SmartTE includes features to display various styles and formats of images as well as creating buttons on the emulation screen to make it more interactive. These features have become increasingly important with the popularity of handheld devices that have a multi-touch screen and do not have a physical keyboard. These features require the use of a SmartTE capable Client, such as; Android, iOS, Java and Windows 10. Future client releases may include various other device operating systems. Using client versions older than v14 or clients that are not SmartTE compatible will still provide all of the emulation management and reliability but will not include the graphical elements. These features are currently available to 5250, 3270 and VT emulation sessions, but are not supported for use with TESS emulation at this time.
What is SmartTE?
SmartTE adds images, labels and buttons to the possible display elements of standard terminal emulation. Adding graphical elements to an emulation screen can be done using one of two methods. The first method is a manual ‘reformatting’ of the screen. The second method uses dynamic reformatting to automatically change the presentation of all screens that are not specifically reformatted. Using the dynamic features may be all that’s required in some cases, while the static reformatting may be required for certain screens or applications that do not have regular patterns or display elements. Each method is described below.
Dynamic Reformatting
Dynamic settings allow for several different options, such as the display of graphical fields, fixed monochrome colors, a default background image, 5250/3270 status display and most importantly tap spots. The most common use and feature of SmartTE is the ability to turn important on-screen functions into buttons. These features make the use of handheld devices much easier and faster when they do not have a full keyboard. Enabling tap spots is just the first step, since the StayLinked system needs to know what to look for in order to create buttons on the screen. These patterns are called a tap spot collection.
Static Reformatting
Screens that require customization beyond the dynamic options can be manually recognized and reformatted. These features allow the placement of things that normally would not appear on the screen, or the removal of information that isn’t needed by the user. Recognition includes a wide range of features, just one of which is the option to reformat the screen before presenting it to your users.
SmartTE Clients
StayLinked clients do not all support SmartTE, but all SmartTE clients do support standard StayLinked features. This means that you’ll need a device capable of SmartTE in order to test the configuration changes that display your hosted application in a graphical format. Screen reformatting features work for all StayLinked Clients, but any graphical element will only be displayed on SmartTE devices. Standard telnet supports only true-type fixed width fonts, and do not display across multiple lines of emulation space. SmartTE graphical features aren’t restricted by this limitation.
SmartTE clients will all be at least version 14.0. Current clients are easily downloaded for iOS and Android devices using their respective online application store. Android devices can also install an APK file downloadable from our download site. The version 14.0 Administrator also includes a Java client. This client is SmartTE capable but requires a Java runtime to be installed on the Administrator PC. Running this as a console session will display your graphical enhancements to emulation screens.
Implementing Dynamic SmartTE Steps
Implementing Dynamic SmartTE – Appendix
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