Programming using the JEE Connector Architecture

How to program using the ECI and EPI resource adapters provided by the CICS® Transaction Gateway.

Overview of the JCA programming interface
JCA connects enterprise information systems such as CICS, to the JEE platform. JCA supports the qualities of service provided by a JEE application server (security credential management, connection pooling and transaction management).
The Common Client Interface
The Common Client Interface (CCI) of the JEE Connector Architecture provides a standard interface that allows developers to communicate with any number of Enterprise Information Systems (EISs) through their specific resource adapters, using a generic programming style.
Using the ECI resource adapter
A JEE developer can use the ECI resource adapter to access CICS programs, using COMMAREAs and channels, to pass information to and from the server.
Using the EPI resource adapter
With the CICS EPI resource adapter a JEE component can communicate with CICS transactions that use 3270 data streams for input and output.
Using the resource adapters in a nonmanaged environment
You can use the resource adapters in a nonmanaged environment.
Compiling applications
To enable Java™ applications to be compiled in a managed or nonmanaged environment, the relevant .jar details must be added to the class path.
Compiling and running JEE components
If you develop a JEE component that returns the EPI screen record parameter, the deployment tool you are using requires two Java archive (.jar) files.
Integration testing JEE components using an intercept plug-in
You can use integration test tools to intercept ECI synchronous and EPI calls from Java Enterprise Edition components. The Gateway intercept plug-in does not support ECI asynchronous requests. This feature allows such components to be tested without requiring a running CICS Transaction Gateway or CICS server.
Security credentials and the CICS resource adapters
Security Credentials for accessing CICS can come from three different places.
JEE tracing
In a nonmanaged environment where the default connection manager is used, the application can set the LogWriter property on the class to define where trace messages are sent.
Resource adapter samples
The resource adapter samples consist of ECI COMMAREA, channels and containers, and EPI samples.
Assistance in coding CCI applications
When coding CCI applications, refer to the Javadoc and the specification for the JEE Connector Architecture (JCA).

Parent topic: Developing applications