DIGITAL TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS
User's Guide


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4.12 IBM 3270 Model Terminal Emulation (TN3270)

You can run a TELNET session with a host that uses IBM 3270 model terminals by using the TN3270 command. The TN3270 command:

During a TN3270 session, you can:

Note

When you run TN3270, you can only have one session. You cannot have other sessions running simultaneously, as you can when running normal TELNET sessions.

4.12.1 Supported IBM Terminal Models

Table 4-5 lists the IBM 3270 terminal models that TELNET/TN3270 can emulate.

Table 4-5 TELNET --- Supported IBM 3270 Model Terminals
Model Screen Size (Rows x Columns)
IBM 3278 Model 2 24 x 80
IBM 3278 Model 3 32 x 80
IBM 3278 Model 4 43 x 80
IBM 3278 Model 5 27 x 132

4.12.2 Setting Up Your PC or Terminal for IBM 3270 Terminal Emulation

When you use TELNET and specify IBM 3270 model terminal emulation (TN3270), the image displayed on your screen depends on:

Sections 4.12.2.1 and 4.12.2.2 explain how to set up VT200- and VT100-series terminals (or emulation on PCs), respectively.

4.12.2.1 VT200-Series Terminal Setup

Follow these steps:

  1. At the Set-up Directory menu, select the keyboard type that corresponds to the keyboard layout you are using (for example, North American).
  2. At the Display Set-up menu, select the following:
  3. At the General Set-up menu, select the following:
  4. At the Communications Set-up menu, select the following:
  5. At the Keyboard Set-up menu, select warning bell ON.

At the DCL prompt, issue:


 $ SET TERMINAL /INQUIRE

The software determines the terminal's characteristics and sets the appropriate parameters.

If you select National Character mode, issue:


 $ SET TERMINAL /NOEIGHTBIT

4.12.2.2 VT100-Series Terminal Setup

Follow these steps:

  1. Set your terminal to ANSI mode (see the user's guide for your terminal).
  2. Enter the following command at the DCL prompt:


    $ SET TERMINAL/INQUIRE
    

    This command causes the terminal to be questioned about its characteristics. The appropriate parameters for the terminal are set up according to its response.

TN3270 requires DIGITAL terminals or DECterm windows that support at least 24 lines and 80 columns.

4.12.3 Starting and Exiting from TN3270

Start a TN3270 session by using the TN3270 command. You can also use the TELNET/TERMINAL_TYPE=IBM-3278-n command. The default terminal type is IBM-3278-2. The following examples show several ways to start a TN3270 session, using the TN3270 command and connecting to host CENTRAL. For more information, see Section 4.3.

You can invoke TN3270 and, without connecting to a remote host first, enter certain commands that customize the sessions and display parameters or status. You can also use a command file to invoke TN3270 and the customization.

The TN3270 command includes several qualifiers that allow you to specify customized or special files for the following:

You can end a TN3270 session (close the connection) in one of the following ways:

4.12.4 Clearing Error Messages

TN3270 displays error messages in a bordered display at the bottom of your screen. This display overwrites the status display and remains visible until you clear it. To clear, invoke one of the following functions:

4.12.5 Recording Sessions

During a TN3270 session, you can record your screen's contents. The PRINT function directs your screen's contents to either a file or a spooled printer.

To record your screen's contents, follow these steps:

  1. Invoke the PRINT keyboard function, as explained in Section 4.12.8.
    The screen display is recorded in a file in a compressed state. Null lines (lines with only nulls and attribute characters) do not appear.
  2. Invoke the ENTER function or any function that transmits the screen contents to the remote host's application, as explained in Section 4.12.8.

This creates the default output file, TN3270PRINT.LIS. TELNET does the following:

You can specify a different file name. To change the name, use one of the following two methods:

4.12.6 Online Help

Online help during a TN3270 session displays:

The Help screen shows the TN3270 functions as they correspond to the keys on your physical keyboard:

To see the Help screen, use the HELP function which is key F15.

4.12.7 If the Keyboard Locks

If your keyboard locks, the terminal bell rings, and the status line displays:


Inhib 

To unlock the keyboard, press the following key to invoke the RESET function (KP0 refers to the 0 key in the application keypad on the right hand side of the keyboard):


[KP0] 

Do not use the following functions when the cursor is in a protected field (a field that does not accept user input):

4.12.8 Keyboard Functions

This section describes the keyboard functions. Preceding each function description are the key sequences for VT100 and VT200 terminals and the function name to use in a DEFINE/KEY command. In many of the key sequences, TN3270 allows use of the extended function (EXT) feature. Used in conjunction with another key, EXT allows access to an extended function for that key. The extended function feature is described below in more detail.

