JPH10269179A - Use of host on-line work from decentralized application - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate structure data with item name, by generating an application program interface that a decentralized application program can use on a client terminal. SOLUTION: A screen definition generation system 1 generates a structure and row/column conversion table by a conversion table generating program 6 from screen definition information 2. On the client terminal 11, on the other hand, a host emulator program 12 displays screen information sent from a host 8 on a display. Here, the host emulator program 12 is modified and when a connection request is made by the decentralized application program 13, structure data are edited by using the structure and row/column conversion table 7 and exchanged with the decentralized application program 13. Then the program 13 sets and refers to data by using the structure 4. This system can decentralize processes without changing resources of a host program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique effective when applied to a data exchange system between a distributed server connected to an application program running on a host, a server computer and a network, and a distributed application program on a personal computer. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an application program on a host computer is used by a terminal connected to a network, a host emulator program is mounted on the terminal side to display a screen and print it on a printer. The host emulator program converts data from the host according to the rules, assembles and displays the data as a screen, edits data input to the screen, and transmits the data to the host computer.
Therefore, in order for the distributed application program on the terminal side to exchange data with the application program on the host computer via the host emulator program, it is necessary to exchange data via the displayed screen.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As a result of studying the above prior art, the present inventor has found the following problems. In conventional data exchange via a screen, the processing method used to create a distributed application program on the terminal side is a screen displayed on the screen of the host emulator program or data displayed on the screen of the distributed application program. The method of copying data on the screen is basically between
It is specified in digits and data length, and the man-hour is increased compared to coding using general item names and structures. Further, even if there is no change in the processing of the application program on the host computer, if the screen configuration changes, the row and column of the data position change, leading to a problem that the program is changed.
Further, there is a problem that the processing speed is reduced due to passing through the screen.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for performing such a data exchange method by an application program interface and generating structure data having an item name from screen data.

[0005]

The object is achieved by creating an application program interface usable from a distributed application program in a host emulator program running on a client terminal. In this application program interface, a distributed application program sets data in a data transmission structure provided for each screen provided in advance and transfers the data to a host emulator program. This structure is basically the same as that generated at the time of screen definition and used in the host application program. The host emulator program expands the passed structure data according to the structure, line, and digit conversion tables extracted from the definition information at the time of screen definition, creates data as if it were input from the screen, and sends it to the host computer . The host computer performs business processing without being aware of the distributed application program and returns a response screen. The host emulator program on the client terminal converts the data received from the host computer into the structure, line,
The data is edited into structure data according to the digit conversion table and delivered to the distributed application program.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration. Also,
In this figure, basic programs, communication programs, and the like necessary for actual operation are omitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the overall configuration is divided into a screen definition creation system configuration, which is a development environment, and an execution system configuration used when executing the system. First, the screen definition creation system configuration will be described. In the screen definition creation system, the developer creates the second screen definition information according to the screen configuration to be actually displayed. The screen definition information includes a definition such as a map name and a screen size, a fixed item definition such as a title and a ruled line on an actual display screen, and a variable item definition defining each field for displaying and inputting actual data. Figure-2
Shows an example of screen definition information. Of these, the variable items are defined for each field, such as the line, column, input / output item (IO), output item (O), character attribute (C: character), data length, and item name of the display position on the screen. Define.

[0007] The screen definition information is compiled by three map creation programs, and four maps for screen development and five structures for application programs are created. (FIG. 3 shows an example of a structure to be created.) This is a conventional function, but in the present invention, a structure of 7 and a row / column conversion table are created by a conversion table creation program of 6. (Figure-4
Shows an example of a structure and a line / column conversion table. FIG. 5 shows a screen image created from the screen definition created in the above example for reference. In an actual operating environment, the host application program in the host system 8 performs data conversion with the screen development program 10 using the structure 5. The screen development program converts the structure data and the actual screen information using the map of 4. In the eleventh client terminal, the twelve host emulator programs display screen information sent from the host on a display.

According to the present invention, a change is made to the host emulator program, and when a connection request is received from the 13 distributed application programs, the structure data is edited by using the structure of 7 and the row / column conversion table to edit the structure data. Exchange data with The distributed application program uses the five structures to set and refer to data. FIG. 6 shows a flow for actually performing an inquiry response. FIG. 6 shows an example in which input data '12' is input to the MAP001 screen, an inquiry is made to the host-side business program, and response data corresponding to the inquiry is received.

According to this method, the distributed application program can be used without changing the host program at all.
Data can be easily exchanged with the host application program.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the processing can be decentralized while effectively utilizing the existing host program without changing the assets. Further, development of a distributed application program is facilitated. This function is particularly effective when the distributed application program needs to access a database that exists only in the host system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration conceptual diagram of a screen definition system at the time of program development, a host system at the time of program execution, and a client terminal on which a distributed application program operates.

FIG. 2 is a definition example of screen definition information.

FIG. 3 is an example of a structure created by a map creation program from the screen definition information of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an example of a structure, row, and digit conversion table created by the conversion table creation program from the screen definition information in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a display image of a screen defined by the screen definition information of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a processing image of an inquiry response in an execution system configuration.

FIG. 7 is an example of converting structure data into input screen data using a structure, row, and digit conversion table.

FIG. 8 is an example of converting output screen data into structure data using a structure, row, and digit conversion table.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An application program interface is created in an emulator program on a client terminal that displays and prints a host online business, and exchanges data between the distributed application on the client terminal and the host application program when using the host online business. Method using the same item and structure name.