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DYNACOMM/OPENCONNECT TN3270 FOR WINDOWS 3.20.12D

SUMMARY

  This package contains a Telnet-3270 with advanced features for session
  automation.  It works with a number of different vendor's TCP/IP
  "stacks", such as FTP Software's TCP/IP packet drivers.  A very large
  and powerful script language is not well documented and not easy to
  use.  The 3270 emulation is generally good.  Sessions can be setup with
  customized keyboard mappings and colors, and a wide variety of fonts
  can be chosen.  File transfer uses the host IND$FILE command; the user
  interface is primitive.  The version reviewed had several serious
  problems in my environment, and many minor problems.  If the next
  release has most of the problems fixed, this could be an exciting
  product.


COMPARED TO RUMBA

  Rumba 3.1, reviewed earlier this year, is a competing product.
  Compared to Rumba, this package has:

  (pro)
    -- better fonts (more and nicer)
    -- slightly better color mapping interface
    -- a better keyboard mapping interface
    -- better control and selection of terminal types
    -- definable mouse buttons
    -- support for many more vendors' TCP/IP "stacks"
    -- buttons on custom keypads that can have different sizes and colors
    -- a far more sophisticated script (macro) language that is (con)
         correspondingly difficult to figure out

  (con)
    -- a larger TSR to interface with the TCP/IP stack (44k vs. 23k)
    -- no support for DFT coax connections (important to a few, me)
    -- complicated procedures to customize
    -- no "hot spots"
    -- no 3179G emulation
    -- a limit of 4 simultaneous sessions
    -- a limit of one custom keypad open at a time
    -- more problems and rough edges.


VENDOR

  OpenConnect Systems
  2033 Chennault Drive
  Carrollton, Texas  75006
  214-490-4090  Fax: 214-490-5052.
  Corporate Sales (Penn State): Chris D. Dunn (214) 490-4090, cdunn@mips.oc.com
COST

  List Price $495.00; 20-49 Users $351.00 each; Eductional Discount 10%.


THIS EVALUATION

  Equipment used was an IBM PS/2 95 XP 486 (25mhz), with 8Mb memory, XGA
  Display Adapter (1Mb memory), IBM 8515 display, IBM 4/16 TokenRing
  card, and IBM 3270 emulation card.  Pertinent software: IBM DOS 5.0, MS
  Windows 3.0a, FTP Software PC/TCP 2.05.  Windows display driver was IBM
  XGA version 1.2, installed with 8515 fonts (resolution 1024x768x256).
  Shell is Norton Desktop for Windows.

  Host systems tried: VM and AS/400.


DOCUMENTATION

  The evaluation package came only with a "Communications Configuration
  Guide".  This seems fairly complete, but I did not need use it.  The
  help files seem fairly complete.

  We later received copies of additional manuals.  There is a very
  large users guide and a large manual for the script language.  The
  script language manual is hard to use.  Many of the command are for
  other products, and are labeled with notes like "Macintosh Editions
  Only".  Although it is understandable that they do not wish to produce
  different manuals for the same basic language, there are so many
  entries that do not apply to this product that the manual is much
  larger than need be.  Unfortunately, the on-line help also includes
  the extraneous information, which should be excluded.


SUPPORT

  I did not contact their Customer Support Group; I was supported
  (vigorously and expertly) by one of their corporate sales managers,
  via electronic mail (and a few faxes).


INSTALLATION

  The interface is very nice; it shows disk space for various selectable
  components and total amount needed (3.8 megs).  A directory and 7
  subdirectories are created; 5 subdirectories are empty, and one has
  only a "readme" file.  I find this annoying, and would rather it
  created the directories when needed.

  A program group is created with 8 icons -- the basic program plus
  several scripts.

  The package needs a "TCP/IP stack" provided by another vendor; a
  variety are supported.  I use the FTP Software packet driver for Token
  Ring.  Another TSR must be loaded before starting Windows.  The one
  that interfaces with FTP's drivers takes 44.8K, but can be loaded with
  a WINSTART.BAT, so memory is not taken away from DOS windows.


