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Overview of the Novell Developer Kit

Articles and Tips: article

01 Oct 1998


Gives a brief description of each of the components included on the Novell Developer Kit. Includes information on Java Beans, NetBasic 6.0, class libraries for Java, controls for ActiveX, Novell Installation Services, the Novell JVM, libraries for Delphi and Visual Basic, the ODBC driver for NDS, Novell ORB, the Oracle JDBC Remote driver, web scripting, GroupWise, and the Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare.

Introduction

The Novell Developer Kit contains a wealth of tools and information to aide you in your development. This article contains short descriptions of each of these components organized by Novell product.

Intelligent Network Server Platform

Beans for Novell Services

Beans for Novell Services provide easy-to-use Java components for rapid and effective development of network applications. Beans provided in this release include: Directory, Session, Print Queue Administration, Client Socket, Server Socket, and Volume Administration.

NetBasic 6.0

NetBasic 6.0 contains a BASIC compiler and IDE in addition to other components available from HiTecSoft Corporation.

Novell Class Libraries for Java (including Novell Providers for JNDI)

The Novell Class Libraries for Java (including Novell Providers for JNDI) provide access to NetWare services through a single, consistent interface: Novell Class Libraries for Java. The Novell Class Libraries for Java unleash the power of the network and allow you to build applications spanning location and time, making them more productive and connected. The Novell Class Libraries for Java software installation contains both a server and client install. The software installation prompts you to choose one or the other.

Novell Controls for ActiveX

This release of the Controls for ActiveX contains ten controls.

  • Application Administration Control (NWAppAdm)

  • Bindery (NWBind)

  • Client and Server Socket Controls (NWCliSk and NWSvrSk)

  • Directory (NWDir)

  • Internet Directory Control (NWIDir)

  • Print Queue Administration (NWPQA)

  • Print Server Administration Control (NWPrtSvrAdm)

  • Server Administration Control (NWSrvAdm)

  • Session Management (NWSess)

  • Volume Administration Control (NWVolAdm)

Novell Installation Services

Novell Installation Services (NIS) provides the infrastructure for creating an installation program. It includes standard install capabilities, such as copying files from a CD-ROM and displaying a GUI to collect user preferences. It also includes a rich set of APIs that allow you to customize your installation to your specific needs. NIS lets you bundle separately developed products. NIS uses three separate data files to describe your product for NIS, store installation user input, and record installed products. NIS provides tools to create, modify, and implement these files. It is written in Java and can run on any Java-supported platform that contains NIS-native routines. The Java classes that make up NIS can be extended and customized to meet special installation requirements. Classes include methods for controlling the flow of system data.

Novell JVM for NetWare

The Novell JVM for NetWare 1.1.5 is the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) engine that runs Java applications, servlets, and applets. Included with the JVM is the Server Console GUI for use on your NetWare server. The Sun Microsystems Java Runtime Environment (Windows 95 /WindowsNT 4.0 version) is also installed to the NetWare server with the JVM for access by NetWare clients.

Novell Libraries for Delphi and Visual Basic

Novell Libraries for Delphi and Visual Basic gives developers full access to all of the low-level NetWare SDK APIs that have traditionally only been available to C programmers. Although the Novell Controls for ActiveX provide broad coverage of the most popular features of the NetWare SDK, they do not wrap 100% of the available API set. The libraries offer a convenient way of calling all the APIs without writing the language bindings for yourself.

Visual Basic Libraries. Are a set of text files that contain the NetWare API definitions which can be copied into a Visual Basic project using the Visual Basic API Viewer Add-In.

Delphi Libraries. Include DCU and PAS files needed to call the NetWare API from Delphi.

Novell ODBC Driver for NDS

The Novell ODBC Driver for NDS provides database developers and administrators with the ability to perform Structured Query Language (SQL) calls to NDS. It is now easy to create reports concerning the user accounts, group memberships, and account balances, contained within your directory using standard tools, such as Crystal Reports and Microsoft Excel. For programmers, NDS can now be used just like any other ODBC data source, such as Oracle, Sybase, and so forth. It can also be used with JDBC, using the JDBC:ODBC bridging technology.

Novell ORB (Object Request Broker)

Novell ORB (Object Request Broker) is a CORBA-compliant object request broker that allows the deployment of CORBA -based applications on NetWare 4.11 and above. This release of Novell ORB is based on VisiBroker for Java 3.1 by Visigenic Software, Inc. The documentation includes the Visigenic VisiBroker for Java 3.1 documentation and supplementary documentation specific to the Novell ORB. The Novell ORB installation contains both a server and client install. The software installation prompts you to choose one or the other.

