Using First Steps

The First Steps application is a single interface from which you can use and manage WebSphere Business Integration Server Express or Express Plus. It is installed by the Windows installer when the WebSphere Business Integration Server Express or Express Plus is installed.

First Steps can be launched from the Launchpad or under the Windows Start menu. If WebSphere Business Integration Server Express or Express Plus has not been installed at the point when First Steps is launched, then most of the First Steps functionality will be disabled and you will be directed to first install the product.

This section contains information on the uses of this application and a breakdown of its various components.

Platform (Menu Bar)

The Platform menu item allows you to switch between the OS/400 or i5/OS and Windows versions of First Steps, for management and access to various components on these two systems, respectively. First Steps will remember the last platform that was selected the next time it is launched.

Welcome

The Welcome screen is opened by default when First Steps is launched. This screen has a check box for specifying if First Steps should be launched the next time the computer is rebooted. The check box is selected by default. If you leave the check box selected, First Steps adds a shortcut to the startup Windows program manager menu. If the check box is deselected, that shortcut is removed if already there, or not included if opening the application for the first time. This check box will be disabled if First Steps is launched from the CD and WebSphere Business Integration Server Express or Express Plus is not yet installed on the machine.

Figure 18. First Steps Welcome screen

Quick Validate

Clicking this brings up the Quick Validate online help, which guides you through validating that the installation completed successfully.

Start Server or Stop Server

Clicking this either stops or starts the QWBIDFT44 instance of InterChange Server Express. If you are starting the server, you will be prompted for your OS/400 or i5/OS system login.

Administrative Tools

Clicking this opens the Administrative Tools screen.

Figure 19. First Steps Administrative Tools screen

This screen provides a list of available administrative tools and a brief explanation of each tool.

If these tools are not installed, the panel will indicate that you have no administrative tools installed, and that you should use Launchpad to install them.

Development Tools

Clicking this opens the Development Tools screen. This screen provides a list of available development tools and a brief explanation of each tool.

Figure 20. First Steps Development Tools screen

Product Information

Clicking this launches a web browser to a URL for the WebSphere Business Integration Information Center.

Exit

Clicking this exits First Steps.

Copyright IBM Corp. 2004, 2005