New and Changed Features of Base Natural

Note:
The SYSEXV utility gives you access to examples of new features available in the current and in some earlier versions of Natural. SYSEXV is described in the Utilities documentation.

Customer Feature Requests for Base Natural

This is an overview of the customer feature requests submitted in the Brainstorm portal of Software AG's Empower web site at https://empower.softwareag.com/ and the enhancement proposals (EP) that have been implemented in base Natural:

Request Number Feature Request
00408 Limit the size of the environment-independent (shared) Natural nucleus: see Constant Natural Nucleus Size.
00955 Improve error messages issued by the PCHECK profile parameter to immediately locate the statements affected by parameter errors.

Solution:

Natural Version 8.2.3 introduced the PECK profile parameter which provides several options to adapt syntax error reporting to your needs.

For more information, see PECK - PCHECK/ECHECK Error Processing in the Parameter Reference documentation.

EP2380 Provide option for the LIST system command to check the settings of the MAINPR profile parameter: see LIST System Command.
EP4534 Retrieve the current settings of the DB parameter/NTDB macro to avoid database errors: see USR8211N in Application Programming Interfaces and New SHOWDBS Command to View Database Definitions.

See also Customer Feature Requests for Natural Add-On Products.

Operations and Performance

Constant Natural Nucleus Size

From this Natural version onwards, the environment-independent (shared) nucleus will no longer increase but kept at a constant maintenance size.

The new Natural features previously delivered with the nucleus by default are now supplied as separate selectable units that can be implemented on demand only by using the new SELUNIT profile parameter.

PARSE XML Support for Architecture Level 9 on z/OS and z/VSE

The PARSE XML statement now supports the IBM hardware architecture level 9 on z/OS and z/VSE platforms.

Architecture levels employ instructions available with IBM hardware facilities that significantly improve performance. Under heavy workload, you can expect an increase in performance of between 10 and 20 percent when using level 9.

For more information on architecture levels, see the related literature from IBM.

For the required changes to installation, see the appropriate installation steps for z/OS and z/VSE in Installation for REQUEST DOCUMENT and PARSE XML Statements in the Installation documentation.

Print Data in a Remote JES Environment

You can now use the write-to-spool file feature to route data through a remote JES node and send it to a user or print it on a device defined in the remote JES environment. For more information, see Using the Write-to-Spool Feature in the Operations documentation.

Operating System Interfaces

Support for Files on Remote BS2000/OSD Net Storage

Natural can now allocate files contained on remote Network Attached Storage servers and process them as Natural print files and work files. Prerequisite: BS2000/OSD V9.0 (or above) must be installed at your site.

For more information, including JCL samples, see Using Net Storage Files as Natural Print and Work Files in the Operations documentation.

Unicode and Code Page Support

ICU Version Upgrade

The ICU (International Components for Unicode) version has been upgraded to ICU Version 53.1 which supports Unicode Version 6.3.

The improvements in ICU Version 53.1 include performance enhancements for string comparison, for example, the comparison of Unicode and alpha fields in an IF statement.

For a summary of all changes in ICU Version 53.1 and Unicode Version 6.3, see the Download ICU 53 website at http://site.icu-project.org/download/53 and the Unicode 6.3.0 website at http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode6.3.0/, respectively.

See also New ICU Data Modules.

Support for Dynamic Loading of ICU Data Items

ICS (International Components for Unicode for Software AG) Version 1.4.1 now supports dynamic loading of single ICU data items during runtime. An ICU data item, for example, is a converter or a collator used for collation services.

As a result, you no longer have to use the extended ICSDT53X data module or create your own data module, but rather load only the data items required in your Natural session.

For more information, see ICU Data Items in the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.

For the resulting changes in installation, see the appropriate installation steps for z/OS, z/VSE and BS2000/OSD in Installing International Components for Unicode for Software AG in the Installation documentation.

Support for the Arabic Shaped Format

Since Natural Version 8.2.3, Natural Arabic characters are internally represented in the unshaped format instead of the shaped format. If you want to keep the shaped format of Arabic characters produced in a previous Natural version, apply the contiguous special-purpose Zaps listed in under Compatibility.

