REXXSession: Product Information

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Product summary

REXXSession is a enhancement to 3270/5250 emulation products which allows for the automation of mainframe sessions from a workstation. Using the SAA standard procedure language (REXX), the user can create advanced procedures to control both S/370 and AS/400 host sessions. The interpreter supplied allows REXX procedures to run in the PC DOS and Windows environments as well as in OS/2.

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Example program

CONNECT "E"              /* Connect to host session "E"   */
SENDKEY "LOGON VCNA@E"   /* Enter logon command           */
WAIT "ENTER USERID"      /* Wait for response             */
SENDKEY USERID"@E"       /* Type userid and press enter   */
WAIT "ENTER PASSWORD"    /* Wait for password prompt      */
SENDKEY PASSWORD"@E"     /* Type password and press enter */
WAIT "READY"             /* Wait for host system ready    */
SEARCH "FILES:"          /* Look for files message        */
IF FOUND THEN            /* If files message was found,   */
   EXTRACT ROW,COL+7,3   /* Extract the number of files   */
ELSE RESULT=000          /* Otherwise assume no files     */
SAY "Host system ready"  /* Issue message to user         */
SAY "There are" RESULT "files in your in-basket"
DISCONNECT               /* Disconnect from host session  */

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Product overview

REXXSession is an advanced productivity tool for users of host-connected PS/2 or PC workstations running OS/2, DOS, or Windows. It allows the workstation user to automate the operation of the host computer session. An easy-to-use procedure language, compatible with the SAA Procedures Language (``REXX''), provides the means for creating sophisticated procedures which can enter data into a host computer session and react intelligently to the results which the host writes to the screen.

With REXXSession, the user or PC co-ordinator can write REXX procedures to perform a variety of tasks such as:

data transfer:


A complex sequence of operations can be performed automatically by the PC. For example: logon to DIAL-IBM, download a file to the PC, upload the file to TSO, and submit a job to process the file.

cooperative applications:

The PC can work with an existing or new application at the host to gain access to host data using well understood SNA LU2 protocols. New user interfaces can be implemented for existing host applications.

unattended operation:

A P/390 can be programmed to perform routine operator tasks such as shutdown and re-ipl of MVS: a highly cost-effective method of implementing automated operation.

automated workstation setup:

Automatically logon to multiple host sessions at start of day and perform daily housekeeping procedures such as diary display and in-basket retrieval.

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Product Highlights


use your PC to control mainframe applications
insulate users from 3270 operations
provide mainframe access for PC users - without mainframe training costs
write your procedures in REXX - no new macro language to learn
the same procedures run unchanged on OS/2, DOS, and Windows workstations
runs in as little as 160K free RAM
procedures can read and write PC files
supports OS/2, Rumba, IRMA, 3270/Elite, and Attachmate Extra, as well as popular IBM PC3270 emultation programs
works with any 3270 host application ö CICS, IMS, VM/CMS, PROFS, TSO/ISPF
also supports AS/400 and S/3X host applications via the OS/2 and DOS 5250 workstation function

The procedure language interpreter provides a substantial implementation of the familiar REXX language, with its powerful string handling functions ideally suited for automated workstation procedures.

The procedure language can read and write PC disk files using SAA standard REXX I/O functions.

Powerful new instructions are provided to enable procedures to send keystrokes to host sessions, wait for expected responses, and extract data from the host screen image. These instructions have been designed to allow common workstation operations to be performed with a minimum of procedure logic.

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System requirements

REXXSession operates on PC/XT, PC/AT, PS/2, and 3270PC workstations in conjunction with any of the terminal emulation products listed below:

For the PC DOS environment:

IBM PC 3270 Emulation Program, Entry Level, Versions 1.2 and 2.0
IBM PC 3270 Emulation Program, Version 3
IBM Personal Communications/3270, Versions 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0
IBM 3270PC Control Program, Versions 2 and 3
IBM 3270 Workstation Program, Versions 1.0 and 1.1
Attachmate Extra! Version 1.21 or later
NSA 3270/Elite, Version 1.2 or later
Novell Netware 3270 LAN Workstation
IBM PC Support/400 5250 Workstation Function

For the OS/2 environment:

IBM OS/2 Extended Edition, Versions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3
IBM OS/2 Standard Edition, Versions 1.3 and 2.0, with IBM Extended Services for OS/2, or IBM Communications Manager/2
IBM OS/2 Warp, Version 3.0, with IBM Communications Manager/2

For the Windows environment:

Attachmate Extra! for Windows, Version 3.20
DCA IRMA Workstation for Windows, Version 2
IBM Personal Communications/3270, Version 3.0
WallData Rumba, Version 3.1 or later

In the Windows environment, REXXSession runs in DOS compatibility mode. Windows users will require Microsoft Windows 3.0 or 3.1, and a 386 or 486 processor with at least 2MB RAM. Rumba users will also require the Rumba EHLLAPI Toolkit.

Support for 5250 sessions on AS/400 and S/3X hosts requires OS/2 Extended Edition Version 1.2 or above, Extended Edition, or Communications Manager/2, or the 5250 Workstation Function for DOS.

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Last updated 01 Jun 1999