Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

669.0. "IBM/GDDM/GDF and DEC(windows)" by BERN01::TRACHSEL () Tue Apr 25 1989 07:24

Hellow,

If you have allready experience in the problems described below, or know
somebody..., please...

I had a talk with a graphics-programmer which works for Swiss Post Deprtmt.
(PTT).

They would like to invest in DEC-workstations and wanted to speak with me
about graphics standards. We finally agreed in using GKS or PHIGS.

An other problem is now, to integrate existing IBM-TSO-mainframe-applications
in our workstation environement (APL-progs., GDDM-graphics, GDF-formats,
3279-terminal-environment). That means existing IBM-hardwre will remain
in use, but our workstations should integrate.

My questions:

1) As far as I know, there will be a 3279-DECwindows emulation available on
   DECwindows ca in August 1989, is this correct?

2) With this 3279-emulation we don't solve the problem of printing, plotting
   hard-copies etc. On the IBM-site they produce GDF-files (obviously from
   GDDM). The customer wants that we can print/plot/hardcopy in a higher
   quality just near our workstations.

   Is there any known solution to take a GDF file from the IBM-site and
   print/plot/hardcopy (color) it on the DEC site?

   (possible ways: - GDDM/GDF -> HPGL/CALCOMP/TEKXXXX/IGES/POSTSCRIPT/etc....?
                                 (or any. protocol a printer would support
                                  which is integrateable in our workstation-
                                  environment)

                   - IBM/RT/PC as something like a "box-between"?


Thanks for help 


Peter Trachsel, DEC Bern, SWITZERLAND

 

Yes, a DECwindows-based "IBM graphics terminal" emulator is in the works.
I believe it's a 3193 emulator, which is a superset of the old 3279, unless
I've got my numbers mixed up.  I can't say (because I don't know, and because
I wouldn't say it in public anyway, since it's not my project) when it's
due to be released.  It will require one of the DECnet/SNA Gateways in order
to connect to IBM -- running on MicroServer or ChannelServer, depending
on throughput and connectivity requirements.

I think the product manager is now Debbie Mangan, DELNI::D_MANGAN.  I could
be wrong about this (I never quite catch up with the latest re-orgs) but if
I am, she'll point you in the right direction.

You may also want to check out the notesfile SMAUG::SNAGWY (press SELECT, etc).

As far as the remainder of your question: we have the means to transfer
files from MVS to VMS/Ultrix/MS-DOS; the product is the DECnet/SNA Data
Transfer Facility (DTF).  What we don't have is any way to convert 
from GDF to anything that DECwindows can handle.  You might try asking
in SMAUG::SNAGWY.NOTE whether anyone else has written/found a converter.

dave

    Thanks for interesting input!
    
    Peter T.