i-effect^® FAQ

Suffering from an expired demo license key or a lack of efficiency on your system? Tortured by stomach pain or unable to sleep without becoming clear about single and group PTFs? Want to improve your Life Cycle with less of fibres and more movement of data on your system?

Coopreration & Partnership

• How may I cooperate with menten GmbH?

  You would like to cooperate with menten GmbH? Become (a) our reseller or (b) our partner!

  Being reseller of menten, in your portfolio you offer menten\\´s software i-effect with fixed profit sharing. Furthermore, you give i-effect and menten your full recommendation and suggest to your customers to consider our software solutions and services. With a retailer\\´s contract, you are allowed to offer maintenance contracts of i-effect as well.

  Being our partner, our cooperation composes of the mutual exchange of contact data of interested (new) clients.

  Cooperation with menten is promisingly in any case. If interested, please contact our sales office by phone dialling (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 10 or drop a note to Martin Hausmann.

  
  

• How may I become a partner?

  Just introduce yourself to our partnership manager via e-mail (martin.hausmann@menten-gmbh.de) or contact us by phone and dial (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 10.

  Have a look at our partner list now to find out who is already a partner in our strong network.

  
  

Licences

• What makes the difference between a demo license and a full license?

  There is only one significant difference between a demo license key and a full license key of i-effect - the period of its´ validity:

  With a demo license key you get the opportunity to test the i-effect software for 30 days for free and in full version. You can use this period of time to get an impression of i-effects´ features and advantages and to decide wether to purchase a full license key of the software or not.

  In contrast, your full license key for i-effect is unlimited.

  
  

• Why getting a license key anyway?

  The license key is a security means to protect the i-effect software from illegal usage. You need the license key to activate i-effect as demo version. Because of safety reasons, i-effect cannot be activated without a valid license key.

  
  

• How do I get a demo license key?

  With a demo license key you get the opportunity to test the i-effect software for 30 days for free and in full version. You can use this period of time to get an impression of i-effects´ features and advantages and to decide wether to purchase a full license key of the software or not.

  To get your demo license, it just needs three steps:

  1. Download your favoured available i-effect software version from Downloads
     (selectlist „software version“).
  2. Order your demo license key by filling in the online demo license form.
  3. Get your password to unzip the downloaded i-effect files.

  As soon as we have received your request, you will be forwarded a confirmation via e-mail and another automatized message containing your demo license key.

  Please take care of accuracy of your contact data while filling in the demo license form, for we would be glad to provide you your password to unzip the i-effect files and help you with useful technical advise.

  Of course we appreciate your phone call under the telephone number (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 0 as well.

  In special cases you can apply for extension of your demo license key and therefore of your testing period by sending an e-mail request to our sales office.

  
  

• How do I get a full license key?

  With a full license key, your i-effect software is not limited in usage to a defined period of time.

  You can purchase a full version license by filling in the online order form which is found under "Forms" in our download area. As our forms are interactive, you may fill in the form directly over your keyboard in front of the screen (of course you are free to fill in a printout of the form by hand as well) and send it to menten via fax by dialling (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 23.

  As soon as we receive your order, you will get a temporary key by e-mail which is limited to a using period of 14 days. As you are only provided your unlimited full license key (via e-mail as well) if the payment is confirmed, please make sure to settle the charged account within this period of time.

  Please direct any questions or problems with your license key straightforward to our sales helpline via e-mail or by phone dialling (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 10. We are looking forward to helping you!

  
  

• What do I have to consider with my (demo) license key?

  You do not have to pamper your i-effect license key - it is quite user-friendly and easy to handle. Please just make sure to fill in all the data fields of the online demo license form or of the order form for full license correctly because otherwise the activation of your license key may delay.

  Please consider that in contrary to older versions of i-effect, the new releases necessarily require the declaration of "vendor data".

  
  

• Am I free to assign my (demo) license key?

  No, you may not assign your i-effect license key because it is generated on basis of serialnumber and partition-id. In addition, the given license conditions of menten prohibit assignement of license keys to third parties without a permission in writing.

