Technical Notes

EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 New Features and Release Notes
Technical Note 2133
Last Reviewed 07-Dec-2006
Applies To
EXTRA! X-treme version 9.0
Summary

This note contains late-breaking information about the Attachmate EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 release, as well as listing new features, installation notes, and known issues.

This technical note includes the most up-to-date information about this release and supersedes the EXTRA! product release notes available in the product documentation.

Note: For information about upgrading to EXTRA! X-treme 9.0, see Technical Note 2154.

New Release Available Now

Reflection Standard Suite 2008 is the successor product for EXTRA! X-treme and is available beginning in November 2008. For a list of new features in Reflection 2008, see Technical Note 2384.

For information about purchasing Reflection 2008 products, please e-mail us: SalesRecept@attachmate.com or visit http://www.attachmate.com/How+To+Buy/.

This technical note includes the following sections:

New Features

EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 provides a range of significant enhancements, including:

• Microsoft Windows Vista Certification

• Reflection Secure FTP Client

• SSH Keyboard Interactive Authentication

• Microsoft Office Word template support

• Map host keyboard functions to mouse buttons for 3270 and 5250 connections

• Default Telnet Application Feature

• Keyboard Autoreset Option

• Word Wrap Feature

• EHLLAPI Functions

• 80 Start Communication Notification
• 81 Query Communication Event
• 82 Stop Communication Notification

• Clipboard Feature

• Ability to Switch Focus Using Keyboard Shortcut

• JAWS compatibility enhancements

• Enhanced command line options

Installation Notes

For system requirements and installation information, see the Getting Started Guide on the EXTRA! X-treme CD, in the product installation files, or on the Attachmate Support site at http://www.attachmate.com/docs/EXTRA/X-treme/9.0/getting_started/install_ov.htm.

Overinstalls and Testing

EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 can be installed over myEXTRA! Enterprise 7.11 and EXTRA! X-treme 8.0 and 8.0 with SP1. Minimal testing was performed with EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 on over-installations of earlier versions of EXTRA!. For more information, see Technical Note 2154.

Supported Operating Systems

Attachmate currently supports EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 on:

Attachmate does not support any Microsoft operating system that is no longer supported by Microsoft. For more information on Microsoft product support status, see http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/.

Installing the Custom Installation Wizard

The Custom Installation Wizard can be installed simply by copying CustomInstallationWizard.exe from the Tools folder (on the EXTRA! CD or in the product installation files) to an administrator's hard drive. For more information, see Technical Note 2165.

Installation Option Not Supported

Although you can select the option "This Feature will be Installed When Required" during a custom installation, the option is not supported in this version of EXTRA! X-treme.

Reboot Recommended after Uninstalling

To delete files that may be in use, Attachmate recommends rebooting your computer after uninstalling this product.

FAT16 Not Supported

Before you install EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 on Windows 2000, make sure that Windows is using either the FAT32 or NTFS file system—FAT16 is not supported for EXTRA! X-treme 9.0.

Tandem 6530 Client Option

When using Group Policy to publish EXTRA! X-treme to users, EXTRA! X-treme must be installed before the EXTRA! 6530 Client Option can be installed.

When you install EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 over myEXTRA! Enterprise 8.0 with myEXTRA! 6530 Client Option 8.0 installed, the 6530 Client Option 8.0 is removed. To enable Tandem connectivity, you must install EXTRA! 6530 Client Option 9.0 after you install EXTRA! X-treme 9.0. Customers licensed and maintained for EXTRA! 6530 Client Option 9.0 can obtain the product from the Attachmate Download Library at http://download.attachmate.com/.

FTP Support in Tandem

You must install FTP while installing EXTRA! X-treme if you want FTP support in Tandem. (FTP is installed by default.)

DLC Driver for Windows XP Installation

Although the Attachmate DLC driver for Windows XP cannot be covered under the "Designed for Windows XP" logo, it has been tested extensively on the Windows platform and works exceptionally well.

