04
Mon, Nov
5 New Articles

HOT TIPS: PC Support (9 Tips)

General
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Easy Customization of Your WSF Colors

Customizing your workstation colors for PC Support may be much easier than you think with the WSFCOLOR program found in your QIWSFLR or QIWSFL2 folder. This easy-to-use PC program will allow you to change colors with an active Workstation Function (WSF) session. The changes you make will take effect immediately and can be saved in the session's profile.

Cooperative Processing with Data Queues

Version 2.2 Extended DOS PC Support provides access to any AS/400 data queue from your PC. This means that PC programs can easily access data on the AS/400. Either system can send and receive data from the data queue. For example, a program on the AS/400 could send a PC DOS command to a data queue. A PC connected to the AS/400 via PC Support could then read the data queue and execute the command.

Folder File Security

Version 2.2 Extended DOS PC Support offers a new Check File (CHKFIL) command which can prevent anyone from updating a file in a shared folder while another user has the file checked out. For example, any user that is about to edit a file can first check it out. As long as the file is checked out, no one else can update the file until the user who checked it out checks it back in. A typical sequence of events might look like this:

A user wants to edit document CUSTLTR in shared folder LETTERS and wants to prevent anyone else from updating the file while he is working with it. He checks it out as follows:

CHKFIL OUT I:LETTERSCUSTLTR

He edits CUSTLTR. He checks the file back in:

CHKFIL IN I:LETTERSCUSTLTR

The CHKFIL command will also provide a list of checked-out files by directory, user or tree.

Running AS/400 Commands from Your PC

The Remote Command (RMTCMD) program of PC Support/400 allows you to run many AS/400 commands from your PC without starting an AS/400 session. As long as the PC Support Organizer is active, you do not need to transfer to your AS/400 session to run OS/400 commands. To start the organizer to enable this function, run the Start PC Organizer (STRPCO) command from your AS/400 PC Support session.

Running PC Commands from Your AS/400

You can run any PC command from your PC Support WSF display station by using the Start PC Command (STRPCCMD) command. The only requirement is that the PC Support Organizer be active.

For example, to get to a DOS prompt (e.g., C:>), simply key:

STRPCCMD PCCMD(COMMAND)

You can eliminate the need for your users to be constantly hot-keying to a DOS session just to execute a PC command. PC commands can become AS/400 menu options just like any OS/400 command.

Easier File Transfer

When you need to perform simple file transfers from the AS/400 to the PC and you don't want to be bothered with the cumbersome RTOPC or RTOPCB programs, consider using the Copy to PC Document (CPYTOPCD) command.

This command is much easier to deal with; however, it does require that the PC Support Organizer be active and it will only copy the file to a shared folder. You simply specify the qualified file name and a target folder name for the file to be copied to. Once the file is in the folder, you can copy it to your PC with the DOS COPY command.

There is also a Copy from PC Document (CPYFROMPCD) command that will allow you to go the other way.

PC Support Auto Sign-on

The regular DOS PC Support/400 sign-on sequence requires that a Common User ID and password be entered.

In some situations, it is desirable to get around the Common User ID/Password prompt. To do this, make sure your user ID is in the Link ID statement in your CONFIG.PCS file. For a twinax connection, it is the third parameter and looks like this.

EMLI system_name,address,user_id

This stops PC Support from asking for a Common User ID.

To eliminate the prompt for the password, modify the STARTRTR statement in the

STARTPCS.BAT file. It needs to be changed to read: ECHO | STARTRTR > NULL

...where PW is the password associated with the Common User ID.

The (pipe) '|' operator is what makes this technique work. It causes the password to be piped (via the ECHO command) into the STARTRTR command. In the meantime, we send the output of STARTRTR to NULL (i.e., nondisplay).

As a result, the end user never sees the prompt for user ID or password and never has to answer it.

Be aware of the security implications of this technique.

Hot Keys in PC Support

Since PC Support allows you to have up to five sessions, it is not uncommon to have more than one session configured. To keep from having to hot-key through all of your PC Support sessions with the default Alt + Esc round robin method, define Alt-1 in PC Support to be [HOTKEY 1]. This will cause Alt + 1 to transfer you immediately to session 1. This works for sessions 1-5. With [HOTKEY D] you can transfer directly to the DOS session. Define your DOS hotkey to be Alt-` (reverse apostrophe, the key to the left of the 1 key).

Use Your Own Menu when Running the Organizer

One of the biggest complaints that I hear about PC Support's Organizer function is that you're stuck with having PC Support Organizer Menu (PCOMNU) as the initial menu. Even if you have set another menu as the initial menu on the user profile, you still get the organizer menu when you log on to the first session.

You can do something about this. Run the PC Support Configuration (CFGPCS) program. Select the Organizer function, then select the General Organizer Options. Press F10 and select the Sessions pull-down menu. Select your first workstation session (normally session 1). Enter the Start PC Organizer (STRPCO) command under "List of host commands."

When the organizer is initiated for a workstation session, each host command in the list is executed. If no command is entered, it will default to STRPCO, followed by GO PCOMNU for the first workstation session. By entering the STRPCO command for the first session, the default is overridden and GO PCOMNU will not be executed.

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: