Data transformations with the IBM MQ service provider

You can use IBM® z/OS® Connect to transform JSON data to an arbitrary format before a z/OS asset, such as a CICS® transaction, is called. The response from the z/OS asset can also be transformed back into JSON.

Data transformation for COBOL and PL/I structures to and from JSON is performed by IBM z/OS Connect .

Configuring data transformations

Create IBM MQ service provider services with one of the following methods:
  1. Use the API toolkit. This is the preferred method. When using the API toolkit data transformation must be used. When a service is created with the API toolkit, it can later be built by the build toolkit. For more information, see Build a service archive with the build toolkit.
  2. Manually create a properties file that describes the service. The properties file is then used by the build toolkit to create the service. You can optionally configure data transformations on the service by setting the language and operationName properties with at least one of the requestStructure or responseStructure properties. You can optionally specify the ccsid property. For more information, see Creating an IBM MQ service by using a properties file.
  3. Configure the zosConnectService and mqService elements in server.xml. Data transformation is optionally provided by using the artifacts that are generated by the BAQLS2JS utility and configured on the service by the zosConnectDataXform element in server.xml. This method is supported only for compatibility with the IBM MQ service provider that was supplied with IBM MQ. If you use services that were created with this method, consider migrating them to use the API toolkit method.

For information about using data transformations with services that are generated by method 1 or 2, see Considerations for services using the API or build toolkits.

For information about using data transformations with services that are generated by method 3 see Considerations for services using the mqService element.