This IBM Redbooks publication examines many different alternatives for accessing your IBM System i legacy applications. It provides recommendations for selecting different tools and technologies based on your existing environment and the goals that you are trying to achieve. It covers the IBM WebSphere -based solutions, such as IBM Host Access Transformation Services (HATS) and JavaServer Faces (JSF), as well as rich-client and PHP solutions.

The parts of this book are designed for company CIOs, architects, and developers. Within these parts, this book provides guidance for those who are selecting the most suitable alternative for their existing IT environment. This book also demonstrates the process of creating a sample application using a specific technology. For those who are interested in a more detailed information, this book points to other publications and online materials.

Part 1. Looking at the alternatives

Chapter 1. Why you should consider new application interfaces

Chapter 2. Modernizing System i legacy applications: Common business scenarios

Part 2. Using IBM solutions

Chapter 3. Host Access Transformation Services

Chapter 4. The IBM WebFacing Tool

Part 3. Designing a new user interface

Chapter 5. Before you create a new user interface

Chapter 6. Application architecture, design, and implementation

Chapter 7. Designing a Web services interface

Chapter 8. Designing a JavaServer Faces-based interface

Chapter 9. Designing a portlet client

Chapter 10. Designing a rich-client interface

Chapter 11. Designing a PHP client

Appendix A. Additional material