We're not in Kansas anymore....

Web Services, SOA, SOAP, HTTP, C++, WSDL, DISCO, Lions, Tigers and Bears. I’m used to diving into the deep end of the pool but after two days I think I have fallen into the Marianas Trench still waiting to hit bottom.

My current challenge is to send Name, Order and Email for new orders to LISTRAK Email Marketing Services utilizing API and SOAP formatted XML from our IBMi.

A little lite reading.....

developerWorks SOA and web services

Listrak integration services

Consuming Web services from RPG or COBOL programs on System i

~Richard


If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.  ~Buddhist Saying

SQL Update a Multi-Table View using INSTEAD OF Triggers

Yesterday I added another SQL trick to my bag ‘o tricks. I am currently working on fixing EDI invoicing process and I needed a way to delete records from four files based on the same key. I could have wrote RPGLE Free Embedded SQL that would have been about 60 lines of code but wheres the fun in that.

I popped open the Google window and searched on “iseries sql delete from multiple tables”. the second hit directed me to IBM and the fourth to Preform the Impossible: Update a Multi-table View using INSTEAD OF Triggers. What did we did before Google, oh yeah, read a manual!

Impossible, that’s for me. It took me a few minutes to understand and a peek at IBM documentation I had to create a view and then the trigger. Once created any time I delete from the view all associated records in the four files are deleted. Very cool.

After view and trigger created I can run this SQL interactive or embedded.

delete from yourlib.ediinvw
where ihedoc = 0000046475

My new view is EDIINVW and I am deleting by EDI document control number.

To accomplish this I created the view with the below code using SQL Explorer.

create view yourlib.ediinvw as
select ih.ihedoc, id.idedoc, ss.iaedoc, si.isedoc
from yourlib.vedinih ih
join yourlib.vedinid id on id.idedoc = ih.ihedoc
join yourlib.vediniss ss on ss.iaedoc = ih.ihedoc
join yourlib.vedinis si on si.isedoc = ih.ihedoc

The four fields in the Select statement is the key field for each of the four files.

I then attempted to create the delete Trigger. SQL Explorer did not like the syntax so I copied and pasted into the green screen iSeries SQL interactive command line. My guess is that SQL Explorer has an issue with INSTEAD OF DELETE ON.

create trigger yourlib.ediinvdel
Instead of delete on yourlib.ediinvw
referencing old as EdiInvwOld
for each row mode DB2SQL
begin atomic
delete from yourlib.vedinih
where ihedoc = EdiInvwOld.ihedoc;
delete from yourlib.vedinid
where idedoc = EdiInvwOld.idedoc;
delete from yourlib.vedinid
where iaedoc = EdiInvwOld.iaedoc;
delete from yourlib.vedinid
where isedoc = EdiInvwOld.isedoc;
end;

I learned another very cool SQL trick, Thanks IT JUNGLE and Four Hundred Guru. This will come in handy over the next few weeks as I fix the EDI processes.

Have your best day!

~Richard

In programming, as in everything else, to be in error is to be reborn.  ~Alan J. Perlis

Moving on to next contract....

After four and half months I have completed 99% of the interfaces between iSeries Island Pacific ERP and MidRetial Allocation application running on SQL.

I  created over 52 programs and/or files that either send or retrieve data in XML using RPGLE, SQLRPGLE and IFS API’s. One of the best aspects of this project is that I was able to teach myself how to read and write directly to the windows file shares. Utilizing embedded SQL is also a lot of fun, the more I coded without the RPG cycle the simpler tasks became.

I think the best aspect of using SQL is the ability quickly adjust the SQL select statements as needs change.

The generic interface map.




The project went live over the weekend with some minor tweaks but overall a success!

Today I start a new contract as EDI Lead / Developer for a large retail chain. I am really looking forward to increasing my EDI skills in a retail environment. My previous EDI experience revolves around distribution and manufacturing supplying the retail vendors with ASN and Warehousing data.

~Richard

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.  ~Alan J. Perlis

Job market heating up....

After a really slow first week I am becoming optimistic on the prospects of finding a new job. I am currently partnered up with a services company for remote administration and chasing another one.  I have not seen any work yet buy I am hopeful. I have an interview for a two month developer contract position tomorrow, I hope it will go well. Several other possibilities are floating but all are contract or contract to hire.

A few days ago I noticed free online education from Stanford. The entire course; video taped lectures, exercises, assignments and handouts are available to the public. So I decided to go back to basics and see if what I learned in the school of hard knocks are comparable to what is being taught.

Integrating the course with Eclipse WDSC 6.0 was challenging and I hope to post how I got it working.

Just got a call from one of my clients for a quick programming job. Should not take me more than fours to code and test. The Pups need dog bones so I better get to work!

Have your best day!

~Richard