IBM Support

Rational Business Developer, Version 8.0.1.3 Release Information

Release Notes


Abstract

The release information for IBM Rational Business Developer, Version 8.0.1.3 contains information about new functions, pointers to important documentation, and a list of known problems.

Content

This release information includes the following content about Rational Business Developer, Version 8.0.1.3:

About this release

What's new in Rational Business Developer V8.0.1.3
Rational Business Developer version 8.0.1.3 includes the following enhancements:

EGL language and general processing

EGL now includes the following aspects:
  • The StrLib.lowerCaseChar and StrLib.upperCaseChar functions are available for all target systems. Those functions let you efficiently set CHAR-type values to lowercase or uppercase. The efficiency benefits are especially great for COBOL output and are in comparison to the StrLib.lowerCase and StrLib.upperCase functions, which handle strings.

    For additional details, see lowerCaseChar() and upperCaseChar().

  • For COBOL output (as was already true for Java), you can cause a program call to be implemented as if the main function in the called program were a function in an EGL library. The benefit is speed at run time.

    For details, see the entry for "Library" in linkType in callLink element.

  • When the "Library" value just mentioned is in effect, the initIORecordsOnCall and initNonIODataOnCall build descriptor options are now honored in the called program. Those build descriptor options affect initialization behavior, as described in initIORecordsOnCall and initNonIODataOnCall.

Relational database access

The fix pack introduces new features:
  • You can write exit code that runs as your application writes data to or retrieves data from a DB2 database. The purpose of each exit is to format or change the value of the CHAR-type values that correspond to Date, Time, and Timestamp columns.

    For details, see Writing exits for EGL access of DB2

  • Additional build descriptor options affect database access:
    • genFixedLengthSqlLike indicates whether a host value used in an SQL LIKE clause includes trailing blanks to conform to the fixed length of the value, if the value is of type CHAR, MBCHAR, or UNICODE. The option applies to COBOL and Java generation.

      For details, see genFixedLengthSqlLike.

    • preparedStatementCacheSize specifies how many prepared SQL statements to keep in the runtime cache when the cachePreparedStatements build descriptor option is set to YES. If you generate Java runtime properties, the value you specify is assigned to the vgj.jdbc.pstmt.cache.size property. The option applies to Java generation.

      For details, see preparedStatementCacheSize

    • sqlAccessColumnsAsBytes specifies whether column values from a DB2 database are copied directly as bytes into an SQL record rather than being used to construct Java objects. The option applies to Java generation.

      Setting the option to YES provides a performance enhancement, but only in a situation described here: sqlAccessColumnsAsBytes.

  • A program that runs in z/OS batch can now access DB2 in an RRSAF environment. For details, see Logical unit of work.
  • The fix pack documentation clarifies how nulls and empty strings are represented when you load data to or unload data from a relational database. For details, see loadTable() and unloadTable().

Rich UI

Rich UI has changes:
  • By default, the following Rich UI system projects are in use:
    • For EGL widgets that are not based on Dojo: com.ibm.egl.rui_4.0.1
    • For EGL Dojo widgets: com.ibm.egl.rui.dojo.widgets_2.1.0
    • For EGL Dojo samples: com.ibm.egl.rui.dojo.samples_2.0.0
    • For the local Dojo runtime access: com.ibm.egl.rui.dojo.runtime.local_1.6.1
    • For the Google Dojo runtime access: com.ibm.egl.rui.dojo.runtime.google_1.6.1
    • For the AOL Dojo runtime access: com.ibm.egl.rui.dojo.runtime.aol_1.6.0

    Either of the external providers of Dojo runtime code might issue an updated version. For details on accessing the new version, if any, see Accessing an updated remote Dojo Toolkit.

  • The DojoCalendar widget includes the isSelectorOpen function, which indicates whether the month selector is on display. Here is an open selector:
    A Dojo calendar with the month selector open

    For details, see DojoCalendar

  • The fix pack documentation states that the order in which a form manager invokes controller-specific functions is opposite to the order of the form fields in the entries array. This rule applies whether you are using a form manager or a validating form.

    For details, see Form processing with Rich UI.

