J42™ for Application Access - Frequently Asked Questions

What is J42 for Application Access ?

In simple terms J42 for Application Access is web-to-host software. J42 for Application Access provides an instant conversion of 3270/5250/6530/6680 applications running on mainframes, System i (AS/400) or HP NonStop servers to GUI.
The J42 dynamic engine dynamically translates each host screen into the best possible GUI form. The dynamic engine examines the incoming host screen and intelligently applies a number of criteria to determine how the screen should be rendered to the user.
J42 developers may go even further and completely customize the end-user interface using an on-line re-design dialog.
J42 may be run as a Java application, an applet or a panel from another Java application or applet. J42 supports on-line configuration and customization and provides out-of-the-box intelligent re-screening of any host system.
J42 supports product internationalization and the translation of the host text into other languages.
J42 also supports links for accessing external data sources, customized aid and function key recognition and much more.
J42 is certified as a 100% Pure Java™ product. 		100% Pure Java Logo

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What host environments does J42 support ?

J42 has been designed today to work with host applications that are "block mode". That is the type of application that presents the screen to the user and awaits user input.

The currently supported environments are:

  • IBM mainframe (OS/390, MVS, VM, VSE)
  • IBM System i (AS/400)
  • HP NonStop (formally known as Tandem NSK)
  • Fujitsu 6680
Other environments are in development. Ask for more information from us.

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Can I use J42 for the Internet/Intranet/Extranet ?

J42 is installed on the web server and can be accessed by any Java aware browser that has access to that web server.

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Does J42 have to have its own proprietary server to access the host ?

J42 is designed to work with software that you prefer to use to access the host.
The currently supported host access software is:
  • IBM's Host On-Demand
  • Computer Network Technology's Web Integrator SDK
  • WRQ's Reflection for the Web
  • comForte's J6530
  • Fujitsu's WebJet
Work is currently in progress to integrate J42 with Other host access software. Ask for more information from us.
For fully secured access without changes to your host system you can use a J42 for Secure Access server.

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Can J42 provide HTML ?

J42 has been designed to provide a web-like interface to the standard host application without any need to alter the host application or its environment. HTML stands for HyperText Mark-up Language and is designed as a publishing language to provide a way of viewing documents like this FAQ.
What J42 does is provide an HTML-like interface to any existing host application without the need of reprogramming the user screens.

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I do not believe that J42 can dynamically translate all my host screens.

Nor did we which is why we used to say it's the old 80/20 rule. J42 does 80% and you will need to do 20% on some screens. However our customers have pushed us until in some sites J42 can be used without any customized screens which we guess means we can honestly say J42 can provide a 100% solution.

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But doesn't "dynamically translate" mean I have to run J42 against every screen and save it somewhere ?

J42 literally takes the screen presented and represents it to the user as a GUI form. J42 is smart and only changes that parts of the form that need to be changed and re-uses objects so the speed of moving through screens can be comparable to working with a terminal.

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Does J42 allow me to customize the GUI form ?

Yes - and you do not have to load up another product/version to customize a form. Just switch to "author" mode and a whole set of on-line configuration and customization options are available to the application designer including re-designing the form directly during the session with the host. Also J42 supports the re-design of a customized form.

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Can I work with J42 from my favorite IDE ?

Yes - we even supply with our developer's license an example program that will enable you to start J42 from your IDE.

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Can J42 use an encrypted session over the Internet using 128-bit key ?

Yes, strong SSL is available. In fact through J42 for Secure Access, you can use digital signatures to authenticate users and transactions and cover the full spectrum of security requirements: confidentiality, authentication and non-repudiation.

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What platforms does J42 support ?

J42 is certified as 100% Pure Java Applet. With this certification you can be sure that J42 will work on any Java platform.

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How can I be sure that J42 comes from the original supplier when it is downloaded over the Internet ?

J42 is supplied with digitally signed Jars and Cabs so that you can also verify that the product being used is from us or one of our partners.

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I would like to provide the J42 functionality from within another Java application.

No problem - J42 has been designed to run as an applet and Java application. The J42 panel can be added to any other Java application. Examples of this and other J42 "developer" features are included as part of the standard J42 developer's license.

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I need to mix host data with data from another database system.

J42 will support this and other programs being incorporated together. Examples of this and other J42 "developer" features are included as part of the standard J42 developer's license.

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I need the host screen converted to the language of the user.

J42 supports both product and host screen internationalization. To perform host screen internationalization, simply walk through the application just collect the text. Then provide J42 with the translated texts and you can walk through the application viewing the results and amending them if required directly on-line.

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So J42 provides a GUI form but surely that is just fields and labels ?

J42 goes much further than simply re-presenting the host screen as fields and labels. J42 has been designed to reproduce the ideas of the original host screen designer as if they had access to today's GUI technology. That includes functionkey buttons, menu buttons, lines, panels, logos, dropdown boxes, radio buttons, calendars, checkboxes and background images. J42 also tidies up the screen and presents it in proportional font.

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Different users have different PC screens, can J42 cope ?

J42 provides for standard and customized font configuration. Also J42 can automatically size its fonts to allow the user to alter the window size to fit their needs. And if the screen still does not fit then J42 will add scrollbars.

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What objects can I have on my GUI form ?

Any object you like. Also J42 provides a rich list of point-and-add objects or components which include checkboxes, choice lists, fields, hyperlinks, images, lines, labels, panels. Also J42 knows the concept of "smart widgets". These are objects that derive their information from the original host screen e.g. a Yes/No field is converted into a checkbox.

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Do I have to know Java to customize J42 ?

No - we have carefully designed J42 to allow any developer to take advantage of the J42 features without being a Java aware programmer.

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Java is new technology surely J42 is still a young product ?

Java is now over 10 years old, J42 for Application Access is over 10 years old and J&B Computing Services is now over 20 years old. J42 is the culmination of more than 20 years of hands-on real-life experience of working with our customers to provide innovative solutions.
What Java has allowed us to do is to respond to your needs faster than ever before which is why J42 has such a rich and ever growing list of features .

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