Re: CGI API change ??

Found this in APAR technical at IBM support site:

Abstract
COMPATIBILITY ISSUES WITH CGI PROGRAMS AT OS/400 VERSION 4.


Error Description
When migrating your AS/400 system from V3R7 to V4R2, some existing CGI
programs may not function correctly. Changes were made in V4R2 to the CGI
interface to improve performance, in addition, these changes also brought
the HTTP server into closer compliance with the 'industry-standard'. These
changes were not possible prior to V4R2, due to limitations with certain
AS/400 system functions. Some CGI programs may have been inadvertently
written that function correctly prior to V4R2 due to the unique
characteristics of the V3 HTTP server CGI interface.

What was the change?

The AS400 runtime environment was enhanced in a way that allows the HTTP
server to implement byte streams for CGI standard in and standard out.

Why was the change made?

The change was motivated by customer requirements to remove the line length
limitations on standard in and standard out.

What problems are detected/flagged?

1.) Programs that call QtmhRdStdin multiple times to reread the standard in
data are incorrect and will not work.

2.) All programs that read from standard in (QtmhRdSdtin) need to check the
Content-Length environment variable to determine the number of bytes to
read. Programs that do not use the Content-Length environment variable and
read more than the Content-Length will not work.

Why was the change made?

The change was motivated by customer requirements to remove the 250 byte
limit on standard in and standard out.

What problems are detected/flagged?

1.) Programs that call QtmhRdStdin multiple times to reread the standard in
data are incorrect and will not work.

2.) All programs that read from standard in (QtmhRdSdtin) need to check the
Content-Length environment variable to determine the number of bytes to
read. Programs that do not use the Content-Length environment variable and
read more than the Content-Length will not work.

When was the change made?

The change was made available via the following ptfs:

V4R1 - 5769SS1 SF46810
        5769TC1 SF47332

V4R2 - 5769TC1 SF46558

What can the customer do?

The customer can use the Web Programming Guide to ensure that his programs
meet the standards/guidelines described in the documentation.


At 03:44 PM 3/12/02 -0800, you wrote:
>I've got a client moving from v4r4 to v5r1 and has several websites
>running. There may be a large amount of CGI programming in use and the
>person who maintained it is long gone. Now I thought I remember an API
>change that affected CGI programming somewhere at v4r5 or v5r1 but can't
>find the ref.
>
>I've search the archive but 'cgi' is in every darn message... Anyone
>remember the API and/or have a ref for the change?
>
>
>Thanks
>
>__________________________________________________
>Kirk Goins
>IBM Certified iSeries Technical Solutions Design
>IBM Certified iSeries Technical Solutions Implementation
>Pacific Information Systems - An IBM Premier Business Partner
>503-674-2985           kirkg@pacinfosys.com
>
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