Symbolic parameters for COBOL processing

You can set the following, new symbolic parameters when developing COBOL output:
  • ALLOWTEXTTONUMBERSPACES specifies whether a text field with no numbers defaults to 0 after the generated code calls the EZEPRC-NUMVALC routine.
  • BESTFITCALLLINKAGE specifies whether details about a program call are resolved by use of a best-fit algorithm.
  • IGNORERECORDINITIALIZE specifies whether to ignore the initialize property that is set on any Record parts.
  • INITIALIZEMAINPROGRAMS specifies whether a transfer back to a main program initializes the global variables in that program.
  • POINTERTABLESIZE specifies how many entries are allocated in a pointer table for program entries, both for the initial allocation and for any subsequent, as-needed allocation.
  • PREVENTEGLVARIABLEUSAGE specifies whether your code's access of a relational database always uses temporary variables rather than the variables that you assigned explicitly. Used only for z/OS.
  • PREVENTELAXABEND specifies whether to avoid issuing an ELAX abend during CICS processing. Used only for VSE and z/OS.
  • SETSSIMASK sets the mask for the SETSSI timestamp value, which is stored as documentation in the load module. Used only for z/OS.
  • UPPERCASEFILENAMES specifies whether to set to upper case the names of workstation files that are created during generation.
  • VAGMSGALIGNNONE specifies whether to set the VAGen_EZEMSG form field to align = none.

For details, see Predefined symbolic parameters that can be set by the user.

Performance enhancements

As mentioned earlier, the fix pack includes performance enhancements that go into effect after you specify a particular value:
In addition, the fix pack provides performance enhancements that go into effect when you regenerate your code:
  • Improved statement processing; in particular, for the MOVE statement and for database and serial file I/O.
  • Faster record initialization.
  • Faster access of library variables after their first use.
  • Increased the efficiency for LobLib.loadBlobFromFile.

Back to top


Fixed APARs in this release

APARs that are fixed in this release are in the Fix list document.

Back to top


Product documentation

For complete documentation, including installation instructions, review the Knoledge Center.

Note: Even if you read the documentation for Rational Business Developer in Japanese, you can learn about the changes for Version 8.0.1.3 by reading the latest English-language topics. To read the English-language topics, add the following string to any web address: 

        ?lang=en

For example, the material that is shown later asks you to go the following web page to see the new description of the DojoCalendar widget:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSMQ79_8.0.1.5/com.ibm.egl.dojowidgets.doc/topics/regl_dojo_widget_calendar.html

To go to the English web page, use the following address:
http:/publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/rbdhelp/v8r0m0/topic/com.ibm.egl.dojowidgets.doc/topics/regl_dojo_widget_calendar.html?lang=en

After you make that change, you will be accessing the documentation in English. To return to accessing the documentation in Japanese, use lang=ja for any web page. Here is an example:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSMQ79_8.0.1.5/com.ibm.egl.dojowidgets.doc/topics/regl_dojo_widget_calendar.html?lang=ja


Back to top


Software and hardware requirements

Review the detailed system requirements document at
Rational Business Developer 8.0.1.3 Detailed System Requirements

Back to top


Access the software

Access the Rational Business Developer 8.0.1.3 Download document.

Back to top


Installation information
To install the fix pack, use one of these options:
By default, you do not need to download the compressed files that contain the update. Installation Manager downloads and installs the update directly from the IBM update repository. If you download the update for local installations, see the download document.

Prerequisite requirements:
  • Rational Business Developer, Version 8.0.1 must be installed.
  • Rational Business Developer and all browsers and applications that it opens must be closed.

Installation Instructions:
Installing Rational Business Developer, Version 8.0.1.3 as an update
To install Rational Business Developer, Version 8.0.1.3 as an update:
  1. Start Installation Manager.
    If a new version of Installation Manager is found, you are prompted to install it before you can continue.
    To proceed, click OK. Installation Manager automatically installs the new version, stops, restarts, and resumes.

    Note: On Windows Vista, you must run Installation Manager as administrator. Right-click the program shortcut and click Run as administrator.

  2. On the Start page of Installation Manager, click Update Packages.

  3. In the Update packages wizard, select the package group name with the installation location for Rational Business Developer and click Next.
    Installation Manager searches for updates in the Rational Business Developer repository on the Web and in all of the repository locations that you specified. The search progress is displayed.

  4. On the Update Package page, the updates are displayed and selected. Select Version 8.0.1.3 for Rational Business Developer; then click Next.

  5. Read the license agreements for the update. On the left side of the License page, click each item to display the license agreement text. If you agree to the terms for all the license agreements, click I accept the terms of the license agreements; then click Next.

  6. Select the features to install; by default, features that are currently installed are selected. Click Next.

  7. Review the summary information, and click Update. The installation progress is displayed.

  8. When the update process is complete, a message that confirms the success of the process is displayed near the top of the page. To open the log file for the current session, click View log file.

    To continue, close the Installation Log window.

Back to top


Installing Rational Business Developer Version 8.0.1.3
To install Rational Business Developer, Version 8.0.1.3:
  1. Start the installation program.
  • If you use Installation Manager, start the program. If a new version is found, you are prompted to install it before you can continue. Click OK to proceed. Installation Manager automatically installs the new version, stops, restarts, and resumes.
  • If Installation Manager is not installed, on the first CD image file, click Install IBM Rational Business Developer.
    An installation wizard opens.
    To install the product, follow the instructions in the installation wizard. After the installation is complete, Installation Manager opens.


