[LINUX5250] Looking for someone who knows the DEFINE SELECTION FIELD structured field

[James Rich <james@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey everyone,

I've been working on the enhanced 5250 protocol support and I have run 
into a mystery.  So I'm trying to find someone who understands either the 
5250 protocol or at least the reference manual better than me.  Let me 
explain my problem and then all you wizards can answer.

The section on DEFINE SELECTION FIELD structured field in the reference 
manual is located at:

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr/BOOKS/CO2E2001/15.6.13.5?DT=19950629163252

Table 59 describes the format for the define selection field major 
structure.  I understand everything down to byte 20, but at byte 21 I am 
getting data from the AS/400 that doesn't correspond to anything listed. 
By studying the trace I was able to determine that the first byte of this 
unknown data is a length, but the rest eludes me.  It is not a minor 
structure as far as I can tell because the byte following the length is 
not 0x10.  I do get several minor structures later.  This unknown data 
sits between the end of the major structure and the start of the first 
minor structure.  Here is a trace (I hope my logging is descriptive enough 
that you can tell which parts of the major and minor structure have been 
read and recognized):

Entering tn5250_session_define_selection_field()
Use this selection field in all cases
Selection field is auto-enter on selection except if single-digit or 
double-digit numeric selection is used
Field advance = character advance
Menu bar
textsize = 0x08 (8)
rows = 0x01 (1)
choices = 0x05 (5)
padding = 0x01 (1)
separator = 0x00
selectionchar = 0x00
cancelaid = 0x00
length of unknown data = 0x13
unknown data = 0x01 (1)
unknown data = 0xE0 (224)
unknown data = 0x00 (0)
unknown data = 0x21 (33)
unknown data = 0x00 (0)
unknown data = 0x23 (35)
unknown data = 0x00 (0)
unknown data = 0x23 (35)
unknown data = 0x22 (34)
unknown data = 0x20 (32)
unknown data = 0x20 (32)
unknown data = 0x22 (34)
unknown data = 0x20 (32)
unknown data = 0x22 (34)
unknown data = 0x00 (0)
unknown data = 0x20 (32)
unknown data = 0x00 (0)
unknown data = 0x22 (34)
byte = 0x0E (14)
byte = 0x10 (16)
Entering tn5250_session_define_selection_item()
Available and not a default selection
mnemonic offset is included
Numeric selection characters are not included in this minor structure
Minor structure ignored
ignored = 0x00
ignored = 0xC4
ignored = 0x81
ignored = 0xA3
ignored = 0x81
ignored = 0x82
ignored = 0x81
ignored = 0xA2
ignored = 0x85
byte = 0x0B (11)
byte = 0x10 (16)
Entering tn5250_session_define_selection_item()
...

Each time tn5250_session_define_selection_item() is called we have 
received another minor structure.  Anyone have any idea what the "unknown 
data" is?

Also, the docs say that if the first three bits of flagbyte3 in the minor 
structure are all off then the minor structure is ignored.  In my case 
those bits are always off, so it always ignores the choice text.  Then how 
do I know what text to use?

btw - the screen I'm working with comes from Martin Rowe's excellent 
DBG400 utilities.  Anyone who wants to use the same screens for testing 
can download them from dbg400.net.

James Rich

It's not the software that's free; it's you.
        - billyskank on Groklaw