Release Information for Natural Version 9.3.2

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# Release Information for Natural Version 9.3.2

This document covers the following topics:

- Strategy Regarding the Legacy-Unix Platforms

- Changes and Enhancements

## Strategy Regarding the Legacy-Unix Platforms

We would like to inform you that, after a detailed analysis & assessment, Software AG has decided to adjust its strategy regarding the Legacy-Unix platforms HP-UX®, AIX® and Solaris®. With many of our customers already departed from or soon planning to depart their Legacy-Unix platforms due to cost and technical reasons, Software AG has decided Linux x86 will be its strategic open systems platform for Adabas & Natural 2050+ going forward. This will allow Software AG to focus more resources on this platform and maximize the overall value to our customer base.

The end-of-maintenance date (EOM) for our support of the Legacy-Unix platforms is December 31, 2024. For the period from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025 Software AG will offer options for non-standard sustained support on the Legacy-Unix platforms for customers who are unable to rehost by the regular EOM date. Both dates apply to all Software AG A&N products (excluding CONNX, which will still be available on Legacy-Unix).

This will provide you sufficient time to rehost your Software GmbH applications from the Legacy-Unix platform to your preferred Linux x86 platform(s). we recommend one of the following rehosting options:

- RedHat Enterprise Linux®

- SUSE Linux Enterprise

Please be assured that Software AG is prepared to offer assistance in planning and executing your rehosting from the Legacy-Unix platform to an alternative platform.

Following the principles of our "A&N 2050+ Initiative", your rehosting project will be a high priority to Software AG. Our local Software AG teams will be happy to discuss any rehosting topic with you.

If you have any questions regarding the Adabas & Natural platform roadmap, please do not hesitate to contact Adabas & Natural Product Management (e-mail: A&N-ProdMgmt@softwareag.com).

For the Adabas & Natural products on the Legacy-Unix platforms HP-UX®, AIX® and Solaris® we currently plan the following final versions:

| Final Version (GA) | EOM | EOSS
--- | --- | --- | ---
Adabas HP-UX® | 6.7.0, October 2018 | 31.12.2024 | 31.12.2025
Adabas AIX® and Solaris® | 7.0, October 2020 | 31.12.2024 | 31.12.2025
Natural HP-UX® | 9.1.1, October 2018 | 31.12.2024 | 31.12.2025
Natural AIX® and Solaris® | 9.1.3, April 2021 | 31.12.2024 | 31.12.2025

## Changes and Enhancements

- Buffer Pool with Enhanced Performance

- New API for LDAP Security Profiles

- SSL/TLS Security for Debug Attach Server for NaturalONE

- Application Programming Interfaces

- Syntax and Compiler Enhancements

- Utilities

### Buffer Pool with Enhanced Performance

The read/write buffer pool can now be used on its own in performance-critical environments.

For details about the buffer pool with enhanced performance, see Operations > Natural Buffer Pool > Buffer Pool with Enhanced Performance.

### New API for LDAP Security Profiles

The new application programming interface NSCSSXMN allows you to archive and revive LDAP security profiles.

For details, see Natural Security > Application Programming Interfaces.

### SSL/TLS Security for Debug Attach Server for NaturalONE

You can now start the debug attach server with SSL/TLS security. You can configure the SSL/TLS security with the `DBGAT` parameter.

For more information about debugging an external Natural application with NaturalONE, see Parameter Reference > DBGAT - Debug Attach Server for NaturalONE.

For detailed information on how to debug external Natural applications, see the NaturalONE documentation.

### Application Programming Interfaces

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

API | Task | Enhancement
--- | --- | ---
`USR2071N` | Support EntireX Security on client side | The example program `USR2071P` has been enhanced with the option to enter the User ID and/or the Broker ID in mixed case or not. This is implemented on Linux and Windows only. The functionality of the API `USR2071N` is not affected.
`USR4214N` | Add API `USR4214N` in Linux | Added API `USR4214N` which was missing on Linux. This API will give detailed information about the active objects.

### Syntax and Compiler Enhancements

- Enhanced Error Messages Indicating Position of Parameter
- GDA (Global Data Area) timestamp value replaced with hash signature
- More detailed error handling for MOVE BY NAME and MOVE BY POSITION
- New PARSE JSON Statement

#### Enhanced Error Messages Indicating Position of Parameter

When a parameter provided in an `INPUT USING MAP`, `CALLNAT`, or `PERFORM` external subroutine does not correspond to a parameter in the called object, an error with the position number of the parameter in error shows.

The error text now also includes the field name of the parameter variable. The variable name is only available at compile time when the `PCHECK` compiler option is set to `ON`. If the external subroutine is received at runtime, the error text does not include the field name.

This change affects the first insert position in the following error messages: NAT0936, NAT0937, NAT0938, NAT0648, NAT0965, NAT0966, NAT0969.

#### GDA (Global Data Area) timestamp value replaced with hash signature

The Natural compiler has been improved to generate an internal hash signature for Natural objects instead of the former timestamp value. The hash signature is generated based on the Natural object structure and remains the same for Natural objects of the same structure whenever compiled.

With this enhancement, the GDA's signature remains the same throughout multiple compiles, provided no structural changes were done in a GDA. As a result, Natural objects using GDA's only need to be re-compiled if there is a change in GDA signature due to a GDA structure change.

The new behavior is more consistent with the documented behavior and has the advantage for developers that fewer object compilations are required. This change also results in error message "NAT0925: GDA signature conflict" being returned, instead of "NAT0933: GDA time-stamp conflict."

#### More detailed error handling for MOVE BY NAME and MOVE BY POSITION

The Natural compiler has been improved to also display mismatching field names of a MOVE BY NAME or MOVE BY POSITION statement. The new error message NAT0321 has been introduced:

    NAT0321 Error :1: in :2: processing fields :3:.

Parameter :1: is filled with the underlying error (e.g. 300 for “Operands are not data transfer compatible.”)

Parameter :2: is filled with statement MOVE BY NAME or MOVE BY POSITION

Parameter :3: is filled with the field name or pair of fields causing the error

Error finding in large structures will be speed up with the additional information.

#### New PARSE JSON Statement

The new `PARSE JSON` statement allows you to parse JSON documents from a Natural program. For more information, see `PARSE JSON` in Statements.

### Utilities

- Administering the Natural Buffer Pool Monitor (NATBPMON)
- Object Handler

#### Administering the Natural Buffer Pool Monitor (NATBPMON)

The `NATBPMON` administrator can now always invoke the utility. If the maximum buffer pool user limit is reached, the administrator accesses the utility as an emergency user.

#### Object Handler

The Data area format of the Transfer options is enhanced with the value ‘D’ to convert data areas to the `DEFINE DATA` format. For more information, see the enhanced DA-FORMAT of the Keyword Explanation of transfer-options described in option-setting.

### On this page

- Strategy Regarding the Legacy-Unix Platforms
- Changes and Enhancements