Tools/Online provides a suite of utilities for z/VSE and VSEn environments, including the VTAM Multiple Session Manager, Online CICS Map Generation Facility, and CICS/VSE CRT Screen Print Facility. These tools are designed to enhance productivity and streamline application development within the CICS/VSE environment. The VTAM Multiple Session Manager allows users to manage multiple 3270 sessions on a single screen, improving efficiency by enabling simultaneous access to different applications.
This tool leverages VTAM APIs for session management. The main components include the session manager and the VTAM interface. Communication occurs through VTAM protocols.
Configuration files define session parameters and are read during initialization. The Online CICS Map Generation Facility is a CICS BMS screen design tool used to create and modify CICS screen layouts. It interacts with CICS BMS services to simplify screen design processes.
The main components include the map editor and the BMS generator. Communication occurs through CICS API calls. The tool uses configuration files to store screen layouts.
The CICS/VSE CRT Screen Print Facility enables users to print the contents of CICS screens for debugging and documentation purposes. This tool uses CICS terminal control commands to capture screen data. The main components include the screen capture module and the print driver.
Communication occurs through CICS terminal control commands. The tool uses configuration files to define print settings. These tools improve developer efficiency by streamlining screen design and management, and reduce operational overhead by simplifying session handling and providing screen printing capabilities.
Security is dependent on the underlying z/VSE and CICS security mechanisms.