InterSystems IRIS is built on an architecture that separates the logical organization of data (namespaces) from its physical storage location (databases). Understanding this separation and the distinction between Namespaces and Databases is crucial for effective data management, security, and especially, high-performance data sharing.

In this article, I will discuss these foundational components and provide a practical guide on leveraging global mappings to share native data structures (globals) across different logical environments.

Databases: Physical Reality

A database represents the physical reality of where the data is stored on the disk. First and foremost, it’s a file in a file system called IRIS.dat (e.g., <Install folder>\mgr\user\IRIS.DAT). The maximum size of this file is 32TB. It is the container for all the actual data and the code. Databases are managed by the IRIS kernel, which handles caching, journaling, and transaction logging at the physical file level.

When you install InterSystems IRIS DBMS, the following databases are installed automatically:

Sometimes it is more convenient, more efficient, and more secure, to limit FHIR Searches per pre-defined "Lists" of Resources.

Since v2025.1 we support several List-related features in our FHIR Server.

I will highlight these here, and provide some samples.

I have a Photo that is stored as an VARBINARY within MS SQL. I would like to Select the data into a EnsLib.SQL.Snapshot, is that possible? I would take it out of the Snapshot and send it to a %Stream so it can be written out to a file.

I was trying to see if we could connect to another Server, we use to execute external scripts using %Net.SSH.Session.

TESTCLIN>set sshSession = ##class(%Net.SSH.Session).%New()

TESTCLIN>set user = <omitted>

TESTCLIN>set host = <omitted>

TESTCLIN>set privateKey = "/nfs/data/ssh/<omitted>"
TESTCLIN>set publicKey = "/nfs/data/ssh/<omitted>.pub"
TESTCLIN>Set statusConnection = sshSession.Connect(host)

TESTCLIN>set statusAuth = sshSession.

Defining my first REST API within InterSystems using iris-rest-Api-template as a basis and I am seeing if someone could provide me some guidance to see if I can make it work.  

In some of my other posts, I have been trying to come up with a way for our Enterprise Application Development team which works with .Net to build Applications to make a REST call to our instance of InterSystems to query some of the Cache Tables we have defined. 

Using the iris-rest-api-template, I have created the osuwmc.DataLookup.REST.Base.cls

Class osuwmc.DataLookup.REST.Base Extends %CSP.

1. vscode extensions : intersystems.language-server-2.8.0@linux-arm64.vsix

2.  api/atelier web application is enabled 

3. vscode connect failed.

There is a Master Table within IRIS that I am populating from Epic but want to share it with our Enterprise Application Development Team (Web). As a test I was able to use _SYSTEM from postman to execute the following.

POST /api/atelier/v1/xxxx/action/query HTTP/1.1
Host: xxxxxxxx
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: ••••••
Cookie: CSPSESSIONID-SP-443-UP-api-atelier-=00f0000000000AKyLjBfUvU$MpFD8UT8y$EoNKNw1ixZeXN4_Q; CSPWSERVERID=hzZAT5rb
Content-Length: 86

{"query": "SELECT * FROM osuwmc_Epic_Clarity.

I have been struggling sometime with trying to take a FHIR Bundle Response, extract the "entry.resourceType", extract the MRN and Name from the Patient FHIR Response...

Going through learning.intersystems.com, it suggested that I try using fhirPathAPI to parse and search my response for certain values, however I am not sure my syntax is correct. Using the AI code, it suggested to set my tree = "Bundle.entry.resource.resourceType"

ClassMethod Transform(source As HS.FHIRServer.Interop.Response, target As osuwmc.Epic.FHIR.DataStructures.

I was wondering if anyone had a way to automate creating the Query String for a FHIR Request?

Using HS.FHIRServer.Interop.Request in my development I have to specify the following...

I was wondering.... if my source had variable number of fields if there was a way to automate the build for the QueryString when doing a Patient Search?

I am trying to replicate a way to use FHIR as a way to query the EMR instead of using a MS SQL Stored Procedure that is populated via HL7 ADT to query.

