DataStage - Data Integration

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What about FLASH

  • 1.  What about FLASH

    Posted Wed November 04, 2020 12:54 PM
    Hello,
    Some DS transformations using Adobe Flash Player. Adobe Flashe is out of support & is desactivated in Windows.
    I'm using Herarchical Data Stage, & others components of DS using Flash.

    What is going on with the flash stop ?

    Jerzy

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    Jerzy Konarski
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  • 2.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Thu November 05, 2020 09:44 AM
    Hi Jerzy,

    we had released the following technote regarding Adobe Flash and DataStage
    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/hierarchical-stage-flash-player-end-support-dec-2020

    The technote also applies to the Unstructured Stage which isn't referenced by the technote.

    The functionality for both, the Hierarchical stage and Unstructured stage are available without Flash on the browser-based DataStage Flow Desinger with V11.7.1. 
    As the Flow Designer is backwards compatible to the DS/QS Windows client, you can use the browser based Flow Designer solely just to make specific edits to mappings for these 2 stages if needed.

    Just as a reminder. Flash is only needed when someone wants to make changes to the Hierarchical (XML/JSON) or Unstructured (Excel) mappings.

    Adobe Flash is not needed in any of the following cases:
    • Designing a job -- even when putting the Hierarchical or Unstructured stage onto the job canvas
    • Opening a stage editor and making changes to properties within the Stage editor (even for the Hierarchical and Unstructured stage)
    • Compiling a job
    • Running a job
    Lastly, if you do want to continue using the Flash based function, Adobe has partnered with Harman, who is their primary partner to provide a specific Browser version that still allows to run Flash

    Hope this helps,

    Kind regrads,
    Beate

    ------------------------------
    Beate Porst
    Program Director Offering Management
    IBM
    San Jose
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Tue November 10, 2020 02:59 AM
    Just a remark. The interface of Flow Designer is really horrible and ant-ergonomic. It's time for IBM to realize that there is a human being behind the interface.

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    Jerzy Konarski
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Tue November 10, 2020 02:59 AM
    Just a remark. The interface of Flow Designer is really horrible and ant-ergonomic. It's time for IBM to realize that there is a human being behind the interface.

    ------------------------------
    Jerzy Konarski
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Tue November 10, 2020 03:01 AM
    Just a remark. The interface of Flow Designer is really horrible and ant-ergonomic. It's time for IBM to realize that there is a human being behind the interface.

    ------------------------------
    Jerzy Konarski
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Tue December 08, 2020 12:48 PM
    Hi Beate,
    We have a new system with IBM Infosphere 11.7.1.1 installed but DataFlowDesigner does not support the Unstructured Datastage (neither editing an existing stage nor creating a new one; it tells "This connector type is not yet supported"). We are using the "DatastageFlow_Designer_ISPKG for 11.7.1.1 Sept 2020", is there any more necessary or is the Unstructured Stage in the FlowDesigner simply not yet available to public?
    Regards
    Bernhard Gruber

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    Bernhard Gruber
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Tue December 08, 2020 01:36 PM
    Hello,

    I was able to use hierarchical data stage with 11.7.1FP1, but ergonomics are really bad.
    Is there somewhere the doc to configure DS client with Harman Browser ?

    I did not find it anywhere.

    Jerzy

    ------------------------------
    Jerzy Konarski
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Wed December 16, 2020 11:21 AM
    Hi Jerzy,

    we tested the Harman solution for DataStage.
    They offer a couple of routes:
    1. A packaged browser:
    The packaged browser itself is not a workable solution for DataStage as it doesn't support applications developed in C# and using web browser controls which the DataStage Designer does.

    2. Plugin
     Harman also has a Plugin option (pretty much similar as the Adobe plugin) which is a workable solution for DataStage



    ------------------------------
    Beate Porst
    Program Director Offering Management
    IBM
    San Jose
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Wed December 16, 2020 11:32 AM
    Hi Beate,

    so I guess there will be a hotfix provided by IBM to fix this issue shortly in the DataStage Designer (using the harnam solution somehow) until the support of DataStage on Premise ends in 2024 ?

