Configuring Sessions

Personal Communications saves emulator configuration information to a workstation profile (.WS) and SNA information to a configuration file (.ACG). Depending on your Personal Communications configuration, you might have a workstation profile only or both a workstation profile and a configuration file. The workstation profile can be used later by other Personal Communications sessions, or to restart this session. The SNA configuration file (.ACG) is used to initialize the SNA node of Personal Communications.

You can have an icon created for each workstation profile. Then you can select the session icon to establish communication with the host system using the saved workstation profile.

Note:
If you configure more than one workstation profile for connection to an SNA host, we strongly recommend that you use the same SNA configuration file for all of them. If you do not use a common SNA configuration file, make sure that there are no conflicts of link names or PU names (for 3270 sessions) between the two configuration files. In addition, the local system information should be the same on the Configure Local System windows. Failure to do this might result in unpredictable or inconsistent behavior.
Configuring for iSeries®, eServer™ i5, or System i5®
To connect to an iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5, specific configuration information in the workstation profile must correspond to the information specified at the iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 system. Refer to the iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 configuration examples in Emulator User's Reference for more information about creating display, line, and controller descriptions on the iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 system.

If you want to configure multiple links, refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference.

Creating a Configuration

To create a new session, use the following procedure:

  1. From the Start menu, click Programs -> IBM Personal Communications -> Start or Configure Sessions.
  2. From the Session Manager dialog, click New Session.

    The Customize Communication window appears.

  3. Select the type of host from the Type of Host drop-down list box.
  4. Select the interface you will use from the Interface drop-down list box.
  5. Select the attachment type you want to use from the Attachment drop-down list box.
  6. Click Session Parameters to modify the session type (display or printer), host code page, and display/graphics options.

    The Session Parameters - 3270, 5250, or ASCII - Host window appears (depending on the host you selected in step 3). Click OK.

  7. Click Link Parameters.

    If you selected an SNA attachment, you will be prompted to configure an SNA attachment. Enter the appropriate information for each page and click Next to continue. Click Finish when you are done.

    Save the SNA configuration, as described on page Saving an SNA Configuration.

    If you selected an attachment type other than SNA, make your selections for the parameters in the window displayed. Click Help or press F1 to display parameter details. Click OK when you are finished. You will not need to save an SNA configuration.

    Note:
    If your host is configured to support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Security Layer (TLS), then click the Security Setup tab. Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for details on configuring session security.
  8. Click the Host Definition tab to configure the Connection Options.
  9. To set up printer association, click the Printer Association tab and do the following:
    1. Select Associated Printer Session.
    2. Enter the .WS file for the printer that is to be associated with the specific terminal. You can also click Browse to locate the file.

    You can also set the following options:

  10. After configuring the session options, click OK in the Telnet tab panel.
  11. Click OK on the Customize Communication window. The session is displayed automatically.

    Save the workstation profile as described in Saving a Workstation Profile.

Note:
If you have a user profile that was created by a previous version of Personal Communications, auto-logon may not work, when connecting to an iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 host over an SNA connection. In this case, you must recreate. Select Configure User Profile in the Session Parameters - 5250 Host window.

Creating an FTP configuration

  1. Open the FTP client from Start Menu by clicking Start -> IBM Personal Communications -> Utilities -> FTP Client.
  2. Click Communication -> Configuration from the menu.
  3. Choose the options in the Connect tab.
  4. Click the Logon tab.
  5. Click the File Transfer tab and select the appropriate choice for the Transfer mode from the drop-down list. Browse and select a Transfer List File if any.
  6. Click the SSL tab to specify the security parameters for Secure FTP. SSL is optional and not enabled by default.
  7. Click the Runtime Preferences tab.
  8. Click OK to close the configuration dialog.
  9. Connect to the host by clicking Communication->Connect or the Connect button.

Environment variables in workstation profile

In the .WS profile, you can specify environment variables for the paths of the following Personal Communications files:

The syntax is as follows: 

[Toolbar]
BarFile=C:\%USERDIR%\disp.bar
[Poppad]
DefaultPoppad=C:\%PROFILEDIR%\test.pmp
[Mouse]
DefaultMouse=%PCOMMPROFILE%\vtpf.mmp
[Keyboard}
DefaultKeyboard=C:\%USERFOLDER%UserMap.kmp

In the above examples, USERDIR, PROFILEDIR, PCOMMPROFILE, and USERFOLDER are environment variables that you specify. See the following example:

USERDIR = profile\toolbarfiles

Saving Configuration Information

This section describes how to save configuration information. The SNA node, emulator workstation profile, and FTP Client configuration information is stored in a .ACG, .WS, and .CFG file respectively.

