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Integrate COBOL and RPG programs on IBM midrange systems with Standard workflows in Azure Logic Apps

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Applies to: Azure Logic Apps (Standard)

To access and run COBOL and RPG programs on IBM midrange systems from Standard workflows in Azure Logic Apps, you can use the IBM i Program Call built-in, service provider-based connector. The IBM i operating system provides a Distributed Program Calls (DPC) server. The connector communicates with the IBM i DPC server to execute COBOL and RPG programs by using TCP/IP. The IBM i connector is available in all Azure Logic Apps regions except for Azure Government and Microsoft Azure operated by 21Vianet.

This how-to guide describes the following aspects about the IBM i connector:

  • Why use the IBM i connector in Azure Logic Apps

  • Prerequisites and setup for using the IBM i connector

  • Steps for adding IBM i connector actions to your Standard logic app workflow

Why use this connector?

More than 50 years ago, IBM released the first midrange systems. IBM advertised them as “Small in size, small in price and Big in performance. It is a system for now and for the future”. Over the years, the midrange systems evolved and became pervasive in medium-sized businesses or in large enterprises to extend mainframe environments. Midrange systems running IBM i, typically Power Systems, support TCP/IP and SNA.

The IBM i system includes the DPC server feature that allows most IBM i applications to interact with clients such as Azure Logic Apps using the client-initiated only request-reply pattern with minimum modifications. DPC is a documented protocol that supports program-to-program integration on an IBM i system, which client applications can easily access using the TCP/IP networking protocol.

Microsoft Host Integration Server (HIS) provides connectivity to IBM i systems using TCP/IP and APPC LU6.2. For many years, customers have used the HIS Transaction Integrator (TI) to integrate IBM i systems and Windows on premises. The IBM i Program Call connector uses the TCP/IP programming model to interact with IBM i COBOL and RPG programs.

The following diagram shows how the IBM i connector interacts with an IBM i system:

Conceptual diagram shows how the IBM i Program Call connector works with an IBM midrange system.

To extend these hybrid cloud scenarios, the IBM i connector in a Standard workflow works with the HIS Designer for Logic Apps, which you can use to create a program definition or program map of the COBOL or RPG program. For this task, the HIS Designer uses a programming model that determines the characteristics of the data exchange between the midrange and the workflow. The HIS Designer converts that information into metadata that the IBM i connector uses when running an action in your workflow.

After you generate the metadata file as Host Integration Designer XML (HIDX) file from the HIS Designer, you can add that file as a map artifact to your Standard logic app resource. That way, your workflow can access your app's metadata when you add an IBM i connector action. The connector reads the metadata file from your logic app resource, and dynamically presents parameters to use with the IBM i connector in your workflow. You can then provide parameters to the host application, and the connector returns the results to your workflow. As a result, you can integrate your legacy apps with Azure, Microsoft, other apps, services, and systems that Azure Logic Apps supports.

Connector technical reference

The following section describes the operations for the IBM i connector, which currently includes only the following action:

Call an IBM i program

Parameter Required Type Description
HIDX Name Yes String Select the IBM i HIDX file that you want to use.
Method Name Yes String Select the method in the HIDX file that you want to use.
Advanced parameters No Varies This list appears after you select a method so that you can add other parameters to use with the selected method. The available parameters vary based on your HIDX file and the method that you select.

This operation also includes advanced parameters, which appear after you select a method, for you to select and use with the selected method. These parameters vary based on your HIDX file and the method that you select.

Limitations

Currently, this connector requires that you upload your HIDX file directly to your Standard logic app resource, not an integration account.

Prerequisites

  • An Azure account and subscription. If you don't have an Azure subscription, sign up for a free Azure account.

  • Access to the midrange that hosts the IBM i system

  • The Host Integration Designer XML (HIDX) file that provides the necessary metadata for the IBM i Program Call connector to execute your midrange program.

    To create this HIDX file, download and install the HIS Designer for Azure Logic Apps. The only prerequisite is Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8.

