OSI/MHS P7 Application Programmatic Interface (P7 API) Manual

OSI/MHS P7 Application Programmatic Interface (P7 API) Manual—424825-001

1-1

Introduction to the P7 API

The Compaq P7 Application Programmatic Interface (P7 API) provides local access to

the message store (MS) of the Compaq Open Systems Interconnection/Message

Handling System (OSI/MHS). You use the P7 API to develop a local user agent

(LUA) that provides the interface between the user and the message store of the local

OSI/MHS subsystem.

This section presents a brief overview of application programmatic interfaces and then

describes the P7 API product and P7 API client applications. For information on how to

configure and manage the P7 API, see the OSI/MHS Configuration and Management

Manual.

Application Programmatic Interfaces

For the Compaq OSI/MHS subsystem, an application programmatic interface (API)

is the interface between an application and the subsystem. The application accesses the

subsystem through the API by calling procedures. The software that implements the

functions of the API is called the service. The application that uses this service is called

the client application. Figure 1-1 shows a client application in relation to the user, the

P7 API, and the Compaq OSI/MHS subsystem.

P7 API client applications can interface to a terminal, another process, an EDI

application, a FAX Access Unit, a TELEX Access Unit, and so forth. The client

application can even be part of an entire subsystem that connects to other systems.

Note. Boldface type introduces a term in the narrative that also appears in the glossary at the

end of this manual.

Figure 1-1. A Client Application

Note. n this manual, the terms “local user agent” and “client application” are synonymous. On

the following pages, when discussing the X.400 standard, this manual uses the term “user

agent”. This is the term used by the X.400 standard. When discussing the P7 API product,

this manual uses the term “client application”. This is the term used by the Compaq OSI/MHS

subsystem for applications that interface to the OSI/MHS subsystem.

101CDT .CDD

User

OSI/MHS

Client

Application

API