMP does not force you to modernize the entire 5250 application.

What are the benefits of RAMP?

It evolves into a modernized application through Stages 2 and 3 of theRAMP modernization journey.

• Modernize your 5250 applications at your own pace.

Stage 2: Navigation, integration and initial enrichment – The second
stage uses the RAMP Application Navigation Assistant to reuse existing
5250 programs and snap them into the application prototype producedin Stage 1. This stage retains the look-and-feel of the 5250 application
converted to a graphical user interface within the framework. Adding
RAMP navigation means that users no longer move through a menu
hierarchy. At the end of this stage you have a fully functional andmodernized application ready for deployment.

• Boost user productivity and minimize disruption.
• Mix the new with the old and improve ROI.
• Designed for today and suitable for tomorrow’sbusiness environment.
• Faster development means IT is more responsive tobusiness needs.
• Easy component deployment.

Stage 3: Ongoing reengineering and enrichment – The final stage
builds on the modernized application developed in Stages 1 and 2. You
decide which programs will be enriched and enhanced and the depthof modernization to apply. At your own pace, you incrementally replace
functions from your 5250 applications with new, modern, repositorybased LANSA components that support new technologies such asWeb services. The final result is more than modernization; it is a fully
reengineered application built with your vision, to your plan and readyfor your platform of choice.

What are the stages when using RAMP
modernization?
Stage 1: Prototype and design the new application – The first stage
defines your modernized application design. The outcome from thisstage is a working prototype of the application that is not thrown away.

Stage 1 Delivers:
A prototype
modernization
framework thatevolves throughStages 2 and 3

Stage 2 Delivers:
Web browser andWindows Desktop
applications readyfor IBM i

Stage 3 Delivers:
Web browser andWindows Desktop
applications readyfor any server

123Features
User interface

Multilingual• Snap existing 5250 screens into a rich GUI framework – RAMP gives
your green screen applications a GUI familiar to most users.
• Solve the 5250 application navigation problem – Replace complex
5250 hierarchical menu structures that have many hidden paths
with a point-and-click GUI.
• Enhance the image of the application – A modernized userinterface can vastly improve the image of an application.
Modernize and extend• Add new features to the application at your own pace – Extend theapplication’s functionality with email, video, voice, Web browser
interfaces and desktop integration without disruption to yourbusiness and customers.
• Extend the modernized application by adding components builtwith Microsoft development tools – Write components in C#using Microsoft Visual Studio and snap the components into theframework to extend the functionality of the 5250 application.
• No need for source code – RAMP is a non-intrusive method for 5250
modernization. RAMP requires no change to the 5250 applications
and therefore does not need the source code. You can modernize
packaged applications even when you don’t have the source code.
Performance• The framework is mindful of performance and operates on aload-on-demand model. The initial load requires only the essentialcomponents. The framework loads other components only
when the user invokes functions in the application that use thecomponents.

• Supports multilingual and DBCS applications
Developer tools• Developers can take advantage of components shipped with theframework – The framework includes ready-to-use componentsthat developers can implement when modernizing 5250applications.
• RAMP supports prototyping when modernizing 5250 applications– Versions of the prototype can be quickly emailed to users forevaluation and feedback.
• Simpler to code – Developers work on components rather than thewhole application.
• Faster testing – Testers can check individual components. Whenthe components pass their tests they are added to the frameworkand then tested in the application.
• Developers do not need the source code – With RAMP developers
do not need to change the existing applications and don’t require
the RPG, COBOL or DDS source code.
Deployment• Generate Windows applications to run on desktop, laptop, andtablet devices• Generate Web browser applications that support Chrome, Firefox,
Safari or Internet Explorer 11 or later.
• Run the modernized applications on your choice of platform: IBM i,
Windows or Linux.

Visit www.lansa.com for more information

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