    To invoke a midrange program, your workflow needs to understand the midrange program's type, parameters, and return values. The IBM i connector manages this process and data conversions, which are required for providing input data from the workflow to the midrange program and for sending any output data generated from the midrange program to the workflow. The connector also provides tabular data definition and code page translation. For this process, Azure Logic Apps requires that you provide this information as metadata.

    To create this metadata, use the HIS Designer for Logic Apps. With this tool, you can manually create the methods, parameters, and return values that you use in your workflow. You can also import COBOL or RPG program definitions (copybooks) that provide this information.

    The tool generates a Host Integration Designer XML (HIDX) file that provides the necessary metadata for the connector. If you're using HIS, you can use the TI Designer to create the HIDX file.

  • The Standard logic app workflow where you want to integrate with the IBM i system

    The IBM i connector doesn't have triggers, so use any trigger to start your workflow, such as the Recurrence trigger or Request trigger. You can then add the IBM i connector action. To get started, create a blank workflow in your Standard logic app resource.

Define and generate metadata

After you download and install the HIS Designer for Azure Logic Apps, follow these steps to generate the HIDX file from the metadata artifact.

Upload the HIDX file

For your workflow to use the HIDX file, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the folder where you saved your HIDX file, and copy the file.

  2. In the Azure portal, upload the HIDX file as a map to your Standard logic app resource.

  3. Now, add a IBM i action to your workflow.

Later in this guide, when you add a IBM i Program Call connector action to your workflow for the first time, you're prompted to create a connection between your workflow and the midrange system. After you create the connection, you can select your previously added HIDX file, the method to run, and the parameters to use.

Add an IBM i action

  1. In the Azure portal, open your Standard logic app resource and workflow in the designer.

  2. If you haven't already added a trigger to start your workflow, follow these general steps to add the trigger that you want.

    This example continues with the Request trigger named When a HTTP request is received.

    Screenshot shows Azure portal, Standard workflow designer, and Request trigger.

  3. To add an IBM i connector action, follow these general steps to add the IBM i Program Call built-in connector action named Call an IBM i Program.

  4. After the connection details pane appears, provide the following information, such as the host server name and IBM i system configuration information:

    Parameter Required Value Description
    Connection Name Yes <connection-name> The name for your connection
    Server certificate common name No <server-cert-common-name> The name of the Transport Security layer (TLS) certificate to use
    Code Page No <code-page> The code page number to use for converting text
    Password No <password> The optional user password for connection authentication
    Port Number Yes <port-number> The port number to use for connection authentication
    Server Name Yes <server-name> The server name
    Timeout No <timeout> The timeout period in seconds while waiting for responses from the server
    User Name No <user-name> The optional username for connection authentication
    Use TLS No True or false Secure the connection with Transport Security Layer (TLS).
    Validate Server certificate No True or false Validate the server's certificate.

    For example:

    Screenshot shows IBM i action's connection properties.

  5. When you're done, select Create New.

  6. After the action details pane appears, in the Parameters section, provide the required information:

    Parameter Required Value Description
    HIDX Name Yes <HIDX-file-name> Select the IBM i HIDX file that you want to use.
    Method Name Yes <method-name> Select the method in the HIDX file that you want to use.
    Advanced parameters No Varies This list appears after you select a method so that you can add other parameters to use with the selected method. The available parameters vary based on your HIDX file and the method that you select.

    For example:

    Select HIDX file and method

    Screenshot shows IBM i action with selected HIDX file and method.

    Select advanced parameters

    Screenshot shows IBM i action with all parameters.

  7. When you're done, save your workflow. On designer toolbar, select Save.

Test your workflow

  1. To run your workflow, on the workflow menu, select Overview. On the Overview toolbar, select Run > Run.

    After your workflow finishes running, your workflow's run history appears. Successful steps show check marks, while unsuccessful steps show an exclamation point (!).

  2. To review the inputs and outputs for each step, expand that step.

  3. To review the outputs, select See raw outputs.

Next steps