Tutorial: Accessing IBM WebSphere MQ features using PL/I programs

Shows you how to use WebSphere MQ features via PL/I programs run in Visual Studio.

Prerequisites

Review the Assumptions and Before you begin a tutorial sections in the Tutorials: Open PL/I topic to ensure that your Enterprise Developer environment is set up properly. In addition, you need to install and configure the IBM WebSphere MQ and DB2 LUW environments, and build a DB2 XA connector:

Install WebSphere MQ
For a list of supported WebSphere MQ versions, see the Middleware section of the Supported Operating Systems and Third-party Softwaretopic. For specific instructions on installing WebSphere MQ, see your IBM documentation.
Configure WebSphere MQ
Before you can run the demonstration application for this tutorial, you must create an MQ test queue manager and a queue. We have provided a Windows batch file, createmq.bat, to assist you with this task. The file is located in the %PUBLIC%\Documents\Micro Focus\Enterprise Developer\Samples\PLI-VS\MQSDEMO. To run the batch file:
  1. Start a Windows command prompt as an administrator.
  2. Change to the %PUBLIC%\Documents\Micro Focus\Enterprise Developer\Samples\PLI-VS\MQSDEMO directory.
  3. Enter the following: 
    createmq.bat WSTEST.QM
    Note: WSTEST.QM is the default name for the queue manager and the name used in this tutorial.
  4. Observe the messages returned as the batch file runs to ensure that the queue manager is created successfully.
    Note: You can use the IBM Websphere MQ Explorer to view the newly created queue manager and its queue, which is named MVSEXP.TEST.QUEUE by default.
Install IBM DB2 LUW
For a list of supported IBM DB2 LUW versions, see the Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMSs) section of the Supported Operating Systems and Third-party Softwaretopic. For installation instructions, see your IBM documentation.
Install the DB2 SAMPLE database
Before you can run the demonstration application for this tutorial with DB2, the DB2 SAMPLE database must be present. If it is not present on your system after installing DB2 LUW, run the IBM DB2 First Steps program to install it.
Build the IBM DB2 XA connector
See IBM DB2 RM Switch Module for instructions on how to build the XA connector (RM switch module).
Important: The built switch module needs to be in the %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Micro Focus\Enterprise Developer\src\enterpriseserver\xa directory. Therefore, you must have administrator privileges to that directory, and build the module using Method 1 as documented in the IBM DB2 RM Switch Module topic.

Demonstration Application

The tutorial uses a sample program that demonstrates some of the IBM WebSphere MQ features that can be used in PL/I via the API. The tutorial also uses a predefined enterprise server instance and other settings defined in the project. These are mentioned in the tutorial as needed.

The files for this demonstration are supplied with the product samples installed by default in the %PUBLIC%\Documents\Micro Focus\Enterprise Developer\Samples\PLI-VS\MQSDEMO folder.

Sequence

To complete this tutorial, progress through these topics in the order presented here. The bottom of each topic provides Next topic and Previous topic navigational links to help you proceed in the proper sequence:

  1. Import and Configure the PLIMQS Enterprise Server Instance
    Walks you through the process of importing the pre-configured PLIMQS enterprise server instance, setting configuration options, and reviewing its default settings.
  2. Prepare to Run the MQSDEMO Application
    Guides you through the process of associating the PLIMQS enterprise server instance with the mqsdemo project and starting the PLIMQS server.
  3. Build and Run the MQSDEMO Sample Application
    Walks you through the steps required to open the provided mqsdemo solution, build it, and submit the mqonly JCL job to run the application.
Parent topic: Tutorials: Open PL/I
Related reference
IBM DB2 RM Switch Module
Related information
Supported Operating Systems and Third-party Software