ENVIRONMENT

  There is a workspace or application window that contains 1 to 4
  session windows and other subordinate windows.  This has a menu bar
  on top and a status bar on bottom.  Windows that appear inside the
  workspace are the terminal sessions, an editor for scripts or memos,
  and various dialogs.

  On one hand, it is nice to be able to minimize all sessions at
  once, but sometimes I'd rather have the sessions windows independent
  of the session manager.


TERMINAL EMULATION

  IBM 3278 or 3279, models 2-5, with or without extended highlighting,
  are emulated.  No host graphics capabilities are available now, but
  they will be soon.  The emulation does not have any "Entry assist"
  features, such as word tab or word wrap.  No "Yale null processing"
  is provided.

  You are limited to 4 sessions; this may be a problem for some people,
  but would be sufficient for many.


CUSTOMIZATION

  There are a variety of settings that can be changed and saved; the
  procedure is confusing at first.  Some are for the whole "application
  window" or "workspace" (all four sessions), some apply to individual
  sessions, and some can be set for either an individual session or all
  sessions.  It wasn't clear at first how it all works together.

  Screen Colors -- confusing to setup.  There is a "Color Editor"
  accessed via the "Settings" menu, but you have to assign the color map
  via the menu path Window:Attachments:Color Map, not the Settings menu
  as one would think.

  Fonts -- a variety of fonts and sizes can be selected.  You can select
  multiple sizes for a font, and the appropriate size is used as you
  shrink or expand the window.  One very nice feature are buttons on the
  bottom of the application window that jump the session window size in
  correlation with the next size font.


KEYBOARD MAPPING

  I had a frustrating time trying to change the keyboard map.  However,
  remapping keys is "intuitive, once you learn how".  It may be the most
  convenient of all remapping schemes I've seen, although it was hardest
  to discover.  You simply drag the 3270 key onto the PC key with the
  *RIGHT* mouse button.

  Once keys were remapped, they didn't take effect as I expected.
  Under the WINDOWS menu (not SETTINGS), you choose the ATTACHMENTS item
  to assign the keyboard layout to the session.  This changes the keys
  immediately, but temporarily.  For a permanent change, you choose
  SETTINGS/WORKSPACE and give the name the key map file; those keys will
  be define for all sessions the NEXT time they are opened.


MOUSE SETTINGS

  Either mouse button, single or double click, can be set to one of four
  functions: position the cursor, do a light-pen select, send text and
  enter, or translate text into a PF key.  This is very nice, but I wish
  there were a "move cursor and Enter" function.

  The "translate into a PF key" function most useful.  Many of our VM
  screens have PF key labels, but in several different formats (1=,
  PF1=, F1, etc.)  This seems to handle them all without prior
  definitions, and is better than having to define "hot spots".


SCRIPTS (MACROS)

  There is a very large (and slightly intimidating) script language.
  Experienced programmers should have no trouble learning it, but
  novices will be hard pressed to make good use of it.  At first glance
  it looks like "the Mother of all Script Languages", and it seems like
  you can do anything and everything with it, although I'd have to try
  something substantial before coming to that conclusion.

  The script language provides much more than automation of sessions.
  For example, window dialogs can be created and files can be
  manipulated.

  Scripts need to be compiled before execution.  This is made very easy
  with smooth dialogs, and it is easy to cycle through sequences of
  edit/compile/execute.

  There is a "Director" script designed to provide easy selection of
  systems to connect to.  I could not make it work, and they are going
  to remove it from the package.

  I was not able to create a logon script without considerable
  assistance from the company.  There was no simple example of a
  logon script, and documentation on how to send 3270 keys (Enter, Tab,
  Clear, etc.) was missing.  However, the result was not complicated.

  There are some odd things about the script language.  For example, to
  transfer a text file, you use "FILE RECEIVE BINARY" or "FILE SEND
  BINARY", not "FILE SEND/RECEIVE TEXT", which is for using a "text
  mode" transfer not applicable in this product.

  The manual has some very long and sophisticated scripts, and would
  benefit from some simple examples.


