Enhancing the HP e3000 User Interface

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LegacyJ HP e3000 Java Remote Client
An introductory article describing overview information about the HP e3000 Java remote client
concept and architecture.
Overview
Our computing environments continue to evolve and many of the issues we address in our
journey are those of speed (throughput), reliability, maintainability, security, accessibility and
cost of operation. The HP e3000 is an important component of our computing infrastructure. It
may be the only computing component of the infrastructure, or it may be one of many
computing components. In the evolution of a computing environment, the roles of our
traditional legacy systems may remain the same or they may evolve based on demand. Batch
processes still must be done, accomplished largely without interactions generating the
information used to run our businesses. Transaction systems that tie business data to
interactive processes in most instances require a connection of heterogeneous environments to
provide information access. The introduction of the Internet, Windows PCs, Linux and other
platforms just add to the complexity and the list of platforms which require access to
traditional data.
VPlus
The HP VPlus technology is an extremely powerful text based screen interface. VPlus services
are tied to MPE system intrinsics delivering flexible screen definition and user interaction
support. Developers can create screens that will validate input, mask data, transition between
screens, and that interface to multiple types of application.
Terms such as FORMSPEC, VFORM file, VFAST file and Process specifications are familiar to
those who create VPlus applications for their HP e3000 server. Ideally, these terms should also
be issues that a migration tool will consider and address as it enables VPlus functionality
outboard from that offered by the traditional terminal.
Client Alternatives
There are a variety of alternatives that deliver client support from terminal extensions, platform
specific clients, or the use of a browser. Ideally, the solution selected should be flexible, have
features not available in text based terminals, and be cost effective.
Some alternatives available are platform specific interfaces like those written with Microsoft
Visual Basic, using a browser or using Java graphical user interfaces in the form of applications
or applets. Vendors may offer migration FROM VPlus as “Services”, or as part of a tool package,
and other vendors might offer a non-disruptive solution that integrates into the current VPlus
infrastructure.
Each alternative will have merits, but ideally the alternative selected should enable features,
functions, scalability, reliability and be available at a price that makes sense.
Server Support
LegacyJ Corporation, in conjunction with HP, has created a non-disruptive architecture that
allows current VPlus applications to continue to function while routing the client interface to a
remote client. The architecture adds intrinsic intercepts for the VPlus services, VPlus Java
runtimes (providing system services) and this uses the LegacyJ Viewj communication software
for transmitting information to the remote clients.