CONTENTS Title Page Copyright Page Preface 1 Overview 1.1 DECforms Features for 3270 Terminals 1.1.1 3270 Block-Mode Layouts 1.1.2 Deploying the DECforms Application Program 1.1.3 Additional ENABLE Parameters and Options 1.1.4 Built-In Form Data Items 2 Using 3270 Terminals 2.1 3270 Terminal Features 2.1.1 The 3270 Keyboard 2.2 How a 3270 Terminal Processes Data 2.3 How a 3270 Terminal Communicates with an OpenVMS Application 2.3.1 LU-LU sessions 2.3.2 The DEC SNA Domain Gateway 2.3.3 3270 Terminal Connections to OpenVMS Application Programs 2.3.4 3270 Terminal Connections to DECforms Interfaces 2.3.5 3270 Terminal Connections to the 3270 OpenVMS Print Symbiont 3 Deploying Sample Applications 3.1 Application Deployment from VT Emulation 3.2 Running the Introductory Sample Application 3.2.1 Testing the Program with the 3270 Terminal Emulator 3.2.2 Preparing the Program for Access from an SNA System 3.2.3 Preparing the SNA Gateway 3.2.4 Using the Program with a 3270 Terminal 3.3 Running the Advanced Sample Application 3.3.1 Entering the Application 3.3.2 Writing a Check 3.3.3 Making a Deposit 3.3.4 Making a Cash Withdrawal 3.3.5 Transferring Funds Between Accounts 3.3.6 Reviewing the Check Register 3.3.7 Reviewing the Account Information 3.3.8 Exploring the Special Features of the Sample Application 3.3.9 Exiting the Sample Application 3.3.10 Comparing Layouts 4 Appearance Rules for Panels on 3270 Terminals 5 Using the IFDL 5.1 New IFDL Features 5.1.1 3270 Terminal Types 5.1.2 Field Display Attributes 5.1.3 3270 Function Keys 5.1.4 Built-In Form Data Items 5.2 Creating a 3270 Layout from a VT Layout 5.2.1 Copying a VT Layout 5.2.2 Function Keys 5.2.3 Panel Appearances 5.2.4 ENTRY and EXIT RESPONSE Declarations 5.2.5 Other Unsupported Features 5.2.6 Ignored Attributes 5.2.7 Test 5.3 IFDL Syntax Descriptions ACCEPT RESPONSE Declaration ACTIVATE Response Step ACTIVE HIGHLIGHT Clause BUILTIN FUNCTION Clause COLOR Clause DEVICE Declaration DISPLAY ATTRIBUTE Entry DISPLAY VIEWPORT Clause ELEMENTARY ATTRIBUTE ENTRY RESPONSE Declaration EXIT RESPONSE Declaration FIELD Declaration FIELD DESCRIPTION Entry FONT Declaration FORM DATA Declaration FUNCTION Declaration FUNCTION RESPONSE Declaration GROUP Declaration HELP PANEL Declaration ICON Declaration INPUT PICTURE Clause Key Names LAYOUT Declaration LITERAL Declaration MESSAGE PANEL Declaration PANEL Declaration REFRESH Response Step SIGNAL Response Step TIMEOUT clause VALIDATION RESPONSE Declaration 6 Working in the Development Environment 6.1 Using the Form Development Environment (FDE) 6.1.1 Using FDE Main Menu Choices at the Layout Level 6.1.1.1 Selecting a Layout 6.2 Using the Panel Editor (PED) 6.2.1 Setting Video Attributes 6.3 Testing Form Appearance 6.4 Creating Printable Forms 7 Developing Application Programs 7.1 Integrated Blockmode Access and VT Emulation 7.1.1 Combined MEP VT and Native 3270 Support 7.2 Attaching the 3270 Display Device 7.2.1 Terminal-Initiated Connections 7.2.2 Program-Initiated Connections 7.2.3 Additional Connection Information 7.2.4 Connection Information Location Options 7.2.5 Specifying the 3270 Display Device 7.2.6 Getting Connection Information 7.2.7 Multiple Session Considerations 7.3 Additional ENABLE Options for the OpenVMS API 7.4 Additional ENABLE Options for the Portable C and FORTRAN APIs 7.5 Using Logical Names 7.6 Block Mode Accept Phase Processing 7.6.1 Form Data Assignment Stage 7.6.2 Panel Entry Response Stage 7.6.3 Build Unprotected List Stage 7.6.4 Operator Input Stage 7.6.5 Unprotected List Conversion Stage 7.6.6 Function Response Stage 7.6.7 Unprotected List Validation Stage 7.6.8 Panel Exit Response Stage 7.6.9 Termination Check Stage 7.7 EBCDIC/DMCS Translation 7.7.1 Creating Custom Translation Tables 7.7.2 Specifying Custom Translation Tables 7.8 Testing and Debugging the Application 7.8.1 Using the 3270 Terminal Emulator (TE) 7.8.2 Troubleshooting the Connection 7.8.2.1 Using the Network Control Language (NCL) Utility 7.8.2.2 Using Events 7.8.2.3 Using the Common Trace Facility (CTF) 7.8.2.4 Using the Network Command Program (NCP) and NETSERVER Log 7.8.3 Troubleshooting the Session 7.8.3.1 Using SNALOG Glossary of SNA Terms FIGURES 1-1 3270 OpenVMS Network Environment 2-1 LU to LU Connection 2-2 PLU to SLU Connection 2-3 3270 Application Services API 2-4 DECforms Interface 2-5 OpenVMS Queue Manager 3-1 An Introductory Main Menu 3-2 An Introductory Check Panel 3-3 3270 Terminal Connection Path 3-4 Advanced Welcome Panel 3-5 Advanced Main Menu 3-6 Advanced Check Panel 3-7 Advanced Deposit Panel 3-8 Advanced Cash Panel 3-9 Advanced Transfer Panel 3-10 Advanced Review Panel 3-11 Advanced Review Register Panel 3-12 Advanced Review Account Panel 3-13 Advanced Farewell Panel 5-1 Sample Icon 6-1 Creating a New Layout 6-2 Layout Types 6-3 Creating a 3270 Layout 6-4 Specifying Screen Colors 6-5 VT PED Video Attributes Menu 6-6 Block-Mode PED Video Attributes Menu 7-1 SNA Gateway Connection TABLES 5-1 3270 Default Key Bindings 7-1 Terminal Connection Information Locations 7-2 FORMS$ENABLE Request Options Items 7-3 FORMS_ENABLE Request Options Codes 7-4 Logical Names 7-5 Accept Phase Stages 7-6 Trace Logicals/Environment Variables 7-7 General Tracing Options 7-8 Layered Product Tracing 7-9 Options Within Each Layer