Connections

Use Connections to define and save the information required to connect to a remote host (IBM i).

Each connection definition contains TCP/IP connection parameters, locale information, signon information, as well as a range of other options. Once saved, a connection definition can be used anywhere in your Newlook project.

ClosedConnections Editor

The Connections editor in Newlook Developer displays all connection definitions in your current shared and user repositories. You can add new shared connection definitions, edit an existing connection or delete a connection from your project.

 

ClosedShared versus User connections

Connection definitions can be created in either the shared repository or the user repository.

Connections created in Newlook Developer's connections editor will be saved in the project's shared repository file. Connections created in connect dialog of either Newlook Smartclient and/or the Runtime Client will be saved in the project's user repository file.

Newlook Smartclient users have access to both shared and user connections, however they can only edit user connections. Furthermore, the ability to edit user connections can be enabled or disabled via User Policies in General Rules.

Newlook Developer users have full access to all user and shared connection settings.

User connections can be identified by the user icon () in the connection editor.

 

ClosedCreating a Display Connection

Connect to the host as a display device and start a telnet 5250 display session (this is the standard connection type).

To configure a display connection to your IBM i, open the Connections Editor by selectingConnections from the developer bar and follow these steps:

GENERAL
  1. Click the Add button.
  2. Specify a Name for your display connection.
  3. In the Connection field, ensure the option is set to Single (this is the default).
TCP/IP
  1. Enter the Internet Address of the IBM i host that you are connecting to.
  2. (Optional) In the Device | Display field, enter a host device description to use for display sessions. This value is optional and is used when you want to use a known, pre-existing host device description to communicate with the host. If pass-through is setup to automatically configure virtual devices, then you can leave this value blank and have the host assign a virtual device for the session.
TIP:

This value can be up to 10 characters, must not start with a numeric and cannot contain a blank or any of the following characters: &, *, %, =, +.

  1. (Optional) If you have specified a display device name for this connection, select the Automatically increment display device name if unavailable option if you would like Newlook to create an alternate device name if the specified name is not available.
  2. In the Session Type field, ensure that Start an IBM i display session is selected.
  3. (Optional) Select the appropriate Screen size for display session, either 24 x 80 or 27 x 132. Only application screens written specifically to support screen dimensions of 27 x 132 will be shown at this size.
  4. (Optional) Specify a Connection timeout interval. This option specifies the amount of time, in seconds, that Newlook should attempt to initiate a connection before timing out.
Security

Expand the Security section. Select the appropriate security options for this connection:

  1. Select the Security setting for the connection:

Option

Description

Standard connection

Secure communication is not used for any services.

Secure connection

Secure communication is used for all services.

Custom security settings

Secure communication can be selected for individual services.

Each security setting allows the TCP/IP ports to be defined. Each service used by Newlook can be configured and the port number specified. These settings also allow secure communications to be selected for individual services if the custom security settings option has been selected.

(The session icon in the status bar will display a small padlock when the session uses a secure connection.)
  1. (For Secure or Custom connections only) Select the appropriate Certificates option:  

Option

Description

Ignore

The certificate sent from the host is not checked for validity.

Validate

The host certificate is checked for validity. It is checked to ensure that it is consistent and complete, that is has not expired and that the issuer is a trusted certificate authority. If these checks pass then the connection is allowed, otherwise the connection is terminated.

Validate and ask

This option performs the same check as the Validate option. However, if the certificate cannot be validated then the certificate details are displayed and the user can choose whether to allow the connection.
  1. (Optional) If you are using non-standard Ports for your connection, you can customize the individual TCP/IP ports for each server.
Regional

(Optional) Configure Regional settings if you would like to customize this connection based on location-specific requirements:

Option

Description

Locale

Specifies the locale for the connection. When a connection locale is selected, the remaining regional properties are set to the most common values for the locale.

NLV

Specifies the National Language Version that will be used for messages from a connection.

TIP

The current connection language is shown in the status bar when a connection is made with the host.

CCSID

The host coded character set identifier. This value is used to transcode between the host character set and the Windows character set.

TIP

Arabic and Hebrew code pages will automatically enable right-to-left support in Newlook Smartclient.

Calendar type

Specifies the default calendar type displayed in date combo box controls for this connection. The calendars available on a particular system may very, depending upon the Windows version under which Newlook is running and the language support installed on the system.

Date format

Changes the way Newlook handles dates and assists the recognition engine in the identification of date fields. This can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Numeric format

Specifies the default numeric formatting applied to numbers for this connection. Refer to the Format Function topic for details on the various formatting options.

