Usage scenario

A typical usage of a TSO/3270 passthrough mode application might resemble the following:

1. Use the TSO/E OMVS command to start the z/OS shell session.
   When invoking the TSO/E OMVS command, the user should already know if TSO/3270 passthrough mode will be used later, and which applications will be used. The user may need to pick the proper ENDPASSTHROUGH key (panic button), based on instructions from the 3270 application programmer. If (for example) the panic button should be the 3270 attention key, enter;

            OMVS ENDPASSTHROUGH(ATTN)
    

2. Prepare to run the 3270 application.

   It may be a good idea to shut off any shell-provided messaging facility. Also, it is best to end any background jobs before running the TSO/3270 passthrough mode application.

3. Run the 3270 application.

   Run the 3270 application using instructions provided by the application programmer.

4. If the 3270 application hangs.

   It may be possible to press the ENDPASSTHROUGH key (defined earlier) to unhang the terminal. If not, the user may have to logoff using the SYSREQ key.

5. If the terminal displays stray data.

   Stray data may appear on the 3270 screen while the 3270 application is running. It may be possible to clear this up by pressing PA2 or CLEAR, depending on the 3270 application. The application provider may give more detailed instructions about this.

6. If background jobs break into the 3270 session.

   The screen may be returned to the shell session, and error messages may be displayed at the top of the screen.

   If this happens, the recovery directions provided with the 3270 application should be followed. It may be possible to restart the 3270 application using job control commands, or the 3270 application may have ended by itself, or the 3270 application might have to be killed.

7. After the 3270 application ends.

   The normal shell session should be re-displayed on the terminal.

   If the ENDPASS key is used to end TSO/3270 passthrough mode, or some other error causes TSO/3270 passthrough mode to end, stray data may appear on the screen. Also, you may have to press <ENTER> more than once to get back to the shell prompt. The shell may issue error messages complaining about invalid input.