FileAid Price Raised by Vendor—Look for the Replacement July 1

FileAid is a multi-purpose software package that has been available at the NIH and ITS computer centers for years. The consolidation of the two MVS data centers (known now as the North and South systems) caused the vendor to recompute the cost for the FileAid product and to offer it at a price far exceeding the combined total of both centers' previous costs. After numerous attempts to negotiate a more reasonable price, CIT's Computing Facilities Branch has determined that continuing to offer FileAid is no longer a viable option.

A Replacement

The good news is that another software product, MAX, offers the same features as FileAid plus a few more, at a more reasonable price. MAX will be available on both the North and South systems on July 1.

MAX offers features that FileAid does—such as editing VSAM files, issuing global commands across an entire group of PDS members, and formatted browse and edit using COBOL copybooks. Additional features that MAX provides include enhanced data set name lists, and a "cut and paste" option for records within one edit session or between edit sessions.

Instructions for accessing and using MAX are at http://silk.nih.gov/public/public.max.

Need Help Converting to MAX?

FileAid will continue to be available on both the North and South systems until August 31, 1998. If you currently use the batch portion of FileAid, please call TASC and ask to speak to someone concerning conversion to MAX.