  If absolutely necessary, you may ask our sales support for assignement of your license by phone (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 10.

  
  

• How many licenses do I need?

  You need one license for every partition where i-effect is required and for every version of i-effect. With regard to the serial number, you may acquire as many license keys as there are partitions configured on your systems.

  
  

• My demo license key has expired - what next?

  You have checked on i-effect for 30 days now and you are completely satisfied and convinced of the software´s extensive range of features. Apply for your full license key of i-effect by filling in the order form which is found in selectlist "forms" in the download area. For all our forms are interactive, you can fill in the form via your keyboard directly in front of the screen (but of course you are free to fill in a printout of the form by hand). Afterwards, please fax your order to (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 23.

  As soon as we receive your order, you will be provided a temporary key via e-mail which is valid for a duration of 14 days. Please make sure to make your payment within this period of time for otherwise the activation of your full license may delay. With confirmation of your payment, you will be provided your unlimited license key immediately.

  If having any questions or problems concerning your license key or if in need of another testing phase (which can be allowed in special cases even after your demo license has expired) please address yourself to our sales office via e-mail or phone us at (49) 22 02 – 23 99 10.

  
  

• My software download is labelled "password protected" - what does this mean and where do I get the required password?

  To unzip your downloaded i-effect files you have to enter a password first. This is an additional security means in order to protect i-effect from illegitimate use.

  You get your password directly from our sales office via e-mail or by phone (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 10.

  
  

• Where may I find the license conditions?

  Your are provided the license conditions in our download area in selectlist „Usefull downloads“.

  Please direct your questions concerning license changes, license conditions or licenses in general straightforward to our sales support. You may contact our sales department on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 by calling (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 10 or anytime via e-mail.

  
  

• I would like to change my license - how do I proceed?

  Your are provided the license changes in our download area in selectlist "Usefull Downloads".

  All i-effect forms (PDF documents) are interactive thus you can fill them in comfortably and easily via your keyboard right in front of the screen - nonetheless you are free to print the forms out and fill them in by hand, of course.

  To carry out a license change, please fill in the form and fax it to (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 23. We will handle your request and get back to you as soon as possible.

  Please direct your questions concerning license changes, license conditions or licenses in general straightforward to our sales support. You may contact our sales department on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 by calling (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 10 or anytime via e-mail.

  
  

• The download of i-effect takes too long or just cuts off - how may I get the data anyway?

  i-effect is a very extensive but nonetheless compact software with a lot of features, thus it carries many bits and bytes over the data highway - depending on the network load, sometimes it may be caught up in a traffic jam.

  For you to be able to start your demo version of i-effect anyway, just order i-effect via post by filling in the online order form. As fast as possible, you will get your i-effect starter kit and be able to initiate your test run. If you do not want to be provided i-effect from your postman, just try the download later. Due to server overload, sometimes the download cannot be proceeded properly.

  
  

Use of this website

• Unfortunately, I cannot open forms and other PDF documents - what can I do?

  If having problems displaying PDF documents from our website, please check wether you have installed the current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. If not so, you can get this program for free at http://www.adobe.com.

  You have successfully checked that a current version of the Acrobat Reader is installed on you computer, but nevertheless the documents you have chosen from the select lists in the download area are not opened? Most likely you have deactivated the execution of java scripts in the preferences of your browser. Please check on this option and activate it if necessary.

  (If you use Internet Explorer 7 or 8, click on „Tools“, „Internet options“, „Security“, „Custom level...“. Look for the „Scripting“ section in order to enable Javascript.)

  
  

• I have downloaded the i-effect software - how do I now unzip the ZIP- or CAB-files?

  In order to unzip ZIP- and CAB-files, you need a current version of an established ZIP-program, e.g. WINZIP. Double-click on the file you wish to unzip and follow the software´s instructions.

  
  

• The printing function via the print icon does not work - am I doing something wrong?

  Could it possibly be that you have deactivated the execution of java scripts in the preferences of your browser? Please check this option and activate it if necessary.

