I'm glad you posted this Vern. I wanted to ask about using OA to access external databases, but figured I should read up first. But I think you've laid it out pretty well.
My question is this, other than trying to wrap up Scott's JDBCR4 into appearing as native I/O... does OA offer any other benefit?
I think JDBCR4 is wonderful. I've created my own little wrapper around it (at least around its procedures I use) that will log the transactions. With the talk of OA, I've been wondering how it could be used to our advantage in regard to accessing MSSQL.
It's starting to sound like OA is a service program "under the covers." To which I say: "why not use a service program?" This is from the perspective of a non-vendor. I can see where a vendor could put together something and offer it to shops as a programming tool.
-Kurt
-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Vern Hamberg
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 4:22 PM
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i
Subject: Re: AW: Open Access to be generally available as part of the RPG compiler
Hi Scott
I agree with you here, and I also make the same point that Jon does - the buzz has been on 5250 modernization, but that's a really big task that I don't want any part of. We both know of others in the modernization arena that have not used OA with their product line.
An obvious possibility for me is remote databases. You have put together great material on using JDBC - your service program could be the core of a nice handler - just as I've done that with our RPG2SQL product.
One of the things about OA is that you have to work in the mold of native file I/O - this just won't fit many of the new resources, so OAR is not a good thing for those.
So if you can think of getting data from somewhere as a CHAIN, you're in business with OAR, seems to me. And many shops have people that can do this. Or working with IFS files. Again, the things you've put together could be the engine for such a handler.
Hey, there go 2 cases that are not all that unusual - but maybe they are the only 2? I can't think I should believe that. But the imagination of this community will tell the tale.
And I think I'm all for learning new stuff. As you said, however, there is this huge body of code that companies just can't afford to change.
There's no ROI in change merely for change' sake - some of the naysayers seem to be in the latter camp.
Regards
Vern
On 2/2/2012 2:49 PM, Scott Klement wrote:
hi Justin,
-snip-
So that's my opinion, RPG-OA is a great short-term, quick-fix. It's
better than the older technique that involves interpreting the 5250
datastream. But it shouldn't be your end-goal.
Jon Paris constantly makes the point that RPG-OA is useful for other
things besides just user interfaces. He told me this more than 3
years ago, and I've been thinking about it since then. I've found one
or two cases where this makes sense -- but it's extremely unusual.
(And THAT is why I don't think SPECIAL files ever caught on.)
-SK
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