This document covers the following topics:
The following new features are available with this version:
The following parameters are now available:
| Parameter | Description | 
|---|---|
| SHAPED | This new session and profile parameter controls conversion of unshaped characters to correctly display text in a bidirectional language format. | 
This version of Natural supports the use of the DMExpress Syncsort Version 9.1 and IRI CoSort libraries. To use these libraries, you have to link them to your Natural nucleus as described in Re-Linking a Natural Nucleus in the Installation documentation.
For CoSort libraries, please ensure the Runtime Monitoring is set
                  				to (level 0). Steps involved can be found in Cosort Version 9.5
                     				Overview Booklet under the System Tuning section.
                  				Once linked to your Natural nucleus, you can use Syncsort or CoSort options
                  				when issuing a SORT statement. 
               
Refer to Using
                     				External Sort Programs in the section SORT in
                  				the Statements documentation for further details. 
               
There are two additional Natural docker use cases available:
Natural with Applinx
Natural with Applinx and Natural Security (NSC)
For detailed information see Building a Natural Docker Image in the Installation documentation.
The following changes and enhancements are available with this version:
The Adabas multi-fetch functionality is now also supported for the
                  				database type ADA2. For detailed information refer to
                  				MULTI-FETCH Clause
                     				 in section Accessing Data in an Adabas
                     				Database of the Programming Guide
                  				documentation.
               
Note:
The following only applies when using Natural for
                     				UNIX as a development
                     				server and NaturalONE as a client. 
                  
Starting with Natural Version 9.1.2., all types of data area
                  				sources (local, parameter and global) will be saved using the DEFINE
                     				DATA format. This means that a data area source only consists of a
                  				DEFINE DATA statement followed by data definitions and comments.
                  				
               
For details refer to DEFINE DATA in the Statements documentation. For further recommendations, please refer to Data Area Editor in the Editors documentation.
Natural Development Server is released with the same version number as Natural for UNIX. In addition, the following has been enhanced:
It is now possible to establish SSL-secured connections to Natural Development (NDV) servers (running on version 9.1.2 or above).
Natural RPC (Remote Procedure Call) is available as a separate subcomponent of Natural. It has its own version number. This measure takes into account that Natural RPC is a cross-platform component and makes it possible to provide new Natural RPC versions independent of new Natural versions for the various platforms supported.
With Natural Version 9.1.2, an enhanced Natural RPC Version 9.1.2 is delivered. This version contains error corrections. New functionality is not provided.
The following enhancements are provided with Natural Security Version 9.1.2:
The Administrator Services general option Maximum Number of Logon Attempts has been changed: its maximum value, which used to be "5", is now "9". The default value continues to be "5".
Remember that the setting of this option also applies to the
                  				following application programming interfaces: NSC---P,
                  				NSC--PH, NSC---SP, NSC----P and
                  				NSC--PHS.
               
The Administrator Services general option
                  				Lock User
                        				Option provides an additional value "Z". It corresponds
                  				to "X" - in addition, the following applies: If the user ID corresponding to
                  				the value of the Natural system variable *INIT-USER is locked, the
                  				Natural session cannot be started with any user ID (neither with
                  				AUTO=ON nor with AUTO=OFF). 
               
The value for the user profile component Change password after nnn days can now be pre-defined in the User Preset Values section of Administrator Services.
Two enhancements to Administrator Services Authentication Options:
User authentication via an LDAP server is now also possible for the Natural Development Server.
The components of the LDAP security profile provide a new option Start TLS connection. It can be used to attempt to set up an encrypted communication over the plain LDAP port if the LDAP server supports this.
The application programming interface
                  				NSCADM has
                  				been enhanced and can now be used to also process logon/countersign error
                  				records.
               
The SECLOAD
                  				program for loading Natural Security data provides a new option
                  				Expire passwords for loaded user profiles. It can be used
                  				to enforce a password expiration for all loaded user profiles (user types A, P,
                  				M), which means that these users will have to change their passwords at the
                  				next logon.
               
The following documentation changes have been applied with this version:
The section Using Natural SQL
                     				Statements and the descriptions of the
                  				DELETE,
                  				INSERT,
                  				SELECT and
                  				UPDATE SQL
                  				statements have been revised with this release.
               
The following will be changed in upcoming releases of Natural:
With an upcoming release of Entire Access, we will discontinue the support of the database servers Informix and Sybase. No new features, patches or updates related to Informix and Sybase will then be provided any longer. Only updates and patches that have been developed already will still be available.
Any concern regarding the discontinuation of this support, please address to your global support organization.