CUSTOM KEYPADS (FLASHPADS)

  Each terminal session can have a "flashpad" assigned to it.  The
  default one has most of the 3270 keys on it.  Buttons can be different
  sizes and colors, and may be assigned to a macro (script) or a 3270
  key.

  I found the flashpad editor difficult to use, and on my display, there
  is a problem with the button text, which is far too small to read.
  Another problem is that the flashpad always comes up in the same
  location; it has to be moved every time you start the session.

  It is not clear how to get rid of the flashpad after it is attached
  to a session.  The session window control menu has a "Close Flash Pad"
  item, but next time the session is opened the pad is displayed again.
  It turns out you have to be sure the "Save Windows States" checkbox
  "Terminal" is checked and then save the session settings after closing
  the flash pad.

  Because of these problems, the flashpads weren't tested much.


HOT SPOTS

  Missing is the ability to define "hot spots", which are text strings
  on the host screen that when clicked, cause some defined action.  The
  need for this feature is somewhat negated because the mouse can be
  set to interpret screen text as a PF key, but I still miss it.  For
  example, on VM I'd define a hot spot so that clicking on "MORE..."
  would send PF8 and "HOLDING" would be set to send CLEAR.


FILE TRANSFER

  It uses the host command IND$FILE.  There is no FTP server, although
  if you have one, you can use your host's FTP client.

  The file transfer dialogs are primative.  On RECEIVE (host to PC),
  you must enter the host file id and the PC file id (one will not be
  derrived from another), but there is a directory window to select the
  target PC directory.

  On SEND (PC to host), you can double-click on the PC file to send.
  Unfortunately, the host filename defaults to the last one used (for
  SEND or RECEIVE) and you'll immediately write over it.  A graphic
  showing the transfer progress takes over the session screen, which is a
  nice addition.

  There is not a way to select multiple files for transfer, or to get a
  list of host files to select from.  It seems that the script language
  is powerful enough that a better file transfer dialog could be devised
  for a particular host.


DDE

  Dynamic Data Exchange allows data to be exchanged between hosts and
  Windows applications.  This feature was not tested.


CONCLUSION

  You may wish to look at DO3720, particularly if it supports your TCP/IP
  stack and Rumba doesn't, or if you need a sophisticated script language
  to automate host sessions.  Some of the problems I had are due to the
  1024x768 XGA display, and wouldn't appear on VGA's.  There is a steep
  learning curve, and you may have to call their customer support a few
  times.

  I expect that future versions will have many of the problems I found
  fixed (I am told some are already fixed).  The addition of better file
  transfer dialogs and more intuitive customization/settings menus would
  help a great deal.

  Below is a long list of errors, problems, and suggestions accumulated
  during the review.  They are probably not very useful to most readers,
  except to give an idea of the number and severity (or triviality) of my
  problems and criticisms.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ERRORS

A variety of errors and problems were reported to the publisher during
the evaluation.  Some are related only to the test hardware, others are
trivial, but some are important.  Answers to errors and problems, as
interpreted by me, are labeled "A:".

  Font DCAFONT A size 8x8 results in total garbage.  This seems to be
  a problem on XGA systems only.  Publisher agrees.

  Screen painting errors: am getting VM text underscored when fields
  are not underscored (no attribute has underscore style set) -- e.g.,
  every ready message after a full-screen application.
   A: Problem fixed in new version.

  Menu: Help/Basic Skills -- results in "Help topic does not exist"
  message.
   A: Problem reported; a future release will have a fix.

  Transfer/Send -- does not recognize IND$FILE error (e.g. msg INDFT035
  CMS disk is Read-Only: File transfer cancelled).  It keeps trying
  until you stop it.
   A: Problem under investigation by QA and is on the enhancement list.

  Transfer/Receive -- status gauge doesn't work (does for SEND).
  I get a  couple of brief flashes of something, then a blank window.
   A: Docs & code need changing; can't get host file size.

  Menu: Window/Attachments/Flashpad: can't get rid of it (can minimize
  it, but can't close it).

  Pictures demo: shows no pictures.
   A: The .bmp files were not in \windows directory.

