Record/playback

 

The emulator supports record/playback capability (sometimes called keyboard macros) for 5250 sessions. Any recorded sequences are stored in a file in the user's directory.

You can start recording in one of the following two ways:

• Select the Record choice from the pull down menu.

• Press the Record key

Playback sequences are the same for all 5250 emulation sessions for a given user:

• Default playback files: Each playback sequence is stored in a separate file. The default playback resource IBM5250*PlayBackPath: is typically followed by one full path (directory and file name) or more to default playback files. Multiple paths are separated by a comma. If the resource is followed by a “0", there is no default playback file.

• When the user requests a playback, check if the playback file is in the user's playback directory: iSeriesAccess: $HOME/.iSeriesAccess/ibm_5250/P/

User accelerator keys take priority over default accelerator keys (if a match occurs).

An auto-logon playback file is specified on the startup file (-playback). The playback file is automatically started as soon as the first 5250 screen is received.

The 5250 emulator automatically pauses when the user presses a data key in a non-display entry field.

The maximum playback file size is 8K bytes.

The playback file name may contain blanks. If an accelerator key is specified, the accelerator key becomes an extension on the file name. For example is F4 is configured as an accelerator key the playback file name could be “playback file name".F4. If no accelerator key is specified, the playback file name does not have an extension.

An existing playback file can not be edited. To make changes to an existing file, a new recording needs to be done and then saved as the existing file name. The new recording will replace the previous recording.

A playback window is normally presented when playback is started. If the user selected Playback from the pull down menu or pressed the Playback key, the user selects a playback file to play. The playback window has two scrollable lists of playback files: the user's playback files and default playback files.

The record and playback program detects the following:

• Matching name found in the user's directory; user is asked to verify that this recording should overwrite the previous playback file.

• Playback requested but the default playback file not longer exists

• Accelerator key playback attempted, but no matching playback file

 

Parent topic:

X resources for the iSeries Access for Linux emulator