Re: i5 pop up window

[Scott Klement <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jay,

Err... the answer is definitely YES, there's a way to do it.   However, 
I can't really provide more information than that without knowing more 
about your requirements.

Are we talking about doing this in the 5250 data stream?  Or web? or 
GUI?   Is it okay to install something on the PC, or does this have to 
be 100% running on i5/OS?

You say that they should be able to continue working in whatever they're 
working in, but see the popup window.  Does this mean "no 
interruptions"? Meaning they can keep typing in their software, and the 
pop up window never gets the focus?   Or is it okay for the popup to 
interrupt them, as long as they can return to what they were doing after 
hitting a key?

A simple CLP with SNDBRKMSG is certainly an option, depending on your 
requirements.  You can register a "break handling program" that gets run 
automatically when a break message appears -- that program can then 
display a screen any way it likes (it doesn't have to use the default 
"display messages" screen from the operating system.)

A somewhat more complicated method would be to have a procedure loaded 
into an activation group that fires every second via an interval timer. 
 The procedure could run in the background so the user doesn't even 
know it's there...  until it displays a window, of course.

You can also write a PC program that accepts instructions from an RPG 
program on the System i.  The PC program could just display a window, 
and could be launched by the RPG program via STRPCCMD or RUNRMTCMD or 
whatever is appropriate.

There are lots of options...


Jay Vaughn wrote:
> For our green-screen users, is there a way to custom program (via
> rpgiv) a way to have a window pop up on a users screen no matter what
> application they are in that will provide reminder information to
> them.  They should be able to continue working in whatever they are
> working in, but see the popup window.  After a certain amount of time
> (or whatever condition), the window will automatically disappear.
> We were even considering a simple clp with sndbrkmsg, but that would
> really be a little too rough around the edges.
>
> Is there a way or will 3rd party software be required?