Key Concepts > Navigating Sessions |
You can use InfoConnect methods to navigate through your sessions:
Navigating Through IBM Screens
Navigating and Handling Branching in Open Systems Macros
Navigating by Waiting for a Specified Time
Finding and Moving to Screen Locations
Using the NewScreenReady event along with the GetText function, you can identify specific screens when they are ready. You can then use the PutText and SendControlKey methods to enter commands that navigate to the next screen.
Navigating through screens using the NewScreenReady event |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
Private Sub IbmScreen_NewScreenReady(ByVal sender As Variant) Dim ScreenID1, ScreenID2, ScreenID3, ScreenID4 As String Dim Rtn As ReturnCode ScreenID1 = ThisIbmScreen.GetText(1, 7, 4) 'ATM5 ispf ScreenID2 = ThisIbmScreen.GetText(2, 2, 6) 'option 2 If ScreenID1 = "ATM5" Then Rtn = ThisIbmScreen.PutText2("ISPF", 24, 1) Rtn = ThisIbmScreen.SendControlKey(ControlKeyCode_Transmit) End If If ScreenID2 = "OPTION" Then Rtn = ThisIbmScreen.PutText2("2", 2, 15) Rtn = ThisIbmScreen.SendControlKey(ControlKeyCode_Transmit) End If End Sub |
After sending data to a host, using VT or other non-block mode emulation, you must pause execution until you determine when the host has finished with its reply. Use the WaitForString method for this task. As soon as the final string in a host response has arrived, you can continue execution of your macro.
In some situations the host can reply with more than one response. Use the WaitForStrings method to determine which response the host has made and then apply it to decision branches in your macro.
WaitForStrings4() waits for a specified text string (or strings) to be received from the host.
Using WaitForStrings4 |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
Function object.WaitForStrings4(ref string[] text, int timeout, ref int stringidx, WaitForOption option) |
![]() |
|
To set up your macro, first record a macro to find out which strings you need to look for. (The macro recorder records the WaitForString method with the correct parameters for your host application.) Then set up a function that includes an array of these strings, as shown below.
To set up your macro to wait for VT host data
Finding strings recorded for WatiForString3 |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
'Wait for a string on the host screen before continuing returnValue = osCurrentScreen.WaitForString3(ESC & "[11;14H", NEVER_TIME_OUT, WaitForOption.WaitForOption_AllowKeystrokes) |
Using the strings in the macro |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
Public Sub DetermineWhatScreenArrived() Rem This sample shows how to define and wait for several strings to determine how the host responded. Dim i As Integer Dim strArray(0 To 2) As String Rem define the strings to wait for based on the values observed in a recorded macro. strArray(0) = "11;14H" 'We arrived at Apply Tax Screen strArray(1) = "[11;15H" 'We arrived at Order Totals Screen strArray(2) = "[6;54H" 'We arrived at Shipments not Allowed to Location Screen Rem Define the Screen and terminal variables. Dim osCurrentScreen As Screen Dim osCurrentTerminal As Terminal Set osCurrentTerminal = ThisFrame.SelectedView.control Set osCurrentScreen = osCurrentTerminal.Screen Rem Send the VT PF1 key to finalize an order. osCurrentScreen.SendControlKey ControlKeyCode_PF1 Dim retval As ReturnCode Dim returnStringIndex As Long For i = 0 To 2 Rem Wait for the strings in the strArray(), with a timeout of 3000 ms, and allow keystrokes to be entered while waiting. retval = osCurrentScreen.WaitForStrings4(strArray(), 3000, returnStringIndex, WaitForOption_AllowKeystrokes) Rem Print the string that was received. If retval = ReturnCode_Success Then Rem WaitForStrings requires a zero-based array parameter, but it returns a 1-based index of strings. Rem Use a Select Case statement with 1-based values to determine the host response. Select Case returnStringIndex Case 1 Debug.Print "We arrived at Apply Tax Screen" Case 2 Debug.Print "We arrived at Order Totals Screen" Case 3 Debug.Print "We arrived at Shipments not Allowed to Location Screen" End Select End If Next i End Sub |
You can navigate through IBM or Open Systems screens by waiting for a specified time between commands.
This is useful for navigating Open Systems screens when you don't know the string values returned by the host (required by the WaitForStrings methods). It can also be used to navigate IBM screens.
Example Title |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
'navigate to the screen you want to screen scrape rCode = screen.SendControlKey(ControlKeyCode_Transmit) rCode = screen.WaitForHostSettle(3000, 2000)'timeout followed by settle time rCode = screen.SendKeys("ISPF") rCode = screen.SendControlKey(ControlKeyCode_Transmit) rCode = screen.SendKeys("1") rCode = screen.SendControlKey(ControlKeyCode_Transmit) |
Example Title |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
'Send keys to navigate to screen that contains data 'wait after keys are sent to make sure host screen is ready before sending more keys Set screen = terminal.screen screen.SendKeys "command" screen.SendControlKey ControlKeyCode_Return rCode = screen.WaitForHostSettle(3000) 'settle time screen.SendKeys "another command" |
You can use InfoConnect Search functions to find locations on the screen that you want to move your cursor to or use as a starting point for a selection.
Finding and moving to a screen location |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
Sub SearchAndMove() Dim Point As ScreenPoint Dim returnC As ReturnCode 'Find the screen position of the Command Field Set Point = ThisIbmScreen.SearchText1("COMMAND", 1, 1, FindOption_Forward) 'Move the cursor to the field for this label (offsetting the label by 14 columns) returnC = ThisIbmScreen.MoveCursorTo1(Point.row, (Point.column + 14)) End Sub |
Finding and moving to a screen location |
Copy Code
|
---|---|
Sub MoveTheCursor() Dim Point As ScreenPoint 'Get the point on the display on which the data table starts Set Point = ThisScreen.SearchText("Month ", 1, 1, FindOptions_Forward) 'Increment the row from the header row to first row of data and get the first row Debug.Print ThisScreen.GetText((Point.Row + 2), Point.Column, ThisScreen.DisplayColumns) End Sub |