Calling Natural from Integration Server

Scenario: I have a Natural server subprogram and want to call this from the Integration Server.

This scenario uses the tools IDL Extractor for Natural and Integration Server Wrapper of the Designer.

IS calls a Natural server subprogram

This document covers the tasks you complete to call a Natural client from Integration Server.

Introduction

To call a Natural server subprogram from Integration Server, take an existing Natural server and generate the integration logic to call it from the IS platform.

To call Natural from Integration Server:

  1. Extract the interface of a Natural server. See Using the IDL Extractor for Natural.
  2. Generate Integration Server adapter service and adapter connections. See Introduction to the Integration Server Wrapper.
  3. Execute call from Integration Server service to Natural server.

This scenario makes the following important assumptions:

For Task 1:

  • You have a working Natural subprogram, also known as a CALLNAT program.
  • You have access to the sources of this Natural subprogram. These must be stored either
    • locally, that is, on the same machine where NaturalONE is running
      Natural server running locally
    • or remotely and accessed via the Natural RPC Server, and either EntireX Broker or Integration Server.
      Communicating with a Natural server on a remote machine via a NaturalONE server.

      Instead of NaturalONE, you can also use the Designer.

      Communicating with a Natural server on a remote machine via Designer.

For Tasks 2 and 3: You can call the Natural server subprogram at runtime using different methods.

  • For the EntireX RPC connection method you need
    • EntireX Broker on one of the supported platforms: z/OS | Linux | Windows
    • the Natural RPC Server 
  • For the EntireX Direct RPC connection method you need: the Natural RPC Server.

    See your Natural documentation for setting up the Natural RPC Server.

What do I need to Install for this Scenario?

  • You have IBM® webMethods Designer installed with EntireX plugins and Service Development plugins.
    • For EntireX plugins, see Designer > EntireX Designer under EntireX Installation Packages in the General Installation documentation.
    • For Service Development plugins, refer to the Integration Server documentation.
  • You have an Integration Server with EntireX Adapter installed. See Adapters > EntireX Adapter under EntireX Installation Packages in the General Installation documentation.
  • You have a Natural RPC Server installed. See your Natural documentation for information on setting up a Natural RPC Server.
  • Optionally, for remote extraction (Task 1) or RPC Connection method (Task 2 and 3), you have an EntireX Broker installed.
    • For Linux and Windows, see EntireX Broker under EntireX Installation Packages in the General Installation documentation.
    • For z/OS, see Installing EntireX Broker under z/OS in the z/OS Installation documentation.

Task1 Extract the Interface of a Natural Server

Follow the instructions for extracting Natural under Using the IDL Extractor for Natural:

This process creates the following EntireX metafiles:

  • IDL file. An IDL file contains definitions of the interface between client and server. See IDL File in the IDL Editor documentation.
  • Server mapping file (optional). The mapping file is a Designer file with extension .cvm that contains Natural-specific mapping information. See Server Mapping Files for Natural in the Designer documentation.

Sample Natural Server used in the Examples

The following Natural server is used to illustrate the features of the IDL Extractor for Natural.

Imagine an existing Natural server called EMPLOYEE. It implements the access logic for a LIST and DETAILS function to a database view EMPLOYEE. Its parameter data area is shown in the following:


DEFINE DATA PARAMETER
1 OPERATION        (A1)    /* 'L' => List; 'D' => Details
1 ID               (A10)   /* Input
1 EMPLOYEE                 /* Output
  2 FIRSTNAME      (A20)   /* First name
  2 SURNAME        (A20)   /* Surname
  2 DATE-BIRTH     (D)     /* Date of birth
  2 DETAILS        (A100)
  2 REDEFINE DETAILS
    3 ANNUAL-SALARY(P9)    /* Annual salary
    3 VACATION     (N2)    /* Vacation days per year
    3 LANGUAGE     (A3)    /* Language
1 EMPLOYEES        (1:*)   /* Out
  2 IDENT          (A10)   /* Identification number
  2 FIRSTNAME      (A20)   /* First name
  2 SURNAME        (A20)   /* Surname
  2 DATE-BIRTH     (D)     /* Date of birth
END-DEFINE

