With ClearPath ePortal, you can quickly modernize the look and feel of many ClearPath server applications. Once a presentation project is created in ClearPath ePortal Developer, it can be deployed on a ClearPath ePortal Web Cluster. Refer to the ClearPath ePortal Implementation and Operations Guide for a complete description of the total product. The following elements make up the product.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| ClearPath ePortal Developer | A Visual Studio plug-in that enables you to capture the interfaces of existing ClearPath server applications into a data source project and orchestrate the flow of data between the newly designed Web interfaces or Web services and the existing mainframe application. The ClearPath ePortal data source project is then used to create the contents of the presentation projects. The plug-in uses Visual Studio conventions. |
| ClearPath ePortal Management Website | A browser-based point-and-click management environment that automates the processes required to deploy, configure, and manage applications on ePortal Web Partitions. |
| ClearPath ePortal Web Partition | An environment used to export ClearPath applications and data in an industry-standard technology, for example, HTML/Web Service. |
| ClearPath ePortal Web Cluster | A web partition or clustered set of web partitions that functions and is managed as a single "virtual" server. All web partitions in a set share the same applications and configuration information. |
The General Modernization Process
Follow this general process to modernize an existing ClearPath server application:
Plan the new interface by deciding the presentation method and the functions that the new interface needs to perform. The new interface does not have to include all the functionality of the existing ClearPath server application. For example, you might want to create a Web service for inventory inquiry. The new interface and current interface to the ClearPath server application can work concurrently. Refer to the ClearPath ePortal Implementation and Operations Guide for information on planning the new interface.
Use ClearPath ePortal Developer to do the following. Refer to Preparing to Use ClearPath ePortal Developer for more detailed information about the steps.
Create an ePortal data source project.
If necessary, create the data flow logic using the orchestration functionality.
Create the appropriate ePortal presentation project or projects.
Test the ePortal presentation project or projects locally.
Stage the presentation or presentations to the ClearPath server.
Use ClearPath ePortal Manager to deploy the staged new presentation on the appropriate ClearPath ePortal Web Cluster.
Basic Facts
An ePortal data source project contains server messages, client messages, and logic for each client message received from a client. All of the logic is referred to as an orchestration.
The client messages of a data source project can be used to populate one or more ePortal presentation projects. Refer to Getting Ready to Build a New Presentation Project.
If an orchestration cannot be designed to facilitate multiple ePortal presentation types, another data source project must be created, and an appropriate ePortal presentation or presentations created, and populated with the data of the client messages of the new data source project.
Identifying an Output Server Message
Whenever ePortal receives output data from the ClearPath server, ePortal must map this data to a particular ePortal server message.
For some output server message types, the output data stream contains a separate protocol item that identifies the particular data received, in addition to the message data itself. In this case, ePortal can automatically find the correct ePortal server message to use. The following are the server message types in which the output data stream contains a separate protocol item that identifies the data:
Server messages created with the OS 2200 Open DTP View Data Source Wizard.
For information on preparing to use the OS 2200 open DTP view data source wizard, refer to Preparing to Use the OS 2200 Open DTP Data Source Wizards
Server messages created with the OS 2200 Open DTP X_OCTET Data Source Wizard
For information on preparing to use the OS 2200 open DTP X_OCTET data source wizard, refer to Preparing to Use the OS 2200 Open DTP Data Source Wizards
Server messages created with the AB Suite/EAE Ispec Import dialog box.
For information on preparing to use the AB Suite/EAE Ispec import dialog box, refer to Preparing to Use the AB Suite/EAE Ispec Import Dialog
For all other cases, the output data stream does not contain a separate protocol item to identify the correct ePortal server message to use. Instead, the application developer must provide additional information so that ePortal can find the correct ePortal server message. Refer to one of the following topics for more information on planning the data identification strategy: