Net.Data Language Environment Reference

Creating a New Language Environment

Net.Data uses language environments as pluggable programming language and database interfaces, accessed as DLL files or shared libraries. Net.Data provides a set of language environments, but when these do not meet your applications needs, you can create new language environments. Before you decide to create a new language environment, determine if the IBM-supplied language environments that are shipped with Net.Data satisfy your needs.

When you decide to create a new language environment, then you must complete the following steps:

• Determine what interfaces and functions you must provide for the language environment. The dtw_execute() interface must be provided, and all provided interfaces must match exactly the prototypes that are defined in the dtwle.h C language header.

• Create a makefile or JCL to build the DLL or shared library.

• Build a DLL or shared library that implements the set of language environment interface routines you want to provide. See the C or C++ documentation for your operating system to learn how to create makefiles and build DLLs or shared libraries.

• Make all interfaces externally available from the DLL or shared library so Net.Data can call them.

• Determine your ENVIRONMENT configuration statement, then add it to the Net.Data initialization file. See Designing the Language Environment Statement for details.

• Add functions to the Net.Data macro file that uses the new language environment.

This chapter describes how to design the language environment.

• Designing a DLL or Shared Library

• Language Environment Communication Structures

• Language Environment Interface Functions

• Designing the Language Environment Statement