Using a display station

Here are keyboard and display differences when using a display station during a Telnet 3270 full-screen session. Other special considerations for Telnet 3270 mode include the number of input fields, error messages, and ending a session.

The number of 3270 input fields can be controlled with the Number of 3270 input fields (NBRFLDS) parameter of the Change TELNET Attributes (CHGTELNA) command.

Specifying keyboard and character sets

The keyboard language type you specify for your workstation, using the keyboard language type parameter on the STRTCPTELN command, must be the same as the keyboard language type parameter of the remotely attached workstation. If you specify a keyboard language type that does not match, some of the characters do not display as expected.

5250 and 3270 keyboards

The placement and function of keys are different on the 5250 keyboard (3196G, 3180 Model 2, or 5291) than on the 3278 keyboard.

Note: For the Telnet client operating in a 3270 full-screen mode, the 3270 Clear function sets to the key sequence Shift-Cmd-Backspace by default.

The System Operation for New Users book provides keyboard differences for the following keyboards

  • IBM-enhanced keyboard
  • 122-key typewriter keyboard
  • 5250 keyboard
  • Personal computer or personal computer IBM® AT computer-style keyboard
  • Personal computer or personal computer AT 5250 style keyboard
  • IBM-enhanced personal computer keyboard

Personal computer keyboards

If your personal computer uses the IBM i Access for Windows Workstation Function (WSF), you can display the layout of your 5250 keyboard using the Work Station Function Keys (WSFKEYS) command. You can alter the style using the Configure Work Station Function (CFGWSF) command. These commands are discussed in the 'Client Access/400 for DOS with Extended Memory Setup' book. If your personal computer does not use the workstation function, refer to the appropriate documentation for your emulator (for example, OS/2 CM/2) to view or change the keyboard style.

TN3270-Minus sign

If you specified the value *YES for the numeric lock keyboard parameter of the STRTCPTELN command, if you are using a data entry keyboard, and if the cursor is located in a numeric-only field, then complete these tasks to display a 5250 minus sign:

  1. Press the Num (Numeric) key.
  2. Press the minus sign (-) key.

To display a 3278 minus sign, press the minus sign key.

TN3270-Page down and page up

If the 3270 application has a display that does not allow all the input data fields to be viewed, use the 5250 Page Down and Page Up keys to enter data when the maximum number of input fields on the display is exceeded.

You can also assign PF and PA functions to the page keys by specifying their use on the STRTCPTELN command.

The cursor always appears as an underline on both 5250 and 3270 displays.