                               QWS3270 EXTRA Help Index

QWS3270 EXTRA is a telnet client application  to allow a network attached PC  running Windows 3.1 to connect to an IBM mainframe using the Windows Sockets interface in 3270 mode(TN3270).  The application was designed to take full advantage of the point and click capabilities of the Windows 3.1 environment.

QWS3270 EXTRA is a Winsock 1.1 compliant application.

Availability & Pricing

Change History

Connecting to a Host

Disclaimer & Copyright

Enhancements Requested

Features

Installation

Keyboard Mapping

Menu Commands

System Requirements & Restrictions


Availability & Pricing:

QWS3270 EXTRA is shareware.  See the register.txt file for details. Attempts will be made to solve reported problems.  Suggestions for enhancements are welcome. The inclusion of suggested enhancements will be determined by their perceived usefulness to the registered users of QWS3270 EXTRA.    These programs are not to be re-sold or distributed with  other programs that are  for sale without the expressed written  permission of the author.


Connecting to a Host:

There are several ways to connect to a host using QWS3270 EXTRA:

1.  Use the CONNECT menu item.  QWS3270 EXTRA will open the connect dialog box to allow you to enter the name or IP address of the host.  This method is useful if you connect to many different hosts.

2.  Use the AUTO CONNECT option.  The SETUP / OPTIONS menu allows you to customize QWS3270 EXTRA to your preference.  You can specify the default host using this menu.  If you set  the AUTO CONNECT feature to yes, then QWS3270 EXTRA will automatically connect to the host when you select the icon from Program Manager.  This is useful if you always connect to the same host and want to bypass the connect dialog box.

3.  Include a host on the command line.  You can include a host on the command line when you create the icon.  The command line would be: c:\directory\qws3270x host port.  The port is optional and defaults to the value in the qws3270x.ini file.  When a command line host is found, QWS3270 EXTRA will automatically connect to the host when you select the icon from Program Manager.  This method is useful when you have a couple of hosts that you connect to frequently and want to bypass the connect dialog box.  Simply create an icon for each host with the host name or IP address on the command line.  Because QWS3270 EXTRA will accept a host and port as command line arguments, it can be used with ARCHIE clients to connect to 3270 hosts.


 Disclaimer & Copyright:

Programs are Copyright (C) 1993, 1994 by James W. Rymerson

All Rights Reserved.

Written by:

       Jim Rymerson

       Jolly Giant Software

       56 Chartwell Crescent

       Kingston Ontario Canada

       K7K 6P3

       <Rymerson @ Post.QueensU.Ca>

THE INFORMATION AND CODE PROVIDED IS PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY  OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO  THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR   PURPOSE.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE  FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCINENTAL,  CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF  THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY  OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Acknowledgements:

 Some of the original Winsock code was developed by John A. Junod in his WS_FTP application.  I thank him for his efforts.  I also thank  Marvin Solomon from the University of Wisconsin whose unix WISC3270  telnet was the base for some of the 3270 code.


Enhancements Requested:

Suggestions for improvements and enhancements are welcome. The inclusion of suggested enhancements will be determined by their  perceived usefulness to the users at Queen's University.

Still to do:

1.  Verify that  3279 colour and extended highlighting support is correct.

2.  Allow 3270 keys (clear, erase end of field, etc) to be changed.  This also includes a "NEWLINE" key (perhaps the return key).

3.  Allow some form of scripting to automate mainframe logon procedures.

4.  Add some form of HLLAPI support.

5.  Extend  3279 support to include other extended attributes.

6.  Add support for the Windows Printer setup dialog box.  This also includes saving the printer configuration in the .ini file.

7.  Allow a list of hosts in the connect dialog box.

Other suggestions that have been received:

1.  Allow for a button bar for PF keys.

2.  Allow copy screen contents to file function.

3.  Allow "typewriter" tab stops.


Features:

This explains some of the special features available in QWS3270 EXTRA:

Clipboard Support:

QWS3270 EXTRA includes support for the common copy and paste functions.  It also provides an APPEND function where data can be appended to data already in the clipboard.  A PRINT function allows the clipboard data to be sent to the Windows printer.

