Rational Developer for System z, Version 7.6

Basic Host Access

Because access to the mainframe can be necessary for viewing unique information, and other host processes not available on the desktop, Rational® Developer for System z® provides basic host access with the Host Connect functionality. Using Host Connect, you can connect to the mainframe and get a full-screen emulator to interact with. Optionally, you can run a macro when you connect or after you connect. A macro performs a captured sequence of key strokes and screen progressions to be executed (for example, a log on process).

Accessing the Host

To access the host, right click in either the Remote System perspective or a z/OS® Project Perspective and select Host Connection Emulation Support. The connection is automatically established using either the configuration defaults or what was last used to access this system.
Note: You do not need to be connected to RSE in order to connect to the host using Host Connect. All you need is the RSE host properties (Host name or IP address).

Connection to host is available from either a remote z/OS project or by selecting a Host system from the Remote System view. After you select Host Connection Emulation Support, the profile associated with the host you selected runs and takes you to an emulator screen defined in the profile.

Host Properties configuration option

To set or change the configuration options, click the Host Properties tab. The Host Connection Properties page allows you to define a profile for the host you are connecting to. This profile contains multiple definitions and functions to provide flexibility to various requirements and environments. Any changes that you make are saved when the profile is saved.

For each RSE connection profile, you will only be able to have a single host connect window. If you want to open multiple windows for the same host IP address/name, you must to have separate RSE connection profiles. Alternatively, you can manually create a host connect session profile. To manually create a host connect session profile, right-click at the top of the editor window and select Open new editor. Alternatively, you can select File -> New ->Other -> z/OS -> Host Connection File. The Host Connection Properties page is displayed where you can provide the session information for the host system. You can define the following types of session information for a host connection:
  • Destination
  • Basic
  • Advanced
  • Security

For detailed information about these four types of settings, refer to ../../com.ibm.etools.est.doc/concepts/csfcon002.html.

Automation Scripts

Automatically logging in to a host and other host connection automation can be completed using macros. Macros are captured key strokes and screen progressions that perform a repeatable task.

To create a macro, do the following:
  1. Open the profile (or Host Properties tab) for the host you want to work with.
  2. Scroll to the Macro information of the Host Properties tab, click Create New and provide a name for the macro.
  3. Click Record.
  4. From the Host Connection tab window, capture a sequence of key strokes.
  5. When completed, click Stop and Save.

    A typical naming convention is to name the macro some_name.macro (use the .macro extension).

To play a macro, import an existing macro from the file system and select Play. This plays the sequence recorded in the macro from the screen that was last viewed in the emulator window.

Note: If a macro is required to run from a particular screen, go to the required screen before starting the macro.

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