Two approaches for extracting the Natural server are following described:

  • Fast-track - Learn how EntireX helps you to connect the Natural Server with quick results, even without specific Natural knowledge. See Extracting a Natural Server - Fast-track Method .
  • User-defined Mapping - With a user-defined mapping, you can shape the interface to your Natural server. You can minimize the interface by suppressing Natural server fields or by providing constant values. Renaming interfaces allows you to specify a readable long name. These two features together - constants and renaming of interfaces - are most powerful when multiple interfaces are implemented in a single Natural server. Each function of the Natural server triggered by an operation code or function code can be modelled as a separate IS service. See Extracting a Natural Server - Modern Method with User-defined Mapping .

Extracting a Natural Server - Fast-track Method

To extract the Natural server

  1. Switch to the EntireX perspective.
  2. Invoke the IDL Extractor for Natural.
  3. Select the Natural server subprogram, in this example EMPLOYEE, and press Finish.
    List of the Natural subprograms in the EMPLAPPL library.

    The default extraction settings ensure you get useful results. The outcome is a IDL file (interface definition language), a Designer file with extension .idl:

    An example of the syntax and data in an IDL file

    By default, the interface name EMPLOYEE is taken from the Natural server subprogram name.

Extracting a Natural Server - Modern Method with User-defined Mapping

EntireX allows you to extract all implemented interfaces of the Natural server separately. Instead of a large EMPLOYEE interface, separate interfaces getListOfEmployees and getDetailsOfEmployee are extracted. Each interface contains required parameters; obsolete parameters for an interface are suppressed, improving its usability.

To extract a Natural server with a user-defined mapping

  1. Call the IDL Extractor for Natural, select the Natural server EMPLOYEE, check Redesign the interfaces and press Next.
    List of natural subprograms in the EMPLAPPL library
  2. Model the extracted interface to suit your needs by creating a function getListOfEmployees.
    1. Mark the parameter OPERATION in the Natural Subprogram Source view or the Natural Parameters pane
    2. Set Constant 'L' for the parameter OPERATION.

    In the Natural Parameters pane, constant [L] is shown in brackets after the Natural parameter. OPERATION is removed from the IDL Parameters pane.

    At runtime, EntireX passes L as the value for the OPERATION parameter. This forces the EMPLOYEE LIST function to be executed.

    Passing the constant value to the OPERATION parameter at runtime
  3. Suppress the Natural group EMPLOYEE, which is unused in the LIST function. This removes the IDL group EMPLOYEE from the IDL Parameters pane. The Natural parameter EMPLOYEE remains. Parameters that are suppressed in the IDL Parameters pane are displayed in italic font in the Natural Parameters pane.
    Suppressing a parameter in the IDL file

    Parameters set to constant are also displayed in italic font, because Set Constant suppresses them in the IDL Parameters pane too (see Step 2).

  4. Also suppress Natural parameter ID, similar to what you did for Natural group EMPLOYEE in the previous step.
  5. Specify a readable name getListOfEmployees for the IDL Parameters, using the toolbar button edit. The new name appears on the tab.
    Renaming the subprogram
  6. Create a getDetailsOfEmployees function for the DETAILS operation. A new interface is needed for this. Use the toolbar button add and open a new tab. The IDL parameters are reset to defaults. The previously extracted getListOfEmployees interface still exists in the first tab. Once you reactivate the first tab, you will see the interface of getListOfEmployees again.
    Creating a function for the DETAILS operation.
  7. Specify a readable name getDetailsOfEmployee for the IDL Parameters, using the toolbar button edit. The name is displayed on the tab.
    Renaming the function
  8. Set constant 'D' for Natural parameter OPERATION to execute the EMPLOYEE DETAILS operation at runtime. The IDL parameter OPERATION is removed from the IDL Parameters pane and displayed in the Natural Parameters pane. The italic font indicates suppression.
    Setting a constant value for a Natural parameter
  9. Suppress the Natural X-array EMPLOYEES, which is not needed in the DETAILS interface. The IDL parameter EMPLOYEES is removed from the IDL Parameters pane and displayed in italic font in the Natural Parameters pane.
    Suppressing the Natural X-array EMPLOYEES parameter
  10. By default, the Natural parameter DETAILS is mapped. In this case, the redefinition of DETAILS in the Natural Subprogram Source pane contains information of more value.
    Mapping of the DETAILS parameter
  11. You can map the redefinition of DETAILS in the Natural Subprogram pane if you prefer to use this rather than the DETAILS parameter. Select REDEFINE DETAILS in the Natural Subprogram pane and press Map to Out. The IDL parameter DETAILS is turned into a group containing parameters that match the Natural redefinition.
    Mapping the DETAILS parameter in the Natural Subprogram pane
  12. Press Finish to retrieve the extraction result in the form of an IDL file. At the same time, a Server Mapping Files for Natural (Designer file with extension .cvm) is created. The IDL File describes the interfaces, while the server mapping file contains the mapping to the real Natural server. Both of these files must be kept together and in sync, otherwise a call to the Natural server may fail.
    Example of an IDL and CVM files in the Designer tree