Decimal symbol

Specifies which symbol is used as the default decimal separator in numeric values. The decimal separator symbol is used by the recognition engine to maintain correct alignment on graphical screens and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Digit grouping symbol

Specifies the default symbol that is to be used to display thousand groupings of digits in numeric values. The thousands separator is used by the recognition engine and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Negative symbol

Specifies the default symbol that will be used to denote negative values.

Currency symbol

Specifies the default symbol used to identify currency in the connection. The currency symbol is used by the recognition engine and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.
TIP

The current connection language is shown in the status bar when a connection is made with the host.

Signon
  1. Specify the relevant Signon option for the connection:

Option

Description

Use the common username and password

The connection will use the common signon credentials stored in General Settings to connect to the IBM i. If the stored common username and/or password are blank, the user will be prompted to enter them when the connection is initiated.

Specify and username and password

The connection will use the credentials saved in this connection to sign on to the IBM i. If a username and/or password have been left blank, the user will be prompted to enter them when the connection is initiated.

Use Kerberos authentication (Single Sign On)

(Introduced in Version 11.1.1) The connection will use Kerberos authentication to signon to the IBM i. Refer to IBM's Single sign-on documentation for more information about configuring single sign-on on the IBM i.
  1. (Optional) Check the Automatically signon to Display session option if you want to bypass the host application signon screen (this is only applicable if the stored credentials are valid). This option is only relevant for display sessions, it will be ignored for printer and ftp sessions.
  2. (Optional) Check the Host uses case-sensitive passwords option if your host application signon is case-sensitive.
  3. (Optional) If you have selected the option to Specify the username and password, enter signon credentials.

Click the Save button () to save your changes.

ClosedCreating a Printer Connection

Supported in all version 9 & 10 releases, and version 11 from 11.1.1 onwards.

Connect to the host as a printer device and start a telnet 5250 printer session. This allows your host application to send print files to your local or network printer. Once connected, you can verify if a printer session is active by checking the printer properties icon in the bottom right hand corner of the Runtime Client status bar.

Refer to Printer Emulation in Newlook for more information.

To configure a printer connection, open the Connections Editor by selectingConnections from the developer bar and follow these steps:

General
  1. Click Add.
  2. Specify a Name for your printer connection.
  3. In the Connection field, leave this set to the default option, Single.
TCP/IP
  1. Enter the Internet Address of the IBM i host that you are connecting to.
  2. In the Session Type field, select the Start an IBM i printer session option.
  3. In the Device | Printer field, enter a host device description to use for printer sessions.
TIP:

This value can be up to 10 characters, must not start with a numeric and cannot contain a blank or any of the following characters: &, *, %, =, +.

  1. (Optional) Select the appropriate Screen size for display session, either 24 x 80 or 27 x 132. Only application screens written specifically to support screen dimensions of 27 x 132 will be shown at this size.
  2. (Optional) Specify a Connection timeout interval. This option specifies the amount of time, in seconds, that Newlook should attempt to initiate a connection before timing out.
Printer
  1. Specify the Printer. This is the local printer queue to use. Newlook will direct any print information received from the host to the printer specified and will use the local PC's default printer as its default if none is specified.
  2. Enter the Message queue name. This is the qualified name of the message queue to which operational messages for this device are sent. Some example values are:
    • *CTLD Messages are sent to the message queue defined in the attached controller. The message queue is determined when the device is varied on.
    • *SYSOPR Messages are sent to the system operator message queue, QSYS/QSYSOPR.
  3. Enter the Message queue library. This is the library name of the message queue to which operational messages for this device are sent. Some example values are:
    • *LIBL All libraries in the job's library list are searched until the first match is found.
    • *SYSOPR Messages are sent to the system operator message queue, QSYS/QSYSOPR.
  1. If your printer uses Host Print Transform support, check the Host print transform option. When connected as a Host Print Transform (HPT) print device, the host takes care of formatting the document prior to it being sent to Newlook. If this option is not checked, then SNA Character Stream (SCS) printing will be enabled. With SCS printing font, font size and orientation are all configurable.
HPT Options

If Host Print Transform is selected, the following options are configurable:

Option

Description

Manufacturer, type, model

Specifies the manufacturer, type, and model for the printer using the host print transform function. Specify the value as accepted by the CRTDEVPRT IBM i command.

Font size

Specify the font size to be used for printed output.

Form feed

Specifies the form feed attachment used for this spooled file. This parameter determines how forms are fed into the printer. Not all printers support this parameter. Refer to the CRTPRTF IBM i command to determine if this parameter is supported.

