Eero Laurila ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
: - As far as I remember, this field was introduced together with a product
:   called SNA/DHCF (=Distributed Host Command Facility) around MPE/XL 2.1
:   timeframe -- (I would almost bet on it) --.
 
Ding ding ding ding ding!!!!
 
Eero wins the prize :-)
 
I was on the SNA DHCF development team, and we went to great lengths to
allow VPLUS forms developers to create forms that could be supported on an
IBM 3270 terminal.  Granted, there were a *lot* of limitations (3270 screen
management was completely different and a lot "dumber" than HP's screen
management), but we did our best to provide a reasonable mapping.  Once
compiled, the 3270 forms files would contain (essentially) the 3270 datastreams
required to "draw" the screen on the 3270.
 
SNA DHCF was never intended to be *the* solution for users requiring access
to both IBM and HP machines (PC's running emulators were a lot friendlier to
use and had the least limitations), but we were trying to provide customers
with a heavy investment in IBM 3270 terminals a way to access HP machines and
applications without having to have extra terminals (and system connections)
on every desktop.  To that end, I always thought SNA DHCF was a pretty nifty
solution (okay, so I'm biased... :-)
 
Peggy Bertsch
HP CSY