ATTACH
VT100: EXT + E VT200: EXT + Find
DEFINE_KEY Function: ATTACH

Changes control from one subprocess to another subprocess or to the parent process. When you invoke the ATTACH function, TN3270 uses the name of the last process to which you attached as the default process name.

If you want to attach to a different process, press Ctrl/U to erase the default process name. You can then enter the process name of your choice at the prompt. The process name can be a quoted string. Use the quotation marks to preserve spaces, tabs, or lowercase letters in strings.

ATTN
VT100: EXT + A VT200: F19
DEFINE_KEY Function: ATTENTION

Provides a way to "get the attention of" the remote application program that you are running by sending a SIGNAL RU command to the remote host. See the user's guide of the particular application program to learn what response the program gives when you use this key.

Back Tab (| Left arrow)
VT100: BACKSPACE VT200: F12
DEFINE_KEY Function: BACK_TAB

Moves the cursor, depending on the type of screen. On a formatted screen, the cursor moves one of these ways, depending on the location when you press this key:

On an unformatted screen, the cursor returns to the first position on the screen.

Cent Sign (¢)
VT100: EXT + C VT200: EXT + C
DEFINE_KEY Function: (None)

Enters a cent sign. If your terminal does not have this character, your screen displays a hyphen ( - ).

CLEAR
VT100: EXT + Enter VT200: EXT + F20
DEFINE_KEY Function: CLEAR

Clears the screen and moves the cursor to the first position on the screen. When you invoke the CLEAR function, the software notifies the application program that this function has been used.

DEF KEY (DEFINE key)
VT100: Ctrl/K VT200: Ctrl/K
DEFINE_KEY Function: DEFINE_KEY

Lets you interactively define or redefine a key. You get a prompt for the name of the key to define and for a function you want to assign to that key. Refer to Section 4.12.9 for more information about using the DEF KEY function.

DELETE
VT100: Delete VT200: <X]
DEFINE_KEY Function: DELETE

Deletes the character at the cursor. The cursor remains where it is, and the other characters to the right of the cursor in the same field move one position to the left. The end of the field fills with blanks. Note that this is not the action normally associated with the Delete key on DIGITAL terminals.

DSP ATT (display attributes)
VT100: Ctrl/V VT200: EXT + F17
DEFINE_KEY Function: DISPLAY_ATTRIBUTES

Enables and disables the visible attribute mode. This mode of operation forces display of the attribute characters (that is, the characters at the start of a field that indicate the display and data type of that field). In IBM 3270 model terminal emulation (TN3270), you can use the DSP ATT function to debug application programs, as explained in Section 4.12.10.

DUP (duplicate)
VT100: EXT + * VT200: EXT + F12
DEFINE_KEY Function: DUP

Lets you enter a value in the same field in several forms without needing to repeat the entry for each form.

After entering the data in the field on the first form, use the DUP function when at the same field on succeeding forms. The application program makes the necessary translation, filling in these fields with the same value. For details about the use of this key, refer to the user's guide of the particular application program.

Displays an asterisk (*).

DV CNCL (device cancel)
VT100: EXT + U VT200: EXT + Remove
DEFINE_KEY Function: DVCNCL

Cancels the RECORD function. Use the DV CNCL function if you begin using the RECORD function and then decide you want to stop. If you want to delete a sequence that has already been recorded on a PF key, use the RECORD function, press the PF key, and then use the DV CNCL function.

ENTER
VT100: Line Feed + Enter VT200: Do + Enter
DEFINE_KEY Function: ENTER

Sends your input to the remote application program. While this communication is active, the keyboard locks and Inhib appears on the status line. Usually the application program releases the keyboard when it has finished processing your input.

ER EOF (erase to the end of the field)
VT100: EXT + KP, VT200: F18
DEFINE_KEY Function: ERASE_EOF

Erases the contents of the current field, from the location of the cursor to the end of the field. The cursor remains in the same location.

ER INP (erase input)
VT100: EXT + KP- VT200: EXT + F18
DEFINE_KEY Function: ERASE_INPUT

On a formatted screen, clears all the data in the unprotected fields on your screen and moves the cursor to the first position in the first unprotected field on the screen.

On an unformatted screen, clears all the data and moves the cursor to the first position on the screen.

You can also use the ER INP function to remove all previously recorded key sequences by using the RECORD function and then the ER INP function.

EXIT
VT100: Ctrl/Z or F10 VT200: Ctrl/Z or F10
DEFINE_KEY Function: EXIT

Terminates the remote TELNET/TN3270 session. Aborts any exchange of data in progress between the local and remote hosts. Note that terminating a session with the IBM host in this way may result in improper termination of the session. For the appropriate logoff command string, see the user's guide for the IBM application with which you are communicating.

