2010 IIUG Informix

Informix Conference
4GL functions usage in the GUI
environment via web services

Srinivasan R Mottupalli Session: C07

Architect, IBM, ISL, India Tuesday, April 27, 2010: 08:00 – 09:00
2010 IIUG Informix Conference
Disclaimer

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Contents

ƒ Informix 4GL
ƒ Problem statement
ƒ Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
ƒ Prerequisites and Supported Platforms
ƒ Publish Web services
ƒ Consume Web services
ƒ Troubleshooting
ƒ Informix 4GL: Road Ahead
ƒ Demos
ƒ References

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Informix 4GL

ƒ Front-end for Informix database servers

ƒ Caters to development of database applications
ƒ Character-based user interface (CUI)
ƒ Rich environment of forms and reports
ƒ Easy to maintain
ƒ Cost and performance advantage over new generation languages
ƒ Extensively used by many Informix customers

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Problem Statement

• Lots and lots of application code including reports written in I4GL

– How to reuse the existing I4GL code and I4GL skill set?

• Character-based user interface (CUI)

– How do we make use of GUI yet doing things with I4GL?

• Solution: I4GL-SOA

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Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

ƒ Separate core business

functions
ƒ Maximal use of IT assets &
investments
ƒ Open communication
environment
ƒ On demand infrastructure
ƒ Connect processes online
ƒ Process automation
ƒ Better control over information
ƒ Reusability
ƒ Agile

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Before I4GL-SOA
• Interoperability between distributed system was very complex
• Tight coupling among interactive systems
• Migrating existing system to newer technology

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After I4GL-SOA
• Efficient, flexible and agile systems in place
• Interoperability between distributed system made easy
• Loose coupling among interactive systems
• Needless to migrate existing system to newer technology

“A collection of loosely-coupled, distributed services which communicate

and interoperate via agreed standards.”

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I4GL-SOA – Rationale
• Ease of deployment of I4GL functions as web services
• Easy integration of I4GL with web based applications
• Reuse the existing I4GL functions in web based solutions
• Consuming I4GL services from within I4GL
• Consuming third party services from within I4GL
• Ease of maintenance
• More business opportunity for your existing I4GL code

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Benefit to Customers

• Reuse algorithms and business logic

- Internet
- Another partner/company location
• Think process and not screens or forms
• Seamless operation across multiple programming languages and
platforms
• Efficient collaboration across departments
• Create “Dictionary” of available functionality/expertise
• Save precious dollars in time and effort

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I4GL-SOA Architecture

Web Service

Publish Consume

Publisher Subscriber

Apache AXIS2C Web Server

IBM Informix 4GL

IDS
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Prerequisites and Supported Platforms
ƒ Prerequisites
– Apache Axis2/C Version 1.5.1 (bundled with I4GL)
– Apache Axis2/Java Version 1.3.1 (bundled with I4GL)
– IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 10 or later
– IBM Informix 4GL 7.50.xC4
– Java™ Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.5 or later
– Perl 5.8.8

ƒ Supported Platforms
– HP-IA 11.23 or 11.31
– AIX 5.3 and 6.1
– Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 or 5
– Solaris 5.9 or 5.10
– SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server 10

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Role of w4gl and w4glc

FUNCTION visa_valid(cc_number, cc_exp, cc_cvp)

w4gl DEFINE vis_rec RECORD LIKE visa_validation.* , w4glc

cc_number Configuration
CHAR(16), File (.4cf)
(User Interface) cc_exp CHAR(5), (Perl script)
cc_cvp CHAR(3),
sel_stmt CHAR(512);

LET sel_stmt = "SELECT * FROM visa_validation

WHERE cc_number = ?
AND cc_exp = ? AND cc_cvp = ?";

Web-service definitions PREPARE st_id FROM sel_stmt;

DECLARE cur_id CURSOR FOR st_id;
Publisher / Subscriber

OPEN cur_id USING cc_number, cc_exp, cc_cvp;

FETCH cur_id INTO vis_rec.*;
4GL CLOSE cur_id;
source FREE cur_id;
FREE st_id;
code IDS
RETURN vis_rec.cc_name, vis_rec.cc_balance, vis_rec.cc_limit

END FUNCTION
Publish Subscribe
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W4GL

A different database can be chosen using an

environment variable PROGRAM_DESIGN_DBS

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W4GL facilitates
ƒ Create a web service entry
ƒ Manage a web service entry
ƒ Generates configuration for publisher and subscriber
ƒ Deploys/Publish a web service
ƒ Package a deployed web service
ƒ Parse WSDL – Source can be URL and file
ƒ Generates code for consumer/subscriber
ƒ Trouble shooting
ƒ Persistent web service entries for regeneration