Saving an SNA Configuration

The Save As window appears automatically after you create or change a configuration with an SNA attachment. To save this information in a configuration file, use the following procedure:

  1. Type the file name and then click Save. The default file type is .ACG and the default directory is the application data directory specified during installation.

    When you save an SNA configuration file, you are also making it the default configuration for the SNA node.

    You are returned to the Customize Communication window.

  2. Click OK until you return to the session window, and then save your workstation profile, as described in the next section, Saving a Workstation Profile.
Note:
You must have Power User or Administrator privileges in order to modify or create an SNA .ACG configuration.

Saving a Workstation Profile

If you save your emulator configuration information, the session will have the same characteristics the next time you start it. If you have an icon added to the Personal Communications folder, you can restart the session with the saved configuration information by clicking this icon from the Start menu. You are automatically given the opportunity to save your session information when you close a session. However, if you want to save the information at any time, use the following procedure:

  1. Select Save from the File menu in the session window.

    The Save WorkStation Profile As window appears.

  2. Type a file name (.WS) and then click OK. The name you enter will become the icon title unless you enter a description. Note that you can choose the directory where this file is saved, but the default directory is the application data directory specified during installation.
  3. An icon associated with the profile will appear in the Session Manager.

Saving an FTP Client Configuration

You can save the FTP Client configuration in two ways:

Changing Configuration Information

You can change all of the configuration parameters in the workstation profile and the SNA configuration.

Changing an SNA Configuration

You can change the basic configuration parameters of an SNA configuration for your session in the following ways:

Note:
To change advanced configuration options or to specify a different default configuration, you should use the SNA Node Configuration program, which provides more configuration options than the emulator wizard. If you manually edit the configuration files, it is highly recommended that you use the SNA Node Configuration Verification utility, before using the file for the first time.

Using the Emulator Configuration

To change an SNA configuration, use the following procedure:

  1. Select Configure from the Communication menu, then click Session Parameters.
  2. Change the parameters on this window as necessary and click OK.
  3. Click Link Parameters.

    Your default configuration file should be opened automatically. If you want to change a different configuration, click Existing and choose the configuration file you want to change.

    A wizard is displayed to prompt you through the configuration.

  4. Make your changes and then click Next.

    Now you can proceed through the wizard and make additional changes, if necessary.

  5. Click Finish when you are done.
  6. If you want to replace the existing configuration, click Yes to overwrite it. If you want to create a new configuration that is based on the existing one, type a new file name; however, you must use SNA Node Configuration to make a new configuration the default configuration.
  7. Click OK until you return to the session window.

Using the SNA Node Configuration Program

The SNA Node Configuration program is a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing the content of the .ACG files. This program allows you to define individual SNA resources or change the definition of these resources.

Using an ASCII Editor to Change Your Configuration Files

You can create and modify a configuration file without going through the SNA Node configuration interface. You can use the ASCII editor of your choice. A verification tool is available to ensure that you have not made errors when editing your file.

Refer to the Configuration File Reference manual for information on how to edit your configuration data using an ASCII editor and how to verify your editing changes.

Changing a Workstation Profile

To change a workstation profile, use the following procedure:

  1. If your session window is not active, select the icon corresponding to the workstation profile to be changed.

    The session window appears.

  2. Select Configure from the Communication menu.

    The subsequent steps are the same as for creating a new configuration, beginning with step 3.

  3. After you have made your changes, the following message appears: 
          Because you have changed the configuration,
      communication will be terminated if you
      proceed. Are you sure?

    If you click OK, communication ends, but then you are reconnected using the new configuration information.

    To save the changes in your workstation profile, click Save from the File menu in the session window and then click Yes to replace the existing file. Otherwise, click No to save this information in a new configuration file.

Tip

Unless you have deselected Save on Exit in the Exit Options dialog by selecting Exit from the Settings menu, changes are saved in the workstation profile automatically whenever you exit a session.

Configuring Your Workstation for Thai, Hindi, Arabic, or Hebrew

Refer to the bidirectional language support section of Administrator's Guide and Reference for additional information on printing and other configuration options.

