This section describes the use of HTML to Natural, a program that enables you to convert an HTML page into a Natural subprogram for use with Natural Web Interface.
Using HTML to Natural to generate Natural code from an HTML page avoids you having to adapt HTML input to the conventions of Natural code. You can then move the "HTML-page-turned-subprogram" to the server, including all the other Natural program logic you have added. If you want to change the HTML page again, go back to your source, convert it and move it to the server again. This is much easier than writing HTML with a browser, moving it to the server, adding Natural program logic and reiterating the process if your HTML page changes.
This section covers the following topics:
If your basic web pages are designed with editing tools, it takes some effort to include such a page in a Natural subprogram that can be called from the Web.
"HTML to Natural" is a program that uses an HTML page as input and generates a Natural subprogram, which can be called by the Natural Web Server Extensions using the Natural Web Interface.
09:57:28 ***** HTML to Natural ***** 2005-02-14
- Main Menu - Library SYSWEB
Input File:
/nat/natc/vrs/samples/sysweb/*.htm_________________________________________
Output to Natural
Library .......... SYSWEB
Object type ...... N
Object ........... ________
Subroutine name .. ________________________________
Select HTML file for generation.
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Exit Class Test Opt. Save Canc
|
Below is information on:
| Key | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| PF1 | Help | Invokes the Help function for the field at which the cursor is positioned. |
| PF3 | Exit | Leaves the program and returns to the command line. |
| PF6 | Class | Starts the program that generates a DCOM Class. |
| PF9 | Test | Starts the Online Test Utility (see the relevant section). |
| PF10 | Opt. | Options. Specifies options for the generation process. |
| PF11 | Save | Saves the selected input and output files as default Natural parameters. |
| Next | Starts generating the program. | |
| ENTER |
To generate a subprogram/subroutine to be called direct from the
Web
Select your HTML page.
Close the Natural library you want to generate.
Select the object type you want to generate.
Select your Natural file name.
Start the generation.
After generation, you can call the Natural Web Interface to show the page.
If you use Natural on your HTML page, it is possible to specify your special Natural coding direct in the HTML page. After generation, the program needs no additional changes.
The HTML2NAT program can recognize a <NATURAL> tag.
All lines between <NATURAL> and
</NATURAL> will be copied, as they are, to the generated
Natural source object.
Appearance
<NATURAL> </NATURAL>
|
Below is information on:
Listed below are attributes provided to define coding sections that are to be moved within the program or excluded from the program.
| Attribute | Explanation |
|---|---|
| DATA | <NATURAL
DATA> or <NATURAL LDA> moves the defined section
to the DEFINE DATA LOCAL part of your program.
|
| LDA | |
| GDA | <NATURAL GDA> moves the defined section to
the DEFINE DATA GLOBAL part of your program.
|
| SUB | <NATURAL SUB> moves the defined section to
the end of the program. This enables you to specify inline subroutines.
|
| NOT | <NATURAL NOT> excludes the defined section
from the program. This enables you to specify the design of part of a page that
will be generated by a program.
|
Use the comment tag <!-- --> to hide the display of
defined sections of your coding. If you use the comment tag and
<NATURAL NOT>, you can display the predefined page with a
normal browser. This helps you to specify your page and replace parts of the
page dynamically.
With the current version of HTML2NAT, not only
<NATURAL> and </NATURAL> can be used but
also ASP-like (Active Server Page) script commands which are differentiated
from the text by using the <% and %>
delimiters.
The following Natural-specific directives must be used when writing a Natural subprogram:
<%= ... %> Short form for <% PERFORM W3HTML ... %> tag
<%SUB ... %> equal to the <NATURAL SUB> ... </NATURAL>
tag
<%GDA ... %>
equal to the <NATURAL GDA> ... </NATURAL>
tag
<%LDA ... %> equal to the <NATURAL LDA> ... </NATURAL>
tag
<%NOT ... %> equal to the <NATURAL NOT> ... </NATURAL>
tag
<%@ LANGUAGE=NATURAL %>
indicates that the used language is Natural.
