Most users today rarely connect to IBM Mainframe systems using actual hardware 3270 terminals but do so using emulated 3270 terminals running on a PC workstation. Many of these 3270 terminal emulation products contain features and functionality that exceed that of a standard hardware 3270 terminal and keyboard. This allows tailoring of the look and feel of the individual's IBM Mainframe environment.

FileKit provides the user with a windowing environment within a 3270 session (i.e. supports multiple window display, window repositioning, resizing, maximising, etc.) As such, CBL has identified certain features offered by 3270 emulator packages that facilitate use of the FileKit environment.

The following table identifies commercially available 3270 emulation software products that have been tested at CBL and their ability to support those features pertinent to usage of FileKit. It does not, however, reflect the vast range of other facilities available in each product.

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Large Screen Sizes

TN3270 terminals, served by the host TELNET server, may reference VTAM LOGMODEs that support non-standard screen sizes (i.e. indicate that a read partition query is to be issued by a host application to determine the capabilities of the device.) Standard screen size LOGMODEs are often referred to as Model 2/3/4/5 terminals and correspond to actual hardware 3270 terminals. Comprehensive 3270 emulator support of IBM-DYNAMIC TN3270 terminals will allow the user to specify the desired 3270 screen size (rows x columns) e.g. 40 x 132, 62 x 160 (maximum supported by ISPF), 86 x 190, etc.

Starting FileKit in a 3270 terminal of larger than standard dimensions allows the user to view more windows concurrently and to display more information within each window. Note that, when using terminals with large dimensions, it may be necessary to reduce the font size and/or increase the resolution of the display in order to view the entire emulated terminal within the physical display.

To take advantage of this facility, VTAM LOGMODEs that support non-standard screen sizes should be made available via the host TN3270 server. D4C32XX3 is an IBM supplied LOGMODE that matches this criteria and should already exist in your VTAMLIB. If not, update the VTAM source member ISTINCLM with a new, dynamic LOGMODE then re-assemble and Link Edit it. e.g.

    MODEENT LOGMODE=DYNAMICB,                  X
          FMPROF=X'02',                        X
          TSPROF=X'02',                        X
          PRIPROT=X'71',                       X
          SECPROT=X'40',                       X
          COMPROT=X'2000',                     X
          RUSIZES=X'0000',                     X
          PSERVIC=X'00C000000000000000000300'
              

A TELNETDEVICE statement should then be included in the TN3270 server configuration. e.g.

    TELNETDEVICE DYNAMIC ,D4C32XX3
    TELNETDEVICE DYNAMIC ,DYNAMICB
              

More detailed information on setting up Large Screen Sizes can be found on the Planet MVS website at: http://planetmvs.com/tn3270/faq.html

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Keyboard Mapping

The 3270 keyboard may be configured so that specific actions (keyboard functions and 3270 emulator macros) can be mapped to any of the shift-states (Shift, Alt, Ctrl, etc.) of an individual key. This allows assigning actions to more meaningful key strokes e.g. in the editor where PF1 adds and PF13 deletes a line, Alt-A and Alt-D could be remapped to PF1 and PF13 respectively.

In addition, the limitation of only 24 PFKeys can be overcome by assigning meaningful key combinations to emulator macros that, by simulating keystrokes, automatically find the command line, type in the appropriate command and hit ENTER to issue it.

FileKit supports many functions and REXX macros that may be utilised via keyboard shortcuts. The Keyboard Map column indicates the emulator's ability to assign keyboard functions to key strokes, whereas the Keyboard Macro column indicates specifically its ability to assign emulator macros to key strokes.

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Mouse Mapping

Like the 3270 keyboard, the mouse buttons may be configured so that they perform specific actions. For example, F4 is widely used within FileKit as a point-and-shoot action key, so the ability to set the mouse right-click to F4 becomes invaluable. CBL recommends use of Left click then Right click in quick succession to position the cursor and hit the action key. The Mouse Map column indicates whether the mouse buttons may be mapped.

Particularly useful in FileKit is the ability to use the double-left click mouse button to position the cursor and action <Enter>. (In the case of some 3270 emulators, this may depend on support of a HOTSPOT facility. e.g. IBM PCOMM.) The Mouse Enter column indicates the emulator's ability to assign <Enter> to the mouse button left-double click.

A very nice feature is the ability to map the Mouse wheel to FileKit scrolling commands. For example, MouseWheel-Up/Down issues F7/F8 to scroll up/down, Ctrl-MouseWheel-Up/Down issues F10/F11 to scroll left/right. Since FileKit window borders and title bars also respond to these function keys, a dragging effect can be acheived in order to move and resize windows. The Mouse Wheel column indicates the emulator's ability to map the mouse wheel.

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Macros

3270 emulator macros may be written or recorded to perform multiple functions and keystrokes supported by the emulator. Each macro uses a macro language that may be unique to the particular emulator package (though many emulators now also support standard Visual Basic script.) In most emulators, a macro file may be mapped to a particular key stroke on the 3270 keyboard. The names and descriptions of 3270 emulator macros, generated at CBL, and their recommended key assignments for use with FileKit, are displayed below.

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3270 Emulator Configuration

FileKit takes advantage of features provided by certain 3270 emulator software packages. Configuration files, including settings for large screen definition, keyboard/mouse mapping, keyboard macros, etc. as used at CBL, can be downloaded for the following emulators: