Interaction with Mainframes made easy, with IBM Personal communications API

IBM Personal Communications provides a rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for Windows users to play with host green screens (Terminal emulator screens).

Use case

A business scenario may involve processing of large amounts of data stored on mainframe hosts. The work may involve extracting the data from the mainframe host, processing it and storing it elsewhere, and vice versa. For example, processing large amount of healthcare records stored on an MS-Excel spreadsheet and uploading the data to a mainframe host application.

These mundane activities, if carried out manually, can be time consuming. IBM Personal communication APIs provide ability to automate access to the mainframe host data. This enables automation of data exchange between mainframe hosts and Windows based applications such as MS-Excel. This is just a simple example of API usage. The APIs can be exploited to achieve more advanced levels of automation to solve complex scenarios.

With IBM Personal Communications API

• Users can save lot of time which is a very important aspect of any business. Most of the operations related to the emulator screens can be automated.
• User data can be uploaded or downloaded without any manual intervention and error. User need not worry about manual data entry, or remember the usage of commands on the emulator screens (a.k.a "Presentation space”).
• Users can create and modify their customized windows on the emulator screens. End users can work on Windows applications without knowing the operations carried out in the background on the host using API.
• Users can automate the process of starting, stopping emulator sessions, apart from automation of operations on emulator screens.
• Developers can write custom applications using APIs in many different languages. Examples – C/C++, Visual Basic Script, Macros, Java, and .NET targeted applications.
• Developers can incorporate business logic to limit automation on specific screens using APIs on need basis, and other screens can be left for manual intervention. This provides flexibility to use APIs based on end users’ application usage.
• APIs help in simplifying complex, critical business operations on host for a normal end user.
• Advanced administrators can use API’s to automate mundane, critical, and time-consuming tasks. This helps increase in productivity.

Support from IBM Personal Communications and HCL

• Different kinds of APIs are provided for different usage scenarios for the end users. Detailed description of all APIs and user manual for developer is available at
  • https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSEQ5Y_12.0.0/com.ibm.pcomm.doc/books/pdf/emulator_programmingV120.pdf
  • https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSEQ5Y_12.0.0/com.ibm.pcomm.doc/books/pdf/host_accessV120.pdf
• In case you need any more APIs, write your requirement to us on -https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=changeRequestLanding&BRAND_ID=0&PROD_ID=1286&.x=8&.y=13
• We provide help on writing applications using the APIs for our customers to automate their business applications. Contact us at hcl-hi-labservices@hcl.com for any support on automation of your applications.

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Kavitha Saivam
L3-Support, PCOMM
Kavitha-s@hcl.com