Hi there all,
Two last minor issues with communicating from an AS/400 using BiSync 3780.
(Well from my experience of 40 implemented AS/400 customers in Australia
using GE's Intercept 400 - which was not sold in the U.S., it was a U.K.
product from memory and now owned by Harbinger).
AS/400's use EBCDIC while most (if not all) VAN's use ASCII character sets.
This means that there is transliteration tables used to translate the
characters to/from these two character sets. There is an issue with square
brackets "[" and "]". Best not to use them if at all possible.
Never got to the bottom of this one, but it has something to do with the
character mappings don't work when the character sets are translated (by the
VAN) so you can always point your finger at them <grin>.
(While this is apparent on GE's service, it may not be the same for others
should they be using "customized" transliteration tables rather than the IBM
"standard" one. GE can also offer "customized" transliteration tables, but
then it creates issues if you trade in EDIFACT using the UNOB character set
and HEX 1F and other non-printable characters as element separators and/or
segment terminators, it's a trade-off issue as you start using/mapping other
characters when you use customized tables.)
Secondly, on the JCL (job command language) cards you send in 3780, an
asterisk "*" in position 80 of the first line of the card, signifies you are
using the 3780 protocol, without it signifies you are using 3770 and your
data may become garbled. If your data is garbled, check for this on the
first line of the JCL card you are using for the transaction, it's often the
case. This was an IBM standard and again may not be apparent on non GE
VAN's should they not use these "unique" IBM standard (and only offer 3780
without 3770 support).
Sorry for plugging GE so much, I'm just trying to convey my experience with
this protocol.
Hope it helps,
Michael Burbury
GE ecXpress Australia.
System Administration
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Divoky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> I'm not certain what you think my "approach" is. It certainly doesn't
require what you describe. I doubt if we're
> doing anything differently. Years ago I sometimes had to use separate
asynch & bisynch modems and separate software.
> In recent years I have never had to use more than a single modem and a
single software package for dial-up and
> connected to multiple VANs & Wal-Mart as well as ISPs both asynch &
synchronously. I should point out I haven't work
> with legacy hardware for many years. Perhaps requirements there are
different. I don't remember.
>
> Jim Divoky
>
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