Infor XA REST API: expose XA through IBM i Integrated Web Services or ION
infor xa rest api
Also searched as
- infor xa api
- mapics rest api ibm i
- infor xa integration ion
Short answer
Infor XA has no single built-in REST API. Practical routes are IBM i Integrated Web Services (IWS), which turns RPG or SQL routines into REST endpoints on the same machine, and Infor ION where your environment supports it. For reads, SQL-backed services are straightforward. For writes, call XA's own programs so business rules run.
Applies to: Infor XA on IBM i. IWS requires a supported IBM i release; ION connectivity depends on your licence and XA version.
Expose an XA function as REST
- 1Decide whether the service is read-only (SQL) or a write (calling an XA program).
- 2For reads, create an SQL view or stored procedure over the XA files with only the columns you need.
- 3Open the IBM i Integrated Web Services Server and create a service from the stored procedure or program.
- 4Choose REST, define the URI, method and JSON mapping.
- 5Assign a service user profile with least authority and the right library list.
- 6Secure with TLS and authentication, and restrict by network.
- 7Test with curl or Postman against a test partition or library.
- 8Log requests and errors, and put a gateway or ION in front for external consumers.
Option 1: IBM i Integrated Web Services
IWS is part of IBM i and can publish RPG, COBOL or SQL procedures as REST or SOAP services without writing a separate web application. You describe the service, the program or procedure behind it and the parameter mapping, and IWS handles HTTP and JSON.
It is a good fit for small, well-defined functions such as item lookup, order status or on-hand quantity. Keep each service narrow.
-- SQL procedure that IWS can publish
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE XALIB.GET_ITEM (IN P_ITEM CHAR(15))
LANGUAGE SQL RESULT SETS 1
BEGIN
DECLARE C1 CURSOR FOR
SELECT ITNBR, ITDSC FROM XALIB.ITEMMASTER WHERE ITNBR = P_ITEM;
OPEN C1;
END;
-- Call
curl -u svc:*** https://ibmi.example.com:8443/web/services/getItem?p_item=ABC-100Table and column names above are illustrative. Use the real XA file and field names from your library.
Option 2: Infor ION
If you license Infor OS and ION, you can connect XA through the available connection points and expose APIs through ION API gateway. This helps when other Infor products are in play and you want central security, monitoring and routing. Whether an XA connector exists for your release should be confirmed with Infor.
Writes and safety
XA files carry relationships that its programs maintain. Writing with SQL INSERT or UPDATE can leave orders, inventory and costing out of step. For writes, call the XA program or API that performs the transaction, add idempotency keys and queue requests. For reads, use a replica or a read-only profile.
Try it here, free
Infor XA (MAPICS) Migration Readiness Assessment
Ten questions that score how ready you are to move off Infor XA (MAPICS), covering customizations, IBM i dependencies, data quality and ownership.
Common pitfalls
- !Publishing writes by direct file updates.
- !Using a powerful profile for the web service.
- !Exposing IWS directly to the internet.
- !Returning entire tables instead of narrow, paged results.
- !Treating example field names as the real XA schema.
How an ERP-grounded AI assistant handles this
These endpoints are also the interface an AI agent needs: narrow read tools first, write tools only with human approval. Netray builds the agent layer over IWS or ION-exposed XA services and runs the model on your own hardware.
Frequently asked questions
Does Infor XA have a native REST API?
Not as a single product feature that we can point to for every release. Use IBM i Integrated Web Services or ION where supported, and check with Infor for your version.
Is IWS free?
It ships with IBM i, but it needs a supported OS level and configuration. Confirm licensing with IBM.
Can I read XA data without any API?
Yes, with SQL over ODBC or JDBC to the IBM i for read-only needs, using a limited profile.
How do I authenticate callers?
Use TLS with basic or token authentication at a gateway, map it to a least-privilege IBM i profile, and restrict by network.
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Stuck on Infor XA (MAPICS XA, IBM i)?
Talk to engineers who work inside Infor XA (MAPICS XA, IBM i) every week, and who build private AI that answers these questions from your own ERP data.
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Free tools
- Infor XA (MAPICS) Migration Readiness AssessmentTen questions that score how ready you are to move off Infor XA (MAPICS), covering customizations, IBM i dependencies, data quality and ownership.
- MAPICS and Infor XA AI Assistant Sizing and Value CalculatorEstimate GPU count, token volume, index size, hours saved and payback for a private on-prem AI assistant on MAPICS and Infor XA.
- MAPICS and Infor XA Private AI Layer Blueprint GeneratorGenerate a shareable architecture plan for adding a private, on-prem AI assistant to MAPICS and Infor XA, with components, security controls and a three-phase rollout.
ERP fixes and how-tos
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- Infor XA Net.Link: what it is, how it is configured and common issuesWhat Net.Link is in Infor XA (MAPICS), how the web layer on IBM i is typically set up, what commonly breaks, and what to do when planning modernisation.
- How to add a private AI layer to Infor XA on-premReference architecture to add AI to Infor XA on-prem: read-only data path, retrieval, permissions, local GPUs, write-back control and rollout.
Guides
- MAPICS to SyteLine Migration Planning GuidePlan your MAPICS XA or MAPICS AS/400 migration to Infor SyteLine or CloudSuite Industrial. Data mapping, timeline, and risk mitigation strategies.
- SyteLine REST API Integration GuideIntegrate SyteLine via REST APIs. IDO web services, authentication, payload design, and integration patterns for CloudSuite Industrial.
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Integrations
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