Disabling Setup Menu Item:

The setup menu can be disabled by adding a DISABLESETUP=YES line in the [QWS3270X] section of the qws3270x.ini.

Mouse Support:

The cursor can be positioned anywhere on the screen using a single click of the left mouse button.

Transparent Print Support:

QWS3270 EXTRA includes support for the transparent write feature available with IBMs 7171 ASCII Device Attachment Control Units.  The transparent write feature is documented in the 7171 Reference Manual and Programming Guide (manual number GA37-0021).  Yale University offers a TPRINT package that can be used on VM systems to print files to a printer attached to your PC.  You can obtain this package by issuing the following VM command: tell listserv at yalevm get tprintv2 package.  If using the standard package from Yale the following commands should be used:

1. "TPRINT fn ft fm (VT100"  causes the output to be sent to both the screen and the printer port.

2. "TPRINT fn ft fm (IBMPC NOYTP" causes the output to be sent only to

the printer.  This is the correct setting for QWS3270 EXTRA.

Tektronix 4010 graphics emulator support:

QWS3270 EXTRA includes support for Tektronix 4010 terminal emulation.

Type Ahead Buffer:

QWS3270 EXTRA has a 64 character type ahead buffer.  This allows key board input while waiting for the host to process the last attention key.


Installation:

QWS3270 EXTRA is a winsock compliant application.  You must have a properly installed WINSOCK.DLL already running on your PC.  Refer to the System Requirements & Restrictions section for the Winsocks that support QWS3270 EXTRA.

1. Copy the distribution files to the directory of your choice.

2. The QWS3270X.INI must be in the working directory.

                      - OR -

      a. Copy QWS3270X.INI to the directory of your choice

      b. Add a line in your autoexec.bat file to point to this file:

          SET QWS3270X=c:\directory

      c. Restart your computer for the SET command to take effect.

3. Create a program item for QWS3270 EXTRA.

      The easiest way to add QWS3270 EXTRA to your Program Manager is to

      drag the program name out of the File Manager into the desired

      Program Manager window.

               -OR-

      a.  In the Windows Program Manager, select the File New menu option

      b.  Select the new program item option.

      c.  Enter the description of your choice

      d.  Enter in the command line the full path to qws3270x.exe.

           (  c:\directory\qws3270x.exe )

      e.  Set the working directory as appropriate.

      f.  Click on OK.

4. Customize QWS3270 EXTRA  using the SETUP menu within the application.

Note that you must have QWS3270X.HLP  in your working directory OR in the Windows directory.


Keyboard Mapping:

The following describes the keyboard mapping as it applies to QWS3270 EXTRA.

3270 Key                       PC key equivalent

ATTN                                ATTN button

Back Tab                           shift Tab

Clear                                  Pause key or keypad plus(+)  or  CTRL C  or  Clear button

Delete                                Delete

Dup                                    Dup button

Erase End of  Field            keypad minus(-)  or  CTRL E  or Erase EOF button

Erase Input                        Erase Input button

Field Mark                        Field Mark button  or  ESC ; (ESC semi-colon)

Home                                 Home

Insert                                  Insert

PA1                                   ESC Z  or  ALT F1  or  PA1 button

PA2                                   ESC X  or  ALT F2  or  PA2 button

PA3                                   ESC C  or  ALT F3  or  PA3 button

PF1 thru PF12                   F1 thru F12

PF7                                   Page up

PF8                                   Page down

PF13 thru PF24                 shift F1 thru F12

RESET                              CTRL R   or   ALT R  or  Reset button

SYS REQ                          ESC V  or  Sys Req button

Tab                                    Tab

Other Functions or keys

New Line                          CTRL N  or  New Line button

Cent Sign                          CTRL \

PC key definitions:

Backspace           move cursor one position to the left

End                      tabs to one position past the last non-blank character in the field.

Page Down          PF8

Page Up               PF7

Print Screen         causes screen contents to be sent to the printer


System Requirements & Restrictions:

System Requirements:

QWS3270 EXTRA is a winsock compliant application.  You must have a properly installed WINSOCK.DLL already running on your PC.  Listed below are the Winsocks that are known to support QWS3270 EXTRA.

My development and testing is being done using the Trumpet Winsock  Alpha #18.  The application is running on  a Packard Bell 486sx/33 with a 101 key keyboard running Windows for Workgroups.

Winsocks Supported:

The following is a list of the winsock implementations that  have been tested by the developer:

1. Trumpet Windows Sockets Alpha #16 , #17, and #18.

2. PC/TCP 2.22 and winsock 1.09 alpha 5

3. PC/TCP 2.3 and winsock 1.10

The following is based on a notes that I have received from users of the application:

1. Lanera TCPOpen - works

2. Netmange Chamelon 3.11n - works

3. Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows for Workgroups  - works

4. Windows NT 3.1   - works

5. PC/NFS version 5.0  -  works

6. Novell LWP 4.1 with Novell's Winsock API -  works

7. OS/2 2.1 with OS/2 TCP/IP 2.0 with DOS/Access Kit -  works

8. Frontier Technologies Super-TCP winsock DLL version 3.68 -  works

9. Pathway 3.0 from Wollongong - works

MainFrame Hardware/Software Supported:

The following is a list of the mainframe software that have been tested by the developer:

1. MVS/ESA 4.3 with IBM TCP/IP 2.2.1

2. VM/ESA 1.0 with IBM TCP/IP 2.2.

The following is based on a notes that I have received from users of the application:

1. Works with NCR's COMTEN boxes.

2. Works with Interlinks SNS/TCP.

Known Restrictions:

1) The following terminal types are not supported:

     IBM-3278-5

2) Only supports 101 key keyboards.

3) The following 3270 extended attributes have not been implemented:

     Field validation

     Field outlining

     Character sets

     Background colour

     Transparency

4) The CURSOR SELECT key is not supported.

5) If using a TOKEN RING card it must have at least 16k of shared  memory.


Change History:

Version 1.4 Changes:                      Jul 15, 1994

1.  Added Horizontal scroll bar for 3278 mod 5 terminals.

2.  Corrected bug in READ MODIFIED routine.

3.  Corrected problem with HOME key on some screens.

4.  Insert toggle now is set to off when the RESET key is pressed.

5.  Corrected problem with NEW LINE key with 3278 model 5 terminals.

6.  Changed default cursor shape to underscore.  It changes to a block when insert mode is on.

Version 1.3 Changes:                      Jul 6, 1994

1.  The code to provide support for NVT terminals was completely re-written.

2.  Added support for 3278 mod 5 terminals.

3.  Corrected problem with the READ BUFFER command introduced by the 3279 support for entended highlighting and extended colours.

Version 1.2 Changes:                      Jun 28, 1994

1.  Corrected potential storage overlay problem with the Printer Setup dialog.

2.  Added Blinking support for 3270 extended highlighting.

3.  Corrected looping problems when connected to some hosts.

Version 1.1 Changes:                      Jun 25, 1994

1.  Corrected problem with the HOME key not working properly on some screens.  This  happened most frequently in XEDIT screens on VM systems.

2.  Corrected problem with END key not working properly if the cursor was positioned after the last non-blank character in the field.

3.  Defined the PAUSE key to function as the CLEAR key.

4.  Defined PRINT SCREEN key to act like its name and cause the contents of the screen to be sent to the printer.

5.  Changed the colour selection dialog to limit the available colours to the sixteen that are available for text and background colours.

6.  Added support for 3279 extended colours and extended highlighting.  At the moment blinking characters are displayed as marked fields (colour bits have been reversed).

Version 1.0 Changes:                      Jun 13, 1994

1.  Corrected problem with alternate screen sizes.  QWS3270 Extra changes to alternate screen size only after receiving an erase/write alternate command.  The screen size reverts to the standard screen size when one of the following occurs:  a) an erase/write command is received; b) the terminal operator presses either the CLEAR key or the SYSREQ key.

2.  Corrected sporadic problems with PA keys sometimes not sending the  proper AID to the mainframe host.

3.  Corrected sporadic problem reading data from the network when the last byte in the block is the TELNET Interpret as Command character.

