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Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

  • 1.  Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    Posted Wed March 09, 2022 07:16 PM
    I recently switched terminal models from MOD2 to MOD5. I've noticed more asterisked (***) prompts showing up requiring an extra 'Enter' key press. It is really just an annoyance, but I have been trying to figure out the differences, such as if it is just how mod5 operates based on its expanded screen size attributes or if there is a setting somewhere where I've disabled this in the past using MOD2. I realize '***' is to prompt for output continuations and finality of display output. However when TSO commands do no have terminal display message output, such as executing a REXX that displays a panel, the MOD5 format still requires an extra prompt of "***" prior to any output/panel display, whereas with MOD2 it did not. Is this expected MOD5 behavior because of the expanded screen size or is there a setting to disable the extra prompt?

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    Thank you in advance for any assistance provided!

    David Alban
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  • 2.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    Posted Fri March 11, 2022 10:00 AM

    WOW, that's different. I've been using Mod5 terminals since I had a 3278-5 on my desk in...days gone by. I still use the mod5 window size with x3270 as my TN3270 client, and have never observed that behavior. I have recently switched, since I can, to using a 160-x47 screen size with x3270, and still have never observed the behavior that you describe. When I get the ***, it's when I expect it and not a spurious event.

     

    That said, you don't mention your 3270 client software. That might be helpful in diagnosing this.

    It might also help to have a TCP/IP trace of your session when you are using a Mod2 and when using a Mod5, performing the same actions, when this incident occurs on the Mod5 but not the Mod2.

     

    R;

     

     

    Rob Hamilton

    Infrastructure Engineer

    Chemical Abstracts Service

    Confidentiality Notice: This electronic message transmission, including any attachment(s), may contain confidential, proprietary, or privileged information from CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society ("ACS"). If you have received this transmission in error, be advised that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. Please destroy all copies of the message and contact the sender immediately by either replying to this message or calling 614-447-3600.






  • 3.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    IBM Champion
    Posted Tue March 15, 2022 03:03 PM
    Hi Rob,

    > I have recently switched, since I can, to using a 160-x47 screen size with x3270

    I use wc3270.  Can you please enlighten me on how you did that?  Is this something new in x3270/wc3270 version 4.* ?  I'm still using wc3270 v3.6ga12.

    Thanks
    Roger

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    Roger Lacroix
    CTO
    Capitalware Inc.
    London ON Canada
    https://capitalware.com
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    Posted Wed March 16, 2022 11:49 AM

    Hi, Roger,

     

    Until just recently I have been using x3270 3.4ga7, so if you are using that or later I can say it should certainly work. I say just recently....I just got 4.1ga11 built (thank you muchly, Paul) and it's been working great.

     

    I have a script that starts x3270, with parameters for the terminal type and destination. I use the -model command-line option for model 4 and model 5 terminal windows, but there is a -oversize option that allows you to specify the screen size you want, or the screen size your backend server will allow. In my script, when I want a large screen, I specify -model 5 -oversize 160x47, which fits my monitor window. I believe 160 is the highest number of columns allowed by the z/OS or z/VM system to which you are connecting. 47 is not a significant number; it's just the number of terminal lines that will fill the screen vertically on my monitor at work. Check your font, too. My script specifies -efont 3270-20 for this size terminal window. Your mileage may vary.

     

    There is a new wiki for x3270 (et al) documentation, at https://x3270.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page. (I say "new wiki", but I see it was launched two years ago.) A number of links from the older http://x3270.bgp.nu site will take you into that wiki. I'm told it is still a bit of a work in progress, but it shows all of the command-line options and resources for each of the *3270 and *3287 programs. I just looked, and wc3270 has the -oversize option, so you should be good.

     

    R;

     

     

    Rob Hamilton

    Infrastructure Engineer

    Chemical Abstracts Service

     

     






  • 5.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    IBM Champion
    Posted Thu March 17, 2022 02:51 PM
    Hi Rob,

    Thanks.  So, you have mod5 set in both your script and in the options for your TSO session?