Oracle JDBC Remote Driver

The Oracle JDBC Remote Driver complies with JDBC version 1.22. Additionally, this driver has some extensions to properties, types, and performance. JDBC is based on the X/Open SQL Call Level Interface and is compliant at the SQL-92 Entry Level Standard. The Oracle JDBC Remote Driver is a Type 4 driver, which uses Java sockets to connect directly to the Oracle database. It provides its own implementation of a TCP/IP version of the Oracle Net8. The driver is written entirely in Java and is platform independent. It does not require Oracle software on the client side and it connects to any Oracle database version 7.3 or higher. This driver does require a TCP/IP listener on the server side. Please consult your Oracle for NetWare documentation for TCP/IP listener details. Any applet or servlet running on the Novell JVM for NetWare can use this driver. If you are going to implement your application as a servlet that populates a Web page, you need to install the LCGI Servlet Gateway on NetWare.

Web Scripting Perl 5, NetBasic 7.0, and LCGI Servlet Gateway (Early Access)

The Web Scripting install offers a choice of several effective Web programming languages suitable for use with the Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare, including:

  • Perl 5 support allows you to enhance and continue your investment in Perl scripts and Perl applications.

  • NetBasic 7.0, a VBScript-compatible language that allows you to use your Visual Basic scripting skills on the NetWare platform. Use NetBasic with its pre-built components to access NetWare and integrate NDSTM, Oracle, and Btrieve databases into your Web applications. NetBasic scripts or CGI programs can execute Bean components and regular Java classes quickly and easily. Note that a trial copy of NetBasic 6.0, Web Pro Edition, is included with this SDK, but is installed separately.

  • Java Web Programming using the LCGI Servlet Gateway allows you to write Java servlets that run alongside the Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare.

Note: JavaScript support is also provided with this SDK as a standard feature on the Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare. (See Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare install)

RDebug

RDebug provides a powerful test and development tool for the NetWare server. RDebug can be used for NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) software development, debugging, and integration. RDebug supports a Java human interface, source-level debugging, watch expressions, breakpoints, stepping, register access, memory access, symbolic support, and N809.

WebLogic Tengah Application Server and Services

The WebLogic Tengah Application Server and Services contain the WebLogic Tengah application server, Tengah Java Servlets, Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) support, and the Tengah full suite of Java application development services and deployment facilities. Tengah provides Java industry-standard API support, flexible network architecture that supports a variety of communication protocols (TCP, SSL, HTTP, HTTPS, IIOP, and soon, reliable multicast) and communication models (synchronous request/response, asynchronous messaging, bidirectional invocations over a single multiplexed connection) across all services.

Network Services and Collaboration

Novell GroupWise 4.1 Software Developer Kit

The Novell GroupWise 4.1 Software Developer Kit covers the GroupWise 4.1 APIs as well as various interfaces which allow third-party developers to integrate their applications with Novell applications.

Novell GroupWise 4.1 offers a rich development environment to third-party developers. This environment provides facilities for extending GroupWise by using several different mechanisms. The interfaces, commonly called hooks, to these mechanisms range in sophistication from simple macros to low-level management over flow of control.

Novell Administrative Object API

The Novell GroupWise 5.x Administrative Object API lets you see, use, and manipulate GroupWise administration information from outside GroupWise 5.x. You can use the Administrative Objects API through OLE languages such as Visual Basic and Delphi, and object-oriented languages such as C++. The Administrative Objects API supports OLE Automation, which is an industry standard for interfacing applications.

Novell GroupWise 5.x API Gateway

The GroupWise API Gateway is an optional universal gateway component that lets you insert and extract GroupWise E-mail messages. Available for DOS, OS/2, or NLM, the API Gateway is file-based, meaning mail messages are described in text header files. GroupWise scans a specified directory for header files, then converts them to GroupWise mail messages.

Novell GroupWise 5.x C3PO

A Custom 3rd-Party Object (C3PO) lets you add menu and toolbar items to trigger their applications. For example, you can modify the GroupWise client toolbar or define new record types in the GroupWise information store. You can create a C3PO using C++, Delphi or Visual Basic. The COM-based C3PO interface replaces the GroupWise 4.1 Custom Messages and Custom Commands. The OnReady, OnDelivery, and OnShutDown events can all be handled in a C3PO, allowing you, for example, to replace the current interface for a message type like GW.MESSAGE.NOTE.

Novell GroupWise 5.x Controls for ActiveX

You can use Novell GroupWise Controls for ActiveX technology to embed an Address Book or Name Completion OLE Control (OCX) in your Visual Basic 4.0 or Delphi 32-bit solution. OCX properties let you customize user access to Address Book contents and control return information for your solution to use.

