RE: No 5250-based applications

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Telling a browser user that he can't use the Alt-Left to backup a
> screen, is
> like creating a 5250 app that blows up when the user presses F12, then
> putting a big red sticker on the keyboard that says "Never Press F12". The
> point being, if they're used to using it, it's going to happen
> regardless of
> how many times you tell them it's not acceptable.

That's your opinion.  It is different than mine.  Users aren't idiots.  The
20th time they get logged off for using Alt-Left, they'll stop.  If not,
they'll get logged off a lot.  Don't damage any data, certainly, but you
don't have to allow them to magically "back up a screen" in the application
(unless you have previous screen capability - and even then I prefer a
"Back" button, like most web applications use).


> If the tube goes, it goes... not much you can do about it. But I've never
> had to worry about my screens going out of sequence in a 5250 or
> client/server app.

But it can happen!  And you don't code for it!  Horrors!


> Besides, any decent GUI is going to present a confirmation screen
> to prevent
> an accidental shutdown, and I think it's safe to say that unintentionally
> powering off your workstation is *just a little* less likely to
> occur than a
> miskey, or a book falling atop the keyboard.

A book falling on the keyboard will NOT give you Alt-leftarrow.  It takes
some serious effort to press the Alt key AND hit the back arrow.  This is a
RED HERRING for people who insist the browser won't work.

Of course, that's my opinion.


> > If so, then by all means code for Alt-leftarrow.
> >
>
> The question is... can we?

Yeah.  Log them out of the application.  Or, perhaps just as good, return to
the same screen they tried to back out of.  These are prefectly acceptable
alternatives, and neither involves enabling the Back button.  If you don't
have a back button on your green screen, you don't need it in your browser
application, unless it makes sense.

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