For more information on Arabic shaping, see the relevant section in the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.

Programming Language

Statements

PROCESS PAGE and ESCAPE Statements

The statements ESCAPE TOP and ESCAPE BOTTOM are no longer applied to the PROCESS PAGE MODAL processing block.

The statements ESCAPE TOP and ESCAPE BOTTOM are designed to interrupt the flow of a processing loop. Since the statements PROCESS PAGE MODAL and END-PROCESS form a processing block (and not a processing loop), the ESCAPE statement is no longer applied to the PROCESS PAGE MODAL processing block.

If an ESCAPE statement is encountered during processing of a PROCESS PAGE MODAL block, the execution of the processing block is terminated and the ESCAPE processing continues as defined.

System Commands

Note:
The sections indicated for more information are contained in the System Commands documentation, unless otherwise noted.

New SHOWDBS Command to View Database Definitions

The new system command SHOWDBS system provides the option to view database-specific information defined with the DB profile parameter or corresponding NTDB macro.

New SHOWSU Command to View Selectable Units

The new SHOWSU system command provides the option to view all selectable units available in your Natural environment, and the selectable units that have been activated with the SELUNIT profile parameter.

Note:
Selectable units are not yet available; they are planned for future delivery.

COMPOPT System Command

Syntax Check between the Mainframe and UNIX or Windows

The COMPOPT system command now provides the LUWCOMP option to check whether the syntax of features introduced in Natural for Mainframes Version 8.2 is also valid for Natural for UNIX Version 8.3 and Natural for Windows Version 8.3. If any inconsistencies are detected during compilation, Natural returns an appropriate syntax error.

For more information, see LUWCOMP - Disallow Syntax Not Available on UNIX or Windows.

V41COMP and V42COMP Options no longer available

Effective with this Natural version, the V41COMP and V42COMP compiler options of the COMPOPT system command are no longer supported. These compiler options were used to disallow Natural Version 8.2 programming language enhancements for compatibility with Natural Version 4.1 (V41COMP) or Version 4.2 (V42COMP).

LIST System Command

New Option to Override the Default Output Report

The LIST system command now provides the option to use the MAINPR profile parameter to override the default output report number. For this reason, you can specify the new LIST parameter USEMAINPR in the settings for the LIST command and set the new LIST profile parameter USE-MAINPR to determine the default MAINPR setting to be used.

For more information, see USEMAINPR in the section Settings and USE-MAINPR in the section List Profile Parameters.

Object Directory now with GDA Timestamps

The LIST DIRECTORY system command now also shows the GDA (global data area) timestamps of a cataloged object and the timestamp of the GDA used by the object.

For more information, see Displaying Directory Information.

SYSPROD System Command

The SYSPROD system command now provides the SU line command/keyword to view all Natural features that have been activated as selectable units with the new SELUNIT profile parameter.

SYSRPC System Command

The SYSRPC system command now provides the SM REPLACE option to replace single or multiple items maintained in the service directory of the SYSRPC utility.

Editors

Note:
The sections indicated for more information are contained in the Editors documentation, unless otherwise noted.

Map Editor

The map editor no longer supports the following functions:

  • Migration of Maps Created with KAPRI

    (used to migrate maps created with Natural Version 3.1 and KAPRI (a product by Beacon IT)) and

  • Outline Editor

    (used to create boxes for map fields).

Utilities

Note:
The sections indicated for more information are contained in the Utilities documentation, unless otherwise noted.

Profiler Utility

The Profiler utility can now be used to trace and analyze Natural batch applications. Statistics and event traces are provided in the batch output. The event data is saved in a resource file and can be analyzed by the NaturalONE Profiler.

For detailed information, see Profiler Utility.

SYSRPC Utility

The SYSRPC utility is a subcomponent of Natural RPC: see SYSRPC Utility in Natural RPC.

SYSTP Utility

The Natural SYSTP utility no longer provides the Multi Session function used by Natural IMS TM Interface.

