Pointer Enabled Tools for VM/CMS

Using PETs at the University of Connecticut

All UConn students, faculty, and staff can apply for VM/CMS account privileges (without cost) and the majority do. If you are part of the UConn family, you have access to PETs software.

Topics

Accessing the Software from CMS
Using PETs with Xedit
Configuring your Mouse
What 3270 Emulation is Best?

Accessing the Software from CMS

Assuming you are logged onto CMS, enter the following commands from the CMS command line:

                                                                           
     USE PETS                                                                   
     PETSHELL

For convenience, you may want to add these preceding two lines to your PROFILE EXEC.

Using PETs with Xedit

The simplest way to mouse-enable Xedit is to use the following PROFILE XEDIT macro.

                                                                           
     /*  */                                                                     
     'MACRO XSETPROF'                                                           
     Exit(0)

Configuring your Mouse

UConn affiliates currently use a variety of TN3270/E emulators, including the TCP3270 product (formerly available from McGill University).

In this version of this emulator, the right mouse button is, by default, enabled to move-cursor-enter; so to exploit PETs software, click with the right mouse button.

You may have to experiment a bit with other emulators to see what may work by default (2-clicking the left mouse button works with some PC and Mac emulators). If your emulator doesn't seem to offer this move-cursor-enter function by default, you might have to reconfigure the mouse action in your emulation software or you might have to try a different emulator.

UNIX-resident 3270 emulators also can be used in a similar fashion; one of the mouse buttons will have to be configured properly.

What 3270 Emulation is Best?

PETs programs are optimized to work with an emulation of a 3279 Model 3 terminal (32 lines X 80 columns) with extended attributes. This emulation produces a pleasing and balanced look, and permits use of colors and reverse video effects. But other emulations should also work.

--rick ellis

Mail questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries to rge@uconnvm.uconn.edu .