EXT (extended function)
VT100: KP. VT200: KP.
DEFINE_KEY Function: EXTEND

Used in conjunction with another key, allows access to an extended function for that key. First invoke the EXT function and then press the second key. If you invoke EXT accidentally, invoking the RESET function cancels the EXT function.

If the status display is enabled when you invoke the EXT function, the word Extend appears on the status line.

FM (field mark)
VT100: EXT + ; VT200: EXT + F13
DEFINE_KEY Function: FM

Specifies the end of a field on an unformatted screen or the end of part of an unprotected field on a formatted screen. Refer to the user's guide of the remote application program for specific use of this key.

Displays a semicolon ( ; ).

HELP
VT100: EXT + H VT200: Help
DEFINE_KEY Function: HELP

Displays online help and an illustration of the TN3270 keyboard.

HOME
VT100: EXT + B VT200: F13
DEFINE_KEY Function: HOME

Repositions the cursor to the first position in the first unprotected field on the screen (that is, to the beginning of the input area on the screen).

Horizontal Control (Right arrow and Left arrow)
VT100: Right arrow or Left arrow VT200: Right arrow or Left arrow
DEFINE_KEY Function: RIGHT, RIGHT_NOWRAP, LEFT, or LEFT_NOWRAP

Moves the cursor horizontally across your screen without changing data you have already entered. If the cursor is at the:

INSERT
VT100: EXT + PF4 VT200: F14
DEFINE_KEY Function: INSERT_MODE

Enables insert mode. Use insert mode to edit what you entered. If the status display is enabled, Insert appears.

In insert mode, when you enter a character in to an unprotected field, it is displayed to the left of the cursor, moving the following one position to the right:

You can insert characters in to an:

If you attempt to insert characters after the field is full, the keyboard locks, the terminal bell rings, and the word Inhib appears on the status line. If the keyboard locks when you try to insert characters in to a field that looks empty, the field might have trailing spaces. To erase these spaces, use the ER EOF function.

To return your screen to the normal mode of entry, use one of the following keyboard functions:

Logical NOT (| --)
VT100: EXT + N VT200: EXT + N
DEFINE_KEY Function: (None)

Represents the remote host's symbol for a logical NOT; displayed as a circumflex ( ^ ) on DIGITAL terminals.

Logical OR (|)
VT100: EXT + O VT200: EXT + O
DEFINE_KEY Function: (None)

Represents the remote host's symbol for a logical OR; displayed as a solid vertical line from the terminal's graphics set. Press Ext + O if the vertical bar is not available on your keyboard.

New Line (Hooked left arrow)
VT100: Return VT200: Return
DEFINE_KEY Function: NEWLINE

Moves the cursor to the first unprotected position on the next line of your screen. If no unprotected fields are on the screen when you invoke the new line function, the cursor moves to the first location on the screen. If the screen has no fields, this key has the same function as the Return key on DIGITAL terminals.

NUM OVR (numeric lock override)
VT100: EXT + J VT200: Remove
DEFINE_KEY Function: NUMOVR

Lets you enter nonnumeric characters in to numeric fields. Once you enable this function, use NUM OVR again to disable it. If you do not disable the numeric lock override, it remains enabled even after you exit from TN3270. The letter O appears on the status line to indicate that the numeric lock override is in effect.

PA1, PA2, PA3
VT100: PF4 , KP- , KP, VT200: PF4 , KP- , KP,
DEFINE_KEY Function: PA1--PA3

These program access keys are defined by the program you are using. These keys request attention from the remote application program without sending any data. You should refer to the user's guide of your application program to learn how the PA keys are defined.

PF1 through PF24
VT100: see below VT200: see below
DEFINE_KEY Function: PF1--PF24

These program function keys are defined by the remote application program you are using. They request attention from the application program and send the data entered to the host. The PF keys are coded by the application program to perform functions relating to the application. A particular PF key may be coded differently from one application to another. The user's guide of the remote application program usually defines the specific PF key assignments for that application program.
To Implement
This Function
Press This Key or
Key Combination
PF1 PF1
PF2 PF2
PF3 PF3
PF4 KP7
PF5 KP8
PF6 KP9
PF7 KP4
PF8 KP5
PF9 KP6
PF10 KP1
PF11 KP2
PF12 KP3
PF13 EXT + PF1
PF14 EXT + PF2
PF15 EXT + PF3
PF16 EXT + KP7
PF17 EXT + KP8
PF18 EXT + KP9
PF19 EXT + KP4
PF20 EXT + KP5
PF21 EXT + KP6
PF22 EXT + KP1
PF23 EXT + KP2
PF24 EXT + KP3


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