  If the printing function does not work anyway, please use the printing function of your browser instead. If you want that just a certain part, e.g. a module description, be printed, mark it and choose "Print marked text" in the printer´s dialog.

  
  

• Unfortunately, I cannot open the online form to order a demo license, or the dispatch of my data turns into never-ending loading of the website - what next?

  If you cannot open the demo license form, please be as patient as to try again later. Due to server overload, sometimes the demo license form is not available for a short period of time. In case you have already tried several times, we assume your firewall preferences are as strict as not to allow the demo license form to be opened.

  If not, please just send us an e-mail or contact us by telephone by dialling (+49) 22 02 – 23 99 0.

  
  

• I am using firefox and I have got problems downloading the menten certificate - what am I to do?

  If you are trying downloads with Firefox, some files may be opened inside the browser instead of being offered for download in a new dialogue box. This problem is easily solved: Just click the link with your right mouse key and chose "Save target as...".

  If you are getting error messages or only half-displayed dialogue boxes while trying to download with Firefox, most likely your browser settings have to be adjusted. As this settings depend on the error message you get, please look for help at the Firefox forum.

  Secure for sure - browser barriers are no convincing argument for settling for less secure data transfer, thus we would be glad to send you the menten certificate by e-mail if you just don´t mind dropping us a short note.

  
  

• What do I need the menten certificate for?

  Due to the menten certificate (public key) you can verify received e-mails from our company. Moreover, you are able to encrypt e-mails to menten yourself (e.g. in testing periods of communication via as2 with i-effect).

  
  

• How does the menten certificate and encryption as such actually work?

  Encryption is the process of changing a readable and logic text into a cryptic one by using certain encryption algorythms with one or more keys:

  Symmetric key encryption with only one key assumes that both communication partners are in possession of the same key and must have exchanged this key in a safe way before starting to communicate.

  Public key encryption features of the usage of a pair of keys for each participant of a communication. One key of each key pair is publicated (the public key which is used for sending an encrypted message to the owner of the key pair), the other key is kept secret (the private key which serves the recipient of an encrypted message for decryption). This system is called asynchronous because each key of a key pair can only be used for encryption or decryption.

  menten uses public key encryption with the asynchronous system and provides its´ public key on this website. You may use it to send encrypted e-mails to menten. menten is able to decrypt your encrypted e-mails with the counterpart of the public key, the private key. Thus it is guaranteed that only menten as legitimate recipient and owner of the compatible private key can read your dispatched e-mail. In addition, menten can rely upon the fact, that only communication partners in possession of the public key can read its´ encrypted e-mails.

  
  

• How do I apply the menten certificate?

  You have downloaded the menten certificate, now you want to use it! For this purpose, the certificate has to be stored in your own keystore (you may es well use the keystore manager which is automatically installed with i-effect).

  E-mail-clients such as Outlook or Thunderbird are offering you a manager to administrate your certificates. With the certificate manager you can collect the keys of your communication partners and set up profiles. For the setting up of these profiles, please ask your data protection officer or the system operator of your company for help.

  Prior to dispatch of a new e-mail, you can chose from your options wether a message should be encrypted or not. On demand, your certificate manager will offer you a list of all available keys.

  
  

• Where can I get a certified key myself?

  Only certified keys guarantee the authentification and verification of communication partners. A certified key disposes of a digital certificate which contains the key(s) and further information for authentification as well as encryption and decryption of sensible data that is transferred via internet. This key can definitely be connected with a certain person or organization.

  You may apply for your own digital certificate at a certificate authority, e.g. at http://www.cybertrust.com.

  
  

• My e-mail-client returns an error message each time I try to add the menten certificate to the certificate list - where am I wrong?

  Don´t worry - you´re not wrong at all but have simply forgotten to keep in mind that:

  The menten certificate is based upon the root certificate of Deutsche Telekom, which in turn is built upon the root certificate of GlobalSign and the rootcertificate for partners of GlobalSign. You can achieve the highest degree of trustability and the best protection for your e-mail communication by not only using a certificate (like the menten certificate), but by applying the root certificates on which the certificate is based upon in addition. That´s why you should not hesitate to download the root certificates of Deutsche Telecom and Cybertrust as well.