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Schema Design

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Publish / Subscribe – Work flow

•I4GL function
Publisher

•Service name App I4GL

Runtime IDS
•I/O arguments Server
•4GL files

Other web
IDS Non-I4GL services
consumer

•WSDL
Subscriber

I4GL
•Operation name
•I4GL function
Object file + I4GL
consumer
•Target Directory

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MACH 11 topology

Client Apps
Connection Manager
(workload balancing and failover arbitration)
Client Apps

HDRTraffic

IDSAdmin
HDRSecondary
Primary
SDS

Shared
Blade Server A Disk Shared Blade Server B
City-A RSSTraffic Disk
City-B
DBA
IDSAdmin

SDS Shared
Disk RSS
Mirror
SDS

Blade Server D
City-A
Shared Blade Server C
Disk City-D
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I4GL-SOA and MACH11

Connection
Manager
•I4GL function
Publisher

•Service name App I4GL

Runtime IDS
•I/O arguments Server
•4GL files

Connection Other web

Manager
IDS Non-I4GL services
consumer

•WSDL
Subscriber

I4GL
•Operation name
•I4GL function
Object file + I4GL
consumer
•Target Directory

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Publishing / Deploying Process overview

FUNCTION visa_valid(cc_number, cc_exp, cc_cvp)

w4gl Configuration
w4glc
DEFINE vis_rec RECORD LIKE visa_validation.* , File (.4cf)
(User Interface)
cc_number CHAR(16), (Backend script)
cc_exp CHAR(5),
cc_cvp CHAR(3),
sel_stmt CHAR(512);

LET sel_stmt = "SELECT * FROM visa_validation

Informix 4GL
WHERE cc_number = ? function
AND cc_exp = ? AND cc_cvp = ?";
I4GL function
PREPARE st_id FROM sel_stmt;
ServiceDECLARE
name cur_id CURSOR FOR st_id; Compile and generate
I/O arguments Shared object
OPEN cur_id USING cc_number, cc_exp, cc_cvp;
4GL files
FETCH cur_id INTO vis_rec.*;
CLOSE cur_id;
FREE cur_id;
FREE st_id;
Deploy
Publish IDS
RETURN vis_rec.cc_name, vis_rec.cc_balance, vis_rec.cc_limit

END FUNCTION
App Server

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Defining a Web Service for Publishing
• Basic environment description
– Hostname
– Application server
– Database
• Web Service
– Service name, function name
– Input and Output parameters
– Existing I4GL source code
– Generate and build

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Define: Publishing

• Adding a Web Service Name of the

web-service
that is exposed

I4GL function
that provides a
service

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Define: Publishing
• Input and output arguments

Input / Output
arguments to /
from the function

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Define: Publishing
• Entering 4GL file details

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Generate configuration for Publishing
• Generating configuration file

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Generated configuration file

….
TYPE = publisher
….

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Deploying a web service
• Needs a configuration file

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Deploying a web service

• Input is the configuration file

• Compiles supplied files
• Generates a Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) file
• Generates Axis2/C interface files
• Generates the shared object
• Copies the files to the location which application server uses

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Subscribing / Consuming Process overview

MAIN
CALL call_web_service_client()
w4gl MAIN
END
Configuration File (.4cf)
w4glc
(User Interface)
FUNCTION call_web_service_client() (Backend script)
DEFINE name VARCHAR(40),
address VARCHAR(200),
...
transaction_date DATE,
description VARCHAR(250),
value INTEGER
...
OPEN FORM f_credit FROM "svc_client"
Generate and Compile
DISPLAY FORM f_credit Intermediate code
INPUT card_number, cvv_number, expiry_date
Web service FROM s_card.card_number, s_card.cvv_number, s_card.expiry_date

details CALL i4gl_cc_details(card_number, expiry_date, cvv_number) Informix 4GL

RETURNING name, address, city, state, zipcode, phone, email, source
card_number, creditLimit, cardType,
transaction_date, description, value
code

DISPLAY name TO s_card.name

DISPLAY address TO s_card.address
Subscribe ... IDS
...
DISPLAY description TO s_card.description
DISPLAY value TO s_card.value Executable using web service
END FUNCTION
functionality

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Consuming a web service
• Generates consumption code

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Consuming a web service
• Generates consumption code

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Consuming a web service

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Consuming a web service

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Generated Configuration File

….
Data extracted from
TYPE = subscriber
WSDL
….