Novell GroupWise 5.x MAPI

The Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI 1.0) is a set of object-oriented functions that provide messaging capabilities. Mail-enabled applications use MAPI to create, transfer, and store messages, as well as handle complex addressing information. MAPI objects are data structures that support a set of properties and comply with the OLE component object model (COM), which requires that objects support one or more interfaces, or sets of functions.

Novell GroupWise 5.x Message Transfer Agent

Gathering information about message traffic on your GroupWise system enables you to perform valuable tasks, such as billing customers for messages delivered, tracking messages, and gathering statistics to help optimize your GroupWise system.

The GroupWise Message Transfer Agent (MTA) provides message logging to help you with such tasks by collecting and storing data as it processes messages. You can access the stored data through the GroupWise Message Logging API, allowing value-added programs to produce customized billing, tracking, and statistical reports.

Novell GroupWise 5.x Object API

The GroupWise 5.x Object API lets you see, use, and manipulate the GroupWise 5.x information store from outside GroupWise 5.x. With the Object API, you can create your own client application. The Object API provides access to the Address Book, along with documents, mail messages, appointments, tasks, notes, phone messages, and workflow items. The Object API supports OLE Automation, which is an industry standard for interfacing applications. The Object API is simple to use with languages like Delphi and Visual Basic, and can also be used with C/C++ languages.

Novell GroupWise 5.x Tokenization

Tokenization names low-level events such as "Save a file" or "Send mail" and allows developers to use tokens to extend GroupWise functionality. While a Custom 3rd-Party Object (C3PO) lets you extend GroupWise 5.x objects, and the Object API lets you see and manipulate the GroupWise information store from outside GroupWise 5.x, tokens let your solution command the GroupWise"5.x client from DLLs and DDE scripts using the Third-Party Handler. You can also use tokens to create Visual Basic executables that users can run from the client interface.

Novell GroupWise 5.x View Designer

GroupWise View Designer lets you send mail messages with a personal or professional touch, such as a graphic of your favorite hobby or a company logo.

Novell GroupWise 5.x WebAccess Customization

GroupWise WebAccess allows you to access your GroupWise mailbox and calendar through the Internet. WebAccess Customization lets you modify the HTML source files (GroupWise version 5.5 only) to include your own graphics or company information. You can also enhance WebAccess by creating additional calendar views.

Novell GroupWise 5.x WorkFlow

GroupWise WorkFlow Professional provides OLE Automation objects which you can use to write custom programs that integrate customized workflow functionality into GroupWise.

Network Manageability

Novell ConsoleOne

Novell ConsoleOne is a 100% Java-based GUI framework (often referred to as a shell) that Novell and third-party management utilities (called snap-ins or content) plug into as needed. To create Java-rich management utilities, Novell provides an extensible snap-in framework with the necessary APIs, including a default snap-in (the Console snap-in) that specifies conventions for menu item placement and provides a standard set of toolbar and menu bar items. These conventions establish the foundation on which Novell and third-party-developed content will build snap-ins. Each snap-in registers seamlessly with ConsoleOne by implementing one of a rich set of interfaces, and then by placing the snap-in into the appropriate directory. Implemented in Java, ConsoleOne runs on any Java Virtual Machine (JVM), making it platform independent.

Novell ManageWise SNMP Widget (Early Access)

The ManageWise SNMP Widget allows you to focus on user interface and high level abstractions. The SNMP Widget provides classes to associate SNMP OIDs with display elements. It is then able to get and set data from the SNMP server. In other words, you now have simplified approaches to injecting standards-based management into their products. The biggest advantage of using this infrastructure is that SNMP does not need to be present on the client machine. The SNMP Widget internally communicates to an SNMP server. Data is then pushed back to the client. Unlike traditional SNMP applications, where the client is doing the polling, the SNMP server does the polling.

Intranet and Internet Services

Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare (Early Access)

The Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare product allows you to publish Web documents and to write applications without the complexity or added investment of most Web servers. It enables individuals and small workgroups to establish a Web presence and deploy intranet solutions quickly. The rich cross-platform environment of the Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare supports building or deploying a variety of Web or database applications, and is available for NetWare 4 and 5.

The Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare includes Perl 5 and JavaScript as standard features. These features allow you to continue and run applications even if they are written on other Web servers. Note that the Novell Developer Kit also provides Web Scripting Perl 5, NetBasic 7.0, and LCGI Servlet Gateway Early Access and NetBasic 6.0 support, but these scripting languages are installed separately.

Based on open Internet and intranet standards, the Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare enables high-fidelity communication and information sharing within and beyond the organization.

Note: Early Access denotes non-production-ready software. We highly recommend that this software not be installed on a production server.

* Originally published in Novell AppNotes

Disclaimer

The origin of this information may be internal or external to Novell. While Novell makes all reasonable efforts to verify this information, Novell does not make explicit or implied claims to its validity.

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