HostAccess Features
HostAccess brings data from host applications into your familiar Windows based spreadsheets, word processors and other programs. Using HostAccess as a terminal emulator, you can achieve connectivity immediately. However, HostAccess is not just a terminal emulator. It is easy to install and configure, disguising the sophistication of the solution. Once you’re set up, it’s simple and intuitive to use.
You can configure host session files and save them for re-use by all users across LANs. Sessions are network links between your computer and remote hosts.
You can create a Windows look and feel for you host applications using HostAccess’s AutoGUI and Auto sculpture functions without any changes to the host applications.
AutoGUI
You can transform the look of legacy applications into Windows style applications with ease, without any code changes to the host application.
See Using Auto Sculpture.
For example, you can give most traditional green on black emulations a modern, Windows-like feel by changing the colour attributes to black text on a pale gray background. If your application uses line drawing, you can also create a 3D sculpted line effect. The following picture shows how a green on black emulation can look using these features.
Hotspots
See Hotspots .
A hotspot in block mode emulations (IBM 3270 and IBM 5250) is text on the screen which has been programmed by the host application so that when you move the mouse pointer over the text and click the right button, a particular function is activated.
Hotspots in asynchronous mode emulations work differently to those in block-mode emulations. You can use them to add mouse pointer positioning with a full screen editor and you can add the ability to point and click at words and functions on the screen.
These features need to be configured on your PC and do not require any changes to the host program.
Customizing your keyboard
You can customize your keyboard by using the Keyboard mapping option to define functions for PC keys pressed. You can also map keys to macros or specific character strings.
Connecting to Multiple Sessions
See Connecting to Multiple Sessions.
HostAccess allows any number of host sessions to be run concurrently. This is limited only by available PC memory, or by any other restrictions imposed by, say, network communication protocols.
Macros
See Using macros.
HostAccess’s powerful macro facility allows you to automate standard tasks. You can either use the macro recorder to automate simple tasks, or you can write a program in HostAccess’s macro language to automate almost any host task.
File transfer
See File Transfer Between PC and Host and File Transfer between UNIX and DOS.
HostAccess supports all the standard file transfer protocols including Kermit, X Modem, Y Modem, Z Modem and IND$FILE and a proprietary option. HostAccess also supports file transfer between UNIX and DOS (the UNIX system must have a C compiler available) and between a PICK host and DOS. For this, you must have the host files installed, see your installation instructions. HostAccess lets you set up a file transfer process that moves all types of files with built-in error checking and data compression.