Re: Web apps on the AS/400

For those who don't already know it, the CGIDEV2 library,
available for free at the Easy400 site, is an RPGIV CGI 
toolkit that uses "externally described HTML."

That is, all the HTML to be sent to the browser is stored in
either a source physical file or an IFS stream file.  The HTML
is organized into named sections (analagous to a DDS record
format) and the HTML records support variable substitution at
run time (like DDS fields).

At run time, values for the substitution variables are set with
with UpdHTMLVar subprocedure.  Sections of HTML are written
to the browser with the WrtSection subprocedure.

Examples and tutorials are at the Easy400 site 
  http://www.easy400.ibm.it


Mel Rothman
IBM AS/400 Custom Technology Center
Rochester Minnesota



Phil Groschwitz wrote:
> 
> Great discussion going on.  I thought I'd add my
> perspective to it.
> 
> Isn't possible to do this:
> 
> Use net.data to do nothing but call rpg pgms and to
> place the result where net.data says to.  All the html
> is in the net.data macro, not in any rpg pgms.  The
> macro can be maintained by webdevelopers while the
> business programs are maintained by rpg programmers.
> 
> -- or --
> 
> Develop your own tag language to control calling rpg
> pgms, again not putting any html in rpg pgms.  The
> special tag language and html is maintained by
> webdevelopers while the business programs are
> maintained by rpg programmers.
> 
> -- or --
> 
> use JSP's and java to do the same thing, again not
> putting any html in the java classes (which is what
> you had to do not too long ago before jsp's.)  The
> jsp's are maintained by webdevelopers while the
> business programs are maintained by java developers.
> 
> --
> 
> I agree that hardcoding html (in any language) is not
> a good thing.
> 
> But I disagree that java/jsp's is the **absolute**
> best solution for **all** business problems.  Why?
> ROI.  The existing, installed as/400's are in many
> cases incapable of running a java solution.  Many
> companies would lose money on upgrading now.  They
> have to wait.  (Or use a different server but you may
> never get that business back)
> 
> Here's a simplistic analogy that I think demonstrates
> my point:
> 
> I have a 2 year old car.  I now have a need to put a
> baby in the car so I need a car seat.  While it is
> true that I could buy a new car that comes with an
> integrated car seat, I can't buy a new car now because
> I'm still paying for the one I have.  I can't wait
> another three years for my car to be paid for.  So
> I'll just buy a car seat that I can use in my existing
> car.  Problem solved.  Best solution when all the
> factors are considered.  Would not have been the best
> solution if I had no car, or if the car was deficient
> in another way.  Maybe I need room for five but the
> car only has four seats.  You get the idea, I hope.
> 
> Phil
>
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