SAS/C Software Overview

SAS/C Full-Screen Support Library

Another add-on product, the SAS/C Full-Screen Support Library, 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 OS/390 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.

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