Release Information for Natural Version 9.3.3

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# Release Information for Natural Version 9.3.3

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

- PROFILER Parameter

- Natural Security

- Application Programming Interfaces

- Syntax and Compiler Enhancements

### PROFILER Parameter

A new `FLAGS` subparameter has been added. It is related to improved time measurement. For details, see Parameter Reference > PROFILER - Profile a Natural Session.

### Natural Security

The following enhancements are provided with Natural Security Version 9.3.3:

- New Authentication Options (LDAP)
- Password and Cipher Code

#### New Authentication Options (LDAP)

With the new LDAP authentication options, a user defined in Natural Security can be allowed to use the session if LDAP authentication fails.

- New authentication types in the list of Authentication Options:

  `M3` = master profile - active - Natural Security authentication if LDAP fails.

  `A3` = alternative profile - active - Natural Security authentication if LDAP fails.

  For details, see Natural Security > Invoking LDAP Security Profile Maintenance.

- New value for the Protection level option:

  `3` = Same as protection level `1`, except if LDAP authentication fails, then the user will be authenticated further with Natural Security.

  For details, see Natural Security > Components of an LDAP Security Profile.

#### Password and Cipher Code

For the FUSER and FDIC library files, each entered value in the Password and Cipher code fields is now masked with an asterisk (*). This prevents unauthorized access or exposure of sensitive information. For details, see Natural Security > Library File.

### Application Programming Interfaces

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

API | Task | Enhancement
--- | --- | ---
`USR1055N` | List objects in a library | The API now supports object names containing special (non-ASCII) characters. If the processed library contains objects with such names, set the `V4-SPEC-CHAR` parameter to `Y`.
`USR2023N` | Get type of database | The API now provides the following additional optional parameters: `DB-FCTLEVEL` - The database functional level (output). `DB-PARMTYPE` - The database type as given with the Type setting in the DB assignment (output). `DB-TYPELONG` - The long name of the database type (output). `DB-ENTRIES` - The number of DBID entries to be processed (input). Default/maximum: 257. The example program `USR2023P` now lists the new output values.
USR4206N | List objects in a library | The API now supports object names containing special (non-ASCII) characters. If the processed library contains objects with such names, set the `V3-SPEC-CHAR` parameter to `Y`. As expected, the API now returns all objects in the given range when `OPT-TYPE-OP='I'` and `OPT-TYPE='*'` are set.

### Syntax and Compiler Enhancements

- XRef Data Generation Adapted for NaturalONE Private-mode Libraries
- Enhanced PARSE XML Statement
- Add Edit Mask to WRITE WORK FILE Statement
- Label and Line Number for END-XXX Statement
- New END-SUBROUTINE Label for DEFINE SUBROUTINE Statement
- TO Option for READ BY ISN Statement
- New System Variable *UUID

#### XRef Data Generation Adapted for NaturalONE Private-mode Libraries

Natural for Windows, Linux, and Natural Development Server version 9.3.3 no longer produce redundant XRef data generated for NaturalONE private-mode libraries. XRef data is now only generated for shared mode libraries.

#### Enhanced PARSE XML Statement

The `PARSE XML` statement has been enhanced by a `GIVING` error code clause.

You can now receive the 4-digit Natural error number when a runtime error occurs. If that error contains different reason codes, a subcode is provided alongside the error number.

For more information, see PARSE XML in the Statements documentation.

#### Add Edit Mask to WRITE WORK FILE Statement

You can now define an edit mask for `operand1` of a `WRITE WORK FILE` statement.

For more information, see `WRITE WORK FILE` in the Statements documentation.

#### Label and Line Number for END-XXX Statement

You can now specify labels or line numbers in structured mode when ending the following statements:

`CALL FILE`
`CALL LOOP`
`FIND`
`FOR`
`HISTOGRAM`
`PARSE JSON`
`PARSE XML`
`READ/BROWSE`
`READLOB`
`READ RESULT SET` (SQL)
`READ WORK FILE`
`REPEAT`
`SELECT` (SQL)
`SORT`

For more information about ending these statements, see the Statements documentation.

#### New END-SUBROUTINE Label for DEFINE SUBROUTINE Statement

The `END-SUBROUTINE` clause of the `DEFINE SUBROUTINE` statement has been enhanced by an optional `END-SUBROUTINE` label.

You can use this label to improve the readability of a program by placing it after the `END-SUBROUTINE` clause of a subroutine. For more information, see DEFINE SUBROUTINE Syntax Description in the Statements documentation.

#### TO Option for READ BY ISN Statement

The `READ BY ISN` statement has been adapted for use with the `TO` option.

With the `TO` option, you can now specify an end ISN value in the `READ BY ISN` statement. Natural will receive records until it reaches the specified end ISN value. For more information, see `READ BY ISN` in the Statements documentation.

#### New System Variable *UUID

A new system variable `*UUID` has been introduced that provides a global user ID. For more information, see *UUID in the System Variables documentation.

### On this page

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