    Originally, I used the WC3270 Session Wizard to create my sessions and store them in *.wc3270 files. I just ran the Wizard again and noticed the oversized options.

    Here's what my test wc3270 file looks like:

    wc3270.hostname: 1.1.1.1
    wc3270.model: 5
    wc3270.oversize: 160x47
    wc3270.charset: bracket437
    wc3270.keymap: roger
    ! wc3270.keymap: rctrl

    *** IP address changed.

    I need to fire up my z/OS LPAR to test it but feel like a kid in a candy store.  :)

    Also, my keymap file is really simple.  Here is what my 'roger.wc3270km' contains:

    <Key>PRIOR: PF(7)
    <Key>NEXT: PF(8)
    RightCtrl<Key>CTRL: Enter()
    <Key>RETURN: Newline()

    I prefer my keys to be setup like the old 3270 terminals.

    Hence, all I do is click on the saved wc3270 session icon to start my 3270 session without needing any extra things.

    later
    Roger

    ------------------------------
    Roger Lacroix
    CTO
    Capitalware Inc.
    London ON Canada
    https://capitalware.com
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    Posted Thu March 17, 2022 03:19 PM

    Roger:

     

    Those .wc3270 files are handy in Windows. Unix is a little different. B-)

    My .x3270pro resource file is about 150 lines (plus another 200 comment lines) and includes all the options I'm going to specify for all x3270 sessions, including a fleet of macro definitions and a flotilla of key map entries. Primarily I have been using x3270 with TSO, but over the past few years have gotten back to z/VM...and use the same .x3270pro file for both. I switch between z/VM and TSO freely so, so far, I haven't thought about creating a different resource file for z/VM.

     

    To answer your question, I don't specify the model in the .x3270pro resource file because I control the model and terminal sizes with the script. Parameters to the script control the terminal window size and the first destination to which it will connect.

     

    I'm working on getting x3270 to do secure TN3270. The primary client (x3270) runs in Solaris, and I care most (at the moment) about getting a secure connection into z/VM. It's not working. I don't know whether I have the certificates defined incorrectly, sited incorrectly, formatted incorrectly.....or what. I will be indebted to anyone who can help with that...because I'm going to setup secure TN3270 with z/OS, and I thought it would be easier under z/VM first. I've Read all The FMs I can find on the subject, and...it's still a mystery to me.

     

    R;

     

     

    Rob Hamilton

    Infrastructure Engineer

    Chemical Abstracts Service

     






  • 7.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    IBM Champion
    Posted Thu March 17, 2022 05:19 PM
    Hi Rob,

    Thanks. 

    Your problem sounds like the problem I went through a few years ago when I got a new PC.  See https://www.capitalware.com/rl_blog/?p=5747

    Try setting verifyHostCert to false.

    later
    Roger

    ------------------------------
    Roger Lacroix
    CTO
    Capitalware Inc.
    London ON Canada
    https://capitalware.com
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    Posted Mon March 14, 2022 12:40 PM
    The Mod-5 terminal had the ability to switch to a Mod-2 orientation when a screen/map/panel is designed for 24x80.  Perhaps your Mod-5 emulator is making this switch and requires interaction from you before it replaces the current 27x132 screen with one designed for 24x80.  Have you tried sending a 27x132 panel?

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    Leigh Compton
    Consulting IT Specialist - CICS and Enterprise Integration
    IBM
    TX
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  • 9.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    Posted Tue March 15, 2022 11:24 AM
    Not too sure if this helps, but searching for something completely different threw up this thread from 18 years ago which looks similar: 

    https://bit.listserv.ibm-main.narkive.com/WDrnMxrO/3278-mod-5#post2

    Sebastian

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    Sebastian Welton
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  • 10.  RE: Extra Enter prompt (three asterisks, "***") after any TSO COMMAND and prior to output when switching from MOD2 to MOD5

    Posted Mon March 21, 2022 03:49 PM
    asdfas

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    Raghavendra Reddy Pamudurthi
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