  If you are only applying the menten certificate and resign to use the root certificate of Deutsche Telecom, the rootcertificate of GlobalSign and the rootcertificate for partners of GlobalSign in addition, your e-mail-client will draw to your attention that the menten certificate cannot be definitely assigned. Please take our advise and add both root certificates which the menten certificate is based upon to your certificate manager. Otherwise, please confirm to your certificate manager that the menten certificate should be accepted anyway. Because even the use of a certificate without additional application of its´ root certificates is far more secure than not taking advantage of any certificate at all.

  
  

Software

• I´d like to apply i-effect to my system, but I definetely don´t need every module - which combination of modules makes sense?

  i-effect is modular built and can be individually arranged to your requests wether as part of a systems´ solution as well as allround solution.

  In theory, you can combine every module with every other module which does not make sense in every case. Some modules request other modules and cannot be applied all on their own (e.g. the basic module *BASE is a main condition for the application of any other i-effect module).

  You can learn in detail about the relation of the modules towards each other from the i-effect order form. Altogether, i-effect provides a clearly arranged system of various features which is easily adjusted to existing systems and flexibly applied.

  Please direct your questions concerning the i-effect modules and individual possibilities of application straightforward to our sales support. You may contact our sales department on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 by calling (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 10 or anytime via e-mail.

  
  

• Which platforms are supported by i-effect?

  i-effect is esspecially designed for application on IBM Power Systems (formerly known as System i, iSeries or AS/400) and cannot be used with any other platform.

  
  

• What do the titles "IBM Server Proven" and "IBM Express Portfolio" acutally mean?

  IBM labels partial solutions of allround solutions "ServerProven" if they show ideal compatibility with IBM servers. These server proven solutions are validated, optimized and documented by IBM as well.

  The IBM Express Portfolio covers tools, technologies and solutions which are particularly developed for medium-size business. IBM Express Portfolio helps you to reduce your commercial risks, to strengthen your products and services in competition and to advance the cooperation between your employees, customers, partners and suppliers.

  
  

• I am employing i-effect - what do I have to consider about the supported release status?

  To use i-effect to its´ full extent on your system, you have to consider some technical requirements. The state of release defines which i-effect version is compatible to which software version of OS/400 and i5/OS. For example, i-effect V1R3 requires at least AS/400 version V5R2.

  Please consider the system requirements to find out more.

  Please direct your questions and problems concerning the system requirements and compatibilities of i-effect straightforward to our software support which you may contact on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 by calling (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 0 or anytime via e-mail.

  
  

• The system requirements quote "Single and Group PTFs" - what does this refer to and where do I get this information?

  A group PTF describes multiple adjustments which are attributed to the same license program and logically summed up with a chronological documentation of the state of change.

  Single PTFs are negligible after the first update and only required if no current state of group PTF is installed. This is how you can work out wether your system complies with the necessary state of group PTF or not:

  1. Enter into your command line: GO PTF
  2. Confirm your submission with enter
  3. Select option 12
  4. Confirm your submission with enter
  5. Confirm the next display with enter again

   

  This could an exemplarilly display for a current group PTF of V5R3 look like:

  PTF group	Text
  SF99530	CUMULATIVE PTF PACKAGE C5298530
  SF99529	Group Hiper
  SF99503	DB2 UDB FOR ISERIES
  SF99269	JAVA

  
  

   

  
  

• The system requirements quote "additional license programes" - what may I need these programes for?

  Always required:

  Licpgm Option	notation
  5722JV1	Java Developer Kit 1.4

  Required for digital signature and encryption:

  Licpgm Option	notation
  5722AC3	Crypto Access Provider 128-bit

  Required for the new report server:

  Licpgm Option	notation
  5722SS1 33	OS/400 - Portable App Solutions Environment

  
  

• I am generating PDF-documents on my iSeries (e.g. invoices) with another conversion program than i-effect and I want to add a company logo to my created PDF-document afterwards - may I use i-effect *SPOOL to do so?

