Re: 0.14.0 - Almost there ;) -- LINUX5250

Hi,

On Tue, 5 Oct 1999, Jason M. Felice wrote:

> Please note, we'll keep 0.14.x and 0.15.x in paralell, and continue to fix 
>bugs
> in 0.14.x while we break everything again in 0.15.x ;)

0.15.  Isn't that when we start converting everything back to c++?  Or was
it objective C? ;-)
 
> A rough roadmap (subject to approval by Mike, these are only _my_ ideas):


> 0.15.x - Ability to remap keys, finalize lib API (which means it has to
>          be ready for Unicode terminals, below).  Simple ~/.tn5250rc config
>        file parser.  Better field-exit support, and some clean-up.

[snip]
 
>  then ... 1.0!

I think this looks like a good plan.  I would like to flesh out the
printer support before we officially call it 1.0, though.  Speaking of
printer support, I was wondering if it might be a good idea to break the
printer session out into it's own executable.  Maybe make it a daemon like
lpd.  Then we can have command line and graphical tools to start, stop
manipulate the queue, etc.

Another item that was brought to my attention, is that there is quite a
bit of the 5250 display stream that we don't even try to implement.
Apparently it is not needed it most installations.  Here is a message I
received with more details:

----------
Here are some additional information about the new functions. The text
is from a letter which was sent to the PowerTerm developers.
                                         Borlay Tamas

> We are a software developing company (our name is Softec). From the
> beginning of the V3 releases we have use the new features in our product
> (not all, the most frequently used features are the EDTMSK and the
> continued field).
> One of our customer used the Client Access product with SNA network
> without any problem. But they wanted to change the network to TCP/IP and
> asked as to propose any other (faster) product instead of C/A. We
> proposed them the PowerTerm. After that they have some problems with our
> products. After that I tried your products (the new version too) and I
> found that they don't support these features.
> I don't know how many users have the same problem. Generally the users
> use the C/A, therefore they have no problem. I think (but I don't know)
> that the IBM will use the new features in the new versions of the OS/400
> operating system too.
>
> The new features are special FCW words in the SF orders. The
> AS/400 uses these FCW-s if you set the bit 6 in the 4th device
> capability byte in the response of the query command. After that the
> AS/400 sends the FCW-s. To implement the new features is not a big
> problem, BUT.......
> If you set the bit 6, then the AS/400 will use not only the new FCW-s,
> but the level 1 commands too. It is a bigger problem, because one of the
> level 1 commans is the Write structured field order (the GUI interface).
> The implementation of other commands are not too complicate, but the
> Write structured field is more complicated. At least the window
> management must be implemented, because a lot of AS/400 programs use
> windows.
> 
> I have wrote in my letter 'new functions'. But you have to know, that
> our Infowindow (not Infowindow II) (made in 1990) know the new features.
> The IBM emulator (Client/Access) also knows the new features. Therefore
> if you want to make a successful product (for AS/400 computers, 5250
> emulation) you have to implement the new features. This is my opinion
> (but I am not interesting in the development).
> 
> Best regards,    Borlay Tamas
>
 

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