Dynamic Interfaces

Starting with version 21.0, you can create dynamic interfaces from within the code itself, without having to predefine them in the interface generator. These interfaces use the file structure in XML or JSON files to determine the load order when loading data into the system. Likewise, data can exported to one of these file formats, with the data to be exported specified explicitly within the interface code. This allows you to import and export data without having to ensure that an appropriate interface exists in each Priority system.

Note: Decimal data in JSON files loaded into the system must always use a decimal point as the decimal separator, even if the decimal separator configured for the Priority system locale is a different symbol.

Special Load Parameters for Dynamic Interfaces

EXECUTE INTERFACE 'FORMNAME', 'msgfile', '-form', ['-L', 'link_file'], ['-stackerr', 'stackerr_file'], ['-w'], ['-ns'], ['-nl'], ['-nv'], ['-noskip'], [-ignorewrn], ['-enforcebpm'], ['-t'], [-J], ['-W'], [-m] ['-o' | '-ou'], ['-f', 'output_file'], ['-debug', 'debug_file'], ['-repeat'], ['-l', 'table_name1', 'link_file1' [, …'-l', table_name10', 'link_file10']],['-select', 'FIELDNAME'], ['-expand', 'SUBLEVELFORM'], ['-delete'], '-v';

  • 'FORMNAME' — The name of the form for which you are running the interface.
  • -form' – the use of this parameter indicates that this is a dynamic interface.
  • '-ignorewrn' – ignore warnings in a dynamic interface (similar to '-w').
  • '-J' – export data to a JSON file or import data from one. When omitted, the dynamic interface will export/import using XML files.
  • '-select', 'FIELDNAME' – when exporting data, use select to specify which fields to export. You can specify multiple fields, using commas to separate them, e.g. '-select', 'CUSTNAME', 'CUSTDES', and so forth.
    Note: EXECUTE is limited to a maximum of 100 arguments.
  • '-expand', 'SUBLEVELFORM' – when exporting data, use –expand to select sub-level forms from which you want to export data. After an expand, you can use select to specify which fields in the sub-level you want to export. You can specify multiple sub-level forms, but have to use –expand for each, e.g. '-expand', 'ORDERITEMS', '-expand', 'ORDERITEMSTEXT'.
  • '-delete' – When importing data, indicates that this dynamic interface can delete records.

Dynamic Interface Examples

Exporting Data

SELECT SQL.TMPFILE INTO :TMPFILE FROM DUMMY;
LINK ORDERS TO :TMPFILE;
GOTO 1 WHERE :RETVAL <= 0;
INSERT INTO ORDERS
SELECT * FROM ORDERS ORIG WHERE ORDNAME IN ('SO2000001364','SO2000001365');
EXECUTE INTERFACE 'ORDERS', '../../tmp/msg.txt', 
'-form', '-select', 'ORDNAME', 'CUSTNAME',
 '-ou', '-L', :TMPFILE, '-f', '../../tmp/o2.txt', '-J',
'-expand', 'ORDERITEMS', '-select', 'PRICE', 'PARTNAME', 
'-expand', 'ORDERITEMSTEXT';
UNLINK ORDERS;
LABEL 1;

In this example, we retrieve two specific orders, then export them to a JSON file (note the use of –J). We only export specific fields (as denoted by -select), and also export data from the ORDERITEMS sub-level and its sub-level of ORDERITEMSTEXT (as denoted by -expand).

If you do not uses -select to specify fields, all form fields will be exported. The following code exports all fields of ORDERS and the ORDERITEMS sublevel to an XML file. Only fields with values are exported.

EXECUTE INTERFACE 'ORDERS', '../../tmp/msg.txt', 
'-form', '-ou', '-L', :TMPFILE, '-f', '../../tmp/testxml.xml',
 '-expand', 'ORDERITEMS';

Importing Data

To import data using a dynamic interface, the file must be structured in a format that matches the Priority hierarchy (form > sub-level > sub-sub-level). Take the following XML file, named in1.txt, for example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FORM>
    <ORDERS>
        <CUSTNAME>84841</CUSTNAME>
        <ORDERITEMS>
            <PARTNAME>000</PARTNAME>
            <DUEDATE>07/11/20</DUEDATE>
        </ORDERITEMS>
        <ORDERITEMS>
            <PARTNAME>002</PARTNAME>
            <DUEDATE>07/11/20</DUEDATE>
        </ORDERITEMS>
    </ORDERS>
    <ORDERS>
        <CUSTNAME>84841</CUSTNAME>
        <ORDERITEMS>
            <PARTNAME>000</PARTNAME>
            <DUEDATE>08/11/20</DUEDATE>
        </ORDERITEMS>
        <ORDERITEMS>
            <PARTNAME>002</PARTNAME>
            <DUEDATE>08/11/20</DUEDATE>
        </ORDERITEMS>
    </ORDERS>
</FORM>

To load it using a dynamic interface, we would use the command:
EXECUTE INTERFACE 'ORDERS', '../../tmp/msg.txt', '-form', '-i', '-f', '../../tmp/in1.txt', '-ignorewrn', '-noskip';

In this case we use the –ignorewrn and –noskip options to ensure that data is loaded regardless of warning messages that crop up. We recommend adding these options if data isn't being loaded as expected. As in standard interfaces, warning and error messages are stored in the ERRMSGS table (unless you linked them to a STACKERR table). While developing in WINDBI, you can easily retrieve them by running the following query:

SELECT * FROM ERRMSGS WHERE USER = SQL.USER AND TYPE = 'i' FORMAT;

Deleting Data

When using the –delete option, the file needs to specify the keys of the records to be deleted. The following example is in JSON format:

{
"ORDERS": [
            {                              
            "ORDNAME": "SO0000001",
            "ORDERITEMS": [
                          {
                           "KLINE": 1
                           },
                          {
                            "KLINE": 3
                           }
                          ]
            },
            {
             "ORDNAME": "SO0000002",
             "ORDERITEMS": [
                           {
                           "KLINE": 1
                            },
                           {
                            "KLINE": 2
                            }
                           ]
             },
             ]
}