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iE's NEW SCREENSURFER 1.3E FIRST 3270-TO-WEB TOOL TO
OFFER TRUE INTEGRATED ACTIVE SERVER PAGES SUPPORT
Second generation of Screensurfer significantly increases developers'
productivity with flexible, integrated pass through of 3270 screen applications
in concert with both new and existing ASP applications.
BURLINGTON, MASS. - November 24, 1998 -- iE, a
leading provider of Web development tools and services, today introduced
the latest version of its Screensurfer 3270-to-Web development tool, the
first and only 3270 solution to be made available to developers as a
free Web download from http://www.inventu.com. Screensurfer 1.3E
provides Active Server Pages support, expanding Screensurfer's ability
to pass through large amounts of 3270 screen data in addition to
providing developers with the flexibility to incorporate Active Server
Pages functionality into Screensurfer applications. The SABRE Group and
The University of Santa Barbara are both currently using Screensurfer
1.3 with Active Server Pages to create Web-based applications that
integrate with mainframe systems.
Screensurfer is a high-performance, secure, low-cost, and easy-to-use
Web gateway which leverages non-proprietary HTML and JavaScript to
deliver 3270-based applications and information to clients via any
standard Web browser. The new Active Server Pages functionality is
designed to save significant development man hours and speed project
delivery by giving developers increased functionality in a robust
environment. Developers can now call the data through designated tags,
and Screensurfer will grab the http value and pass it through without
the developer having to do it by hand.
"We believe that Screensurfer is the first 3270-to-Web gateway that can
pass through formatted screen fields inside an Active Server Page simply
by creating a tag," says Bill Thorne, Screensurfer Group VP.
"These new Active Server Pages capabilities further Screensurfer's
attractiveness to the developer because this is another way to leverage
developers' current skill sets -- utilizing HTML and JavaScript.
Developers can use JavaScript to enhance screens in their Active Server
Pages incorporating 3270 data."
The University of California at Santa Barbara is currently using
Screensurfer 1.3 to create new applications for its student information
system called Gaucho. Students can access their grades, financial aid
and billing status, and class schedules through the online system, which
is linked directly to the university's mainframe. Through Active Server
Pages, developers are integrating the system, originally created with
Screensurfer 1.3C, to registration and calendar systems and will also
provide students with a personalized interface and links.
According to Joe Sabado, UCSB systems analyst, "the session management
capabilities through Active Server Pages utilizing Screensurfer is a key
benefit as thousands of students access Gaucho. We are also
streamlining authentication so that students only need to log in once to
access different systems through what we call 'GOLD' - Gaucho Online
Data. All of the applications and data pass through are powered by
Screensurfer."
The SABRE Group, a leader in electronic distribution of travel and
travel-related services, is currently using ScreenSufer 1.3 to create an
Intranet help-desk application to manage help-desk inquiries. More than
450 Employees will have access to the new
system, which the company expects to save time and cut costs by making
the system more intuitive for help-desk support staff. The new Web-brower
applications are scheduled to roll out in Q1 1999.
About Screensurfer
Screensurfer is a true Web gateway for screen-based host
applications that allows developers to quickly and easily re-package
3270-based screens and information as enhanced HTML pages and easily
provide access to 3270-based screens and information from any standard
Web browser. A free developer download of Screensurfer is available at
www.inventu.com.
Screensurfer provides enhanced 3270-to-HTML protocol conversion with
both SNA and TN3270/TN3270E support. The product's HTML templates are easy to
learn with wizards and scripts for quick screen formatting and
standardization. Screensurfer has standard HTTP Web server port access
and can maintain connection and re-connection to a host system at any
time from a bookmarkable URL. Browser-based administration and
customization give systems administrators the ability to view any active
session, interact with user screens if necessary, and create password/ID
security protection.
Performance and Security
Through compiled template technology, Screensurfer avoids costly text
merging during user requests, enabling renovation of even the busiest
screens without any runtime performance impact. The server-based
solution also provides direct management of hundreds to thousands
of concurrent 3270 transactions with very small memory requirements.
Performing as an NT service, Screensurfer is integrated with Microsoft
Windows NT for compatibility with systems management products.
Screensurfer naturally integrates with existing host-based security
systems such as RACF. Applications can easily implement additional
levels of authentication and authorizations, including restricting
access by client IP address and blocking access to any but a specific
set of identified screens.
Pricing, Platform and Availability
The Screensurfer developer download is available for free via the Web at
www.inventu.com. Using little more than 1.5 megabytes, Screensurfer
can be downloaded quickly. Screensurfer runs on Windows/NT 4.0 and
supports SNA Server and Internet standard TN3270/TN3270E. Product and support is
available via the Web at inventu.com/helpdesk.
About iE
iE (http://www.ie.com) provides solutions that
enable its customers to gain advantage from information assets via Web
and object technology. Our legacy integration products and advanced
technology services have enabled clients in financial services,
government, telecommunications, utilities, manufacturing, distribution,
travel, and retail industries to deploy business-critical applications
through the power of the Internet, Java, and object technology. From
locations in Burlington, MA, Deerfield, Illinois, and Sunbury-on Thames
near London, England, the company delivers services and products
worldwide. Founded in 1985, iE is a public
company, quoted on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) as IEN.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Screensurfer and iE Integrator are trademarks of iE. All other trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned
herein are properties of their respective holders.
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