Introducing the HATS Welcome page

The HATS Welcome page tutorial guides you through the process of developing a HATS application. As you develop the application and customize it, it is known as a project. A project is then packaged as an application for a production runtime environment.

A project for a Web application is packaged in a Java™ EE web module (.war file) and one or more web modules are packaged in a Java™ EE Enterprise Application (.ear file), which is a WebSphere® application. The application is transferred to and installed on a WebSphere® Application Server system.

A project for a portlet is packaged in a Java™ EE web module (.war file) and transferred to and installed on a WebSphere® Portal system.

A project for a rich client application is packaged as a plug-in in an Eclipse feature which is uploaded to an update site from which it can then be downloaded by clients on rich client platforms.

Sections on the Welcome page can be expanded by clicking the plus sign icon (+). Each section contains links that start HATS functions and represents a stage in the process. A section is also provided that contains links to online information,
  1. Create your first project links to the Create a Project wizard and introduces the Debug on Server (for Web applications) and Debug (for rich client applications) testing modes, which enable you to preview and test your project. The testing function is described in detail in Testing your project. A link to the License Settings dialog is also provided. License settings must be configured to enable your application for the runtime environment.
  2. Modify the template helps you update the template you chose as your project default.
  3. Edit the default rendering set and global rules describes the conversion rules used by the default transformation, and provides information on the use of global rules.
  4. Customize a screen introduces the host terminal screen and the Create a Screen Customization wizard. You can create a simple transformation to see how it changes your host screen.
  5. Combine screens introduces the Create a Screen Combination wizard. You can create a simple screen combination that collects information from a series of host screens and presents the results as one page.
  6. Work with macros, Integration Objects and Web services (SOA) explains how macros can be used in your projects, and introduces Integration Objects. Integration Objects, supported in HATS Web applications, are standard Java™ beans that play macros. You can create Integration Objects from macros in your projects and create Web services from Integration Objects. Integration Objects can also be used in EJB projects.
  7. Interoperate with WebFacing introduces the IBM® WebFacing Tool for IBM® i feature of the HATS Toolkit. This feature provides the ability to convert data description specification (DDS) display file source members into a Web-based user interface for your existing IBM® i programs. Links are provided to the Create Linked HATS/WebFacing project wizard and to the WebFacing perspective and WebFacing Help. This section is only displayed if the WebFacing feature of HATS is installed.
  8. Utilize host simulation describes the function that lets you work on your HATS project without requiring an active connection to the host. You can record host simulation trace files that can be saved and then used later instead of a live host connection.
  9. Explore advanced functions of HATS deepens your knowledge about basic HATS concepts and introduces the project editor, capturing screens, administration, the connection editor, and more.
  10. Prepare your project for production shows you how to export the project as a WebSphere® application (for Web projects) or as an Eclipse feature (for rich client projects).
  11. View the library of online information for HATS provides links to the HATS documentation, the HATS product Web site, the HATS Knowledge Center, the IBM® Education Assistant, and the IBM® Support Assistant.

As you use other HATS functions, focus switches from the Welcome page to editors or other tools. Each page in the editor window is given a tab at the top to enable you to move from one page to another. You can return to the Welcome page by clicking the Welcome to HATS tab, or by clicking the Open HATS Welcome page icon on the main toolbar. You can double-click any tab to toggle that tab's page between its initial size and a full-screen view.

A welcome page for the WebFacing component of the HATS Toolkit exists in the WebFacing perspective.