Natural 6 Tips

1
Natural 6Tips n Techniques
Chad Scott C.Scott_at_FCL.ca Ralph
Zbrog RGZbrog_at_ZZUtils.com
Natural Conference 2005
2
Program Editor

• Avoiding long source lines
• Lines up to 250 characters
• Set ruler position to 72 for mainframe
  compatibility
• Tools ? Options... ? Program Editor ? Ruler
  Position

3
Program Editor

• Font size
• Coding vs presentation
• Tools ? Options... ? Program Editor ? Font... ?
  Size
• Coding Courier New, 10
• Presentation Lucida Console, 16
• Output window, editors (not Dialogs)

4
Program Editor

• Mainframe convention uppercase source with
  (optional) mixed-case literals
• Windows compatibility
• Tools ? Options... ? Program Editor ? Uppercase
  translation
• Tools ? Options... ? Program Editor ? Ignore text
  constants
• External object names
• CALLNAT d2optsub
• CALLNAT d2optsub

5
Program Editor

• List or edit external object via context menu
• Left-click object name ? ctrl-o
• Right-click object name ? Open
• Right-click object name ? List

6
Accelerators

• ctrl-m convert block to comments
• shift-ctrl-m reverse ctrl-m
• Help ? Contents ? Getting Started Fundamentals ?
  Natural Studio - Introduction ? Accelerators

7
Screen Images

• Program editor
• Select block of source code
• Line numbers
• Program Editor Options toolbar
• Tools ? Options... ? Program Editor ? Line
  numbers
• ctrl-c to copy
• ctrl-v to insert
• Output window
• c ? program editor

8
Folders

• Filters
• Right-click folder ? Display Filter... ? specify
  wildcards
• indicates active filters

9
Folders

• Export source module
• Drag-n-drop module from Library workspace to
  directory or desktop
• Faster than copy/paste
• edit ? ctrl-a ? ctrl-c ? ctrl-v ? save as
• Import source module
• Drag-n-drop module from directory or desktop to
  Library workspace

10
Folders

• Upload to mainframe
• Change NSx extension to TXT for upload/FTP

//LOAD EXEC NATBT,SYSOUT,TIME50,PRM'AUTOO
N,SL80,MAINPR1,PS65' //CMSYNIN DD
,BLKSIZE27948 L LOGON natlib EDT / //
DD DSNZBROG.PUNCH(),DISPSHR
FB/102 // DD .E SA FIN / //
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Folders

• Download from mainframe
• Extract from mainframe FUSER (ZZPUNCH)
• Set file extension to TXT for download/FTP to
  directory
• Set file extension to NSx, where x represents
  module type

12
FTOUCH

• Software AG warns strongly against any external
  manipulation of FUSER directories and contents
• FTOUCH utility provided as last resort to correct
  data corruption in FILEDIR.SAG
• Exceptions?
• Automated backup recovery
• Deleting library contents (client vs server)

13
Backup Directory

• Directory name template
• Configuration Utility ? Natural Parameter Files ?
  NATPARM ? Natural Execution Configuration ?
  Workfiles ? 1 ?
• C\Documents and Settings\...\NatBackup\nat05mmdd.
  sag
• Simply overtype mmdd

14
Backup Directory

• Works for Object Handler and SYSTrans

15
Program Load

• Buffer Pool Search First Indicator
• Set OFF in development environment
• Configuration Utility ? Natural Parameter Files ?
  NATPARM ? Natural Execution Configuration ?
  Program Loading/Deletion ? BPSFI ? OFF

16
Start-up Program

• At Natural initiation (one-time)
• Configuration Utility ? Natural Parameter Files ?
  NATPARM ? Natural Execution Configuration ?
  Program Loading/Deletion ? STACK ? HELLO
• In place of NEXT prompt
• Configuration Utility ? Natural Parameter Files ?
  NATPARM ? Natural Execution Configuration ?
  System Variables ? STARTUP ? HELLO

17
Session Parameters

• Persistence (Windows-only)
• During familiarization with Studio, session
  parameter adjustments may be made
• PERSIST configuration parameter causes session
  parameters to be saved for next session
• Configuration Utility ? Natural Parameter Files ?
  NATPARM ? Natural Execution Configuration ?
  Program Loading/Deletion ? PERSIST

18
Configuration Utility

• START ? All Programs ? Software AG Natural 6.1.1
  ? Configuration Utility
• c\Program Files\Software AG \Natural\6.1.1\Bin\na
  tparm.exe

19
Date Initialization

• Data editor ? Data Field Definition ?
  Initialize... ? Free form entry

20
Questions

• How to initialize with DATX or TIMX?
• Workaround import from a program
• How to handle empty files?
• How to shift a block of code within program
  editor?

21
Fin
22
Natural 6Tips n Techniques
Chad Scott C.Scott_at_FCL.ca Ralph
Zbrog RGZbrog_at_ZZUtils.com
Natural Conference 2005