Using a WSDL and the SOAP wizard I created a WebServiceClient, and Operation to send an encoded message to a Vendor. But the vendor is now sending back an HL7 in the SOAP response.

I tried updating the Operation to Extend EnsLib.HL7.Operation.ReplyStandard, but still use the EnsLib.SOAP.OutboundAdapter. When I did this it broke my Operation and would not compile with the following error...

ERROR #5478: Keyword signature error in osuwmc.Nutrition.HL7SoapOperation:Method:SendMessage, keyword 'method argument/s signature' must be 'EnsLib.HL7.Message,EnsLib.HL7.

According to the Documentation  EnsLib.Workflow.TaskRequest has the following fields...

• %Action
• %Command
• %FormFields
• %FormTemplate
• %FormValues
• %Message
• %Priority
• %Subjext
• %TaskHandler
• %Title
• %UserName

I want to be able to capture the Source, Session ID, and any other Identifiers outside of the Error so it will show up on the Task List.

I am struggling how to build a csp template for me to be able to capture additional fields to send to the Workflow

I built a BP, that every time that a message is received from a BS, it executes 

 set isAuth=##class(%SYS.OAuth2.AccessToken).IsAuthorized("EpicFHIRPOC",,,.accessToken,.idtoken,.responseProperties,.error)
 if 'isAuth {
        set tSC=##class(%SYS.OAuth2.Authorization).GetAccessTokenClient("EpicFHIRPOC", "*",, .error)        
         set isAuth=##class(%SYS.OAuth2.AccessToken).IsAuthorized("EpicFHIRPOC",,,.accessToken,.idtoken,.responseProperties,.error)
    }

To save time, I was thinking of just creating a BS that goes out and gets the Authorization Token every hour.

When working with InterSystems Interoperability (Iris / Health Connect / Ensemble), configuration data is often spread across many production items: services, processes, operations, adapters, and their settings.

A common operational or security need is to answer questions like:

• Which interfaces reference file system paths?
• Where are directories, network shares, or absolute paths configured?
• Can I quickly audit or document this information across all my productions?

The ObjectScript utility below solves exactly that problem by exporting selected configuration settings into a CSV file.

Here is what is currently used.

..CurrentDateTime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S")

The format is not the issue.

I need to make it our current time as it is five hours ahead.

How can I access the header property of either of these.

Or, if I can't do that, subtract five hours or the equivalent time in seconds.

example, if I receive 20201224161922, how can I make it 20201224111922?

Thanks,

Jonathan

Embeddedpy-bridge: A Toolkit for Embedded Python

Overview

Embedded Python is a game-changer for InterSystems IRIS, offering access to the vast Python ecosystem directly within the database. However, bridging the gap between ObjectScript and Python can sometimes feel like translating between two different worlds.

To make this transition seamless using embeddedpy-bridge.

This package is a developer-centric utility kit designed to provide high-level ObjectScript wrappers, familiar syntax, and robust error handling for Embedded Python.

Hi developers!

There is a neat feature of ObjectScript classes - Query element, which allows you to write in a clear SQL (without any & or ()), pass parameters to it and call it from ObjectScript as do QueryNameFunc() or via Call SQLProcedureName via SQL, .e.g.

Query MyQuery(p as %String) as %SQLQuery [SQLProc]

{ 

SELECT * FROM MyTable 

WHERE Name=:p

}

All works fine, but when I tried to use the same for a DELETE statement see the following error:

SELECT expected, DELETE found ^ DECLARE Q1 CURSOR FOR DELETE

Is the Query element for SELECT only? What am I doing wrong? )

You send an HTTP request and get back an HTTP error but with an HTML error page which you didn't expect... what's happening?... 🤔

Specifically for example, perhaps you tried to READ a FHIR Resource (e.g. /Patient/123) and you get back a 404 error page, even though with other Patient IDs, you get back the Resource payload, so "the page" definitely does exist... why should you be getting a 404 error page? 🙄

Also in previous versions you could define your FHIR Server to accept requests via OAuth 2.0 (e.g. for a SMART on FHIR client) but nowadays with v2024.3, which was released a while ago, there is a new feature, that enables doing this more easily - the OAuth FHIR Client QuickStart.