  Application window -- status bar -- status messages -- remains of
  descenders (parts of characters like "g" or "p" that hang down)
  remain after the message is cleared.  Can be cleared by changing
  vertical size of the window.
   A: Could not duplicate; must be XGA problem.

  FlashPad Editor -- text on buttons is too small to read.
   A: An XGA problem.

  Cannot use TN3270 and TN5250 in same Windows session -- they require
    different TSR's loaded, and the TSR's are incompatible.  If you load
    the wrong one, you have to reboot your system.  I don't know how
    many people want to log onto a 370 system AND an AS/400, but I do,
    and many of our students do too.
   A: Problem is being worked on.

  Does not negotiate extended highlighting with an AS/400.
    This is important since you cannot run TN3270 and TN5250 at the same
    time, and the AS/400 is pretty difficult to use without input fields
    showing up with the underscore attribute.

  Recoverable AE; UAE
    From DIRECTOR script, clicked on Change.  Get "Recoverable
    Application Error.  DO3270 failed in DO3270.  Ignoring fault is
    risky.  (Am running Dr. Watson.)  Pressed IGNORE, and got UAE.
    Second try: did same thing.  Windows hung.
    A: Could not duplicate error.  Never got any kind of AE.  The
       Director script will be deleted from future versions.

  Menu: File:New:Settings -- closed the active session window without
    asking.  This is a problem, since when opening a script window it
    is easy to accidentally click on the previous item, Settings.

  Menu: File:Open:Settings -- does not execute the script defined for
    settings file.

  Send File dialog -- PC file id changes to "*.", so no files are found.
    To reproduce: starting with any directory, and PC fileid "*.*",
    select a file (click once).  Now go to a different directory, and
    the PC fileid becomes "*.", and no files for that directory will be
    listed.

  Incorrect Display Attributes
    In a particular test application, the field had the underscore
    attribute, but the underscores did not appear unless the field had
    text.  Same host program ran OK on other Telnet's.


INTERMITTENT or TEMPORARY PROBLEMS

  These problems were not easily repeatable, and may be related to the
  environment (Windows, network, hosts) or to weird things I was doing.

  Hung Windows -- was trying to open connection with AS/400, which was
  down.

  Hung Windows -- on return from Norton Desktop Sleeper (may well be a
  Sleeper problem, but I haven't had any before with this particular
  module).  Not easily repeatable, but frequent.  Count: 9.

  Did not disconnect from VM when DISCONNECT was chosen from Connect
  menu.
   A: Known problem; will take some time to fix.

  Unrecoverable Application Error
    Had just double-clicked on Tab key in the Keyboard Remapping window.
    Dr. Watson was running; have log.  Could not start DO3270 again; had
    to leave Windows.

  Unrecoverable Application Error
    Had just clicked on CONNECT ALL, then DISCONNECT ALL (before all
    were connected).  Have Dr. Watson log.

  Unrecoverable Application Error
    During script execution, automatic logon.  Script would have been
    doing WAIT STRING.  System hung, had to power off/on (Dr. Watson
    did not intercept).

  Recoverable AE -- DO3270 failed in D3270.
    Opened setting file, running logon script, script would be at WAIT
    SCREEN.  Tried again, other errors; leave Windows & restart.  Have
    Dr. Watson logs this time.

  Recoverable AE -- DO3270 failed in GDI
    Was running Picture Demo.  Have Dr. Watson log.  Restart DO3270 and
    get "Network Failure - tnMrecv() cc=0xFFFF errno=-1 socknum=5
    sessock=5" followed by another RAE.  Have to leave windows & restart
    in order to run DO3270 any more.  Repeatable.


SUGGESTIONS AND MINOR PROBLEMS

The publisher has noted all these problems and suggestions, and has
placed them all on their list of enhancements for future releases.  Here
I've gotten pretty "nitpicky", but I did't have to look hard to find
these minor faults, and am sure I could find many more.

  Installation, directories
    I would prefer the default be that all user-created files go in
    a single "custom" directory rather than the default setup with
    so many different directories.

