Techdocs Library > Hints, tips & Technotes > Creating dynamic 3270 screen size definitions for increased productivity

Document Author: Additional Author(s):	Louis Wilen John Hutchinson		Document ID:	TD102151
Doc. Organization:	Washington Systems Center		Document Revised:	09/16/2008
Product(s) covered:	Communications Server for OS/390; Communications Server for z/OS; VTAM; zSeries; z/OS

Abstract: Creating dynamic 3270 screen size definitions for increased productivity

Legacy IBM 3278 display stations (which many newer users have never seen) were available in several models, with each model supporting one or more fixed screen dimensions. The dimensions that were typically supported are 24x80 (model 2), 32x80 (model 3), 43x80 (model 4), and 27x132 (model 5, which could also be switched to model 2 mode). Workstation-based emulators such as IBM Personal Communications (PCOM) do not have the hardware limitations of real 3278 display stations, and can therefore be configured for more productive screen sizes, such as 50x132. A screen dimension of 50x132 is particularly valuable when using today's larger monitors, which are typically 17 inches or larger when measured diagonally. Screen dimensions of 50x132 can be easily enabled by following these steps: 1. Create a PCOM session and verify that you are able to access and log on to your z/OS system. Exit the PCOM session. 2. Use any common text editor, such as notepad, to edit the PCOM profile (the .WS file) that has been created for your session. The .WS file is normally located in the directory C:\Documents and Settings\<your windows username>\Application Data\IBM\Personal Communications\<profilename>.WS, where the items in <> are unique to your workstation. Depending upon the text editor that you use, you may need to temporarily rename the .WS file to another filename with a suffix such as .txt to allowing editing. 3. The .WS file will contain data similar to the following: [Profile] ID=WS Version=6 [Telnet3270] HostName=hostsystem.ibm.com Security=N AutoReconnect=Y [Communication] Link=telnet3270 TerminalTypeString=IBM-DYNAMIC <== Specify only in PCOMM 5.9 and later [3270] ScreenSize=43x80 QueryReplyMode=Auto HostCodePage=1047-U [Keyboard] CuaKeyboard=1 Language=United-States DefaultKeyboard=C:\Documents and Settings\Someuser\Application Data\IBM\Personal Communications\kb.kmp IBMDefaultKeyboard=N [VT] VTCaptureLogFileName=C:\Documents and Settings\Someuser\My Documents\hostsystem.txt [Colors] BaseColorNormalProtected=5BECE9 000000 ExtendedColorBlue=58F0F0 000000 4. Change the ScreenSize entry to a value of your choice, such as 50x132. For example: ScreenSize=50x132 5. Save the updated .WS file. Rename (if necessary) the .WS file back to its original name. 6. Start PCOM in the usual way. 7. Log on to your z/OS system, specifying the LOGMODE of D4C32XX3. For example: LOGON APPLID(MYTSO) LOGMODE(D4C32XX3) Notes: The example shown above may not be applicable for your z/OS system. You may need to specify the APPLID and LOGMODE using another format, depending upon how your VTAM programmer defined the possible logon formats. Your systems programmer or VTAM programmer should be able to quickly tell you the appropriate format for your system. The D4C32XX3 logmode is the dynamic logmode. If this logmode is not defined on your system, your systems programmer or VTAM support person will need to add this logmode to the logmode table. 8. Log on to TSO in the usual manner, then select ISPF option 0 (Settings). 9. On the ISPF Settings screen, set the Screen format value to 3 (Max). The Terminal Type value would typically be set to 4 (3278A), although many other values are acceptable. These settings are retained across TSO sessions and will not need to be set again. 10. TSO applications will now automatically use the larger screen size whenever needed. For example, SDSF will display spool files in their full width of 132 characters while displaying nearly 50 lines of the file. Note: If desired, the systems programmer or VTAM programmer can change the default logmode for any application to D4C32XX3 so that users do not have enter the logmode explicitly as shown in step 7. Adding the entry TELNETDEVICE DYNAMIC ,D4C32XX3 to the TCP/IP profile (normally in SYS1.TCPPARMS(PROFILEx) ), along with other installation specific VTAM definition changes, will allow the D4C32XX3 logmode to be the default logmode for TN3270 sessions. (Ordinary SNA sessions through other transports do not require modifications to the TCP/IP profile.)

Classification:	Software	Category:	Installation and Migration
Platform(s):	IBM System z Family	S/W Pillar(s):	System z
O/S:	OS/390	Keywords:	3270, 3278, pcomm, personal, communications, green, screen, workstation, pc