TN Bridge
Main Features
TN BRIDGE Host Integration Pack has been created for maximum simplicity in handling data between legacy-systems and your Microsoft® Windows application. Access mainframe screens through a set of properties, methods and events, allowing easy integration with programming languages like
Visual Basic, VB.NET, C#, Delphi, etc.
Architecture
The architecture can be separated into three (3) key areas, classified by their functionality:
1. Mainframe Access Layer
Mainframe Access Controls communicate with mainframe systems, and expose a set of properties, methods and events to handle the data interchange. The TNB3270 and TNB5250 controls fall into this category.
2. Emulation Layer
The Emulation Layer is made up of four (4) terminal emulation controls. These controls Emulation Screen, Emulation Status Bar, Keyboard Handling, Macro Sequences and Profiles implement the main features for a terminal emulator program.
Emulation Screen: TNBEmulator Component
Implements an emulation panel that shows the host data and accepts input data that is sent to the mainframe. The displayed data is formatted according to the data stream format (3270 or 5250).
Macro Sequences: Macro Component
Implements the recording and playing of mainframe navigation sequences.
Emulation Status Bar: TNBStatusBar Component
Implements an emulation status bar. It works together with the TNBEmulator.
Hotspots: HotSpots Component
Based on Regular Expressions, the HotSpots component is used to control mainframe applications with the mouse. Includes full customization for screen recognition areas and appearance, etc.
Keyboard Handling: AidHook Component
Processes keyboard events and maps them to Emulation Function Keys and Attention Identifier Keys. The Emulation Function Keys are processed locally to manage the emulator behavior for input data (i.e. tab, cursor movement keys, Home key, etc.). The Attention Identifier Keys initiate the transmission of data, along with the proper Attention Identifier Code (i.e. enter, PF01, Clear, etc.).
3. Helper Controls
Synchronization: Sync Component
Provide a simplified interface for handling telnet components in synchronous mode.
Macro Sequences: Macro Component
Implements the recording and playing of mainframe navigation sequences.
Trace: TnbTrace Component
Implements an application-side trace service for use with TN BRIDGE Development Lab. Generates trace information to allow real-time monitoring of communication events, mainframe screens, and method calls.
XMLBroker Component
Implements the XML interface in the TN3270 and TN5250 components.
XMLTemplate Class
Implements the run-time side of the XML Templates technology, for producing custom XML content.
XMLClient Component
Implements the XML interface to the Emulation layer.
XMLVirtual Component
Implements a simulated TN3270/5250 component by using screens saved as XML files.
System Requirements
Administrator rights are needed for the installation process. It is a recommended best practice to create a system restore point before you remove or install software.
Hardware Requirements
- Pentium 2 or equivalent computer/processor. Recommended: Pentium 3 or superior.
- 256 Mb Memory (RAM).
- 50 Mb of free disk space
Microsoft® Windows Operating System:
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP and older (ME/2k/98SE/NT)
- Microsoft® .Net Framework (only required for TN BRIDGE for .Net)
- Embarcadero Delphi (only required for TN BRIDGE for Delphi)
Scenarios
Government
For citizens and businesses who require access to local government services, TN BRIDGE Host Integration Pack gathers the related data, which is stored on various hosts. It allows web access and ensures that transaction applications are developed reliably and securely. It does this by using the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). SOAP messages are independent of any operating system or protocol and may be processed using a variety of Internet protocols like SMTP, MIME, and HTTP. The government’s open integration capability allows it to deploy new services more rapidly.
Industrial
Replacing different applications and custom-built interfaces with one standard TN BRIDGE Host Integration Pack connects all independent applications and numerous applications interfaces. It improves efficiency, reliability, and decreases operating costs.
Healthcare
TN BRIDGE is ideal for introducing a paperless documentation system within a hospital to improve workflow, increase efficiency and balance costs with the business value. Using the TN BRIDGE Host Integration Pack’s .NET capabilities with XML generation enables documents to be written once and read anywhere. System integrators and developers alike have the possibility to create appropriate web services in their preferred development environment.
Financial Services
For institutions wanting to improve customer satisfaction, increase the customer base and sell more services, TN BRIDGE Host Integration Pack provides access to applications that can connect to several hosts and integrate data, aggregating customer information. By enhancing, and not replacing their existing technology, businesses can reduce IT costs.
Development Lab
Research, tracking and testing environment that helps reduce the time required for planning, design, development, and QA.
Develop your PC-mainframe applications
- In planning/design time, because you will understand the screen/events sequences produced by your host application. Then you can plan and test your navigation strategy through the host screens.
- During development time, using the remote tracking functionality where you can connect to your TN BRIDGE-based development, even running it on another computer. You can also work in interactive mode to create code snippets for pasting them into your application.
- To keep your deployed application error-free. You can use Development Lab to connect and track a running application even from a remote workstation. You can also save the trace information to a local file for external analysis.
Interactive
Access to all resources of TN Bridge Development Lab.
Online trace
Access to remote TN Bridge-based solutions through TCP/IP.
Offline trace
Allows the analysis of trace information from a file.
Communication events
Real-time monitoring of communication events, TN BRIDGE’s method calls and host-data interchange over an integrated emulator, and scripting engine.
Applications
Real-time monitoring of remote TN BRIDGE-based applications through TCP/IP, in conjunction with the TN BRIDGE Trace Server Component.
Offline Monitoring
Offline monitoring by analyzing pre-saved tracing files.
Emulator
Integrated Terminal Emulator.
Screen-Field Inspector
a Built-in Screen snapshot and Fields inspector. With it you can watch the screens and its fields on Windows-to-Host interaction.
Integrated Script Engine
Used for programmatic access, and testing of TN BRIDGE’s components.
Trace Entries
Detailed view of events and method calls.
Tailor-made assistance for your project
With over 20 years of experience in Mainframe Modernization, Legacy Extension and Web Enablement, we know that extending a legacy app to new interfaces can become a real challenge. That’s why we count with a collaborative support platform to provide live assistance to your project. Let’s schedule a Free Custom Demo so we can show you the advantages of TN Bridge.