  Session settings
    I'd prefer one setting file per session, and clearer menu choices
    for setting colors and keyboard mappings.  Users may well want to
    have a different script for each session, rather than one for all
    sessions in the Workspace.

  Settings
    It would be nice to be able to query what setting file you are
    running with (and what keyboard map, color map, etc.)

  Save settings
    Takes quite a long time; lots of disk I/O.  Strange, it seems that
    only two small files are updated.

  Keyboard Remapping window
    Would be clearer how to use this window if the lower keyboard had
    a bit of text like "Use right-mouse button to drag terminal key".

    Double-click on a key.  Press "Default" causes the default value to
    return (fine), but the only button now available is "CANCEL", which
    does what you want.  Would be clearer if "OK" and "CANCEL" were
    active, and OK reset the key, while CANCEL did not change it.

  Connect Menu
    I would put CONNECT ALL and DISCONNECT ALL below CONNECT and
    DISCONNECT.  A few times I hit Connect All by accident, and had to
    wait quite a while.

    CONNECT ALL should not try to connect to the sessions that have not
    been defined (e.g., "Host-4").

  Shrink & Grow Buttons
    The "make larger" button will wrap to the smallest font, but the
    "make smaller" button won't wrap back to the largest font; really
    annoying when you've gone too far.

  Dialog boxes
    Many (all?) text boxes that show directory paths truncate the
    string on the right when it is too long to fit.  Much better to
    truncate on the left and even add "..." to the front when the whole
    path doesn't fit.
     A: An MS-Windows problem.

  File transfer dialogs
    Directory and file list boxes should be bigger . . . they show only
    5 items.

    Checking "Convert to EBCDIC" should also turn on "Delete CRLF".

    With Send File dialog, please, please, clear the host file id when
    a new PC File names is chosen or entered.  I keep writing over the
    last file uploaded.

  Flash Pads
    Not clear how to close it -- easier if the flash pad window had a
    control menu.

    Would be nice to have more than one open at a time.

    Can't get rid of it once it is attached to a session.

  Open Flash Pad
    A blank (or blanks) for the fileid results in a message window:

                          Error

         Number:  40983       Module: fpdopen.c
         Line:    206

         Invalid layout file or bad filename

    It would be better to ignore a blank (don't enable the OK button).

  Flashpad Editor
    Would be nice if Help menu item invoked help.

  Mouse Settings
    Some additional options for click or double-click settings:
       -- Move cursor and send PF key X (or any AID key)
       -- Invoke script give text pointed to
       -- Invoke script X, pass text as argument

  Window:Attachments
    The word "Attachments" isn't quite clear; these are settings to be
    assigned to a particular session.  How about "Settings"?

  Entry Assist
    Some of the 3270 "data entry assist" features would be very nice,
    like word tab, word delete, and word wrap.

  Script Language manual
    1) In command reference syntax description, show which arguments are
       optional with some syntax such as <optional>, e.g.: KEY is:

          KEY modifier1 key1 definition WINDOW winhandle

       may be clearer as:

          KEY <modifier1> key1 definition <WINDOW winhandle>

    2) Sometimes a syntax is give with two words representing one
       argument, which is very confusing.   For example:

          PARSE string string var1 keyword string var2

       would be better as:

          PARSE string string-var1 keyword string-var2

    3) Much smaller and simpler examples need to be included.

    4) String to send to represent 3270 keys are missing.

    5) DIALOG PICTURE is documented as "Macintosh Only".

  On-Line Help
    Script reference -- remove references to other editions.
    Help search -- keywords words like SEND and KEY should be indexed.

  Menu:Help:About
    Second text screen doesn't fit in window -- "OpenConnect Systems"
    is cut off.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not necessarily
reflect those of the Pennsylvania State University.

Many thanks to Chris Dunn of OpenConnect Systems for providing the
review package and finding answers to my many questions.

Chris Sacksteder, Lead System Developer
Center for Academic Computing, Pennsylvania State University
105 Computer Building, University Park, PA 16802
Bitnet: cjs at psuvm            Internet: cjs@psuvm.psu.edu