APPX Conference 2004

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APPX Conference 2004
Interfacing APPX with External Processes
WELCOME!
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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Communicating Out of APPX

• Using the CALL Statement
• Using the RUN Statement
• Using the STREAM Routines
• Using the LOAD URL Routine
• Using DATABASE Triggers
• Using TCP/IP Functions
• Using PIPE Functions

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Communicating Into APPX

• Reading FLAT Data Files
• Reading from STDIN
• Reading from Named Pipes
• Reading from TCP/IP Sockets
• Using File Level Event Points
• Using the CGI Data Importer

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Using the CALL Interface

• Finding the right Function
• Finding the Share Library
• Mapping the Data Arguments
• Passing the Data Values
• Getting back the Return Code

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
CALL Finding the Right Function

• Linux apropos, man
• Windows Win32 API
• Software Manuals
• Software Vendor Website
• Google Web/Groups Search

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
CALL Finding the Shared Library

• Linux man, ldd, nm
• Windows Win32 API, QuickView
• Software Manuals
• Software Vendor Website
• Google Web/Groups Search

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
CALL Mapping Data Arguments
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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
CALL Passing the Data Values

• Pass by Value (SharedN)
• Pass by Reference (SharedY)
• Null Terminated Strings
• Passing Structures
• Passing a FILE parameter

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
CALL Getting the Return Code

• T/F Indicator
• --- RETURN CODE

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Using the RUN Interface

• Finding the right Program
• Building the Command String
• Passing the Data Values
• Sequential or Concurrent?
• Getting back the Return Data

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
RUN Finding the Right Program

• Linux apropos, /bin, /usr/bin
• Windows Shortcuts, Assoc.
• Software Manuals
• Software Vendor Website
• Google Web/Groups Search

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
RUN Building the Command String

• May need full path to program
• PASS Substitution 1, 2,
• Trailing wait flag /w
• Linux Passing a \
• Windows Passing a

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
RUN Passing the Data Values

• Data will replace 1, 2, etc.
• Unused PASSes will replace
• Shared flag not used
• Passing FILE Full pathname
• CREATE temp files before pass

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
RUN Getting back Return Data

• T/F Indicator
• --- RETURN CODE
• Temporary Files
• Stream I/O Routines
• Record Padding
• CNV TEXT on Record

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Using the STREAM Interface

• The STREAM OPEN Routine
• Using READ, WRITE, CLOSE
• Using Concurrent Streams
• Using PIPES to Pass Data
• Using Other I/O Functions

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Stream STREAM OPEN Routine

• --- STREAM OPEN
• Pathname of File to Open
• OS Command to Execute
• Can Open for Read / Write
• Can Open Multiple Files

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Stream Using PIPES to Pass Data

• ps ax
• mail techsupp_at_appx.com
• Open for Read r to pipe in
• Open for Write w to pipe out
• Cant pipe both In and Out

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Interfacing APPX with External Processes
Stream Using Other I/O Functions

• OPEN returns a File Descriptor
• READ/WRITE are for Text data
• Can pass FD to I/O Functions
• fdopen() convert FD to FILE