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This article reviews TCP3270 for Windows by McGill Systems, Inc. TCP3270 is communication software that supports 3270 and telnet terminal emulations using the TCP/IP network transport protocol. TCP3270 offers substantial customization of host profiles, keyboard mapping (including ALA character set support for NOTIS/DOBIS libraries), and macros. It also supports interface programming using standard Windows interface standards. TCP3270 is a cost-effective solution to the need to connect personal computers to 3270 host systems.
Despite the current trend of bringing network functionality to the desktop, most networked personal computer users still connect to one or more remote host systems. The hosts may support remote file systems, e-mail, a library on-line catalog, or databases. In many environments, one of those remote hosts is still an IBM mainframe. While there are a variety of telnet applications on the market that provide access to VT100-type hosts, software to access hosts running the 3270 protocol (as IBM hosts do) are relatively rare and can be expensive. TCP3270 is a 3270 and telnet terminal emulator that uses the TCP/IP network transport protocol to communicate with host systems. Like other tried-and-true software products for the library market that originated in a university setting, TCP3270 was designed by McGill University's Computing Centre for their own use over ten years ago. TCP3270 is now supported by McGill Systems, Inc. and is a fully supported, commercial software product. (In January 1997, HostExplorer was sold to Hummingbird Communications Ltd.)
CP3270 uses the standard Winsock API version 1 .1 for the TCP/IP stack and works with most networking software, including Microsoft, FTP Inc., and Trumpet. The Windows 95 and NT versions ship with a full TCP/IP stack. Users running FTP's PC/TCP, or less common networking software, should read the Help page or manual chapter "Configuring for Various WinSock Implementations" for modifications that may need to be made to configuration files. TCP3270 supports 3270 (modes 2-5), 3179G, and VT52420 terminal emulations. It emulates the host graphics of the 3179G, 3192G, 3472G, and 3279 S3G terminals. Recent upgrades have expanded telnet support, but it is for users that need 3270 terminal emulation that this program competes most favorably with more expensive products on the market.
Platforms, Users, and Distribution
There are distinct versions of TCP3270 for Windows 3.1,...