Paper source 1

Specifies the type of paper used in paper source one.

Paper source 2

Specifies the type of paper used in paper source two.

Envelope

Specifies the type of paper used in the third paper source.

Code page 899 support

Specifies whether the printer has ASCII code page 899 installed.

Workstation cust. name

Specifies the qualified name of a work station customization object for the printer device.

Workstation cust. library

Specifies the library name of a work station customization object for the printer device.
SCS Options

If Host Print Transform is not selected (SCS printing is enabled), the following options are configurable:

Option

Description

Paper (Size)

Select the paper size, e.g. A4, letter etc. If no option is selected, then the default paper size for the printer queue specified is used.

Paper (Width, Height)

Specify custom height and width settings for a non standard page size.

Paper (Use host paper size)

Uses default paper settings specified on the host application.

Paper (Printer definition file)

Select a pdf file that contains custom print command line options that are sent to your local printer with each print job.

Margins (Left, Right, Top and Bottom)

Specifies the page margins.

Font (Name)

Select the font for the print data.

Font (Size)

Select the font size. Selecting Auto will create the font large enough to fill the page.

Font (Maintain host CPI and LPI)

Selecting this option means the print job will use the default font options set up on the host application.

Orientation (Landscape, Portrait or Auto)

Select Landscape and Portrait page setup. Note: If you select Auto, the system will use Portrait if there are less than 100 columns, Landscape orientation if there are more.

Output (Print to file)

Specify a standard file, e.g. a .txt file to export print data to.

Output (Text File)

Specify that all spooled files sent to the printer device be saved as text files.

Output (PDF File)

Specify that all spooled files sent to the printer device be saved as a PDF file. Users will be prompted for the PDF file name and location as each spooled file is serviced.

Output (Overwrite)

Overwrite any existing file.
Security

Expand the Security section. Select the appropriate security options for this connection:

  1. Select the Security setting for the connection:

Option

Description

Standard connection

Secure communication is not used for any services.

Secure connection

Secure communication is used for all services.

Custom security settings

Secure communication can be selected for individual services.

Each security setting allows the TCP/IP ports to be defined. Each service used by Newlook can be configured and the port number specified. These settings also allow secure communications to be selected for individual services if the custom security settings option has been selected.

(The session icon in the status bar will display a small padlock when the session uses a secure connection.)
  1. (For Secure or Custom connections only) Select the appropriate Certificates option:  

Option

Description

Ignore

The certificate sent from the host is not checked for validity.

Validate

The host certificate is checked for validity. It is checked to ensure that it is consistent and complete, that is has not expired and that the issuer is a trusted certificate authority. If these checks pass then the connection is allowed, otherwise the connection is terminated.

Validate and ask

This option performs the same check as the Validate option. However, if the certificate cannot be validated then the certificate details are displayed and the user can choose whether to allow the connection.
  1. (Optional) If you are using non-standard Ports for your connection, you can customize the individual TCP/IP ports for each server.
Regional

(Optional) Configure Regional settings if you would like to customize this connection based on location-specific requirements:

Option

Description

Locale

Specifies the locale for the connection. When a connection locale is selected, the remaining regional properties are set to the most common values for the locale.

NLV

Specifies the National Language Version that will be used for messages from a connection.

TIP

The current connection language is shown in the status bar when a connection is made with the host.

CCSID

The host coded character set identifier. This value is used to transcode between the host character set and the Windows character set.

TIP

Arabic and Hebrew code pages will automatically enable right-to-left support in Newlook Smartclient.

Calendar type

Specifies the default calendar type displayed in date combo box controls for this connection. The calendars available on a particular system may very, depending upon the Windows version under which Newlook is running and the language support installed on the system.

Date format

Changes the way Newlook handles dates and assists the recognition engine in the identification of date fields. This can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Numeric format

Specifies the default numeric formatting applied to numbers for this connection. Refer to the Format Function topic for details on the various formatting options.

Decimal symbol

Specifies which symbol is used as the default decimal separator in numeric values. The decimal separator symbol is used by the recognition engine to maintain correct alignment on graphical screens and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Digit grouping symbol

Specifies the default symbol that is to be used to display thousand groupings of digits in numeric values. The thousands separator is used by the recognition engine and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Negative symbol

Specifies the default symbol that will be used to denote negative values.

Currency symbol

Specifies the default symbol used to identify currency in the connection. The currency symbol is used by the recognition engine and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.
TIP

The current connection language is shown in the status bar when a connection is made with the host.

