TriMin Focus Group

March 4th, 2010

Enterprise Integrator

Tips and Techniques!

Data Generation Programs, Logical Transactions, and Program Actions

By Kevin Gerard
Kevin.gerard@triminmfg.com

Objectives
Go over some Tips and Techniques around Enterprise Integrator (E/I) in a variety of areas. Combination of Power Point and Live Demos Review some nice utilities created to demonstrate techniques but also provide some free take-away software! Please ask questions and feel free to make comments! This should be interactive please! These tips are in the area of Data Generation, Logical Transactions, and Custom Actions.

DATA GENERATION PROGRAM

Data Generation Program The Challenge

I need to create a file first before displaying data Program can be an RPG program, CL, or Query as some examples Common to leverage existing legacy solutions to display complex information within Power Link For developers, almost like using a sub-file technique.

Data Generation Program - Applications

Typical Applications:
Custom time-phased inventory availability (MRP type item availability) Inventory summarization or valuation routines Dashboard/KPI Solutions (again where you need to summarize data before display) Any solution where you need to retrieve data real time from many areas (files), and present in summarized or combined format

Data Generation Program Step 1

Obviously, must create file first and bring it into E/I. This is your work file Create 1 to Many relationship from your business object to this work file

Data Generation Program Step 2

From Actions, find List and change this to add your data generation program

Data Generation Program - Considerations Need to think where you want to launch this from. Item Revision? Item Warehouse? Both? Need to think about how work file is keyed. User? Item? This file is reused by other people! Do you need to clear file periodically? Make sure file is Reuse deleted *YES May need to delete records in program first before re-displaying.

Data Generation Program Solution Example! My Challenge:

Want a Power Link utility to display file/library usage Need to be able to quickly see what files are taking up my disk space and other useful information! Using a system command (DSPOBJD) to create the file All the code/business objects will be made available to you as a freebie and to have as an example and to use everyday! Lets see it work!

Data Generation Program How it worked

LIBANZPF Entry for each library analyzed by tool

DSPOBJD Contents of library selected

Data Generation Program XA Solution Example (MRP Item Availability)

LOGICAL TRANSACTIONS

Logical Transactions The Challenge

I need to imbed a process step into my application. I need to run a program on demand over a selected record (or records) I need to perform a set of calculations or activity against more than one file (object) and update many files I need a way to isolate and/or secure a function or feature Typically used to perform activity on one selected record but not always

Logical Transactions Applications Typical Applications:

Approve a record from toolbar button Run complex set of calculations in a Quote Application to price a quote (reading from many files and possibly updating several files) In a work flow process, change status to something else and then populate information in another file. Give someone a quick/convenient way to perform any action on a file (vs. hitting change pencil)

Logical Transaction Step 1

Go into object and Transactions Tab. Decide what type of transaction you are doing.
Change, Delete, Create, Mass-Change,..

Logical Transaction Types

If you want a logical transaction to simply change a flag or field or group of fields within a file, select the change and hit create.

Logical Transaction Types

This type of transaction (change, delete, etc.) will let you do things like display a confirmation message (preview) before the update and assign security and usually requires no coding

Logical Transaction Types

If you want a headless (stand-alone) logical transaction, hit the Create button before selecting Change, Delete, etc

This type creates a logical object complete with user exits and all the other features of an independent object and requires coding to complete and is usually used to update more than just the file that the logical is built over (more complex)

Logical Transaction Step 2

In the case of a headless type, add your attributes, and any relationships to code files Generate User Exits so that your logic can be inserted.

Logical Transaction Solution Example!

My Challenge:
I want a utility to display active jobs on the system within Power Link I dont want to have to go to a green screen and type in WRKACTJOB To accomplish this we will write a program to output to a file, the contents of WRKACTJOB In this following example we are using the headless type of transaction to facilitate this. This one is another Freebie that you can take with you! Lets take a look! (we will also take a quick look at the change logical technique)

Logical Transaction How it worked

In our example we wanted to prompt for two values. These are fed to the program that outputs WRKACTJOB These are setup as logical attributes, and passed to the program that is called. In our case ,we wanted to prompt for reset of statistics and give the user the option to call this for just a specific subsystem.

Logical Transaction How it worked

In the Process Buffer program *O0R put in the call to your program as shown (typically section 8.000) It is here we put our call to the program to refresh information and pass it the parameters.

Logical Transaction How it worked

The program we called ran a simple routine to do a WRKACTJOB and copy it to a physical file.

Logical Transactions Other Benefits

You get a maintenance history entry that the transaction occurred Activity also shows up in Transaction Status You can secure this process independently. You get an edit buffer to validate if you can perform the operation/action You get a default buffer (to set values) You can setup relationships to code files, other files, and setup prompted logical fields of any type (date, flags, buttons, etc..)

Logical Transactions Considerations

If deployed from a list card, you have to post transaction before the activity occurs.

For this reason, sometimes an Action button is preferred method. The Action Program action will be reviewed next.

Program Action

Program Action The Challenge I need a quick/simple way to run a program. In many cases you dont even need to prompt for a value I dont want to post each transaction. I just wasnt it to do it now! from a list card or top toolbar of a list of records. I want to do this on a single record or be able to run this on a group of records.

Program Action - Applications

Typical Applications:
Give me an action button to update planner, buyer, and vendor number from within Item Revision. I need to be able to run a form (type) report quickly from a list view of information (ECR/ECN) I need to run a simple program that sends out an alert or e-mail on-demand. I have a configuration type application. I need to run a program based on my selection, update a file, and stay on the immediate screen to review results of selection.

Program Action Step 1

Go into the object and Actions Tab Hit Create Note you can create a Host, Local, create a Mass Action, or link to a URL

Program Action Step 2

In this example, we are creating a call to a Host (iSeries) Program The program must exist before you do this. You can pass the program variables (from selected record) and also special values (like current user)

Program Action Solution Example!

My Challenge:
I have repurposed some user fields over MO Components to reflect if part has been picked, the quantity, and user initials (prior to issue) I dont want to post each transaction. I just wasnt it to do it now! from a list card. I dont have any editing. I only need to prompt for quantity to pick. I have a little user program ready to go. It simply receives in the MO/Component # and updates the user fields Lets take a look!

Program Action How it worked

When we created the program action, we simply created 4 parameters to make it work. (Only 1 is prompted for)
The Order (selected) The Sequence Number (of the component selected) We default quantity pick to the standard quantity required. Essentially any variable can be passed to program from file The current user ID.

Program Action How it worked

Program was simply called. There was no need to deal with a transaction broker (middle-layer) of code Note you can use this to call PC programs or programs on a server as you will see shortly. You can also use this to call a URL or a file for example stored on a network drive.

Program Action Mass Action

This can be used to do the action on multiple records at one time. Can pass parameters or simply run. In this case a simple standard program is needed (using a SQLRPGLE) We will include a sample of this code in your take-aways (called MASSACTION). Using this sample you can easily create your own mass actions.

Program Action Mass Action

With mass action user can select multiple records on list card or list view

In this case the update is done within the SQLRPGLE by passing the subset

Program Action Mass Action

The example below shows our Pick solution using this method of using the selected records in subset.

Program Action Mass Action

Subroutine PSVRMS0R called within the MASSACTION program is what retrieves the SQL statement using the passed token and is really the key to how this works.

Program Action Mass Action

Your custom logic will exist in PRCSQL as it processes the SQL statement to update your specific file/application The code sample is relatively generic and easy to understand.

Program Action Mass Action

Final Note. You can also with Action/Mass action send confirmation and error messages back to the client. While its not as structured as using a (Headless) Logical transaction and the edit buffer, you can call a program to accomplish this. Included with your take-away is a document called Passing messages back from a user host program This technique uses an XA supplied program called PSXEMP3R

Program Action Mass Action

Program Action Local Programs

This can also be used to call a PC/Network Program Below is a URL example to Call Excel! Common usage of this is to call engineering drawing viewers passing in the item/drawing #

Program Action URLs

This can also be used to call a URL and pass parameters Below is the URL action code to call up UPS with a UPS tracking number! When dealing with URLs and parameter substitutions, you need to make sure you put double && around URL substitutions and single & around your parameters from the file

Any Questions On What We Just Covered?