Abstract 
Abstract is a powerful programming environment from Fortra. It includes both documentation and development tools, integrated into a consistent interface. It provides a complete, centralized information source for all your IBM i software.
The relationships among the various entities in your applications are kept in an information repository. This data dictionary can be accessed both interactively and through batch programs to give you high level views of the control and data flows within your applications.
The Abstract development environment was originally designed as a replacement for part of the IBM Programming Development Manager (PDM) but is now also commonly used as an adjunct to the Rdi (Rational Developer for i) IDE.
Audience
Abstract is designed to assist all of the members of the programming and development team.
Programmers get a facility that enables them to perform edit-compile-debug cycles with a minimum number of transactions - efficiently using all of the available programming utilities and system functions, without the hassles of switching from one environment to another. Abstract also makes it easy for one person to handle several cycles concurrently - overlapping the development of one set of programs with another.
Analysts get a complete, interactive, cross referencing tool that can deliver up-to-date information about application structure, data flows, and object references. Information can be accessed quickly and easily by using a few keystrokes at the workstation.
Software designers get an overview of existing systems so that new applications or enhancements can be integrated with existing modules quickly and easily.
Managers and auditors get full scale documentation that records how a completed application works. File layouts, job stream flowcharts, top-down and bottom up analysis of object usage, etc. can serve as the basis for a permanent library of application documentation that can be kept current and complete with a minimum of effort.
Benefits
There are many significant benefits to using the Abstract development and documentation system. You will realize most of them as soon as you begin using the product, although some of them will become apparent only after you have become familiar with its features and functions.
Once the product is installed and has documented the applications in your environment, you will notice that Abstract makes the job of becoming acquainted with unfamiliar systems much easier. Reports and views are available that give you a broad, conceptual idea of how things work - or the details of specific data elements and program objects.
Through documentation about job stream flows, field usage, and object relationships, you will be able to trace exactly what happens, and where. You will also witness improved productivity in new development.
By providing a consistent source of information, Abstract reports will meet many requirements of your business process auditors. Whereas most manually produced documentation is incomplete when it is created and out of date shortly thereafter, Abstract makes it easy to maintain a complete library of information and keep it up to date as your applications mature.