Configuring for Thai

To configure for the Thai language:

  1. Select Configure from the Communication menu.
  2. Click on Session Parameters.
  3. For each configuration, select Host Code-Page to be one of the following:

To enable Thai keyboard input:

  1. Select Keyboard from the Settings menu.
  2. Select Keyboard Layout: Thai.

Configuring for Hindi

To configure for the Hindi language:

  1. Select Configure from the Communication menu.
  2. Click Session Parameters.
  3. For each configuration, select Host Code-Page to be one of the following:

To enable Hindi keyboard input:

  1. Select Keyboard from the Settings menu.
  2. Select Keyboard Layout: India--Hindi.

Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for more information about Hindi support.

Configuring for Arabic or Hebrew

To set up an Arabic workstation, do the following:

  1. Select Configure from the Communication pull-down menu.
  2. ClickSession Parameters to display the Customize Communication panel.
  3. Select 420 Arabic Speaking as the host code page.
    Note:
    For 5250 print sessions, selecting the 420 host code page prompts Personal Communications to load the PCSPDA.DAT file. This file ensures that the host-specified fonts will map properly to the Typing Arabic print font. Refer to the bidirectional language support section of Administrator's Guide and Reference for more information about DAT file options for Arabic sessions.
  4. Click OK in the Session Parameters panel.
  5. Click OK in the Customize Communication panel.
  6. Select Keyboard from the Settings pull-down menu. Select Arabic Speaking as the keyboard layout.
  7. Select Font from the Settings -> Appearance pull-down menu. Choose ARB3270 at the Automatic Sizing list box or at the Fixed size font selection. This ensures that the active font for display is the Arabic font.
  8. Select API from the Settings pull-down menu.
  9. Select DDE/EHLLAPI and select 1256 as the PC code page.
  10. Select Page Setup from the File pull-down menu. Choose Typing Arabic as the font in order to be able to print Arabic files.

For Arabic, to set up for Numeric Swapping or Symmetric Swapping, do the following:

  1. Select Appearance -> Display Setup from the Settings menu.
  2. Select Swapping from the list box at the left; the settings for numerics and symmetric characters are displayed. Changes are immediately reflected on the active session.
    Note:
    Numeric Swapping is only available for 3270 sessions. This function will not be selectable for iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 sessions.

To set up a Hebrew workstation, do the following:

  1. Select Configure from the Communication pull-down menu; then click Session Parameters to display the Customize Communication panel.
  2. Select 424 Hebrew (Bulletin Code) or 803 Hebrew (Old Code) as the host code page.
  3. Click OK in the Session Parameters panel.
  4. Click OK in the Customize Communication panel.
  5. Select Keyboard from the Settings pull-down menu. Select Hebrew (Bulletin Code) or Hebrew (Old Code) as the Keyboard layout.
  6. Select Transfer from the Settings pull-down menu.
  7. From the General tab, select 862, 916, or 1255 from the PC Code-Page list.
  8. Select API from the Settings pull-down menu.
  9. Check the DDE/EHLLAPI box, then select 862, 916, or 1255 as the PC Code-Page.
  10. Select Font from the Settings -> Appearance pull-down menu.
  11. Choose HEB3270 in the Automatic Sizing list box or choose the appropriate size of face name at the Fixed size font selection.
  12. Select Page Setup from the File pull-down menu.
  13. In the Text tab, choose (Courier Heb) printer font.

Right-to-Left (RTL) Print Orientation

For 3270 Arabic printer sessions (code page 420), you can print a file in RTL orientation. Select right-to-left orientation in the Printer Setup dialog. You can then select the symmetric or numeric swapping options.

Page Setup for Arabic Printing

Using the Windows Printer Driver

For 5250 printer sessions, click the Advanced Options tab in the Page Setup dialog. Set the Printer Font Code Page to 1008.

For 3270 sessions, click the Text tab in the Page Setup dialog. Set the Font to Typing Arabic.

Using Printer Definition Table (PDT) Files

For 5250 printer sessions, click the Advanced Options tab in the Page Setup dialog. Set the Printer Font Code Page to 864.

Using Host Print Transform (5250 only)

For 5250 printer sessions, click the Advanced Options tab in the Page Setup dialog. Set the Printer Font Code Page to 864.

