EntireX IDL Tester

The IDL Tester is an easy-to-use utility to communicate with EntireX RPC Servers. It acts as an RPC client application, taking as input an IDL file. It is useful for testing extracted or generated artifacts such as the IDL file, XML mapping file for Web services, server mapping files Natural | COBOL etc. together with the RPC Server. It verifies the mapping of the data and all involved components up to the endpoint (RPC Server, Web Service, IBM MQ, etc.).

Note:
With the Java Wrapper you can also generate IDL-related test classes into a Java project. See Using the IDL Tester under Using the Java Wrapper.


Calling the IDL Tester

Start of instruction setTo call the IDL Tester

  • Select an IDL file, and from the context menu, choose Software AG IDL Tester. This launches the IDL Tester.

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The dialog contains fields for Broker ID and server address and buttons, a message area for general output and error messages, and a parameter area with the input and output parameters. The fields for the input parameters have a white background and the fields for the output parameters are disabled and have a gray background.

Broker ID and server address are displayed as specified in the properties of the IDL file; they can be modified. To modify the server address, it is sufficient to enter the server; RPC/CALLNAT will be added automatically.

Button Explanation
Call Perform the remote procedure call.
Ping Ping the broker and the RPC server.
Open Conversation Open a conversational RPC (only visible if no conversation is open).
Commit Conversation Close the conversational RPC and commit the conversation (only visible after Open Conversation).
Abort Conversation Close the conversational RPC and abort the conversation (only visible after Open Conversation).
Reset Reset the message area and the parameters.
Exit Exit the IDL Tester.

The bottom of the dialog contains text fields for the parameters of the Software AG IDL file. These fields are prefixed with the group level, field name and type. IN and INOUT parameters can be edited, OUT parameters cannot be modified. The fields for INOUT and OUT parameters are updated after a successful call. Array elements must be separated by a semicolon. The last array element behind a semicolon will be used to fill up the array completely, e.g. (I4/5) and value 1;2 results in 1;2;2;2;2, but value 1;2; results in 1;2;;;.

The File Menu contains the entries Options and Exit. The Options dialog allows setting user and password for the Broker Authentication. In addition, for communication with Natural RPC Server, the Natural library can be set and if Natural logon is enabled, user ID and password for RPC Authentication can be set.

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Start of instruction setTo execute the remote call via EntireX Broker

  • Use the Call button or press Return in one of the input parameter fields.

If the Broker returns errors (a BrokerException is thrown), the error message is displayed in the Messages area.

Start of instruction setTo ping the Broker and the RPC server

  • Use the Ping button.

Start of instruction setTo delete the entries in the message area and the parameter fields

  • Use the Reset button.

Using a Broker with EntireX Security

When using a Broker which runs with EntireX Security, modify user ID and password accordingly.

Using RPC Servers with Natural Security

When using Natural Security, enable Natural logon and set the user ID and the password.