Re: [LINUX5250] Linux and as400 experiences

[James Rich <james@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005, Sean Porterfield wrote:

> > Seriously though, I don't mind.  What don't you like about x5250?
>
> I'll chime in here (adding that I use x5250 daily for the many features). 
> It's been mentioned on the list already that the vertical spacing is 
> problematic.  All windows appear with blank horizontal spaces between the 
> lines.

Yes, those spaces are ugly.  They are a result of my desire to have 
underscores and other characters not touch the line of the input field. 
If you want, you can change the spacing by adjusting the ROWSPACING and 
BASELINESPACE in x5250.h and recompiling.  This could probably bet set as 
a user resource as well so changing them would simply be a matter of 
putting an entry on the command line or in .Xdefaults.

Also, unless you use 5250 menus or scrollbars, try running with +enhanced 
in your .tn5250rc - the results are much nicer.  With the latest releases 
of tn5250 and x5250 everything should work with the above exceptions. 
Here are some screenshots of enhanced mode:

http://www.chowhouse.com/~james/x5250/screenshots.html

> If I run x5250 and xt5250 side by side, x5250 starts off as a better size 
> (without me altering any fonts.)  xt5250 gives me the option to resize so 
> someone who comes up behind me can read the text.  I don't have that option 
> with x5250 which means people have to lean over my shoulder to read anything 
> on my screen.

Better font resizing should probably go on the TODO list.

> You'll also note from my picture that xt5250 displays the session name from 
> my tn5250rc file whereas x5250 displays the host name.  Not a big deal on a 
> daily basis, but not great when posting public screen shots ;)

Good point.  That change shouldn't be hard.  I'll see if I can get that 
into the next release.

Again - please try enhanced mode.  I do everything in enhanced mode now 
and haven't had trouble.  Please try it out and let me know how it works 
for you.

James Rich

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