Release Information for Natural Version 9.3.3

This document covers the following topics:


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

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)

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

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.