Reading data from a screen - Screen capture

puneet478 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:20 pm

Hi all,

I would like to know if there is a way by which i can read/catpure some specific from a static screen.

I mean can i read data at some specific position (pixel) using a REXX function or some other function?

How to do it if -
(1) Screen is static (no input fields)
(2) Screen has some editable fields.

Any help will be greatly appreicated.

Regards,
Puneet

superk · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:28 pm

I recommend the use of the Open Systems Protocol Interface (OSPI) product from BMC. It allows you to code, in REXX or CLIST, programs that read and write data directly to and from a 3270-terminal session.

Other than that, for ISPF dialogs the variable ZSCREENI contains the logical screen data.

puneet478 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:44 pm

Hi Superk,

Thank you so much for such a quick reply. After i am on right panel (using ZPANELID), i can reach the screen where i need to capture the data. Now, if i use ZSCREENI, would it capture all the data on that screen or just the editable one?

What do you mean by Logical data here?

Similarly, let us say, on a specific screen, I place the cursor (using program) on a particular field. How can i capture the value of that field?

My requirement is -

I run a macro (query) and get the output displayed in the form of a screen (ISPF). If i could dump the contents of that screen in a file, my work will be done as i will be able to parse data in that file (but i can't parse a static screen).

Regards,
Puneet

expat · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:51 pm

puneet478 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:56 pm

I think i did not put it correctly. If i know the variables, my problem is solved.

Based on my query, a system screen is displayed. I can have my cursor come to right position but i dont know how to read next few bytes from that location.

In simple words, I want to capture data on a mainframe screen and put it in a PS.

Regards,
Puneet

expat · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:05 pm

OK, lets get basic here ..................

What type of query are you processing ?
Where does the output go ?
What do you mean by a system screen ?

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:16 pm

did You check

http://www.sillysot.com/mvs/index.htm?vcursor.htm

puneet478 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:16 pm

Hi Expat,

I am not sure how to add screen prints here otherwise that would have made it lot easier for me to explain the problem.

-> I am doing some data extraction (not any sql query but by giving some parameters on a ISPF panel)

-> The result is displayed in the form of screen (another ISPF screen, non-editable)

-> I want to copy the content of this screen in a PS.

Hope it is clear now.

Regards,
Puneet

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:19 pm

expat · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:25 pm

Or if you enter the PANELID command to find out the name of the 'System' panel being displayed, then look through the source of the panel to see if the data is now displayed from a variable.

Pedro · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:26 pm