    To summarize: We created two IDL interfaces. In the IDL file, these resulted in two IDL programs: getListOfEmployees and getDetailsOfEmployee. Both IDL programs were given readable names (Steps 4 and 6). Meaningful fields were kept, while superfluous fields were suppressed (Steps 3 and 8). The program getDetailsOfEmployee contains the redefined fields of parameter DETAILS mapped during extraction (step 9).

    At runtime the RPC client generated with the extracted interface will send data for the redesigned interfaces, while your Natural server still expects EMPLOYEE data. The EntireX runtime transforms the incoming data stream from the RPC client, using the server mapping file.

    Example of a server mapping file

Comparison Chart: Fast-track versus User-defined Mapping

The following table highlights the differences when shaping an interface with a user-defined mapping compared with afast-path extraction.

Item Interface Shaping with User-defined Mapping Fast-path Extraction
General User-defined interface with dedicated mapping. For our example, the interfaces are small and tidy and more self-explanatory with long, readable interface names. They are easier to use with the hidden OPERATION field and the suppressed Natural fields, which are not needed. Automatic, quick result extraction with Natural-like interfaces on IS. For our example, the IS interface EMPLOYEE matches exactly 1:1, field by field.
IS service(s) Multiple small and handy IS services; each OPERATION code is mapped to a separate IS service. One big IS service.
IS service name Readable long name. Short Subprogram name; up to 8 characters.
IS fields Usage of Suppress and Set Constant reduces the message length. This keeps focus on relevant data itmes and keeps the client's interface clean. It may also improve performance. The IS fields and Natural server subprogram parameters match 1:1. As Natural layout descriptions are sometimes used for many different purposes, irrelevant data items appear and clutter up the IS interface.
OPERATIONparameter Suppressed: the OPERATION parameter does not exist in the IS service as an IS field. The OPERATION parameter exists in the IS service as an IS field and needs to be filled in by the client endpoint.
OPERATION code The OPERATION code is provided internally by EntireX runtime in the OPERATION field. The OPERATION code needs to be specified in the IS service in the OPERATION field by the client endpoint.
REDEFINE parameters Either the parameter that is redefined or one of its redefinitions is available as an IS field. Only the parameter that is redefined is available as an IS field. Redefinitions of the parameter are not available as IS fields.

A user-defined mapping enables you also to define alternative mappings for Natural parameters (REDEFINEs, etc.). These enable scenarios with Natural servers where data exchange is not fully described by the PDA of the Natural subprogram. For more information refer to the User-defined mapping documentation.

Testing the Extraction Results

The following pictures use the extraction results described under Extracting a Natural Server - Modern Method with User-defined Mapping.

To test the extraction results (optional)

  1. You can test the results of the extraction operation and the Integration Server server back end, using the EntireX IDL Tester. From the context menu of the IDL file in the Designer, choose EntireX IDL Tester.
    Select the IDL program to run.
  2. Select getDetailsOfEmployee.
    Specify the server connection details and the Broker user credentials

    Note that the broker and server parameters contain the explicit route to call the server program, and you can optionally ping the connection from this client. With the File > Options dialog, check Natural Logon. If required set:

    • User and Password for broker authentication

    • RPC User ID and RPC Password for server authentication

    See EntireX IDL Tester in the Designer documentation.