Signon
  1. Specify the relevant Signon option for the connection:

Option

Description

Use the common username and password

The connection will use the common signon credentials stored in General Settings to connect to the IBM i. If the stored common username and/or password are blank, the user will be prompted to enter them when the connection is initiated.

Specify and username and password

The connection will use the credentials saved in this connection to sign on to the IBM i. If a username and/or password have been left blank, the user will be prompted to enter them when the connection is initiated.

Use Kerberos authentication (Single Sign On)

(Introduced in Version 11.1.1) The connection will use Kerberos authentication to signon to the IBM i. Refer to IBM's Single sign-on documentation for more information about configuring single sign-on on the IBM i.
  1. (Optional) Check the Automatically signon to Display session option if you want to bypass the host application signon screen (this is only applicable if the stored credentials are valid). This option is only relevant for display sessions, it will be ignored for printer and ftp sessions.
  2. (Optional) Check the Host uses case-sensitive passwords option if your host application signon is case-sensitive.
  3. (Optional) If you have selected the option to Specify the username and password, enter signon credentials.

Click the Save button () to save your changes.

ClosedCreating an FTP Connection

FTP connection definitions defined in the Connections Editor can only be used by FTPConnect macro actions or FTPConnect methods within your solution. It is not possible to manually connect to an FTP connection from the Connect window in Smartclient, like you would do to a Display connection .

BE AWARE

FTP macro actions and methods are only supported in the runtime client and Newlook Smartclient. They are not supported in Newlook Server.

To configure an FTP connection to your IBM i, open the Connections Editor by selecting Connections from the developer bar and follow these steps:

General
  1. Click Add.
  2. Specify a Name for your FTP connection.
  3. In the Connection field, leave this as Single.
TCP/IP
  1. Enter the Internet Address of the FTP server. This should be a valid URL, FTP server or IP address.
  2. In the Options | Session Type field, select the Start a File Transfer session option.
  3. (Optional) Select the appropriate Screen size for the session.
  4. Optional) Specify a Connection timeout interval. This option specifies the amount of time, in seconds, that Newlook should attempt to initiate a connection before timing out.
File Transfer
  1. Configure relevant File Transfer options:

Option

Description

Signon

 

Use anonymous sign on

Sign on to the FTP server anonymously. Publicly accessible FTP servers usually allow anonymous sign on so that they can be accessed without an account. If you use anonymous sign on then newlook file transfer will sign on to the FTP server with a username of anonymous and your email address as the password.

Email address

The email address to use for anonymous sign on.

Connection

 

Connect using passive (firewall) mode

When using passive mode, all connections between Newlook file transfer and the FTP server are initiated by the client, which allows file transfers when you are running behind a firewall that filters incoming connections.

Start folder

The initial folder to open in when first connecting to the FTP server.
FTP List Formats

Not currently supported in version 11.

Configure the list formats Newlook will use when displaying the contents of OS/400 directories, folders and libraries.

The OS/400 FTP server supports two formats when listing the contents of a folder, library or file: a native OS/400 format, and a Unix-compatible format. The native format is generally appropriate for the Document and Library file system; the Unix-compatible format is generally appropriate in other cases.

Newlook file transfer can be configured to select the appropriate format according to the folder, library or file.

The FTP List Format table shows the list formats that are currently configured. To add or remove list formats, click either the Add or Remove button.

Option

Description

Folder

The name of the folder, library or file for which you want to set the list format.

List Format

The list format for the specified folder. This can be set to either OS/400 or Unix.
FTP Library Lists

Not currently supported in version 11.

Specify which libraries to display in the OS/400 library file system.

Newlook file transfer can automatically download the library list when it connects to an OS/400 FTP server. Alternatively, you can specify the libraries that you want included in the library list.

To add or remove items from the library list, de-select the Automatically download the library list from the host option, then click either the Add or Remove button. When adding, the extension .LIB will automatically be added to the name if it is not entered.

Option

Description

Automatically download the library list from the host

The library list is automatically downloaded when Newlook file transfer connects. If this option is selected then a library list cannot be specified.

Security

The default port for FTP is 21. If the FTP server you are connecting to is a secure server then you should select the Secure Connection option.

  1. Select the Security setting for the connection:

Option

Description

Standard connection

Secure communication is not used for any services.

Secure connection

Secure communication is used for all services.

Custom security settings

Secure communication can be selected for individual services.

Each security setting allows the TCP/IP ports to be defined. Each service used by Newlook can be configured and the port number specified. These settings also allow secure communications to be selected for individual services if the custom security settings option has been selected.