Profile Parameters

Note:
The sections indicated for more information are contained in the Parameter Reference documentation, unless otherwise noted.

New Profile Parameters

Parameter

Corresponding
Macro

Task Description
PDPSIZE NTPRM Size of the Profiler Data Pool Determines the size of the Profiler data pool required for the NaturalONE Profiler and the Profiler utility (see the Utilities documentation) in batch mode.

For information on the NaturalONE Profiler, see the relevant section in the NaturalONE documentation at http://documentation.softwareag.com/.

RNCONST NTPRM Renumber Line Numbers in Constants Renumbers the line-number references in alphanumeric and Unicode constants within a Natural source.
SELUNIT NTPRM Activate Selected Natural Features Replaces the PLUGIN profile parameter: see SELUNIT Parameter below.
SKEY NTPRM Storage Key for Program Execution

This profile parameter can now also be used in a CICS environment: see Support for CICS Storage Keys.

SELUNIT Parameter

The SELUNIT profile parameter provides the option to use only particular Natural features supplied with a new Natural version instead of completely upgrading Natural.

SELUNIT activates single or multiple selectable units provided to support the new features.

You can use the new SHOWSU system command to view all selectable units available and active in your environment. You can also use the new SU line command/keyword of the SYSPROD system command to view all active selectable units.

Selectable units are not yet available. They are planned for a future release of Natural.

Changed/Enhanced Profile Parameters

Parameter

Corresponding
Macro

Task Change/Enhancement
CFICU NTCFICU Unicode and Code Page Support Load Method for ICU Data Items

The new DATITEM keyword subparameter determines the method to load ICU data items under CICS and Com-plete.

See also Support for Dynamic Loading of ICU Data Items.

CMPO NTCMPO Compilation Options Platform-specific Syntax Check

The new LUWCOMP keyword subparameter detects syntax inconsistencies between Natural for Mainframes and Natural for UNIX or Natural for Windows: see also COMPOPT System Command.

V41COMP and V42COMP Options Removed

The V41COMP and V42COMP options are no longer supported.

DB2 NTDB2 Parameters for SQL Database Management Interfaces Alternative SQL Date Format for Natural SQL Gateway

The new NSBDATE keyword subparameter is used to represent SQL date strings in DD.MM.YYYY format.

IMSPE NTIMSPE Environment Parameters for Natural IMS TM Interface Multi-Session Subparameters Removed

The following keyword subparameters have been removed from the NTIMSPE macro: MSACTV, MSCMPTB, MSCRKEY, MSRSKEY, MSDBD and MSMAX.

IMSPT NTIMSPT Transaction Definitions for Natural IMS TM Interface Multi-Session Subparameter Removed

The MSPCB keyword subparameter has been removed from the NTIMSPT macro.

PLUGIN NTPRM Enable the Natural Plug-In Components This profile parameter has been replaced by the SELUNIT profile parameter.
RPC NTRPC Remote-Procedure-Call Settings Highest EntireX API Version for z/VSE

The ACIVERS keyword subparameter is no longer required on z/VSE: see Highest EntireX API Version Now Used on z/VSE.

SKEY NTPRM Storage Key for Program Execution Changed Default Setting

The default setting has changed from ON to OFF to protect storage by default.

Important:
If you run Natural under Com-plete and have storage keys other than the keys 8 and 9 assigned to your Com-plete threads, we strongly recommend that you set SKEY=ON to avoid performance degradation. This is likely to be the problem when you use the Software AG Editor, for example, in connection with Natural ISPF.

Application Programming Interfaces

The following Natural application programming interfaces (APIs) in the SYSEXT system library are new:

API Task Enhancement
USR8211N Get database type and options This new API returns database-specific information as defined with the Natural profile parameter DB or corresponding NTDB macro.
USR8214N Get or set ACBUSER token for Adabas calls This new API gets or sets a token in the ACBUSER field (user area) of the Adabas control block during Adabas calls. The ACBUSER field can then be used as a selection criteria for Adabas Review reports.

See also the new or changed APIs specific to Natural CICS Interface, Natural RPC and Natural Security.