Toolbox for Java Overview

The IBM Toolbox for Java provides support similar to functions available when using the IBM i Access APIs. It uses the IBM i host servers that are part of the base IBM i operating system to access data and resources on an IBM i system. Each of these host servers runs in a separate job on the system, communicating with a Java client program using architected data streams on a socket connection. The socket interfaces are hidden from the Java programmer by the IBM Toolbox for Java classes. Since the socket connections are managed by Toolbox classes, IBM i Access is not needed on the workstation.

Java Beans are provided for most public interfaces.

• JTOpenLite
  JTOPenLite is a set of lightweight Java classes suitable for use on mobile devices. It provides Java application access to IBM i: DDM access, basic JDBC access, command call, program call access, etc.
• Access IBM i resources
• Additional classes
• Enhancements
• Deprecated packages
  Several packages have been deprecated since V5R3. These packages include:
     - com.ibm.as400.resource
     - com.ibm.as400.vaccess
• Deprecated classes
  Several classes have been deprecated since V5R3. These classes include:
     - utilities.AS400ToolboxInstaller
     - com.ibm.as400.access.NetServer has been replaced by ISeriesNetServer.
     - com.ibm.as400.access.IFSTextFileInputStream has been replaced by IFSFileReader.
     - com.ibm.as400.access.IFSTextFileOutputStream has been replaced by IFSFileWriter.
• Secure sockets
  If you are using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt data flowing between the client and the server, you must use one of the following:
     - Java Secure Socket Extension (JSSE)
     - SSL objects delivered in a V5R2 or later version of IBM IBM i Client Encryption licensed program 5722-CE2 or 5722-CE3. This release of IBM Toolbox for Java does not work with V4R5 and earlier versions of 
       IBM i Client Encryption.
• Application development
  The Toolbox includes a user interface framework to provide a productive development environment for building graphical panels. The framework automatically handles the exchange of data. The developer need only create one or more data beans and bind them to the panel components using tags using the Panel Definition Markup Language (PDML).
     - A user interface framework is provided to create a platform- and technology-independent representation of graphical panels based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML). A pure Java framework for
       interpreting the XML and constructing user interface panels based on the Java Foundation Classes (JFC) is also provided.
     - A resource script converter is provided which converts Windows dialogs to equivalent Java panels defined in XML.
     - A graphical user interface builder tool is provided to develop Java GUIs. This tool is a WYSIWYG GUI editor.
• IBM i requirements
  In order to connect to the IBM i system and access its data and services, the IBM Toolbox for Java requires both the TC1 Licensed Program (TCP/IP Connectivity Utilities for IBM i) and the Host Server option of IBM i to be installed and configured on the system.