Running IBM i Access Client Solutions with a custom Java on macOS

Steps

This process can be done with any java vendor that has a tar.gz package for macOS. For this example , we are going to use Amazon Corretto 17. 

Here is a link for some open source java vendors: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/java-options-ibm-i-access-client-solutions

1- Go to Amazon Corretto download page select the version you want to use and download a portable Java runtime for macOS. ( tar.gz package, not the .pkg installer). 

https://aws.amazon.com/corretto/

2- Extract the archive to a local directory, and rename it to make it easier. 

• On this example, amazon-corretto-17.jdk has been renamed to amazon17
• After extraction and renaming it, verify the Java executable exists at:
• /usr/local/ibmiaccess/amazon17/Contents/Home/bin/java

3- Locate where ACS is installed on Mac. 

• By default it should be in /usr/local/ibmiaccess/ 

4- Navigate to this path by clicking on Go (on top) while on desktop and select Go to Folder... option and type /usr/local/ibmiaccess/

5- Copy the renamed (amazon17) file here

6- Go to Applications and open Automator app. 

7- When prompted, select Application as the document type and click Choose.

8- In the Automator library, search for Run Shell Script.

• Drag Run Shell Script into the workflow area.

• Configure the action as follows:

  • Shell: /bin/bash

  • Pass input: to stdin

  • In the script area, enter the following command:
  • exec /usr/local/ibmiaccess/amazon17/Contents/Home/bin/java -jar /usr/local/ibmiaccess/acsbundle.jar

9- To save this work , Select File -> Save and select Where you want to save this such as Applications or Desktop.

Specify a name, for example: Amazon w Corretto 17 and click Save

10- The resulting file is a standard macOS application bundle that can be double clicked and added to the Dock. 

(Optional) Steps to change the Icon of this ACS w Corretto 17.app file: 

1- Open the downloaded and extracted ACS folder (IBMiAccess_v1r1) and go to Icons folder

2- Right click on ACS w Corretto 17 app -> Get Info

3- Grab and Drag the logo128_mac.png onto the little Automator icon on the left top corner on that Get Info panel