RE: Local Data Area question

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bruce Vining [mailto:bvining@xxxxxxxxxx] 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 4:13 PM
> To: COBOL Programming on the iSeries/AS400
> Subject: RE: Local Data Area question
> 
> Whether you decide to rewrite a ton of programs or write some 
> new programs is up to you.  The Virtual Terminal APIs do allow 
> one program to emulate a workstation user and so you could use 
> your existing *DSPF based programs and have them "fed" by a program.  
> These are not easy APIs to use as they require a very good knowledge 
> of 5250 data stream, but it can be done.

"not easy" is an understatement!  I've played around with
a couple of these once.  They seem to be very complicated
unless your a 5250 data stream expert :)

> Using the Virtual Terminal APIs does not stop your COBOL program from
> appearing to be an interactive job, it simply eliminates the 
> need for a physical display device and user to provide the input 
> (which I believe is what you want).
>
> The APIs can be found in the Information Center under 
> Programming/APIs/APIs by category/Virtual Terminal
> 
> Bruce

Is this the method that Webfacing uses?  If so, do you know
how long it took the IBM programmers to write that package? 

Even with plenty of in-house expertise, I'll bet it took
quite a while.  Not something your going to whip out in a
few days ;-)

Terry