Embedding A 3270 Emulator Inside A Desktop-based Customer Service Application Suite
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Computers Technology -> subcategory Web Development.
Embedding a 3270 Emulator in a Desktop-Based Customer Service Application Suite
Overview
Large, risk-averse insurance companies utilize PASSPORT to seamlessly integrate IBM mainframe applications into a secure, cost-effective platform.
Introduction
Many major insurance companies, banks, and financial institutions continue to depend on IBM mainframe applications. For these organizations, using 3270 terminal emulation remains essential to access legacy systems efficiently.
Integration with Zephyr’s PASSPORT
Zephyr’s PASSPORT Host Integration Objects (HIO) software's Terminal Control feature is trusted by leading firms to embed 3270 terminal emulation within core desktop application suites. Here are a few key examples:
- One of the top three U.S. auto insurance providers has incorporated PASSPORT into its corporate application suite, offering 3270 access to 30,000 employees and agents.
- A leading U.S. property and casualty insurer has widely integrated PASSPORT into desktop applications, providing seamless host access for 40,000 employees.
- A Fortune 20 company uses PASSPORT in their insurance and healthcare applications, creating an automated solution for accessing 3270 applications in the U.S. Medicare system.
Financial and Operational Benefits
Embedding a robust Windows terminal emulator in customer service suites enhances productivity through rich scripting and application integration capabilities. This is a cost-effective alternative to reengineering legacy applications or investing in expensive new software packages. Terminal emulation offers a competitively priced point-to-point host integration model.
Why Bundle Terminal Emulation?
Integrating terminal emulation into a client-side application suite ensures a secure and cost-effective desktop system with minimal development risk. Once finalized, these systems are easier to support and maintain.
Modern desktop systems are typically secured to prevent potential threats. With mature IBM 3270 mainframe applications, combining these elements avoids redundant data entry and automates host menu navigation through scripts, enhancing overall efficiency.
Utilizing PASSPORT Terminal Control
PASSPORT HIO provides an object-oriented approach to integrating IBM 3270 mainframe and IBM 5250 AS/400 host applications with .NET, Visual C++, or VB applications. It employs the host screen as an API (screen-scraping). The solution includes a TN3270 and TN5250 communications module and an Object API, compatible with Windows XP or 2000 desktops and Microsoft Windows 2003 or 2000 servers. SSL security is a standard feature.
To embed terminal emulation, PASSPORT HIO Terminal Control enables the creation of a terminal emulation display and keyboard object that operates alongside a session object. This session object maintains the host screen buffer and manages all communication with the IBM mainframe or AS/400 system, while the terminal control object serves as a user interface.
PASSPORT HIO features a Type Library using COM standards that offers core classes and methods to integrate host information. It includes sample C
.NET, VB .NET, and Win32 C++ programs to demonstrate the use of these COM objects for opening sessions, connecting to hosts, accessing and manipulating the host presentation space, and more. Any Microsoft programming language supporting the ActiveX COM interface or .NET is compatible with Zephyr’s application.
Further Resources
For technical specifications of PASSPORT HIO Terminal Control, visit Zephyr’s website at [Zephyr Technical Specifications](http://www.zephyrcorp.com/legacy-integration/legacy-integration-dev.htm).
To download a free trial of PASSPORT HIO or explore a sample embedded 3270 terminal emulation application, visit: [Zephyr Downloads](http://zephyrcorp.com/downloads/legacy-integration.asp).
Conclusion
Using PASSPORT Host Integration Objects Terminal Control to embed 3270 terminal emulation in desktop-based call center or customer service suites provides a secure, cost-effective platform for IBM mainframe application integration. Terminal emulation is a less costly option compared to other host integration solutions. Once development is completed, a client-based platform is easy to maintain. Organizations employing 3270 host applications can significantly reduce total ownership costs while leveraging secure, reliable systems.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Embedding A 3270 Emulator Inside A Desktop-based Customer Service Application Suite.
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