4.  Corrected problem where column 80 was dropped for EDIT / PRINT and PRINTSCREEN menu items on some printers.

5.  Changed EDIT / COPY menu item to work like most other Windows applications.


Menu Commands:

Here is a list of the Menu Commands available:

Connect

Close

Exit

Edit

Print Screen

Setup

Help


Connect:

This item opens a dialog box which will allow you to establish a connection to a host.  The dialog box contains the following fields:

Host:

Enter the name or IP address of the host to which QWS3270 EXTRA should connect.  The default host that appears in this box can be changed using the SETUP/OPTIONS menu.

Port:

Enter the telnet port number that QWS3270 EXTRA should use to make the connection.  The default port number that appears in this box can be changed using the SETUP/OPTIONS menu.

Language File:

Enter the fully qualified name of the file (ie c:\directory\file.typ) that QWS3270 EXTRA should use to provide the character translation between the mainframe and the PC.  This allows QWS3270 EXTRA to use a different language translation table to provide support forinternationalcharacter sets. The default language file that appears in this box can be changed using the SETUP/OPTIONS menu. Enter a value of English(U.S.) to use the default translation table that corresponds to the Country Extended Code Page number 037.


Close:

This menu item allows you to close the connection with the host.  No attempt is made to logoff or sign off from the host before the conection is closed.


Exit:

This menu item closes the window if no connection with a host exists.


Edit:

Allows access to the Windows clipboard functions:

Copy:

Copies the marked contents of the screen to the clipboard.  The area is marked by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the mouse until the desired area is marked.  If the marked area spans more than one screen line, the last non-blank character of  each screen row is followed by a carriage return and linefeed character.  The data is sent as text.

Copy All:

Copies the entire contents of the screen to the clipboard. A carriage return and linefeed character are inserted after the last non-blank character in each line. The data is sent as text.

Append:

Appends the marked contents of the screen to the clipboard.  The area is marked by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the mouse until the desired area is marked.  If the marked area spans more than one screen line, the last non-blank character of  each screen row is followed by a carriage return and linefeed character.  The data is sent as text. This menu item is activated after the first Copy or Copy All.

Append All:

Appends the entire contents of the screen to the clipboard. A carriage return and linefeed character are inserted after the last non-blank character in each line. The data is sent as text. This menu item is activated after the first Copy or Copy All.

Clear:

Deletes any data currently in the clipboard.  Menu items Append, Append All, and Print are de-activated.

Paste:

Retrieves the contents from the clipboard and adds it to the screen starting at the current cursor position just as if the data was typed from the keyboard. Imbedded  carriage return and linefeed combinations are treated as a NEWLINE function.  Invalid characters in the retrieved data are ignored.

Print:

This function will invoke the Windows Print Manager to send the contents of the clipboard to the printer. The contents of the clipboard are cleared.  Menu items Append, Append All, and Print are de-activated.


Print Screen:

Allows the contents of the screen to be copied to an attached printer.  It can be activated using the mouse or by pressing the CTRL  and  P keys at the same time. This function will invoke the Windows Print Manager.


Setup:

This menu item allows to to customize QWS3270 EXTRA to your preference.  The setup menu can be disabled by adding a DISABLESETUP= YES line in the [QWS3270X] section of the qws3270x.ini. This line can be added with the text editor of your choice.

Colours

Fonts

Options

Printer


Options:

This menu item allows to to set the options provided in QWS3270 EXTRA to your preference.

Default Host:

This is the default host that will appear in the connect dialog box.  It can be a host name or an IP address.

Default Port:

This is the default port number that will apear in the connect dialog box.  The default is 23.

Auto Connect:

When set to YES, QWS3270 EXTRA will automatically attempt a connection to the default host and port when you double click on the icon from the Program Manager.  The default setting is NO.

Button Bars:

    Line 1:

When set to YES, QWS3270 EXTRA will display a row of  mouse activated button bars for the following 3270 keys: Clear, Erase end of Field, Newline, PA1, PA2, and PA3.  The default setting is YES.

   Line 2:

When set to YES, QWS3270 EXTRA will display a row of  mouse activated button bars for the following 3270 keys: ATTN, Dup, Erase Input, Reset, and Sys Req.  The default setting is NO.

Exit on Close:

When set to YES, QWS3270 EXTRA will automatically close the window when the connection to the host is closed.  The default setting is NO.