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Steps to consume
• Compile option generates
– Configuration file
– Object file

• User application links this object file to create executable

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Reports
• Reports can also be generated from web-service
• Reports function can be deployed similar to other functions
• New type for file WS_FILENAME introduced in w4gl UI and config
file
• Generated report
– Received at the client side
– Stored at the client side in the target directory
– Known file extensions are honored

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[SERVICE]
Report function
TYPE =as web-service
subscriber
I4GLVERSION = 7.50.xC4
WSHOME = /home/informix/4GL/AXIS2C
• Similar to deploying other services
TARGET_DIR = /home/informix/IIUG_demo/i4gl-report/
I4GL_FUNCTION = client_report

• TARGET_FILE = client_report.c
Similar to consuming other services
[WSDL_INFO]
New Type
WSDL_PATH = /home/informix/IIUG_demo/i4gl-report//local.wsdl WS_FILENAME
WSDL_NAME_SPACE = http://www.ibm.com/genreport_cc_details
[FUNCTION]
SERVICENAME = ws_gen_report
NAME = genreport_cc_details
[INPUT]
[VARIABLE] NAME = card_number TYPE = varchar(19) [END-VARIABLE]
[VARIABLE] NAME = expiry_date TYPE = varchar(5) [END-VARIABLE]
[VARIABLE] NAME = cvv_number TYPE = varchar(3) [END-VARIABLE]
[END-INPUT]
[OUTPUT]
[VARIABLE] NAME = stmt_report TYPE = ws_filename [END-VARIABLE]
[END-OUTPUT]
[END-FUNCTION]
[END-WSDL_INFO]
[END-SERVICE]

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REPORT cust_list (r_customer, r_trans)FUNCTION genreport_cc_details(lcard_number, lexpiry_date, lcvv_number)
Report function as web-service
DEFINE r_customer RECORD LIKE credit_customer.*
DEFINE lcard_number VARCHAR(19),
DEFINE r_trans RECORD LIKE card_transaction.*
lexpiry_date VARCHAR(5),
FUNCTION call_web_service_client()
lcvv_number VARCHAR(3),
• Similar to consuming other services
OUTPUT
p_qrystmt VARCHAR(255),
TOP MARGIN 0 DEFINE file VARCHAR(255),
BOTTOM MARGIN 0 file VARCHAR(255)
cc_num VARCHAR(19),
PAGE LENGTH 25 DEFINE p_customer RECORD LIKE credit_customer.*,
exp_date VARCHAR(5),
p_trans RECORD LIKE card_transaction.*
cvv_num VARCHAR(3)
FORMAT
DEFINE l_ans CHAR(1),
ON EVERY ROW LET p_qrystmt = "SELECT * FROM card_transaction \
p_msg CHAR(50)
PRINT "STATEMENT FOR CREDIT CARD " || r_customer.card_number WHERE customerid = ?";
PRINT "---------------------------------------------" LET file = "cust_listing.html"
PRINT "To" OPEN FORM f_input FROM "client"
START REPORT cust_list TO OUTPUT "FILE" DESTINATION file
PRINT " " DISPLAY FORM f_input
DECLARE q_curs CURSOR FOR
PRINT " " || r_customer.name INPUT cc_num, cvv_num, exp_date FROM
SELECT * FROM credit_customer
PRINT " " || r_customer.address s_card.card_number, s_card.cvv_number,
WHERE card_number = lcard_number
PRINT " " || r_customer.city || ", " || r_customer.state || ", " || s_card.expiry_date
r_customer.zipcode AND expiry_date = lexpiry_date
PRINT " " AND cvv_number = lcvv_number
CALL client_report(cc_num, exp_date, cvv_num)
PRINT "Ph: " || r_customer.phone PREPARE stmt_1 FROM p_qrystmt
RETURNING file
PRINT "Email: " || r_customer.email DECLARE q_trans CURSOR FOR stmt_1
PRINT " "
DISPLAY cc_num TO s_card.card_number
PRINT " " FOREACH q_curs INTO p_customer.*
DISPLAY cvv_num TO s_card.cvv_number
PRINT "Credit Limit : " || r_customer.creditLimit OPEN q_trans USING p_customer.customerid
PRINT " " DISPLAY exp_date TO s_card.expiry_date
FETCH q_trans INTO p_trans.*
PRINT "Transaction Details" DISPLAY file TO s_card.rep_file
OUTPUT TO REPORT cust_list(p_customer.*, p_trans.*)
PRINT "-------------------" CLOSE q_trans
PRINT r_trans.transaction_Date || " " || END FUNCTION
END FOREACH
r_trans.description || " " ||
r_trans.value
FINISH REPORT cust_list
PRINT " "
PRINT " " RETURN file
END REPORT END FUNCTION

