PCS Host Terminal Software and Windows for Workgroups (94115)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
This article was previously published under Q94115
The following article contains information on the use of Windows for Workgroups with third-party products or configurations that have not been tested and are not supported by Microsoft.

If the steps or procedures described in this article do not function properly, contact the manufacturer of the third-party product for more information or use a supported configuration.

SUMMARY

PCS is a popular IBM 5250-series host terminal emulation application that runs over the Microsoft MS-DLC protocol and IBM's DLC, on MS-DOS and Windows.

To run PCS in a Windows for Workgroups MS-DOS session (that is, a window), you need to configure PCS differently than when running PCS in MS-DOS. If you do not reconfigure PCS, the system may stop responding (hang) when you run STARTPCS.BAT.

MORE INFORMATION

STARTPCS.BAT normally runs these programs in sequence:

  1. STARTRTR.EXE -- Starts the router; in LAN Manager terms, it logs you onto the server.
  2. STARTFLR.EXE -- Starts a folder; in LAN Manager terms, it starts the redirector.
  3. CFGFLR.EXE -- Configures the folder; in LAN Manager terms, it connects drive I to the share point on the AS/400.
  4. WSF.EXE -- Starts the 5250 emulator; this is a terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program that can switch in or out when you press ALT+ESC.
  5. PCSMENU.EXE -- Starts the menu that allows you to remove WSF, CFGFLR, and so on.
To run PCS from Windows for Workgroups, you need to reconfigure PCS so that you run STARTPCS.BAT before you start Windows and then run WSF.EXE and PCSMENU.EXE in a Windows MS-DOS session. You also need to remap the default WSF ALT+ESC to another key, or you can't switch out of the WSF emulator in the MS-DOS session (ALT+ESC is the Microsoft Windows task-switch key sequence.)

Reconfiguring PCS

Assuming that PCS works correctly in MS-DOS, you need to do the following to run PCS from Windows for Workgroups:

  1. Run CFGPCS.EXE.
  2. Select General Options.
  3. Select Microsoft Windows options.
  4. When "Run PC Support with Microsoft Windows" displays, choose Yes. This removes WSF.EXE and PCSMENU.EXE from STARTPCS.BAT.

Remapping the WSF Key Sequence

Remap the default WSF ALT+ESQ key sequence as follows:

  1. Run CFGWSF.EXE.
  2. Open a keyboard profile (if none exists, create one).
  3. Choose a new key combination as your WSF hot key. For example, if you want to use ALT+N, select the N key, press ENTER, and then type [HOTKEY] in the ALT state entry.
  4. Save the profile.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/1/1999
Keywords:KB94115
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.