While JAVATM is being made available as a language on many platforms including the AS/400, until now no 5250 client applets were available.
Even the new 'thin client' from IBM supports JAVA applets but leaves users without a real 5250 client solution. BusinessLink leads the industry into the next generation of cross-platform, network-centric computing with BusinessLink for JAVA .
Every JAVA capable browser on every platform is now automatically a real AS/400 client (including full use of function & cursor keys, printing and file transfer).
The huge security problems and severe limitations of 5250 to HTML conversion are now a thing of the past. Other previously missing pieces such as AS/400 printing and file transfers are now automatically available and secure.
This breakthrough means that without modification all existing green screen applications can be delivered securely, without limitations to any platform via your standard web browser.
ADVANCED BusinessLink Corporation announces the release of the industry's first ever full-featured, JAVA powered AS/400 client and will showcase it at the upcoming fall Common in Atlanta.
Billed as the years killer app, BusinessLink for JAVA TM will be made available as a component of ADVANCED BusinessLink's AS/400 innovative Web Server - BusinessLink/WEB.
BusinessLink/WEB has been positioned as the high volume, large scale, enterprise Web Server for the AS/400. BusinessLink for JAVA TM will greatly strengthen that position as more and more AS/400 sites are discovering the major inadequacies of existing HTML based AS/400 servers and gateways when it comes to delivering real-world applications over the Internet.
Having built one of the first on-the-fly 5250 to HTML emulators on the market, BusinessLink designers were painfully aware of the limitations that the medium (Internet and HTML) placed on them. More importantly, mainstream AS/400 deliverables such as printing and secure data distribution were impossible due to the inherent limitations of the generic browser environment and HTML's hypertext origins.
With JAVA, all that disappears and instead BusinessLink for JAVA TM creates an intelligent, industrial strength AS/400 web 'client' with full rendition of AS/400 functionality, printing and secure data distribution capabilities that rival state of the art PC clients (including features such as multiple sessions, cut & paste, etc.) Most importantly, it delivers the ability to run on any platform that has a web browser, and eliminates the need to purchase or distribute any specific client software.
All the end user needs is a standard Web browser such as Netscape's Navigator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer and they automatically have full use of this feature rich, full function AS/400 'client' through the JAVA TM applet which is invoked as the end user connects to a site running BusinessLink/WEB as their web server.
Security is probably the number one concern expressed by AS/400 sites contemplating web serving for their AS/400. The fact that AS/400 screens and data such as passwords, etc. are traveling over the web in clear does little to allay their fears. In another major first, BusinessLink delivers an innovative dynamic encryption scheme to ensure full confidentiality of data entered during Web based emulation sessions.
Printing, a major component of almost all AS/400 applications, is not often discussed in relation to Web based AS/400 access largely because it was impossible to securely deliver the right report to the right 5250 (HTML) requester. BusinessLink for JAVA TM not only solves this glaring weakness, but introduces an underlying architecture uniquely designed for the web environment.
A JAVA based 'Spool File Console' negates users need to understand the idiosyncrasies of AS/400 spool file management in order to print. From within a familiar pop-up window, users can select when and which reports they chose to review or print. Additionally loading reports into a browser window enables the user to view, print, cut and paste into other applications, etc. Something as basic as printing an invoice or confirmation following the entry of an online order was previously impossible, but is now routine.
Another major breakthrough is the ability to provide printer-less printing. Since web users are now uniquely and securely identifiable, reports generated in an overnight run can be 'printed' to a specific web based user even though they are not currently on the web site. Immediately upon revisiting the site (e.g. The next business day), BusinessLink will pop-up the 'spool file console' to notify the user of any pending reports. This capability would be ideal for distributing 100's of weekly sales reports to your sales force, or network of distributors.
File Transfer - AS/400 database files can be sent to specific users visiting the web site as xBase (generic dBase compatible) format. Only the intended recipient will have access to them and as per printing, will be automatically notified of their existence on revisiting the site, downloading them with a single mouse-click.
PC binary files such as spreadsheets and documents may be sent in the same way - specifically to the intended recipient and even launching PC applications as they are downloaded.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Summary of Limitations in HTML based 5250 products which are solved by BusinessLink for JAVA TM:
Nothing happens when the enter key is pressed
HTML does not have the capability of deciphering where the cursor is on your screen. As a result of this you can press the enter key and nothing will happen because it does not know what you "entered". Compounding the confusion is the fact that if there is only one input field such as with many of the Web search sites the enter key does work because HTML does not have to decide where the cursor is because there are no choices (provided CAPS LOCK is on).
Nothing happens when the function keys are pressed
HTML does not respond appropriately to input from your keyboard - thus those trusty function keys that AS/400 applications are so dependent on no longer work!
Columns do not always line up and most 5250 screens are rendered badly misaligned
HTML's very strength of platform independence is it's undoing in displaying text origin screens such as 5250. Fields, text font sizing, spacing and therefore total screen alignment is decided on by the browser and the selection of available fonts on the target platform. As a result, an AS/400 screen with columns does not line up that well and can result in the wrong heading on the wrong column.
Input fields can not be given focus, and tabbing between fields is not possible
Many AS/400 applications automatically place the cursor at a certain location when you get to that screen. The most obvious is the User Name field on your sign-on screen or error messages referring to the incorrect field. With HTML the screen can be presented but the cursor can not be placed so it is always at the first field. More importantly, the user will likely assume the wrong field is in error resulting in frustration due to poor user interface.
Field level prompting is not possible
The lack of field level prompting becomes one of the very obvious negatives of HTML to 5250 conversion. Because the AS/400 can not recognize where the cursor is, pressing F4 for assistance in finding values is not possible. Again, the real danger is that the user will be misled into thinking that they have prompted the field they have the cursor on, where in fact the first field will always be used. Additionally, the entire AS/400 help system is based on field level positioning with the cursor as are message response screens.
Break messages and other unsolicited screen changes won't be seen
Because HTML only receives new screens in response to a request from a browser, any screen change such as a break message which the AS/400 may issue will not be seen by the browser and in fact will leave the user entering data into a screen which the host is no longer displaying.
Most AS/400 screens don't totally fit in the browser area
From our research, this is actually the greatest annoyance and detracts greatly from the usability of 5250 applications. BusinessLink for JAVA TM pops up in its own window with full control over text sizing, fonts and colors allowing full screen display no matter what the screen resolution. The browser wastes its header area with URL's, buttons, etc. leaving a much reduced area for 5250 work when based on just HTML.
