Features Added in Enterprise Test Server 2.3

This release provides enhancements in the following areas:

Database access

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This release provides the following enhancements to database access:

HCO for DB2 LUW
This release provides:
  • GUI versions of data migration tooling
  • A new tool that enables you to bind or rebind all packages. See BindAll Packages Tool for details.
HCO for SQL Server
This release provides:
  • Context Help is now provided for:
    • Options for HCO for SQL Server tools
    • Each tool in the HCO for SQL Server user interface
OpenESQL
ADO.NET Connection Editor
In this release:
  • The ADO.NET Connection Editor has been redesigned using a series of Wizards that guide you through the processes of adding, copying, and removing connections.
  • Context Help is now provided for the main window, and each Wizard page and dialog box.
Date/Time Processing
This release provides streamlined datetime processing for ODBC, ADO.NET, and JDBC.
PostgreSQL
In this release, PostgreSQL 9.4 has been tested with OpenESQL and OpenESQL Assistant using the following PostgreSQL software:
Server software
PostgreSQL EnterpriseDB version 9.4.4
Client software
  • psqlODBC driver version 09.03.04.00
  • JDBC41 PostgreSQL driver version 9.4-1201
  • Npgsql ADO.NET 4.0 driver version 2.2.5
PostgreSQL 9.4 has been tested with OpenESQL and OpenESQL Assistant on the following Windows platforms:
  • Windows 32-bit
  • Windows 64-bit
Note: Micro Focus provides compatibility for PostgreSQL but does not directly contribute to or support the PostgreSQL open source project. Any issues relating to PostgreSQL functionality should be addressed through an open source support vendor.
Mainframe Batch Database Tools (Technology Preview)
This release includes mainframe batch database tools (MBDT) that provide the following functionality for Oracle, DB2 LUW, and SQL Server agnostically, as well as specifically for HCO for SQL Server:
  • DSNTEP2
  • DSNUTILB LOAD
  • DSNUTILB UNLOAD
  • 32-bit and 64-bit support
  • New batch configuration utility
SQL Option for DB2
This release provides the following enhancements:
  • Initial support for XML data type in XDB Server, in addition to XDB Link
  • Better performance on table expressions and joins using literal strings
  • JDBC driver supports result set processing
  • SQL Wizard provides better LOB data type support
  • z/OS DB2 version 10:
    • Extended support for implicit casting
    • Greater timestamp precision for applications
    • Support for TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE
XA Switch Modules
In this release, the XA interface has been redesigned to provide:
  • Consistent look and feel for SQL Server, DB2, and Oracle user personalization
  • Consistent look and feel for both RM dynamic and static registration (SQL Server, DB2, Oracle, generic one-phase commit for ODBC)
  • Additional support for two instances of the same switch module using Web Services applications via the new XAID compiler directive
  • Using a specified XA resource only with batch applications executing under Enterprise Server

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

Environment variables

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The following new environment variables are available:

MFJ_REPRO_EMPTY
Enables or disables the ability for the IDCAMS REPRO action to copy from a pristine VSAM file. Permissible values: Y or N.
ES_JESYSMSG_RESTRICTED
When system message spool files are being routed directly to the Output queue, by using ES_JESYSMSG_OUTPUT, you can hold back spool files based on their class, by using ES_JESYSMSG_RESTRICTED. Permissible values: class names or numbers entered as a continuous string; for example, ES_JESYSMSG_RESTRICTED=ABC123.

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

File handling

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This release contains the following new configuration options:

ACUFH
Enables or disables the use of the ACU file handler (ACUFH), which is required to handle Vision and RM/COBOL indexed files.
ESACUFH
Enables or disables the use of the ACU file handler (ACUFH) for file handling operations running under Enterprise Server. ACUFH must also be enabled for this option to take effect.

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

iFileshare - Fileshare support under Enterprise Server (Technology Preview)

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Note: This is a technology preview feature only. It is being made available to allow you to test and provide feedback on this new capability; however, this feature is not intended for production use and it is not supported as such. Furthermore, Micro Focus does not guarantee that this feature will be delivered at a GA level and if it is, then the functionality provided might differ considerably from this technology preview.

Should you wish to test and provide feedback for this feature please contact Micro Focus Support Line for instructions on how to enable the new functionality.

You can configure iFileshare to offer enhanced availability for mission critical files by configuring a high availability group, consisting of a primary iFileshare server and a number of stand-by servers. (Currently, this type of configuration only supports having one stand-by server)

Files that are critical to your application can be replicated from a primary server onto the stand-by servers. Should the primary server fail, you have up-to-date data (minus any in-flight transactions) available.

To reduce the complexity and to increase the stability of an iFileshare high availability group, it is recommended that each region is configured as a dedicated iFileshare server. If other Enterprise Server work is hosted within the group, the setup must be consistent on each server so that in the event of a fail-over, the non-Fileshare work can be continued on the new primary server.

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

Mainframe compatibility

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  • IMS DBCS - Enterprise Server IMS support has been expanded to include applications that use double-byte character sets (DBCS). MFS EATTR=ECGS (full DBCS string without SOSI) is now supported.
  • Implement /DIS USER DEQUEUE - the /DEQUEUE USER command is now available to remove messages from the message queue to provide you with greater flexibility when managing IMS systems.

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

Micro Focus Infocenter

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The Micro Focus Infocenter Web site (http://documentation.microfocus.com) has been upgraded and now includes the following improvements:

  • Scope being persisted when you select a product documentation in the Product Documentation section on the Micro Focus SupportLine Web site and choose to view the documentation in the Micro Focus Infocenter.
  • Updated Scope settings - provides the ability to nest four levels deep when setting a scope.
  • Scope being persisted between browser sessions once it has been set.
  • Creating automatic scopes using the Search Topics icon, Search Topics.
  • A link to change the scope from the search results when there are too many results.
  • Improved Boolean search expressions.
  • Details included with the search results.
  • Help on how to use the Infocenter and how to construct search expressions - available using the Infocenter Help button, Infocenter Help.

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

Spooler housekeeping

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A new spooler housekeeping utility has been introduced (MVSSPLHK). It offers additional archiving functionality compared to the previous spooler housekeeping utility (MVSP0027), and can also be configured to run directly from a JCL job.

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

Transaction class (TRANCLASS) support

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Transaction class (TRANCLASS) support is no longer a technology preview feature, and is now a full release feature.

For more information see Related Information at the end of this topic.

Parent topic: New Features