OHF™ for z/OS & z/VSE
OHF allows application programmers to add online documentation to CICS applications without modifying existing code. The help text can be displayed in pop-up windows that can be placed anywhere on an application screen.
OHF Features
- An ISPF-type text editor for creating help text.
- Large amounts of text can be stored for each help window. Full scrolling is supported.
- Virtual PA or PF key support allowing any key to be selected as the OHF help key, even if it’s used by another application.
- Help can be displayed as a single line, a variable sized window, or a complete indexed manual. Different help screens can be displayed based on the value of the selected field.
OHF Specifications
The Online Help Facility (OHF) provides an easy, effective way to support CICS users with pop-up help windows. Users press the designated PF key, and OHF displays the help message for the current field. If the cursor is outside a field, users are offered general, screen-level help. OHF is simple enough that users can create their own help windows. System support personnel will spend less time on support and don’t need to make any changes to application programs.
- “Swap” feature allows up to four CICS sessions to run concurrently at a terminal.
- “Sticky cursor” feature which lets you cut information from the help text and paste it onto your application screen.
- Installation takes less than one hour, with comprehensive online help for the systems programmer.
Minimize end-user support calls. Reduce end-user training costs. Decrease error rates. No programming knowledge needed. It’s no wonder OHF is the hottest selling help package on the market today. It provides the functionality of competitive software at half the cost.
Installation
OHF can be used in full, partial, or deactivated implementations. Partial implementation runs without resident memory and needs only one user exit. Deactivated implementation runs much like partial implementation, but requires a few lines of code in the applications it supports. It is useful for applications to be installed at multiple locations, some of which do not otherwise support OHF, or for forcing a help window onto a screen without the user’s request.
On CICS installations with LE/370 configurations, OHF’s standard COBOL executables may be replaced with modules that are link-edited for LE/370. The product ships with both the standard and LE/370 files.
Environment
Use OHF with CICS 1.7 or greater and any 3270-type terminal or 3270 emulator.
Full operation of OHF requires one or more CICS user exits and 300 bytes of resident memory plus 9 bytes for each terminal in the region. Limited operation is possible, however, without user exits and resident memory.
OHF does not use the Terminal Control Table User Area.
OHF operates properly in MRO, but it must be installed in your Terminal Owning Region.
The TCT entry of every terminal that will create or edit help messages should include a terminal I/O area length at least twice the screen size. For a standard 24 × 80 screen, that’s 4,000 bytes.
For normal operation, OHF requires VTAM. It can operate BTAM. It cannot operate in TCAM.
OHF runs below the 16 Mg line.
To allow color and highlighting, the VTAM log-on mode table for a given CRT must support extended attributes, and it and the CICS TCT must be consistent with one another.
Portions of OHF are compiled in DOS/VS COBOL for VSE and OS/VS COBOL for MVS.
OHF includes an optional CICS session manager that allows users to run four CICS transactions simultaneously.
Free Demo/Trial
We offer individualized product demonstrations by request. Your organization can also try SDS Software on your system for 30 days, free of charge.
Contact SDS
Phone: (800) 443-6183
Phone: (763) 571-9000
200 Village Center Drive, Suite 250
North Oaks, MN 55127
USA