    • 1. Click Install.


    2. Select the installation package for Rational Business Developer and click Next.


    3. If you are installing another instance of this product version, install the package to a new package group. A message is displayed. In response to the message, click Continue, and then click Next.


    4. Read the license agreements. On the left side of the License page, click each item to display the license agreement text. If you agree to the terms for all the license agreements, click I accept the terms of the license agreements; then click Next.


    5. Specify the location to install the package and click Next.

    Optional: To extend your version of the Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE), select that option. If you do not want to extend your version of Eclipse IDE, accept the default. Click Next.


    6. Select the language to install and click Next.


    7. Select the features to install and click Next.


    8. Review the summary information and click Install. The installation progress is displayed.


    9. To activate your license for Rational Business Developer, on the Start page of Installation Manager, click Manage Licenses.

    By default, a 60-day trial license is enabled when you first install Rational Business Developer. To install your permanent license key and license agreement, import the product Activation Kit CD.

Back to top


Uninstalling the Fix pack

If you updated to Rational Business Developer 8.0.1.3 , you can revert to the previous version by using the rollback feature of Installation Manager. The rollback feature uninstalls the updated resources and reinstalls the resources from the previous version. You can roll back only one version level at a time.

When you roll back to an earlier version of a package, the package is restored with same features of that version. All features that you added after upgrading to Rational Business Developer 8.0.1.3 by using the Modify Packages wizard are removed, and all features that you removed are restored.

During the rollback process, Installation Manager accesses files from the earlier version of the package.
By default, these files are stored on your system when you install a package.
  • If you changed the default setting or deleted the files by using the Remove Stored Files option on the Roll Back preferences page (File > Preferences > Rollback Files), you must give Installation Manager access to your installation repository or media.
  • If you installed the product from a repository, the repository from which you installed the previous version must be listed in your Preferences (File > Preferences > Repositories).
  • If you installed the product from CDs or other media, that media must be installed when you use the rollback feature.

Before you roll back Rational Business Developer 8.0.1.3 :
  1. Log in with a user account that has the same privileges as the account that was used to install the packages.
  2. Close Rational Business Developer and all other applications that you installed by using Installation Manager.
  3. If any applications that were started by Rational Business Developer are open or running, such as a browser or other IBM application, close them.

To roll back an updated package:
  1. Start Installation Manager.

  2. On the Start page, click Roll Back Packages.

  3. In the Rollback wizard, from the Package Group Name list, select the package group that contains the packages to roll back and click Next.

  4. Select the version of the package to roll back to and click Next.

  5. Read the summary information and click Roll Back.

    For additional instructions to uninstall Rational Business Developer, see the Installation Guide or visit the Installation Manager Information Center that is applicable to your version installed.

Back to top


Known problems
Click the Support Portal tab below to find a list of known problems by filtering on the version 8.0.1.3.

Back to top


IBM Rational Software Support

Tab navigation

IBM Rational Software Support Communities

  • Support Portal: Click the Support Portal tab above to begin configuring your support portal experience to review FAQs, lists of known problems, fixes, and a wealth of important support information.
  • developerWorks: Click the developerWorks tab above to access an online collection of tutorials, sample code, standards, forums and other resources provided by experts at IBM to assist software developers using Rational tools including access to the IBM RFE Community.
  • Jazz Community: Click the Jazz Community tab above if you are using one of the Rational tools created using the Jazz platform to interact directly with the Jazz development teams and other community members, download product trials and betas and track development progress.

Helpful Hints For Obtaining Technical Assistance:

Before you contact IBM Rational Software Support, gather the background information that you need to describe the problem. When you describe a problem to an IBM software support specialist, be as specific as possible and include all relevant background information so that the specialist can help you solve the problem efficiently. To save time, know the answers to these questions:

  • What software versions were you running when the problem occurred?
  • Do you have logs, traces, or messages that are related to the problem?
  • Can you reproduce the problem? If so, what steps do you take to reproduce it?
  • Is there a workaround for the problem? If so, be prepared to describe the workaround.

If you have helpful information to diagnose or identify the problem on your system, you can provide this data by following the instructions to exchange information with IBM Technical Support.


Back to top

[{"Product":{"code":"SSMQ79","label":"Rational Business Developer"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Component":"Documentation","Platform":[{"code":"PF016","label":"Linux"},{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"8.0.1.3","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB35","label":"Mainframe SW"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
02 August 2018

UID

swg27023760

Page Feedback