PHP and Java (Proof of Concept)

It worked! A PHP script running in an Apache server on
a W2K machine can use the program execution functions
and Toolbox for Java to access iSeries resources. (My
previous problem was due to corrupted JavaSoft keys in
my registry.)

I'm including some 'hello iSeries' code below. 

First, however, a few notes. Using the program
execution functions to call Java programs has
limitations. Output from the Java program goes
straight to the browser using the PHP 'system()'
function, which means the Java program called by the
'system()' function needs to format the output for
display in a Web page. Output from the Java program
can go into a PHP variable using the 'shell_exec()'
function. The Java program could again format the
output, or the PHP script could parse the variable and
format. Using CSS or XML could help gain better
control of output display using stylesheets. But I
definitely would not try to build an e-commerce store
using this approach.  I see this approach as better
suited to things like simple report submissions,
simple batch job requests, and simple database
queries.

You would probably have greater flexibility using the
Java integration methods mentioned in the PHP manual.
The issues with these methods are: (1) you have to
rebuild (recompile) PHP on your own windows machine to
get the Java extension to work, and (2) you have to
run an application server such as Tomcat or WebSphere
to integrate PHP with Servlets. I'm not really
interested in doing either of these things at the
moment.

Okay, here's the code. I used two PHP scripts to
demonstrate the Java call works from an included PHP
script.

Here's a PHP script named helloiseries.php:

<h2>Java Link Hello iSeries</h2>
<?php
require('http://localhost/php/jobs/javalink3.php');
?>

Here's the javalink3.php script:

<p>Starting the javalink3 PHP script.</p>
<?php
   $java = shell_exec('java JavaLink3');
   if ($java == 1) {
    echo('The CL program was not called.');
   } else {
    echo('The CL program was called.');
   }
?>

You could also have used the 'system()' function or
the 'exec()' function. 

Here's the JavaLink3 source code:

import com.ibm.as400.access.*; 
public class JavaLink3 {
 public static void main (String args[ ]) {
  try{
   String system="myiseries";
   String name="myname";
   String password="mypassword";
   String command="CALL PGM(MYLIB/JAVALINK3)";
   //Create a connection to the iSeries.  
   AS400 oursystem = new AS400(system, name,
password);
   //Create and run the command.
   CommandCall submitCommand = new
CommandCall(oursystem);
   submitCommand.setCommand(command);
   submitCommand.run();
   //Return a value of "0" to indicate no errors.
   System.out.println("0"); 
  } catch (Exception e) {
   //Return a value of "1" to indicate an error.
   System.out.println("1");
  }//end try-catch
 }//end main  
}//end class

Of course, if you want to call a program, it would be
better to use the program call classes or PCML.  But
the CommandCall class works and can be used for other
CL commands.

Here's the code for the CL program MYLIB/JAVALINK3:

STRPGM:PGM                                            
       SNDMSG MSG('The Javalink3 program ran +     
              successfully.') TOUSR(MYNAME)    
ENDPGM:ENDPGM                                         
   

Make sure your PATH environmental variable points to
your Java Runtime Environment and your JavaLink3.class
and jt400.jar files are in directories listed in the
CLASSPATH environmental variable. Point your browser
to the helloiseries.php page. You should see a message
appear in your iSeries message queue and a message
about the CL program in the Web browser. 

Later,
Kelly


                
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