Language File:

This allows QWS3270 EXTRA to use an external file as the character translation table to provide support for international character sets. Enter the fully qualified name of the file (ie c:\directory\file.typ) that QWS3270 EXTRA should useto provide the character translation between the mainframe and the PC. Enter a value of English(U.S.) to use the default translation table that corresponds to the Country Extended Code Page number 037.

At the present time the following language translation files are provided with QWS3270 EXTRA:

english.lan        -  CECP page 037 English (U.S.)

belgian.lan     - language translation file for Belgian based  on CECP page 500.  This file

                       is provided courtesy  of Chi Xiaochen (xchi@ulb.ac.be)

danish.lan     - language translation file for Denmark/Norway based on CECP page 277.

                       Not all of CP277-1 has been  implemented)  This file is provided courtesy

                       of Peter Cordsen, Dan Computer Management,  Copenhagen, Denmark

german.lan     - language translation file for German/Austrian based on CECP page 273.

                        This file is provided courtesy of Michael Pellmann, MD-ADV, Vienna,

                         Austria

hebrew.lan     - language translation file for Hebrew.  This file is provided courtesy of

                       Tuvia Rothem, Haifa University,  Computer Center, Israel

norwegn.lan    - language translation file for Norwegian.  This file is provided courtesy of

                        Sven K. Strom, Technical University Library of Norway,  N-7034

                        Trondheim, Norway

swedish.lan    - language translation file for Swedish.  This file is provided courtesy of

                       Johan Hofvander, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,

                      Uppsala, Sweden

If you create one, send it to me with the appropriate docementation and I will include it as part of the distribution.  Create your own custimized file as follows:

Create a file containing 512 bytes.  The first 256 represent the PCASCII hex equivalents of the host EBCDIC codes x'00' thru x'ff'.  The next 256 bytes represent the host EBCDIC hex  equivalents of the PC ASCII codes x'00' thru x'ff'.  The file ENGLISH.LAN is the default table used by QWS3270 EXTRA.

Message Beep:

When set to OFF, QWS3270 EXTRA will suppress the beeps that are sent from the host to the PC.  The default setting is ON.

Terminal Type:

This allows you to choose the 3278 terminal type that QWS3270 EXTRA will use when negotiating terminal types with the host.  The permitted values are displayed in the list box.  The IBM-3278-2 is a 24 line by 80 column display.  The IBM-3278-3 is a32 lineby 80 column display.  The IBM-3278-4 is a 43 line by 80 column display.   The default is the IBM-3278-2.

Yale Null Processing:

When set to ON, QWS3270 EXTRA will translate all null characters to blanks before sending the screen data to the host.  Most 3270 emulators have Yale Null Processing turned on.  Setting this parameter OFF will cause QWS3270 EXTRA to simulate a true 3270 terminal.  The default setting is ON.


Colours:

This Menu allows you to customize the colours used by QWS3270 EXTRA.  You can select a colour for the following items:

Background:

Select the colour to be used for the background.  The default is black.

Unprotected Fields:

Normal:

Select the colour to be used for normal intensity un-protected fields.  The default is white.

Bright:

Select the colour to be used for high intensity un-protected fields.  The default is cyan.

Protected Fields:

Normal:

Select the colour to be used for normal intensity protected fields.  The default is yellow.

Bright:

Select the colour to be used for high intensity protected fields.  The default is red.


Fonts:

This menu item invokes the Windows supplied Font Selection dialog box to allow you to choose the font that QWS3270 EXTRA should use to display the text on the terminal.  This dialog box only shows fixed pitch screen fonts.The default font is FIXEDSYS.


Printer:

This menu item invokes the Windows supplied Printer Setup dialog box to allow you to choose the printer that QWS3270 EXTRA should use for all printer output.  This setting is saved in the .ini file for future use.


Help:

Provides access to the following QWS3270 EXTRA  help features:

Help:

Provides access to the Windows Help file for QWS3270 EXTRA.

Keyboard Mapping:

Provides information on special 3270 keys that do not have PC keyboard equivalents.

About:

Provides information about QWS3270 EXTRA including the author, version number and the email address to use when reporting bugs.