AllFusion® 2E r8.1 in Action

Rory HewittComputer Associates

San Francisco, CASession: 2L (10:00am Friday April 29th 2005)

Session Abstract

The latest version of AllFusion® 2E, Release 8.1 (r8.1), became commercially available in October 2004. This session will highlight key features from this release such as trigger functions and how they can be implemented. Also covered will be a preview of what to expect in the AllFusion 2E r8.1 Service Pack, scheduled for later in 2005.

Speaker Bio

Rory has been using AllFusion 2E since 1994 and has been part of the AllFusion 2E Development Team since 1997

Rory is now the Software Architect for the AllFusion 2E Development Team

Rory likes snowboardingLola Hewitt – born February 12th 2005

Agenda

New Features in Release 8.1

Enhancements in Release 8.1

Preview of Service Pack 1

Triggers - Features

Enforce business rules

Validate input data

Write to other files for audit trail

Replicate data to different files

Query from other files

Triggers - Benefits

Faster application development

Global enforcement of business rules

Easier maintenance

Add functionality without changing application

Easily implement SOX and HIPAA

Triggers - OS/400 Implementation

ApplicationOS/400 File

TriggerProgram

ADDPFTRG

OS/400 Implementation - Basics

Write trigger program

Add to physical file using ADDPFTRG command- When - *BEFORE or *AFTER

- Why - *DELETE, *INSERT, *READ or *UPDATE

Trigger program automatically called by OS/400

Uses messages to signal errors to application

OS/400 Implementation - Drawbacks

Complex parameter interface- Typically requires pointer programming

- Uses numeric values to symbolize character values

Trigger programs are file-specific- Can lead to multiplicity of trigger programs

Not easy to implement- File lock concurrency issues

- May require out-of-hours installation

Triggers - AllFusion 2E Implementation

2 components- Model component

- Runtime component

Model component includes creation, documentation and installation of trigger functionality

Runtime component includes actual trigger functionality

AllFusion 2E Triggers - Model

New function type – Trigger Function (TRGFUN)

Empty action diagram (like EXCEXTFUN)

Simpler interface than trigger program

Can include almost any processing

TRGFUN’s ‘attached’ to owning file- Specify triggering details

Model trigger data converted to runtime data with YCVTTRGDTA command

Application OS/400 File

TriggerProgram

Triggers - AllFusion 2E Implementation

Application OS/400 File

TriggerRouter

TriggerTriggerTriggerFunction

TriggerControl

TriggerServer

TriggerTriggerTriggerFunction

AllFusion 2E Triggers - Runtime

Trigger Router- Defined as trigger program to OS/400

- Calls all specified trigger functions in turn

- Can send requests to Trigger Server via data queue

Trigger Server- Runs in separate job (can be multiple instances)

- Performs same processing as Trigger Router

- Used if trigger function is long-running

Both are 'black box' functions- No user-serviceable parts inside!

AllFusion 2E Triggers - Benefits

Granular control over functionality

Easy to create, edit and implement

Fewer installation file locking issues

Server job allows improved performance- Printing, Web Service, Basic auditing etc.

Easier to document triggers

Use Change Management for SOX/HIPAA

Enhancements

“Usability”

Action Diagram Enhancements

Action Diagram Enhancements

More defaulting through use of asterisks

Usability of SFLSEL in AD (no left-adjust)

F21=Impl. name works with messages

Quick-exit enabled

Top *SFLSEL line removed

‘Force’ naming of hidden constructs

‘Z’ into messages

Pre-help errors removed

Action Diagram Enhancements

Action Diagram Search Enhancements

Search for ‘updated’ field (O or B)

Search for condition usage

Search for field-condition usage

Share search criteria between functions

Auto-scan facility

No need to ‘case’ DBCS names when searching

Search date defaulted to current date

Action Diagram Search Enhancements

Open Functions Enhancements

More subfile options

Allow imp. name in Function Name

F13=Quick Exit

F16=Process all

F17=Action Diagram Services (Shared mode)

Open Functions Enhancements

Other Base Product Enhancements

F9=Create on “Edit Array”

Y2CALL available from model panels

License expiry warning

Don’t generate null output fields

User-defined options in *MDLUSG/*MDLREF

999 field conditions limit removed

RPGIV EXCUSRSRC enhancements

Assorted generator enhancements

Toolkit Enhancements

YWRKF fixes- New parameter CFMPMT (Default Confirm Option)

- New parameter KEYOPT (Key Field Options)

- F5=Refresh added to Select Details screen

- Ignore Case flag added to Select Details screen

- Allows display of control characters (< x’40’)

Assorted fixes to list processing

Library list commands updated for >25 libraries

YCVTSPLF now converts DBCS characters

Web Option Enhancements

Multiple-language support- Externalization of literals, Values List, prompt msgs

Cascading Style Sheets

Increased model-level integration

Enhanced command key suppression

Enhanced script processing- Many new commands supported

Improved drop-down list support

Web Option Enhancements

Too many to mention here!

See related sessions:- Implementing the AllFusion® 2E Web Option — Crispin Bates, CPU (1:00pm Thursday April 28th 2005)

- AllFusion® 2E Roundtable Discussion — CA Panel (2:00pm Friday April 29th 2005)

EJB Option Enhancements

Java session bean wrappers

Target destination enhancement

Package statement generation

Enhanced iSeries connection processing

Initial library list support

Enhanced ‘Append’ functionality

EJB Option Enhancements

Too many to mention here!

See related sessions:- AllFusion® 2E EJB Option Success Story — Darryl Millington, HawkBridge Pty Ltd (9:00am Friday April 29th 2005)

- Web Services Creation and Consumption in AllFusion® 2E — Paul Castleton, CA (3:15pm Thursday April 28th 2005)

AllFusion 2E® Release 8.1 Service Pack 1

What is r8.1 SP1?

r8.1 SP1 is a ‘true’ Service Pack- Fully localized for all 18 languages

- Updated documentation

- Mainly comprised of fixes and minor enhancements

- Additional significant enhancements to Web Option

- PL/I run-unit size limitations removed for large models

- Outstanding RPGIV issues

What’s in r8.1 SP1?

Fixes!- 24 Web Option fixes

- 19 2E Base Product fixes & 2 Toolkit fixes

Enhancements!- Some which didn’t make it under the wire for r8.1

Still in development, so more to come…

Estimated release date: Q3/Q4 2005

What’s in r8.1 SP1 for Web Option

24 Web Option fixes/enhancements, including:- Increased number of sessions from 1000 to 10000

- 60KB skeleton size limit removed

- F4 prompting for window fields enabled

- Command key text externalized

- DDL’s created for blank/zero conditions

- All data refreshed when server restarted

- Commented-out *SFLSEL values no longer used

…

What’s in r8.1 SP1 for 2E

19 2E fixes, including:- SBMJOB override string change enforced

- SQL precompiler failure with CRTOBJ key

- YCPYMDL failing with CRTMDL(*NO)

- YCPYMDLOBJ with *SRVPGM objects

…

What’s in r8.1 SP1 for 2E

…and some enhancements:

Save Action Diagram bookmarks

Allow ‘inline’ YDFTCTX override with F10

SFLFOLD/SFLDROP functionality

YWRKF: ‘EX’ (Exactly equals) option

Save Action Diagram bookmarks

Allow ‘inline’ YDFTCTX override with F10

SFLFOLD/SFLDROP

Session Summary

r8.1 focuses on Base Product and Web Option

r8.1 SP1 due out this year

CA has a long-term commitment to supporting AllFusion 2E customers

Come to the AllFusion 2E Roundtable Discussion – Next!

Questions & Answers