Lam-Alef Expansion

The bidirectional layout engine converts between visual and implicit representation of Arabic characters. The Lam-Alef ligature in visual representation is expanded to <Lam> and <Alef> characters in implicit representation. If there are insufficient blank spaces at the end of Arabic text (i.e., the beginning of the English field) into which the Lam-Alef can be expanded, characters at the end of the Arabic field are lost and replaced by the <SUB> control character.

To ensure a sufficient number of spaces at the beginning of the field, Personal Communications protects one space for each <Lam-Alef> character. An error message is returned if you try to enter a character in the protected space.

In the following example, entering one <Lam-Alef> character at the beginning of the Arabic field results in the protection of one space at the beginning of the English field.

Position 1 2 3 4 6
Character None allowed (protected) open open open <Lam-Alef>

In this example, two <Lam-Alef> characters have been entered, so Personal Communications protects two spaces at the end of the Arabic field.

Position 1 2 3 4 5
Character None allowed (protected) None allowed (protected) open <Lam-Alef> <Lam-Alef>
Notes:
  1. If there are no more unprotected spaces available in a field and you try to enter any additional characters, you will receive an error message and the keyboard will be locked. Click Reset to unlock the keyboard.
  2. For the Paste and Delete functions, if the leftmost space in the field (position 1 in the above examples) is not blank when the <Lam-Alef> character is entered, you will not be able to enter the <Lam-Alef> character and Personal Communications will return an invalid key error message.
  3. This expansion feature is not supported for Windows Terminal Server.

You may enable this expansion protection feature from the Settings -> Appearance -> Display Setup menu.

File Transfer

For Arabic, when transferring files between the PC and the host, the available PC code pages are 864 (IBM® PC Arabic) and 1256 (Microsoft Windows Arabic).

For Hebrew, when transferring files between the PC and the host, the available PC code pages are 862 (IBM PC Hebrew), 916 (Hebrew ISO-conforming), and 1255 (Microsoft Windows Hebrew).

Note:
When uploading a PC file to the host, if you specify a record length smaller than the PC line length, lines can wrap incorrectly at the host. To avoid this problem, you should upload the PC file with a record length greater than the maximum PC line length. You can then use a host editor (such as XEDIT) to split the lines.

You can set the file transfer parameters using the following procedure:

  1. Click Settings -> Transfer in the session window.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Click Bidi Options.

    You can modify the following options.

Note:
When performing a Send File or Receive File in an RTL screen, Numeric and Symmetric Swapping should be disabled. To do this, click Settings -> Appearance -> Display Setup. In the Swapping selection, set Symmetric Swapping and Numeric Swapping to No.

Data Transfer for Arabic

When transferring SQL Data between the PC and iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5, the available PC code pages are 864 (IBM Arabic) and 1256 (Microsoft Windows Arabic). To transfer data, do as follows:

  1. Select Transfer from the Settings menu.
  2. Select the tab for the Translation Tables tab.
  3. Select User Defined.
  4. Select Host Codepage: 420 Arabic Speaking.
  5. Select PC Codepage: 864 or 1256.

    If code page 1256 is selected, then you must then set the parameter for the orientation of the host file, as described for file transfer.

For bidirectional sessions, the Host and PC default code pages are dependent on the Windows system locale. For Hebrew Windows, the host code page is 424 and the PC code page is 1255. For Arabic Windows, the host code page is 420 and the PC code page is 1256. You can change the values manually.

OIA Indicators for Arabic

In the host session, the bottom line of the screen is called the Operator Information Area (OIA). This line is always displayed from left-to-right. In the Arabic environment, the following symbols are used:

OIA Indicators for Hebrew

When you are working in host mode, the bottom line of the screen becomes an Operator Information Area (OIA). This line is always displayed from left to right. For work in the Hebrew environment, the following symbols are used:

Configuring VT Emulation for Arabic or Hebrew

To set up an Arabic or Hebrew workstation for VT emulation, do the following:

  1. Select Configure from the Communication pull-down menu.
  2. Select ASCII for the host type.
  3. Click the Session Parameters button.
  4. Select the National Host Code-Page type.
  5. Select the Host Code-Page.
  6. Click the Advanced button.
  7. Click the Bidi Options button.
  8. Set bidirectional options from the Advanced Bidi ASCII Host dialog.
  9. Close the open dialogs by clicking OK in each panel.
  10. Select the font by going to the Edit pull-down menu and selecting Settings -> Appearance -> Font.
  11. Select Face Name.

