Simulating the Data Analysis/APL Character Set

The 3270 Data Analysis/APL Character Set (feature code 1066) expands the character set of 3270 terminals by allowing the display of 80 APL-specific characters and 35 TN print train characters not included in the normal character set. The characters that can be entered at the keyboard are dependent upon whether the APL or Text keyboard was installed. Some of the APL-specific characters and all of the additional TN characters are transmitted to and from a 3270 terminal as 2-character sequences consisting of the start field (SF) order (X'1D') plus a second byte that varies depending on the character. The set of allowable values for the second byte is mutually exclusive with the set of values that represent valid attribute bytes when encountered following the SF order.

The ALTCSET=NONE and EXTFUN=NO operands on the DEV or LU statements specify the Data Analysis/APL Character Set feature on any 3270 terminal, regardless of model.

You can enter any 8-bit character as data with the TEXT statement. You must ensure that this data does not include line control or other invalid characters. To include characters that must be transmitted as 2-character sequences, you must specify the hexadecimal value that corresponds to the WSim internal representation of that character. Table 1 shows the hexadecimal values you should use for WSim to transmit specific 2-character sequences. It is your responsibility to restrict the characters entered at the simulated keyboard to those that can be entered at a particular type of real keyboard (APL or Text, for example).

Table 2 shows the WSim internal hexadecimal value translated into the terminal buffer for each received 2-character sequence. If the internal WSim representation of one of the 2-character sequences is received in the data stream from the application, it is interpreted as the 2-character sequence. If an invalid 2-character sequence is received, for example, an SF order followed by an invalid character, WSim translates the sequence to an X'60' character.

See IBM® 3270 Information Display System for the specific code assignments for the 3270 Data Analysis/APL Character Set, for both the 1-character and 2-character sequences.