Copy Screen Images

Publishing Venue

IBM

Related People

Snyder, MJ: AUTHOR [+4][-]

Peterson, RD: AUTHOR

Lindberg, ED: AUTHOR

Rabe, RL: AUTHOR

Abstract

Using this function, screen images are displayed on one workstation and automatically copied to another workstation. This allows quick exchange of visual information between users at two different sites.

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Copy Screen Images

Using this function, screen images are displayed on one workstation and automatically copied to another workstation. This allows quick exchange of visual information between users at two different sites.

The Copy Screen Images function provides the capability for a user at one display device to view the screen images being processed at a second display device. Through commands or menus, the user specifies that all screen images displayed on a specific device are to be copied to some other display. The display station being copied is in control and is input capable. It is called source device. The display station to which the controlling terminal's screens will be copied is a display only device. It is called the target device and has no input capability. The user can also specify that screen images be sent to database output file.

This function is implemented using a variety of existing CPF capabilities. Job Control, Message Handler, Data Management, Workstation Management, and Queue Management functions are used to obtain control of the source and target display devices and to communicate between processes associated with each display. Display station data streams are captured by the system and copied to the target display. Although this function uses existing support, the algorithm for accomplishing this task is unique.

A typical flow for the copy screen image function is shown in the figure. The processing during this flow would be: 1. The STRCPYSCN command is issued from an authorized user at workstation "C" requesting that the screen images from workstation "A" be copied to workstation "B". 2. An inquiry message is sent to the user on workstation "A" asking if it is acceptable to perform this operation.
3. The user on "A" replies "Y" to approve the start of the operation. The user on "C" is informed that the operation has successfully been started through a completion message from the command. 4. The user on "A" subsequently hits the enter key. 5. The screen image of workstation "A" is trapped by the system.
6. The screen images are updated: a. The image captured in step 5 is displayed on workstation "B". b. The application processing screens for workstation "A" send the next screen to "A". Steps 4, 5, and 6 are repeated until screen image copying is cancelled. 7. The ENDCPYSCN command is issued from workstation "C" to terminate the copying process. 8. An informational message is sent to the user on the source device. 9. The target device ("B") is returned to the original screen, which will either be a sign-on screen or blank (if the device was not in a sub-system).

The unique characteristics of the Copy Screen Image processing include: * The observer at the target device does not need to sign-on to the system * Flexible control mechanisms and specifications of source and target devices * Disabling entry on target device, except to cancel operation * Capturing and displaying of end user entered data * Indep...