  3. Check the Integration Server log, the EntireX Adapter log or the RPC logs. Applies to all connection methods.

Task2 Generate the Connection and Adapter Services in Integration Server

This document describes your first steps to create a new Integration Server connection. This is described in more detail under Using the Integration Server Wrapper, for example working with existing Integration Server connections.

Step1 Start the Integration Server Wrapper Wizard

To start the Integration Server Wrapper wizard

  1. In the context menu of an IDL file, choose Integration Server > Generate webMethods IS Connection.
    Note:

    This starts the wizard with a list of existing Integration Server Wrapper connections. If the selected IDL file is not valid because of a syntax error, an error dialog comes up and the wizard does not start.

  2. Continue with Step 2: Create a New Integration Server Connection.

Step2 Create a New Integration Server Connection

Specify the host, port, and user credentials for Integration Server.

To create a new Integration Server connection

  1. Define the new Integration Server connection on the wizard page.

    Notes: 

    1. The only required field is Server. Enter the hostname of the Integration Server including an optional port number. If no port number is specified, port number defaults to 5555. The Integration Server Authentication can be passed with the User and Password fields.
    2. Optional settings are for secure connections. The Truststore for HTTPS contains all signed certificates and must be a valid truststore.
    3. The check box Verify host name checks that the hostname is entered in the stored certificate.
    4. When the Integration Server has Client Authentication enabled, you can specify your Keystore file and keystore Password.
    5. For managing Integration Server connections, see Integration Server Preferences in the Integration Server Wrapper documentation.
  2. Choose Next and continue with Step 3: Select the Connection Type.

Step3 Select the Connection Type

Select EntireX RPC in the connection type field.

To create a new connection

  1. Select a connection type from the drop down list. Connection types are described under EntireX Adapter Connections in the EntireX Adapter documentation and Introduction to the Integration Server Wrapper.
    Note: The list of connection types is filtered: Reliable RPC connections are only shown if all IDL programs contain only IN parameters. Also, if a server mapping file is available, only those connection types that support the interface type specified in the server mapping file are shown.
  2. Check the box Create or Update REST resource.
  3. Click Next and continue with Step 4.

Step4 Define Adapter Services for an RPC Connection

To create a connection and related adapter services

  1. Select a package for the created objects.
  2. Define a folder name. If the folder does not exist, it will be created.
  3. Define a connection name.
  4. Define the parameters of the connection type. For details, see Connection parameters for RPC connections in the EntireX Adapter documentation.

    As a result, the folder will contain the connection and the adapter services (one for each IDL program). The name of a service is the same as the respective IDL program.

The default settings for the adapter services are:

  • the Default package; if not available, the first package
  • the IDL library name for the Folder Name
  • the IDL library name with the suffix Connection for the Connection Name
Note:

When creating a connection, a package dependency is added such that the selected package depends on IBM EntireX (the package WmEntireX) with the version currently used.

Task3 Execute the Call from Integration Server to Natural

From the Service Development perspective, refresh the package where the connection service was written, select the adapter service and use the service test to Run Service. This invokes the adapter service through the connector service.

The following screenshots use the extraction results described in Extracting a Natural Server - Modern Method with User-defined Mapping .

We no longer have to specify operation codes to run the services. On output of the getDetailsOfEmployee service (see second screen in this following section), the redefinition of the DETAILS group is directly available.

Run the getListOfEmployees service.

You can use the generated EntireX adapter service like any other IS service - there is no difference. As the Integration Server developer, you do not require any Natural-specific knowledge on PDAs, LDAs, subprograms, DDMs, CALLNATs, FUSER, FNAT, packed and unpacked formats, X-arrays, etc. EntireX takes care of mapping Natural-specific data types automatically to suitable Integration Server data types. For example, the Natural X-array EMPLOYEES (1:*) is mapped to Integration Server document list of getDetailsOfEmployee service.

In case of error or unexpected results: