getting started with microsoft .net for ibm i · pdf filegetting started with microsoft .net...

Craig Pelkiecraig@web400.com

Copyright © 2014, Craig PelkieALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Getting Started withMicrosoft .NET

for IBM i Developers

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

4

The Language

.NET

Time / Experience The Language

.NET

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 Trialhttp://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs

Visual Studio Express 2013

No-charge downloads30 day trialRequires registration for continued use

6

Platform to Platform

7

IBM i .NET

MessagingWeb Services / WCF

WebSphere MQ – MSMQData Queues

Messaging

ProgramsStored Procedures

OLE DBAPI (cwbx)

Programs

Database.NET Provider

OLE DB ProviderODBC

Database

File System FTPNetwork Drive File System

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

• 57xx-XE1 – IBM i Access for Windows

• These providers are no-chargecomponents of IBM i Access

• Can be installed independentlyof other IBM i Accesscomponents

Provider System i Access VRM

ODBC V5R1+OLE DB V5R1+.NET V5R3+

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 iDB2DataReaderdr = 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))

Console.Write(":" & vbTab)

Console.WriteLine(dr.GetValue(i))

Next

Console.WriteLine("-------------------------------------")End While

11

FieldCount – actual numberof fields returned in SELECT

FieldCount – 1 : upper limit of loop (counter starts at zero)

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));

}

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

12

FieldCount – actual numberof fields returned in SELECT

i < FieldCount : upper limit of loop (counter starts at zero)

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

16

The GridView control is included in the Datasection of the Toolbox

The GridView is bound to a datasource toget data to display

Visual Studio Toolbox for Web Development

17

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.

Develop a Web Service in Visual Studio

18

Web Services code to return data

19

SelectCustomer web method

Input: customer #

Output: DataSet (record) forthe customer

Output of the Web Service that returns data

20

Consume a Web Service in Visual Studio

21

In a project, useAdd Service Reference

1

2

3

45

Consume a Web Service in Visual Studio

22

Deploying .NET applications for the IBM i

23

DB2 UDBMicrosoft .NET Server

W2012 / W2008 / W2003

Development PC

VS2013

IBM i AccessOLE DB / .NET

Provider

DevelopmentBuilt-inIIS Express

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

IBM i AccessOLE DB / .NET

Provider

IBM i Server

Deploy fromVisual Studio

Web Users

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.comMicrosoft .NET for IBM i Developers

Track 1 - Getting Started (VS, DB providers, language [VB, C#]Track 2 - ASP.NET Web DevelopmentTrack 3 - ASP.NET and WCF Services

26

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