    :)

    ------------------------------
    Justus Kenklies
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted 30 days ago

    Hi Beate,

    I serched, but I don't find and I don't know where to find this Harman's plugin. Google don't know It.

    And i think it's not a real solution. The tool must be usable, I agree with Justus.

    I have big JSON & XML transformations that use Hierarchical Stage and I don't know what to do. What should I tell my clients?

    jerzy



    ------------------------------
    Jerzy Konarski
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted 5 days ago
    Well then, although we held back that Microsoft Flash Removal Update, the HD stage is not working anymore and shows a big flash logo instead of the beloved editor.

    Let me mention that this type of issue is a severe disaster for the reputation of the software throughout my department. :/

    ------------------------------
    Justus Kenklies
    Fielmann AG
    Hamburg
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted 5 days ago
    Same boat.  We are in the middle of a big implementation and trying to fix bugs and my developers are unable to move.

    Now I have to set aside my upgrade to 11.7.1 FP1 because I'm too swamped trying to patch Flash to work for production support of a huge project we implemented Monday...

    This is very sad.


    ------------------------------
    Nate Hoy
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    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted 3 days ago
    Justus, have a look at the following Technote we created for the "January 12th" issue: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6403307

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    Pierre Viricel
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Tue December 15, 2020 11:23 AM

    Hi Beate, 

    in the meantime the page no longer seems to exist. The link currently leads to an error page.

    I tested editing an HD stage with the flow designer today in version 11.7.1.1 and yes, I can open the stage, but I cannot edit it. My stage is having 11 steps. (1: Input, 2: sort, 3-9: HJoin 10: JSON Composer 11: Output). In the flow designer, the steps are horizontally organized tabs and I cannot find any possibility to navigate to the steps 9-12, because they're simply not visible. Changing the window size in flow designer is not possible. Changing the size or scale of the browser doesn't help either.

    ¯\_(˘･_･˘)_/¯



    ------------------------------
    Justus Kenklies
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    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Thu November 05, 2020 10:08 AM

    We have the same issue.  We are running 11.7 but not at the very latest patch that allows full use of Flow Designer, so I'm struggling to try and get that working now, but it would be nice to have a way to keep using the thick client since Flow Designer has some significant limitations. 

    We've already seen a security fix to Flash break the Hierarchical Stage, requiring us to significantly lower the security of our desktops by adding "EnableInsecureActiveXNavigateToURL=1" to Flash's mms.cfg



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    Nate Hoy
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    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted Thu November 05, 2020 10:47 AM
    I think the best way to develop is to define the job in the windows client and develop the stage in Flow Designer. Unless the November update improves Flow Designer ergonomics & fonctionnalities.

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    Jerzy Konarski
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    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted 5 days ago
    I opened a PMR and received advice to add the following to C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\mms.cfg (create the file if it does not exist):

    AllowListRootMovieOnly=1
    AllowListUrlPattern=https://services_tier_host:services_tier_port/ibm/iis/ds/xmlpack3/XMLPackController.swf
    EnableInsecureActiveXNavigateToURL=1

    Obviously replace the services tier host and port with yours.

    We appear to be running Pepper Flash, and that is not working, so I am continuing to work with IBM to try other things for that.

    My independent research has uncovered two other parameters you might try, though they did not work for me, either:

    EOLUninstallDisable=1
    EnableAllowList=1

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    Nate Hoy
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    Original Message


  • 18.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted 5 days ago
    Hi Nate,
    what is your version of datastage?

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    Jerzy Konarski
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    Original Message


  • 19.  RE: What about FLASH

    Posted 5 days ago
    11.7.1.0

    But we are running "Pepper" Flash v32.0.0.445 and although it looks identical to Adobe's Flash, there may be differences which is why adding the "unkill" switches to mms.cfg won't work for me. See other comments in here about that - maybe the mms.cfg flags will work for you?  

    At the behest of my senior management, I have just upped by ticket to Sev 1 since we now have production fixes on our new project that have short deadlines and my boss is running interference with the executive team to give me enough time to duct tape things together.

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    Nate Hoy
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    Original Message