Frequently Asked Questions

Presto is an IBM i green screen modernization solution that transforms all of your RPG and COBOL applications into professional looking web pages on the fly. You can further enhance screens using the Visual Editor or by editing the HTML to add links, images, drop down lists, graphs, Google Maps and much more.

Some of the key benefits include improved end user satisfaction and reduced training costs because the screens are more intuitive and simpler to navigate. Since end users only need a browser to access the applications, they're easier to deploy and maintain. You can also give remote users access to the applications from desktops or mobile devices without needing to install a 5250 emulator.

Presto extends the functionality of your programs by adding images and web UI components and allows you to repurpose them for vendors and clients. Read success stories to learn how our clients have benefitted from Presto.

The amount of time it takes depends on the quantity and type of customizations you want to make, if any. As soon as you install Presto, every screen on your IBM i is instantly accessible from a browser. This means that all of your programs, menus and system screens are automatically web enabled. Clients who want the out-of-the-box results can often go live within a week. You can optionally add images, links and drop downs (to name a few types of enhancements you can make).

You can install Presto in less than 30 minutes and see immediate results. Presto includes a pre-configured instance of the Apache HTTP web server to make the installation as simple as possible. We also offer a fully-functional free trial version that you can request.

Yes, Presto works with programs created using any version of RPG and COBOL. There is no need to change any of your existing RPG, COBOL or DDS code. Presto doesn't even require DDS; It just uses the 5250 datastream.

Yes.

Yes, absolutely. Presto doesn't affect the original 5250 green screen programs. You can continue to run them while you access the web enabled version.

You can access Presto screens from tablets and smartphones including iPads, iPhones and Android devices. Presto includes a virtual function key keyboard and mobile layouts that can be customized for specific devices.

Yes, all system and third party screens are web enabled. You don't need the source to give screens a web GUI with Presto.

Presto's learning curve is very short. It would take you days - not weeks - to become proficient at enhancing screens using the Presto Visual Editor. Being familiar with HTML, JavaScript and CSS can come in handy but is not required for most types of customizations you'll make. We have excellent documentation, examples and technical support to help you with web technologies if required.

Your IBM i should perform the same whether you are running the Presto or the green screen version of your screens. You can run Presto in batch or interactively. Presto uses advanced web technologies like Ajax to render the screens as quickly as possible. While you can never beat the rendering speed of text-based screens, your users shouldn't notice a performance difference on most screens.

Presto web enables existing green screen applications whereas WebSmart ILE and WebSmart PHP are used to develop new web applications from scratch or to rewrite existing green screen applications.

When web enabling an existing application with Presto, you don't touch the underlying RPG or DDS code.WebSmart PHP and WebSmart ILE provide the ability to rapidly develop new web programs. You can reuse existing RPG code from both editions of WebSmart by calling back-end RPG programs but you can't convert existing interactive programs with WebSmart as you can with Presto.