(The session icon in the status bar will display a small padlock when the session uses a secure connection.)
  1. (For Secure or Custom connections only) Select the appropriate Certificates option:  

Option

Description

Ignore

The certificate sent from the host is not checked for validity.

Validate

The host certificate is checked for validity. It is checked to ensure that it is consistent and complete, that is has not expired and that the issuer is a trusted certificate authority. If these checks pass then the connection is allowed, otherwise the connection is terminated.

Validate and ask

This option performs the same check as the Validate option. However, if the certificate cannot be validated then the certificate details are displayed and the user can choose whether to allow the connection.
  1. (Optional) If you are using non-standard Ports for your connection, you can customize the individual TCP/IP ports for each server.
Regional

(Optional) Configure Regional settings if you would like to customize this connection based on location-specific requirements:

Option

Description

Locale

Specifies the locale for the connection. When a connection locale is selected, the remaining regional properties are set to the most common values for the locale.

NLV

Specifies the National Language Version that will be used for messages from a connection.

TIP

The current connection language is shown in the status bar when a connection is made with the host.

CCSID

The host coded character set identifier. This value is used to transcode between the host character set and the Windows character set.

TIP

Arabic and Hebrew code pages will automatically enable right-to-left support in Newlook Smartclient.

Calendar type

Specifies the default calendar type displayed in date combo box controls for this connection. The calendars available on a particular system may very, depending upon the Windows version under which Newlook is running and the language support installed on the system.

Date format

Changes the way Newlook handles dates and assists the recognition engine in the identification of date fields. This can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Numeric format

Specifies the default numeric formatting applied to numbers for this connection. Refer to the Format Function topic for details on the various formatting options.

Decimal symbol

Specifies which symbol is used as the default decimal separator in numeric values. The decimal separator symbol is used by the recognition engine to maintain correct alignment on graphical screens and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Digit grouping symbol

Specifies the default symbol that is to be used to display thousand groupings of digits in numeric values. The thousands separator is used by the recognition engine and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.

Negative symbol

Specifies the default symbol that will be used to denote negative values.

Currency symbol

Specifies the default symbol used to identify currency in the connection. The currency symbol is used by the recognition engine and can be changed if the default setting is not appropriate.
TIP

The current connection language is shown in the status bar when a connection is made with the host.

Signon
  1. Specify the relevant Signon option for the connection:

Option

Description

Use the common username and password

The connection will use the common signon credentials stored in General Settings to connect to the IBM i. If the stored common username and/or password are blank, the user will be prompted to enter them when the connection is initiated.

Specify and username and password

The connection will use the credentials saved in this connection to sign on to the IBM i. If a username and/or password have been left blank, the user will be prompted to enter them when the connection is initiated.

Use Kerberos authentication (Single Sign On)

(Introduced in Version 11.1.1) The connection will use Kerberos authentication to signon to the IBM i. Refer to IBM's Single sign-on documentation for more information about configuring single sign-on on the IBM i.
  1. (Optional) Check the Automatically signon to Display session option if you want to bypass the host application signon screen (this is only applicable if the stored credentials are valid). This option is only relevant for display sessions, it will be ignored for printer and ftp sessions.
  2. (Optional) Check the Host uses case-sensitive passwords option if your host application signon is case-sensitive.
  3. (Optional) If you have selected the option to Specify the username and password, enter signon credentials.

Click the Save button () to save your changes.

ClosedCreating a Group Connection

A Group Connection allows you to start both a display and printer session on startup.

  1. Select Connections from the developer bar.
  2. Click Add.
  3. Enter the name of the group in the Name field.
  4. Select Group in the Connection field.
  5. In the All Connections window, highlight the display connection you want to add to the group, then click the double right arrow button to add the selected connection to the Connections in this group list. Do the same for the relevant printer connection. Note that the position of the connections in the Connections in this group list will determine the Connection order. Use the positioning buttons to the right of the window to reorder the connections in your preferred order.
  6. To remove a connection from the Group Connection, select the relevant item and use the double left arrow button to remove it from the list.
  7. Click the Save button () to save your changes.
ClosedTesting your connection
  1. Click Debug | Run Solution to open the runtime client.
  2. Select Session | Connect from the runtime client menu (or click the Connect button).
  3. Select the appropriate connection from the list, then click Connect .

Once you are satisfied that you connection is working as intended, you may want to add a Connect action or Connect method to your startup macro/script. This will automatically connect your end users to the specified host on startup.

To test your connection in embedded server, you will need to add a connect action or method to a macro or script that runs on startup.

See Also

Policies (User Options) | Display properties | Printer properties

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