The TrueGui Development package contains several choices for the client. TrueGui.exe is our full featured implementation of a client. For IBM Iseries systems there is also Iseries.exe for connecting to an EBCDIC type server. Some developers may just want to expand their existing .NET code and we include some samples to help them get started with their own client interface. The TrueGuiInterface.dll makes this possible. The client projects are included to provide you with a perspective on how to work in TrueGui features. There are the following clients included with the development installation.
TrueGUI.exe is a self contained application that performs as a direct GUI client or Telnet Passthru. The configuration information is kept in an encrypted file called "Settings.cfg". There are sample configuration files that highlight different features. These may be executed via shortcuts in the start menu or from batch files from within theTrueGui directory.
This sample configures and starts a background process which supports a single Telnet session using any traditional 5250 Telnet Client. The client is designed to handle the unique communication that occurs during the login process of the Iseries server connection.
| 3. | TelnetService.exe - C# Telnet passthru program. |
This sample configures and starts a background process which supports a single Telnet session using any traditional Telnet Client. The Telnet Service instance supports only one Telnet session so a slightly different configuration port assignments is required.
| 4. | GuiClient.exe - command line /client program. |
This creates a Telnet connection without a traditional Telnet Client. In its simplest form, it connects to a Telnet port pre-configured to start a TrueGUI application. The first few simple installation tests use this method. As no local ports are used, multiple sessions can be started with one configuration. TrueGuiInterface will read the parameters you use to connect from the command line.
| 5. | VbClient.exe - command line/ client program. |
The VbClient is essentially the same as the GuiClient but the source is written in Visual Basic.
Once you have started out with TrueGui.exe or Iseries.exe depending on your server requirements, you may want to look back at at the other client applications.
Connection Basics
The typical TrueGUI session is a standard Telnet session with TrueGUI in the middle trapping and executing sophisticated TrueGUI instructions. To accomplish this is a simple, server OS independent way, the pre-existing Telnet Client software is re-directed to a local (127.0.0.1) "Telnet Service" (on the same TrueGUI Client PC). This service is configured to make a transparent connection to the server and port originally used by the pre-existing Telnet Client. When TrueGUI sees a developer defined "ASCII" sequence, it switches from "transparent mode" to "TrueGUI mode" and upon command, the TrueGUI will switch back to "transparent mode". In this way, the developer can combine screens that have been GUIized with screens under a normal Terminal emulator. Please review the TrueGui Client worksheet in the Appendix to keep a hard copy of settings for your configuration.