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3270 terminal emulation on the Web requires the right approach to 3270 web access. If you are viewing a 3270 browser application, there is a definite difference in the 3270 Emulation from a typical emulator. 3270 to Web has both benefits and costs, which a true 3270 Gateway such as Screensurfer can both exploit and minimize. A standard 3270 emulator, on the other hand is just like what you have today!. Why bother delivering 3270 internet applications unless you are going to improve them?
We call traditional 3270 emulators ported to execute in the Web environment the "emulator-in-a-box" solution. That is because while users initiate emulation from a "real" HTML web page, the result is typically a separate window that pops-up and becomes the 3270 emulator. This window is typically a Java Applet or an ActiveX control, and offers little integration with other HTML page objects, meaning little integration with your pages!
Another problem with 3270 emulation delivered using an emulator-in-a-box is that enhancing the user interface is problematic compared to the ease of implementing an HTML-based enhancement with a product like Screensurfer. Large, clumsy graphical user interface code modules must be downloaded for every enhanced 3270 screen which makes for stuttering and annoying delays. This doesn't even cover the low-level programming skills required to make a GUI user interface really work for a 3270 screen compared to an HTML user interface.
Inventu Corporation
Inventu provides our Customers with software and services to implement new applications that support business initiatives. Inventu concentrates on using, replacing and renewing existing (legacy) applications using our own product, Screensurfer and our Partner's product, Flynet Viewer.
Screensurfer
Screensurfer is an All-in-one host screen-to-Web application server that runs on Windows servers such as Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. Screensurfer is self-contained; no other products or development tools are needed to implement a new web-to-host application.
With an HTML-based tag language (Surferscript) which is very similar to Coldfusion CFML, Screensurfer provides very high productivity when converting existing 3270, 5250 and VT100 screens into HTML pages.
Screensurfer's IDE, the Express Editor and Debugger, provides an integrated editing and step-trace debugger for a solid editing and development environment that any developer can appreciate.
Flynet Viewer
Flynet Viewer provides "everything you need" and "nothing you don't want" for screen interfacing by development teams utilizing Microsoft IDE environments such as Visual Studio .NET, Visual Basic and Visual Interdev.
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