Looking at my database I see I have a very big ^rINDEXSQL global? Why is that? 😬

In the Management Portal SQL page, under "SQL Statements" I see a 'Clean stale' button - what does this do? 🤔

In the list of Statements some have a 'Location' value and some don't? How is that? 🤨

An extension “extends” or enhances a FHIR resource or a data element in a custom way. The extension can be added to the root of a resource, such as “Patient.ethnicity” in US Core profile, and they can be added to individual elements such as HumanName, Address or Identifier.

Did you know that you can also add an extension to a primitive data type?

Primitives usually store a single item and are the most basic element in FHIR. For example: "Keren", false, 1234, 12/08/2024 etc.

I want to extract data from IRIS (Health Share Provider Directory) and write the data out to a file that I can use within an external system. Using EnsLib.SQL.Service.GenericService do I need to supply Credentials if I am querying IRIS locally? I have always used JDBC to connect externally when creating Services and Operations to read/write SQL data from external Databases, but never internally. Normally I would just use sql or code to pull the data within a Process or DTC. But in this case, I want the Service to drive the workflow, and query the data from Local Tables

Using a Workflow Task within HealthShare Provider Directory, when a user clicks on Resubmit message within my Business Process, I check the status of the response. If the response is "Resend Message", I have my Business Process executing the following...

 set tSC = ##class(Ens.MessageHeader).ResendDuplicatedMessage(context.SessionID)
 if $$$ISERR(tSC) $$$LOGSTATUS(tSC)

the context.SessionID is the Session ID of the message as it is being pass thru the Business Process. Does anyone see why that would not work off hand?

I need to read first six characters from the filename we process in healthconnect, then need to insert these six characters in MSH-6 in the same HL7 message. (please note each file can have multiple HL7 messages with multiple MSH segments)

Is something can be done when first process the file, then insert first characters MSH-6?

Please advice if this is an easy fix.

Working on interfaces, trying to add simple email alert (link below) under "Operations"

https://docs.intersystems.com/healthconnect20231/csp/docbook/DocBook.UI…

if the message is good,  health connect processes ok.

if the message has an ERROR, it held up the message in Queue (keep retrying), then subsequent messages held up in the queue as well to be processed. Because of the message held up in Queue, Operation for TCP connection also turning blue.

Please advice.

Hi community,

we recently updated our Health Connect instance from 2021.1 to 2024.1 and also migrated to new hardware. The production environment is connected to an enterprise message bank system.

After going live with the new system we recognized, that enterprise system nodes in the messagebank were automatically created using a hostname for the "Web IP Address" setting, which actually had changed (to the hostname of the former production environment) before starting the production and sending messages. The "Client Nickname" contains the correct hostname.

Hi, Community!

See how to efficiently validate incoming CDA documents and comply with standards using the cloud-based CDA Validation Service!

Streamlining CDA Data Feed Setup in Health Connect Cloud

Hi all,

Does anyone know of a way to make Ens.ScheduleHandler alert on error?

Cheers,

Otto

Auditing is a critical capability ensuring the security of your server, and for quite a while ago we have included the ability to audit SQL statements run on the server.

With v2024.3 out already we're providing finer-grained options for defining these events to audit.

FastJsonSchema: High-Performance JSON Validation in IRIS

Validating JSON data against JSON Schema is a common requirement for modern applications. FastJsonSchema brings this capability natively to InterSystems IRIS, combining speed, simplicity, and full schema compliance.

Unlike traditional validation approaches, FastJsonSchema generates native ObjectScript code from your JSON Schemas and compiles it directly to iris object code, enabling idiomatic performance without relying on external libraries or runtimes.

Hello,

Are there any utilities/api in HealthConnect 2016.2.1 that will allow conversion of XML virtual document to Json format? We were thinking to convert HL7 ADT message to XML via Ensemble DTL and then send it to another BP to convert to Json format for transmission via Web Services. To my understanding there isn't anyway to represent Json as a virtual object so it can be use for direct mapping of HL7 2.x message to Json via Ensemble DTL.

Thanks

Yuriy