About This Book

This book is for users of client and server applications provided by IBM® Communications Server for Windows® and IBM® Personal Communications for Windows. Client APIs are provided for Windows® 7, Windows® 8/8.1, Windows® 10, Windows® Server 2008, or Windows® Server 2012 (hereafter termed Win32® client APIs).
Note:
Client APIs for Windows® 3.1 are available on Communications Server only.

IBM® Communications Server for Windows® is a communications services platform. This platform provides a wide range of services for workstations that communicate with host computers and with other workstations. Communications Server users can choose from among a variety of remote connectivity options.

IBM® Personal Communications for Windows is a full-function emulator. In addition to host terminal emulation, it provides these useful features:
  • File transfer
  • Dynamic configuration
  • An easy-to-use graphical interface
  • APIs for SNA-based client applications
  • An API allowing TCP/IP-based applications to communicate over an SNA-based network

In most instances, developing programs for Personal Communications and Communications Server and their clients is very similar in that they each support many of the same verbs. However, there are some differences. These differences are denoted in this book with special icons; see Icons for specific details. Throughout this book, Personal Communications and Communications Server program names are used when information applies to both. When only the Personal Communications program or only the Communications Server program applies, then the specific program name is used.

This book is divided into the following parts.
  • APPC API, describes how to develop programs that use the Personal Communications and Communications Server advanced program-to-program communications (APPC) interface. APPC refers to an implementation of Systems Network Architecture (SNA) for logical unit (LU) type 6.2. Throughout this book, unless otherwise noted, APPC represents the Personal Communications and Communications Server implementation of APPC.

    APPC provides a distributed transaction processing capability in which two or more programs cooperate to carry out some processing function. This capability involves communication between the programs so they can share resources, such as processor cycles, databases, work queues, and physical interfaces such as keyboards and displays.

  • LUA API, describes how to develop programs that use the IBM® conventional logical unit application (LUA) interface (in this book LUA also refers to request unit interface {RUI}), which gives access to SNA LU types 0, 1, 2, and 3.
  • Common Services API, includes the verbs that make up the Common Services API.
  • EHNAPPC API, includes the functions, structures, and return codes for the Enhanced APPC Interface.
  • Part 5. Java™ Programming Interfaces, describes the IBM® Host Access Class Library (HACL) for Java™ as it relates to 3270 and 5250 applications.

In this book, Windows® refers to Windows® 7, Windows® 8/8.1, Windows® 10, Windows® Server 2008, or Windows® Server 2012. Throughout this book, workstation refers to all supported personal computers. When only one model or architecture of the personal computer is referred to, only that type is specified.

For Communications Server, it is assumed that you are using Windows NT® V4.0 or Windows® 2000 as your base operating system. For Personal Communications, it is assumed you are using Windows® 98, Windows NT®, Windows® Me, or Windows® 2000 as your base operating system.