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Trouble Shooting

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Command Line Utility (W4GLC)
• For Advanced users
• Manually create a configuration file
• Data in configuration file not stored in database

W4GLC {-OPTION} <configuration-file>

OPTION DESCRIPTION

silent Generates code without on-screen display

keep Retain intermediate source files for troubleshooting

force Overwrite existing service with identical name

generate Generate intermediate code for publish/subscribe

compile Compile generated intermediate code

deploy Deploy web service on the AXIS2C server

package Bundling a web service for production deployment

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W4GL – A glance
• Management of web-service details
• Persistent data for easy regeneration of configurations
• Flexible design to deploy a service remotely
• Easy administration
• Written in I4GL
• Ease of use for I4GL users
• Automation using WSDL parser
• Validation using data type parser
• Remote error propagation

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Demos

• Publishing an I4GL web service

• Consuming an I4GL web service using an non-I4GL subscriber

• Consuming an I4GL web service using an I4GL subscriber

• Generating and consuming reports

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Informix 4GL: Road Ahead
I4GL Interim
Releases
4GL 7.x 2012 and beyond
(I4GL ƒ Form enhancements
Modernization) ƒ System curses
ƒ Improved color
ƒ Form enhancements
4GL 7.x ƒ Box
ƒ Horizontal Scrolling
(I4GL ƒ Multi-line fields in screen arrays
ƒ Form and field status
4GL 7.x Embeddability) ƒ Variable size forms
ƒ List support ƒ Enhanced Sub-table handling
(SOA enablement) ƒ Library support
ƒ Report enhancements ƒ Mac OS
ƒ SOA enablement ƒ I4GL non-interactive part as
library ƒ XML output ƒ Native Library
9Reports via web services
ƒ Function signature ƒ Dynamic load of shared ƒ Enhanced Language ƒ Enhance Language support
detection (I4GL parser) library by p-code runner support ƒ New SQL syntax from IDS
9 Enhanced Error handling ƒ Certification of non-interactive ƒ New I4GL syntax ƒ SOA Enablement
I4GL-LIB for web
9 RECORD type ƒ Client Required Priority ƒ WAS support
languages/tools.
9 AIX port of SOA Defect Fixes
ƒ Report enhancements
ƒ Mac OS basic port
9 WSDL parser ƒ PDF support
ƒ Evaluation copy
9 Enhance Language support ƒ I4gl in IDS
9File I/O support ƒ P-code, C-code, ISQL & ID

9 Client Required Priority ƒ Client Required Priority

Defect Fixes Defect Fixes

Q2 2010 Q4 2010 Q2 2011

Disclaimer: The information on the new product is intended to outline our general product direction and it should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. The information on the new product is for informational purposes only and may not be incorporated
into any contract. The information on the new product is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for our products remains at our sole
discretion.

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2010 IIUG Informix Conference
Summary
• Tools w4gl and w4glc
• I4GL-SOA can
– publish functions to web services
– subscribe functions from other web services
• Reuse of existing code and skill set
• I4GL code can be used in GUI
• Opens new business opportunities
• Aggressive enhancements to I4GL
• New investments to I4GL

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References

• IBM Informix 4GL v 7.50.xC4 documents available at : TBD

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27013652

• IBM Informix 4GL v 7.50.xC4, xC3: Release notes, documentation notes and
machine notes is available at
TBD
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=pub1gi11910302

• Developer works on “Deploying 4GL functions as web-services” at

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/library/techarticle/dm-0902mottupalli/

• Developer works on “Consume Web services using Informix 4GL” at

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/library/techarticle/dm-
0910i4glwebservices/index.html

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Questions
!!!

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Signup to participate in user feedback sessions for IDS
Session opportunities include:

‰ Hands on experience test driving the latest Schema and

Storage Manager UIs for the OpenAdmin Tool

‰ A sneak peak and feedback on the new IDS Installation and

Configuration Tooling/UI: A group walkthrough discussion with the
IDS Dev team

‰ A sneak peak and feedback on the new IDS Deployment

Tooling/UI: A group walkthrough discussion with the IDS Dev team

‰ Your opportunity to give your input on useful sources and

resources for solving problems encountered while using IDS:
An examination of current and future resources followed by a
group exercise to provide your preferences

‰ How Optim may be used for problem determination and

resolution with IDS A walkthrough and group discussion

Look for posters and47 sign-up sheets

2010 IIUG Informix Conference

Informix 4GL functions usage in the GUI

environment via web-services

Thank you !!!

Srinivasan R Mottupalli

mrsrinivas@in.ibm.com

Session: C07

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