Macros that can operate on two sessions in IBM Host on-Demand

A Host on-Demand macro is an XML script that allows clients to interact automatically with a host application running on a terminal emulator session (a 3270 Display session, a 5250 Display session, a VT Display session, or a CICS Gateway session). Macros are usually written to perform a specific task or set of tasks involving a single host application.

A HOD administrator can record a macro to run between two sessions of the same type. This helps users to provide information from one session as an input to a second session and vice-versa. Below are the steps to record a macro through which HOD sessions can interact with each other.
Steps to record macro between two sessions:

1. Open deployment wizard
2. Launch 5250 session - Session A
3. Now open the Macro Manager by selecting “View” -> “Macro Manager”
4. Select “File” and then “Run the same”, from the session menu. This launches Session B of same type.
   

5. Move focus to Session A and click on “Record a macro” button and give the macro name
    (ex: SampleMacro) and click OK.
 

6. Continue to record the macro on Session A till the screen from which you wish to pass
     output to Session B.

7. Type number 4 on Session A. Select the number on the session and select
    “Edit”-> “Copy” from the menu.
8. Now move focus to Session B and click on “Append to recording macro” button and
    traverse the screens in session B until you reach the screen where the copied data needs
    to be pasted.
9. Place the cursor on an unprotected field of Session B, and select “Edit” -> “Paste”

10. To record action in Session A again, move focus to Session A and click
      “Append to existing  macro” icon in session A and record the user actions.
11. In this manner, user can record actions in a macro for 2 adjacent sessions. 
      At the end of  macro recording, move focus to session A and click on Stop button
      to stop  macro recording.

Steps to Playback macro between two session:

1. Launch Session A
2. Select “File” -> “Run the same”, which launches Session B
3. Move focus to Session A and select “View” -> “Macro manager”
4. Select the recorded macro from the list and click on the “Play Macro” button, macro now gets executed in both the sessions, and performs the actions as recorded.

 
For more information about creating macros and executing them in IBM Host on-demand, refer to the following link:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSS9FA_12.0.0/com.ibm.hod.doc/doc/macro/macro02.html

Priya Yadav
TECHNICAL SPECIALIST – IBM Host on-Demand
priya.y@hcl.com