New Screen Imaging System
Net-Pass version 5.1 contains a new built-in Screen Imaging System (SIS), that replaces the SIS contained within Win3270. The new SIS is called Net-Pass SIS.
The functions provided by Win3270 SIS include:
Keeping track of the screen image of applications, so it can be saved and restored during level switching. This allows Net-Pass to use READBUF=NO mode, eliminating the need to read and save the entire physical terminals screen buffer before suspending a level. This mode is useful for terminals connected by slow lines.
Helping Net-Pass dialog processor locate text strings and fields in the data sent by applications.
These functions are available to the user as part of Net-Pass base component.
Other functions are:
Bruto-Neto compression, where only the minimum amount of data necessary to update the screen is sent from the application to the terminal. This feature is very useful for terminals connected by slow lines.
Full 3270 windowing, in which screen images from different levels are displayed together on the physical terminals screen in window like format.
Help3270.
Online maintenance.
These four functions are available if the applicable component is enabled.
The functions provided by Net-Pass SIS include:
Keeping track of the screen image of applications, so it can be saved and restored during level switching. This allows Net-Pass to use READBUF=NO mode, eliminating the need to read and save the entire physical terminals screen buffer before suspending a level. This mode is useful for terminals connected by slow lines.
Helping Net-Pass dialog processor locate text strings and fields in the data sent by applications.
These functions are available to the user as part of Net-Pass base component.
Another function is:
Bruto-Neto compression, where only the minimum amount of data needed to update the screen is sent from the application to the terminal. This feature is very useful for terminals connected by slow lines and is available if Net-Pass compression component (new in version 5.1) is enabled.
Full windowing, Help3270, and Online maint are not provided.
Starting from version 5.1, Win3270 is supported on an "as is" basis. No new features, enhancements, and bug fixing will be available.
For every user, it is possible to set which SIS system is to be used. All users, except those that MUST have the SIS functions not provided by Net-Pass SIS, should use Net-Pass SIS.
The binary code of Win3270 is contained in the load modules WINDOW WSPHNSFI WSTHNWGT. Due to historical reasons concerning the Net-Pass development process, these load modules contain code for functions that have nothing to do with Win3270. So, although no user uses Win3270 SIS, the above load modules must be present in Net-Pass load library and their names specified correctly in the applicable SYSPARM keywords.
All these function are available regardless of any Win3270 related components.
