ACE/400 for Visual Studio Key Features
DATA Control
The RecordSource property of the Easycom Data Control can contain either an AS/400 database file name, or a SELECT statement. The table name can include a library name if the table is not in the user library list, and a member name if needed.
The methods provided by the Easycom Data Control are compatibles with the original Microsoft DAO control.
You will write the same statements that you use for a MS Access table.
Example 1: Retrieve a record key.
ACE400Data1.Recordset.Seek("=",Key1,Key2)
Example 2:
Get a field value from the record set.The DataSource property of the control shows the list of all the data controls, including any DAO control, RDO control and Easycom Data Control.
The DataField property shows the list of the fields from the AS/400 table, if DataSource is connected to an Easycom data Control.
In this example, you can see that the Easycom Data Control is located in the form like the standard DAO control from Visual Basic is.
In the TextBox properties, the DataSource combo box shows
the MS Access DAO as well as the Easycom Data Control. The DataField
property combo box will list all the field names from the AS/400 table.
Remote commands and Retrieve values.
From your application, you can send a command to your AS/400, and receive values from the command.
Example 1: Retrieve the user name of the job, and the library list.
ret = EACVBCommand("RTVJOBA USER(&USR)
USRLIBL(&USRL)")
If ret = EACVBERR_OK Then
ret = EACVBCommandGetVar("USR", usr)
ret = EACVBCommandGetVar("USRL", usrl)
Else
MsgBox "Failed to execute command"
End If
Example 2: Retrieve a Data Area value.
MyCommand = "DTA=CHAR(200);RTVDTAARA DTAARA(*LDA)
RNTVAR(&DTA)")
ret = EACVBCommand(MyCommand)
If ret = EACVBERR_OK Then
ret = EACVBCommandGetVar("RC", rc)
If rc = "0" Then
' Retrieve the data from the variable
ret = EACVBCommandGetVar("dta", dta)
Else
MsgBox ("Error " + rc)
End If
End If
The command string in written in CL, the variables which are due to
receive the results are prefixed with the & sign, like in CL. The command
can contain several variables to retrieve, one can get the value of each one can be get by
using the Easycom function EACVBCommandGetVar .
AS/400 Program calls
Easycom can call your existing AS/400 programs (RPG, COBOL, CL, C, ), send parameters to them, and receive back the modified parameters.
You have to describe the calling interface, the data types and size of the parameters, and which parameters are expected by the program, and which are modified.
Then, in your application program,you open the procedure like a database
file.
ACE400Data2.DataSource =
"*PGM/RPCSAMPLE"
Issuing a read by key operation (seek) you call the program and retrieve the result.
With ACE400Data2.recordset
.Seek("=",20,"My Input
String", op2, str2)
If not .NoMatch
Text2.Text =
.Fields("OP3")
Data Queues.
Like the programs structure, the Data Queues structure is described to know what are the data types expected in the message.
A virtual Time Out field is added to the structure, and a virtual KeyField also, if the Data Queue is a keyed one.
Then, in your application program, you open the data queue like a database file.
ACE400Data3.DataSource =
"*DTAQ/DTAQ_KEY"
Issuing a read by key operation (seek) you read from the Data Queue and
receive the message. With ACE400Data3.Recordset
.Seek("=",10, " ", "EQ", TheKeyValue)
if not .NoMatch
Text2.Text = .Fields("DATA")
In this example, we read from a keyed Data Queue, we waited 10 seconds
before exiting with NoMatch status, in the case of an empty Data Queue.
RAD
To make building Client/Server applications easier for Visual Basic 4 and/or 5 developers, EASYCOM For VB provides a wizards to automatically generate VB code and forms to access to the AS/400 resources.
The access is carried out in native mode. And for better performance, Easycom uses pre-existing access paths and reads only the AS/400 data fields that are needed by the application.
Visual Basic developers create rapidly AS/400 Client/Server applications.
The wizard does not generate any code in the modules. Hence, the developer can modify the generated forms without troubles.
With only some mouse clicks, the developer obtains an application .
More important, the developer uses standards Visual Basic controls. Their proprieties are the link between the visual controls and the AS/400 Databases fields.
Its not necessary to write a code to read, display or upgrade the data
All the controls, Text, Label, Check, DBGrid, are integrated in Advanced Client Easycom/400 for VB.
Advanced Client Easycom /400 was designed to answer the principal complaints about ODBC:
Advanced Client Easycom/400 middleware | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
VB | AS/400 objects | RemoteCommand/400 | Data Queues/Area | |
Function | Records Access | Communicate with AS/400 objects | Access Native Objects |