  No, i-effect cannot be used to add graphics to an already existing PDF-doument no matter wether the affected document was created using i-effect or any other conversion tool.

  Nonetheless, you may apply i-effect as conversion tool and add to your document any graphic you want WHILE generating a PDF-file. You can scale, rotate and position your images any way you like!

  
  

• The PTF number stated in system requirements seems to be valid for OS/400 VxRyMz - Are these PTF´s not necessary for VaRbMc ?

  Every release of an operating system needs a different PTF for the same program fix. In order to find out which PTFs are needed for your operating system and release, please refer to the IBM Software Support or make use of the possibility of IBM´s online support. Menten, too, would be glad to give you advise on your IBM i specific questions.

  
  

• Assuming that the required PTF group status is higher than the one indicated in the "System requirements", will there be no problem?

  Yes, this may cause problems.

  In order to find out which PTFs are needed for your version, please have alook at the System requirements.

  
  

• What is the size required for installation library of i-effect?

  The required installation size will be between 500MB and 750MB (i-effect libaries and i-effect folder).

  The recommended disk space during the installation is 1500MB.

  
  

• I am using i-effect *BASE and *EMAIL together and apply ISP´s SMTP/POP server (not SMTP/POP server). In this kind of environment, is it possible to use functions of *EMAIL via internet from AS/400? Or, is it not possible to use *EMAIL if we do not have SMTP/POP server in LAN?

  The use of an ISP´s SMTP-Server is supported, too.

  
  

Software - Modules

• What makes the difference between *TELEBOX, *OFTP and *FTP?

  Telebox is a proprietary protocol for access via Business Mail X.400.

  OFTP (Odette File Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) both are data transfer protocols for communication via internet. Due to the technical structure of this protocol which answers certain communication requirements, OFTP is esspecially used in the branches automotive and logistics and for bank transfers.

  i-effect supports all three protocols with the modules *TELEBOX, *FTP and *OFTP.

  Equipped with brand new security-related features and thus most uptodate, AS2 can be used with Telebox and FTP. i-effect supports EDI via internet with the module *AS2. For an impression how the successful switch to AS2 and its´ application in business life works, please have a look at the case study of Coppenrath & Wiese.

  Please direct any questions concerning the communication protocols, the i-effect communication modules and their possible application straightforward to our support which you may contact on weekdays from 08:30 to 18:00 by calling (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 10 or anytime via e-mail.

  
  

• Do I have to chose one communication protocol only or are there any reasonable combinations?

  In theory, FTP and OFTP as well as TELEBOX and AS2 can simultaneously be applied to one and the same system. But if this proceeding really makes sense has to be sceptically validated for each individual case.

  If you do not require OFTP because you are part of the automotive or logistic sector or of banking and credit, *EMAIL and *AS2 absolutely suffice to cover all demands of communication.

  Besides AS2, i-effect offers interfaces towards OFTP, FTP and X.400 ( Telebox ) as well.

  Please direct any questions concerning the communication protocols, the i-effect communication modules and their possible application straightforward to our support which you may contact on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 by calling (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 10 or anytime via e-mail.

  
  

• I would like to switch to EDIINT AS2, but I already use another communication protocol - how does the change-over work?

  AS2 replaces any other communication protocol apart from e-mail and sectorally used OFTP. The new configurated communication ressource has to be activated in the respective master data.

  Please direct any questions concerning EDIINT AS2, the i-effect modules and their possible application straightforward to our support which you may contact on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 by calling (+49) 22 02 - 23 99 10 or anytime via e-mail.

  
  

• Does *FTP provide only the function of "FTP CLIENT"? Does it provide function of "FTP SERVER"?

  *FTP is a client implementation. For incoming transmissions you have to use the standard FTP-server of the operating system and i-effect *SERVER to recognize received files as an event for starting predefined data processing with i-effect.