Getting Started with Microsoft .NET for IBM i Developers

Craig Pelkie [email protected] Copyright © 2014, Craig Pelkie ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

What does the .NET Framework “buy you”? • Comprehensive development environment • Many commonly needed resources are built into the framework • Windows programming • Web programming • Web services • Database • XML

• Consistent object model • The .NET Framework is supplied / supported by Microsoft • Commonly used base data types, low-level code • Supporting classes • Exception handling

2

Microsoft Programming Languages for .NET • C++ • Primary development language for most Windows system programming • Can be used in .NET environment

• F# • Functional Language • See wikipedia.org article, “F Sharp (programming language)”

• Visual Basic • Long history as an easy-to-use, applications-oriented tool • Visual Basic.NET: completely new version of language • Is a full O-O programming language with complete access to the .NET environment

• C# (C-sharp) • New language, introduced with .NET • Characteristics of C, C++, Java 3

Factors to Consider • Most RPG programmers are more comfortable with Visual Basic • Programmers with Java / C experience will be more comfortable with C# • Biggest Factor • As you get up-to-speed with .NET development • The "fear" of the language is less emphasized • Knowledge of and usage of .NET Framework classes moves to the foreground

The Language .NET

Time / Experience

The Language

.NET 4

Tools for Application Development • .NET 4.5 • Framework supports Web, Windows, Database, other commonly required features • Supports many programming languages, most popular: C#, Visual Basic • No-charge download (run-time environment, tools, compilers)

• Visual Studio • Current version is Visual Studio 2013 • Several editions • Express Editions (VB, C#, Web) • Professional Edition (includes all languages/features)

• “The 3 W's” • WCF — Windows Communication Foundation • WPF — Windows Presentation Foundation • WF — Windows Workflow Foundation

5

Development Environment – Visual Studio Obtaining Microsoft Visual Studio products Visual Studio 2013 Professional Edition – 90 Day Trial http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs

Visual Studio Express 2013 No-charge downloads 30 day trial Requires registration for continued use

6

Platform to Platform

IBM i

.NET

Messaging

Web Services / WCF WebSphere MQ – MSMQ Data Queues

Messaging

Programs

Stored Procedures OLE DB API (cwbx)

Programs

Database

.NET Provider OLE DB Provider ODBC

Database

File System

FTP Network Drive

File System

7

Connection Options from .NET to IBM i • The problem, in a nutshell: • Database is on IBM i • .NET applications need to access the data • Extensive support in .NET Framework for database • Built-in support for SQL Server, Oracle

• .NET to IBM i – Database Providers • Components that are designed for .NET or can be used within .NET • Handle database specific issues • EBCDIC conversion • Packed/Zoned • Access to metadata

8

Connection Options, IBM i Access for Windows • IBM i Access for Windows • Licensed Program Products • 57xx-XW1 – IBM i Access Family

Provider

System i Access VRM

ODBC

V5R1+

OLE DB

V5R1+

.NET

V5R3+

• 57xx-XE1 – IBM i Access for Windows • These providers are no-charge components of IBM i Access • Can be installed independently of other IBM i Access components

9

Notes about System i Access Providers • ODBC, OLE DB • No special considerations • Accessed through .NET classes in • System.Odbc • System.OleDb • Not the preferred providers for .NET applications

• .NET Data Provider • Available starting at System i Access V5R3M0 • Can connect to down-level OS/400 versions • Must have .NET Framework already installed on PC • Not automatically installed when upgrading System i Access, must use Selective Install option • Critically important to update to current IBM Service Pack

10

Data Reader Example - Visual Basic 

'create the connection object to connect to iSeries Dim cn As New iDB2Connection("DataSource=host_name") cn.Open()



'create a command object and initialize it to a valid SQL statement Dim cmd As New iDB2Command("select * from library_name.qcustcdt", cn)



'create a data reader object, fill it by executing the command Dim dr As iDB2DataReader dr = cmd.ExecuteReader() 'iterate over the data reader, write out values for each row/column



While (dr.Read()) Dim I As Integer

 

For I = 0 To dr.FieldCount – 1 Console.Write(dr.GetName(i))

FieldCount – actual number of fields returned in SELECT FieldCount – 1 : upper limit of loop (counter starts at zero)

Console.Write(":" & vbTab)



Console.WriteLine(dr.GetValue(i)) Next Console.WriteLine("-------------------------------------") End While

11

Data Reader Example - C#

  

// create the connection object to connect to iSeries iDB2Connection cn = new iDB2Connection("DataSource=host_name"); cn.Open(); // create a command object and initialize it to a valid SQL statement iDB2Command cmd = new iDB2Command("select * from library_name.qcustcdt", cn); // create a data reader object, fill it by executing the command iDB2DataReader dr; dr = cmd.ExecuteReader(); // iterate over the data reader, write out values for each row/column



while (dr.Read()) {

 

for (int i = 0; i < dr.FieldCount; i++) { Console.WriteLine("{0}:\t{1}", dr.GetName(i), dr.GetValue(i));

FieldCount – actual number of fields returned in SELECT i < FieldCount : upper limit of loop (counter starts at zero)

} Console.WriteLine(new String('-', 50)); }

12

Microsoft Web Development • Based on ASP.NET • Early web technology (pre-.NET): Active Server Pages (ASP) • Mix of HTML / CSS / VBScript or JScript

• .NET Framework 1.0 • • • •

Introduction of ASP.NET Separation of presentation / code ("code behind") Many server-side controls to generate HTML Visual Basic or C#

• ASP.NET MVC • • • •

Introduced in .NET 3.x timeframe "3-tier" web development environment More oriented towards HTML/JavaScript/CSS "Razor" syntax (inline substitution variables)

13

Web Development in Visual Studio 2010

14

Web Development in Visual Studio 2010

15

Display data with the GridView control

The GridView control is included in the Data section of the Toolbox The GridView is bound to a datasource to get data to display

16

Visual Studio Toolbox for Web Development The Toolbox is typically displayed on the left side of Visual Studio. You drag-and-drop a tool onto the design surface. You set properties at design-time or in your code.

17

Develop a Web Service in Visual Studio

18

Web Services code to return data

SelectCustomer web method Input: customer # Output: DataSet (record) for the customer

19

Output of the Web Service that returns data

20

Consume a Web Service in Visual Studio

2

1

3

In a project, use Add Service Reference

4

5 21

Consume a Web Service in Visual Studio

22

Deploying .NET applications for the IBM i



Development PC

Web Users

VS2013

IBM i Access OLE DB / .NET Provider



Development Built-in IIS Express





Deploy from Visual Studio

IBM i Server



IIS 6 / 7 / 7.5 / 8 (web application)



IBM i Access OLE DB / .NET Provider

DB2 UDB Microsoft .NET Server W2012 / W2008 / W2003 23

Deploying .NET applications for the IBM i • .NET applications are deployed on a Windows Server system that hosts the IIS Web Server • Microsoft Windows 2012 / 2008 R2 server / Windows 2008 • Microsoft Windows 2003 R2 Server • Can be deployed on: • Windows XP Professional • Windows Vista Business / Windows Vista Ultimate • Windows 7 Professional +

• Visual Studio is usually not installed on a production server • May need to obtain / install .NET Framework run-time environment for the server • Available from Microsoft Update web site • .NET Framework (2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5)

24

Deploying .NET applications for the IBM i • Microsoft .NET web applications run under Microsoft Internet Information Services 6.0 (W2003) 7.0 / 7.5 (W2008/2008R2) 8.0 (W2012) • To do: become familiar with IIS configuration • Copy/Publish all files for your Web application from development PC to the server (Visual Studio Publish Web Site tool) • Reference web site: www.iis.net

• The IBM IBM i Access provider(s) must be installed on the Windows Server • OLE DB provider and/or .NET provider • Install the current IBM i Access Service Pack • Perform periodic IBM i Access Service Pack installs on server • Verify that Service Pack levels on the development PC and the server are the same before deploying an application

25

Resources www.microsoft.com/visualstudio www.microsoft.com/net www.iprodeveloper.com Microsoft .NET for IBM i Developers Track 1 - Getting Started (VS, DB providers, language [VB, C#] Track 2 - ASP.NET Web Development Track 3 - ASP.NET and WCF Services

iProDeveloper eLearning course Begins Wednesday March 26, 2014 Exclusive discount for User Group members http://iprodeveloper.com/microsoft-net-ibm-i-developers-track-1-exclusive-discount?promo=EP14609 26