The SAS/C Full-Screen Support Library

Flexible high-level interface for developing full-screen applications

The SAS/C Full-Screen Support Library is an add-on product to the compiler that provides a high-level interface for developing full-screen applications on IBM mainframe systems. Traditionally, programs involving terminal communications had to be developed using either structured screen management packages or complicated low-level commands to construct, send, and receive data streams (the data transferred between the terminal and the application program). SAS/C FSSL functions free you from handling details of IBM terminal communication, enabling more focus and flexibility in full-screen applications development.

The primary capabilities provided by the SAS/C FSSL include:

• Provision of a high-level interface for IBM data stream programming, freeing the programmer from IBM 3270 data stream details
• The SAS/C Windowing Interface, which manages the overhead associated with controlling multiple windows in an IBM 3270 environment
• Generic or abstract screen manipulation
• Portability between MVS and CMS
• IBM 3270 device independence.

Applications for the Full-Screen Support Library include:

• Data entry and verification programs
• Development of full-screen editor software
• Development of logon screens and screens to introduce users to applications packages
• Development of system maintenance and update screens (for example, selection and display of disk data sets for management)
• File updates (reading, displaying, and updating selected fields)
• Menu development for software packages
• Assistance in system prototyping by producing sample screens
• Research and modeling applications where parameters are entered and results displayed interactively