File Transfer

Automatic code page conversion occurs during file transfer. However, this is only valid for 8-bit code pages.

For Arabic workstations, the conversion is from Arabic ASMO 708 to 1256 when sending. The code page conversion is reversed when receiving.

For Hebrew workstations, the conversion is from Hebrew ISO to 1255 when sending. The code page conversion is reversed when receiving.

Copy/Paste

Automatic code page conversion occurs during copy and paste operations. For Arabic, the conversion is from the current host code page to 1256, and vice versa. For Hebrew, the conversion is from the current host code page to 1255, and vice versa.

Print Screen

To print a screen in an Arabic or Hebrew session, do the following:

  1. Click Page Setup from the File menu.
  2. For an Arabic session, select the Typing Arabic VT font. For a Hebrew session, select the Courier Heb font.

Arabic OIA Indicators for VT

In the Arabic environment, the following OIA symbols are used:

Hebrew OIA Indicators for VT

In the Hebrew environment, the following OIA symbols are used:

Changing Advanced Bidirectional Display Options

To set advanced ASCII bidirectional options for Hebrew sessions, do the following:

  1. Select the appropriate Hebrew National host code page. Click the Advanced button in the Session Parameters - ASCII Host panel.
  2. Click the Bidi Options button in the Customize Communications - Advanced ASCII Host panel.
  3. Select the Display Text Type, either Logical or Visual.

To set advanced ASCII bidirectional options for Arabic sessions, do the following:

  1. Select the appropriate Arabic National host code page. Click the Advanced button in the Session Parameters - ASCII Host panel.
  2. Click the Bidi Options button in the Customize Communications - Advanced ASCII Host panel.
  3. Select the Numeral Shape, either Contextual, Nominal, or National.
  4. Select the Bidi Mode, either On or Off.
  5. Choose the Smart Ordering option, either Enable or Disable. For Smart Ordering enabled, choose the Show Text Attributes option, either Yes or No.

Configuring FTP client for Arabic or Hebrew

To configure the FTP client for Arabic, do the following:

  1. Select Configuration from the Communications menu.
  2. Click the Bidirectional Options tab.
  3. Check the Enable bidirectional conversion box.
  4. Select Arabic as the language.
    Note:
    Selecting Arabic will enable the list of Arabic code pages to be added to the host and client code pages dropdowns.
  5. For right-to-left Host File Orientation, select Right to Left. For left-to-right host file orientation, select Left to Right.
  6. For right-to-left PC File Orientation, select Right to Left. For left-to-right PC file orientation, select Left to Right.
  7. When transferring a file between host and PC using PC code page 1256 and host code page 420 for z/OS and iSeries, you can select the Visual PC file type to transfer the file in visual mode. Otherwise, use Implicit to transfer the file in logical mode. Implicit is the default setting.
  8. When uploading (sending) an Arabic file to the host or downloading (receiving) an Arabic file from the host, select LamAlef Transform.
  9. Select Symmetric Swapping to reset swappable characters. For example, in a right-to-left string, the (and) will be reversed.
  10. For Numerals Shape, select the appropriate shape: Nominal, National, or Contextual.
  11. Click the File Transfer tab.
  12. Select Binary as the Transfer Mode.
  13. Click OK in the Session Configuration panel.

To configure the FTP client for Hebrew, do the following:

  1. Select Configuration from the Communications menu.
  2. Click the Bidirectional Options tab.
  3. Check the Enable bidirectional conversion box.
  4. Select Hebrew as the language.
    Note:
    Selecting Hebrew will enable the list of Hebrew code pages to be added to the host and client code pages dropdowns.
  5. For right-to-left Host File Orientation, select Right to Left. For left-to-right host file orientation, select Left to Right.
  6. For right-to-left PC File Orientation, select Right to Left. For left-to-right PC file orientation, select Left to Right.
  7. When transferring a file between host and PC using PC code page 1255 and host code page 424 for z/OS and iSeries, you can select the Visual PC file type to transfer the file in visual mode. Otherwise, use Implicit to transfer the file in logical mode. Implicit is the default setting.
  8. Select Symmetric Swapping to reset swappable characters. For example, in a right-to-left string, the (and) will be reversed.
  9. For Numerals Shape, select the appropriate shape: Nominal, National, or Contextual.
  10. Click the File Transfer tab.
  11. Select Binary as the Transfer Mode.
  12. Click OK in the Session Configuration panel.