HTML document:
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE> Example1 genNat </TITLE></HEAD><BODY><H2> Example1 genNat </H2><HR> <P>This is for your output </BODY></HTML>
Generated Natural subprogram:
* ----- SUBPROGRAM generated out of file: * ----- C:\example1.html DEFINE DATA PARAMETER USING W3PARM LOCAL USING W3CONST LOCAL * ----- PRIVATE VARIABLES ----- 1 W3VALUE (A250) END-DEFINE * * ----- ERROR HANDLER ----- ON ERROR PERFORM W3ERROR ##W3ERROR PERFORM W3END ##RPC ESCAPE ROUTINE END-ERROR * ----- INITIALIZE HTTP API ----- PERFORM W3INIT ##RPC * ----- HEADER FOR SERVER ----- PERFORM W3CONTENT-TYPE 'text/html' * * ----- MAIN PROGRAM ----- PERFORM W3TEXTLINE'<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE 'Example genNat' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE'</TITLE></HEAD><BODY><H2>' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE 'Example genNat' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '</H2><HR>' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '<P>This is for your output' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '</BODY></HTML> ' * ----- END HTTP API ----- PERFORM W3END ##RPC * ----- END MAIN PROGRAM ----- * * * ----- SUBROUTINES ----- END
HTML document:
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE> Example2 genNat </TITLE></HEAD><BODY><H2> Example2 genNat </H2><HR> <P>This is for your output <HR> <P>generated at: <NATURAL NOT> Time/Date </NATURAL> <NATURAL><!-- PERFORM DOTIME --></NATURAL> <NATURAL SUB><!-- DEFINE SUBROUTINE DOTIME COMPRESS *TIME *DATE INTO #VALUE PERFORM W3TEXTLINE #VALUE END-SUBROUTINE --></NATURAL> <NATURAL DATA><!-- 1 #VALUE (A30) --></NATURAL> </BODY></HTML>
Generated Natural subprogram:
* ----- SUBPROGRAM generated out of file: * ----- C:\example2.html DEFINE DATA PARAMETER USING W3PARM LOCAL USING W3CONST 1 #VALUE (A30) * ----- PRIVATE VARIABLES ----- 1 W3VALUE (A250) END-DEFINE * * ----- ERROR HANDLER ----- ON ERROR PERFORM W3ERROR ##W3ERROR PERFORM W3END ##RPC ESCAPE ROUTINE END-ERROR * ----- INITIALIZE HTTP API ----- PERFORM W3INIT ##RPC * ----- HEADER FOR SERVER ----- PERFORM W3CONTENT-TYPE 'text/html' * * ----- MAIN PROGRAM ----- PERFORM W3TEXTLINE'<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE 'Example2 genNat' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE'</TITLE></HEAD><BODY><H2>' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE 'Example2 genNat' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '</H2><HR>' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '<P>This is for your output' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '<HR>' PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '<P>generated at:' PERFORM DOTIME PERFORM W3TEXTLINE '</BODY></HTML>' * ----- END HTTP API ----- PERFORM W3END ##RPC * ----- END MAIN PROGRAM ----- * * * ----- SUBROUTINES ----- DEFINE SUBROUTINE DOTIME COMPRESS *TIME *DATE INTO #VALUE PERFORM W3TEXTLINE #VALUE END-SUBROUTINE END
Note:
The syntax of the Natural program will not be checked during
conversion.
14:04:47 ***** HTML to Natural ***** 2005-02-14
User SAG - Options - Library SYSWEB
HTML File
Delete unnecessary white space ............... _
Save <natural NOT>..</natural> at source ..... _
Generated Source
Stow after generation ........................ _
Natural line length .......................... 128
Default input file:
$NATDIR/$NATVER/SAMPLES/SYSWEB/*.HTM_______________________________________
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Exit Canc
|
Below is information on:
| Field | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Delete unnecessary white space |
If checked, multiple white-space characters such as blank, new
line, tab, will be reduced to a single white space. For special HTML tags such
as Default value: unchecked |
Save <NATURAL NOT> ... <NATURAL> in
Source
|
If checked, the content of Default value: unchecked |
| Stow after Generation |
If checked, the generated program will be stowed if the generation has been successful. Default value: checked |
| Natural Line Length |
The length of the generated Natural source lines: the minimum value is 20, the maximum 246. Default value: 72 |
| Default Input File |
The default input file to be used for the generation. Default value: /nat/natc/611/samples/sysexxt |
| Key | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ENTER | Leaves the program and saves the changes. | |
| PF3 | Exit | Returns to the command line. |
| PF12 | Canc | Leaves the program without saving your changes. |
This Test Utility is a component of the Natural Web Interface. You have the ability to check your subprogram locally without involving an HTTP server. The transfer parameters for your web page are transferred into the Test Utility and are posted directly to the business logic. As communication platform, you can choose either RPC or DCOM as in real remote communications. The result is either the web page expected or an error message. The web page can be viewed with the browser or a viewer of your choice. If you receive an error message, you can easily debug your business logic locally without writing an extra test routine. No remote debugging is needed.
Features:
Local application check.
No need for remote debugging.
Simplified error checking.
No need to write an extra test routine.
Below is information on:
To run the application
Start the program WEB-ONL.
Select a library and subprogram name.
Optional: add parameters.
Choose RPC or DCOM.
Press ENTER.
09:55:24 ***** Natural Web Online Test Utility ***** 2003-02-14
- Main Menu - Library SYSWEB
Library ............. SYSWEB__
Subprogram .......... NAT-ENV
DCOM/RPC ............ R
Output text object .. WEB-OUT_
Parameter
Name Value
1: _________________________ _______________________________________________
2: _________________________ _______________________________________________
3: _________________________ _______________________________________________
4: _________________________ _______________________________________________
5: _________________________ _______________________________________________
6: _________________________ _______________________________________________
7: _________________________ _______________________________________________
8: _________________________ _______________________________________________
9: _________________________ _______________________________________________
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Exit Canc
|
| Field | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Library | The library in which the required subprogram is stored. |
| Subprogram | The name of the required subprogram. |
| DCOM/RPC |
Can be selected with either DCOM or RPC as communication form. For DCOM, you have to register your classes first. Default: R |
|
Output Text |
The name of the Natural object of the type Text that stores the result of the generated web page. Default: WEB-OUT |
|
Parameter: |
Here you can enter the name-value-pairs needed from the subprogram. If you use server parameters, place an ampersand (&) in front of the variable name before you add the parameter to the parameter list. |
| Key | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ENTER | Runs the process of receiving the output of the requested subprogram. The status of the process is displayed in the message line at the bottom of the WEB-ONL program screen. | |
| PF3 | Exit | Leaves the Test Utility and returns to the command line. |
| PF12 | Canc | Cancel. Stops processing. |