Host Integration for IBM Mainframe and AS400

PASSPORT Host Integration Objects

Legacy Integration for 3270 and 5250 Application Integration

PASSPORT Host Integration Objects (HIO) is a Microsoft-based legacy integration solution that offers a programmatic method of integrating IBM 3270 and 5250 host applications with other ActiveX or .NET applications using standard 3270 and 5250 screen information (screen scraping).

The non-intrusive host integration solution offers a fast, low risk approach to reusing valuable business processes that have been adapted and perfected over many years. It also eliminates the need for terminal emulation.

Running as a background communications module, developers can access the 3270/5250 connectivity application via a well-defined, object-oriented API. You can download PASSPORT Host Integration Objects, which includes sample programming source code and projects. Prior to downloading, you can view the Programming Documentation.

You can use a Windows desktop as a development platform, then publish the PASSPORT Host Integration Objects from the desktop or a Microsoft Windows 2003 or 2000 Server, or to Windows Vista, XP or 2000 desktops.

PASSPORT Host Integration Server

PASSPORT Host Integration Objects offers a path to host information at the screen buffer level, allowing you to read and write data to the host presentation space and input fields, open and close sessions, get specific text strings from the screen, create string values, send function keys to the host, switch to other tasks and much more. In doing so, customers can reuse critical legacy applications and proven business logic without making any changes to host code.

How PASSPORT HIO Works

Using Microsoft's Visual Studio (VB, VC++, C# .NET, ASP .NET, etc.), you can create composite integration applications that require fast, reliable access to existing IBM 3270 or 5250 applications.

PASSPORT Host Integration Objects, based on the Internet Engineering Task Force OHIO draft, includes direct TN3270 and TN5250 connectivity to critical legacy applications using IP. Separate terminal emulation is not required for host access. Sample programs, documentation and a test program that demonstrates the use of each object Method, Property and Event are included in the Zephyr development solution.

Terminal Control

The PASSPORT terminal control provides terminal emulation screen and keyboard support. This object runs in conjunction with a session object. The session object maintains the host screen buffer and performs all communication with the host system. The terminal control object provides a user interface for that session object. The PASSPORT terminal control is used for developing client based host integration applications where a terminal emulator needs to be imbedded into another application.

How PASSPORT HIO is Licensed

Available via an annual subscription-based license that includes the cost of the software, access to technical support and all product upgrades, PASSPORT Host Integration Objects offers one of the most inexpensive approaches to dependable host integration.

Primary Features of PASSPORT HIO

• Non-intrusive host integration with existing 3270 and 5250 applications
• Direct access to host screen buffers (screen scraping)
• Object-oriented API based on Internet Engineering Task Force OHIO draft
• Does not require terminal emulation software
• Proven TN3270 and TN5250 communications module
• SSL Security
• Designed for a Microsoft Windows environment
• Offset addressing for host screen presentation space
• Simplified model for presentation space
• Automatic generation of presentation space field list and attributes
• Keyword-based function text strings
• Event notification for host communication status and screen updates
• International Support
• Diagnostic tracing capabilities

Performs the Following Host Functions

• Open a host session
• Hide host screens from the user
• Read and write information to the host presentation space
• Retrieve text strings from host input fields
• Retrieve text strings from screen
• Determine new string values
• Get associated attributes of text strings and fields
• Copy information into host input fields
• Simulate use of function keys with host application
• Read the operator information area (OIA) for status updates
• Receive notification of events (receipt of new screen, etc.)
• Close the host session

Download PASSPORT Host Integration Objects for Legacy Integration