CMS

RQL development with OpenText Web Site Management Server 11

This is a cross post, courtesy of Manuel Schnitnger.

Today I’d just like to write a few lines about the changes regarding the RQL programming in version 11 of the OpenText Web Site Management Server (scheduled for the end of 2011). The change I’ll describe might sound like a totally different approach (and that is possible when looking behind the scenes) but the impact for you as someone who creates RQL based plugins is very small.
Ok, the change: In the Managment Server Version 11 (Swan version) Microsofts COM components for the RQL communication are not longer available/supported. Instead of the COM communication the OpenText Web Site Management Server will use the Windows Communication Foundation that is part of the .Net framework.

The reasons for the change

• COM components were introduced by Microsoft in the year 1993 (18! years ago) and worked well for the OpenText Web Site Management Server. But nowadays it seemed to be much better to rely on a state-of-the-art technology.
• Microsofts support for COM components ended years ago and we would like to use a fully supported technology.

What does that mean for your RQL based plugins?

• If you use the RQL webservices for the communication within your plugins, then the change does not have any impact.
• If you use the COM objects, then you’ll have to implement small changes.

In order to provide a good overview I’ll provide a function that is probably used by many developers and in a second step I’ll provide a sample RQL plugin that is intended to run on a OpenText Web Site Management Server version 11.

New functions will do the following things

• receive a string (RQL command)
• create an object (RQL object)
• execute the RQL command
• and return a XML structure (server response)

'Version 10 and earlier:
<%
function sendXML (XMLString)
   set objData = server.CreateObject("RDCMSASP.RdPageData")
   objData.XMLServerClassname="RDCMSServer.XmlServer"
   sendXML = objData.ServerExecuteXML(XMLString, sErrors)
end function
%>

'Version 11:
<%
function sendXML (XMLString)
   set objData = Server.CreateObject("OTWSMS.AspLayer.PageData")
   sendXML = objData.ServerExecuteXml(XMLString, sErrors)
end function
%>

The changes to this function are obviously very small:

• Instead of RDCMSASP.RdPageData we now use OTWSMS.AspLayer.PageData to create the RQL object.
• the line” objData.XMLServerClassname=”RDCMSServer.XmlServer” is not longer used in this function.

How do I update my old plugins to work on version 11?

• Use the Search&Replace function of your development environment: Search for “RDCMSASP.RdPageData” and replace it with “OTWSMS.AspLayer.PageData“
• “Use the Search&Replace function of your development environment: Search for “objData.XMLServerClassname=”RDCMSServer.XmlServer” and replace it with “”.

Hint 1: If your obejcts do have other names….then of course you have to use different search strings
As most people (including me) like to have a runing script instead of just a code snippet, this sample plugin might be helpful:

<%
' Create RQL Server Object And XML-Document Object
set XMLDom     = Server.CreateObject("OTWSMS.Core.RdObject")
set RQLObject  = Server.CreateObject("OTWSMS.AspLayer.PageData")
' Define Variables
Dim RQLStatement        ' Contains the RQL command
Dim RQLRequest          ' Contains the result of the RQL Server
Dim ServerError         ' Contains an error message of the RQL Server
Dim Projects            ' Contains the number of the projects

LoginGUID   = session("LoginGUID")
SessionKey  = session("SessionKey")

' Create RQL Statement (Load All Projects)
RQLStatement= "<IODATA loginguid=""" + LoginGUID + """>" + _
              "<ADMINISTRATION>" + _
              "<PROJECTS action=""list"" />" + _
              "</ADMINISTRATION>" + _
              "</IODATA>"
' Transfer RQL Statement To RQL Server Object
RQLRequest = RQLObject.ServerExecuteXml(RQLStatement, ServerError)

' Show Appearing Errors
if ServerError > "" then Response.write "An error has occured:</BR></BR>"+ServerError
' Load Result Into XML DOM
Call XMLDom.LoadXML (CStr(RQLRequest))

' Execute XML Query For Projects In XML DOM
Set XMLDom = XMLDom.ObjectByQuery ("//PROJECTS")
' List Every Project By Name
for Projects=1 to XMLDom.objects.count
   Response.write XMLDom.objects(Projects)("name")+"</BR>"
next
' Kill RQL Server Object
Set RQLObject=Nothing
%>

Hint 2: If you have a closer look at the script, you’ll notice that there is another change that I forgot to mention.
If you don’t use the Microsoft XML-DOM object but the one that is provided by the OpenText Web Site Management Server you’ll also have to change this line:

set XMLDom = Server.CreateObject("OTWSMS.Core.RdObject")

The same line in version looks like this:

set XmlDom = Server.CreateObject("RDCMSAspObj.RdObject")

So another search & replace task would look like this:
Search for “RDCMSAspObj.RdObject” and replace it with “OTWSMS.Core.RdObject”

Ok, so these were the changes regarding RQL communication. A description of the changes as well as the sample RQL plugin (above) are planned to be part of an updated RQL documentation.
To answer a question that might possibly occour: No, I’m not aware of any other changes regarding RQL.

Have fun with RQL !

Related posts:

1. Clear OpenText Web Site Management CMS Cache
2. OpenText WSM 11 – Is the “Swan” release going to fly?
3. OpenText Content World 2011 – Have you registered yet?
4. Workaround – Placing red dots inside of OpenText CMS Render Tags

About the author:

Markus Giesen is a Solutions Architect and RedDot CMS Consultant, formerly based in Germany. Travelling around the world to find and offer solutions for a better world (in a very web based meaning). He just found a way to do this as part of a Melbourne based online consultant house. On this blog Markus shares his personal (not his employers) thoughts and opinions on CMS and web development. In his spare time you will find him reading, snowboarding or travelling. Also, you should follow him on Twitter!

Tags: OpenText Web Site Management 11, RedDot CMS Plugins, RQL