[hercules-390] IBM PCOMM 'Issues' Found and Corrected.

[[e-mail] [hercules-390]]

I've been using WC3270 for some time and it works quite well. I stumbled on a factory boxed and sealed copy of IBM Personal Communications V5.00 (PCOMM) on eBay. It wasn't the most current version, but it was dirt cheap. It took a minor effort to install on Windows 10 X64, and it did install cleanly. Now the fun started. When I used PCOMM to start a 3270 window and then try to connect to a Hercules session, I got a 'PROG753' 3270 error. No VTAM splash screen displayed, just the 'PROG753' error. After some internet investigating, I tracked my issue down to the USSN table. My USSN table uses 3270 color extended attributes, assembles and links cleanly, and works like a champ under WC3270. But, it seems that PCOMM does not like any color attribute byte value greater than x'F7' (white). Unfortunately my USSN table used a x'FF' (bright white) color attribute. This was the cause of the PCOMM 'PROG753' error. After changing all x'FF' (bright white) attributes to x'F7' (white) attributes, all is again right in the world. So for anyone out there contemplating the use of IBM PCOMM, check your 3270 data streams and USSN table verifying any/all color extended attribute byte values.

['\'Fish\' (David B. Trout)' [e-mail] [hercules-390]]

Someone whose name we don't know because they didn't sign their post (but whose email address is ***@sbcglobal.net) wrote:

[...]

Post by ***@sbcglobal.net [hercules-390]
and works like a champ under WC3270. But, it seems that
PCOMM does not like any color attribute byte value greater
than x'F7' (white). Unfortunately my USSN table used a x'FF'
(bright white) color attribute. This was the cause of the
PCOMM 'PROG753' error. [...]

I checked manual "GA27-2749-10 3270 Information Display System Component Description (Feb80)" and it makes no mention of color attributes beyond the standard 7 colors (F1-F7).

Greg Price of Prycroft Six however, has some very helpful (IMO) web pages related to 3270 programming on his web site (http://www.prycroft6.com.au) under the "Misc S/W" link.

The one at the top -- "Old attempt at an article about 3270 from years ago (Feb. 2007)" -- leads to the following web page:

http://www.prycroft6.com.au/misc/3270.html

where about halfway down is Figure 6, "Color codes supported by 3270 data stream", with the following note:

"Note: Color terminals generally only support color
codes 1 through 7 inclusive for alphameric text.
The last eight colours listed are for graphics use
only."

Immediately below Figure 6 in the actual article text he states quite clearly:

"Figure 6 contains the colors supported by 3270. While
support for sixteen (16) colors exists in the data stream
architecture, most terminals will not support more than
seven (7) colors, as indicated in the example in figure 5."

So it would seem that WC3270, while technically incorrect, is slightly more forgiving than IBM's PCOMM product in that it appears to support all of the color attributes that the architecture supports regardless of whether or not they are (or were) supported by any known IBM 3270 display device.

You were right IMO to fix your bad USSN table.

Thank you for sharing your findings.

[[e-mail] [hercules-390]]

Hi,

If someone have the need for, the current PCOMM package (V12) is available from IBM as a trial.

I downloaded it six month ago without any corporate login, only with my IBM personal ID I use to enter into Developers Works.

The trial runs about two months and finally ends its trial period of time, but you can uninstall it and REINSTALL ANOTHER TIIME without any problem or side effect.

You should use this trial instead of older PCOMM versions, if you want to run it on W7 x64 or newer, specially in case of Windows in other languages than english, due to issues on the translated name of the "Program files" directory.

Best regards,

Alex Garcia

Barcelona