Note: The DLC driver cannot be installed on Windows Vista.

On computers running Windows XP, the DLC driver is installed as part of a Typical installation of EXTRA! X-treme. If, however, you want to install this driver manually on a Windows XP computer, you can do so as follows.

To manually install the DLC driver for Windows XP Classic View:

1. From the Start menu, select Settings, then select Network Connections.
2. Right-click the Local Area Connection to which you want to add the protocol and select Properties.
3. Select Install.
4. Select Protocol, and then click the Add button.
5. If the Attachmate DLC protocol was previously installed, it will appear in the dialog box and you can select to reinstall it.

6. If prompted for the location of ATMDLC.SYS, browse to the directory identified in step 5 and select it.

To manually install the DLC driver for Windows XP Normal View:

1. From the Start menu, select Control Panel, then select Network Connections.
2. Right-click the Local Area Connection to which you want to add the protocol and select Properties.
3. Select Install.
4. Select Protocol, and then click the Add button.
5. If the Attachmate DLC protocol was previously installed, it will appear in the dialog box and you can select to reinstall it.

6. If prompted for the location of ATMDLC.SYS, browse to the directory identified in step 5 and select it.

Known Issues

EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 includes the following known issues.

General

Roaming Profiles

Roaming Profiles are not supported across different Operating Systems.

Stream Fetches on an AS/400 via 802.2

IBM has disabled support for stream fetches over 802.2 on OS/400 V5R2 and later, which causes browsing an AS/400 using 5250 File Transfer via 802.2 to fail. Attachmate recommends that you change your file transfer method from 802.2 to TCP/IP. If you cannot change your file transfer method, please contact Attachmate Technical Support.

SSL (128-bit)

Encryption occurs only if the remote system also supports SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) in TN3270 and TN5250. You must have a secured host or gateway.

Answerback (Asynchronous Sessions Only)

In the Settings - Display General page under Answerback, you may sometimes want to include the left brace character ("{") as part of the answerback string.

To use the left brace character: When typing in the dialog box, enclose the left brace character in quotes to display it, as follows,

The string will appear as typed. However, only the left brace character will be sent to the host.

TN3270 Through a Firewall

If you are using TN3270 through a firewall, you will need to edit the [Connection] section of the .EDP file so that NoEcho=YES:

1. Using a text editor, open your session file (*.EDP), located in the Sessions subdirectory. For example:

2. With the file open, in the [Connection] section, change the NoEcho setting from NO to YES.

Connecting to the Host Using Microsoft SNA Server

EXTRA! X-treme allows host access through a Microsoft SNA Server to mainframe and AS/400 applications and resources. If you need the Microsoft SNA Server client software, you can obtain it from the Microsoft SNA Server or Host Integration Server install CD or directly from Microsoft. It is recommended that the client software match the SNA Server or Host Integration Server version installed and that the latest copy be obtained and installed on the clients.

The SNA Server client software is not required for TN3270 or TN5250 connections to a Microsoft SNA Server. Contact Microsoft to obtain a Microsoft SNA Server "Client Access License" to ensure that your client software is correctly licensed to access resources through the Microsoft SNA Server.

Note the following:

• The Windows NT version of the Microsoft SNA Server client is not supported.
• The Windows 98 version of the client software is supported and can be installed under Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
• The Microsoft HIS 2004 client is supported.

AS/400 APPN Node Connectivity Limitations

Only one connection type is permitted for a specific host. However, you can configure for multiple connection types, provided the host name is different. For example, an 802.2 connection is made to XYZ400 and then an MPTN connection to XYZ400. The last type connected to XYZ400 will be used (in this case, MPTN).

Also, the connection to a given host can be either a direct connection or pass through connection, but not both. For example, an 802.2 connection is made to XYZ400 and then a second 802.2 connection is made to XYZ400 through UVW400. The last configured definition to XYZ400 will be used (in this case, XYZ400 through UVW400).

When Windows Regional Settings use Comma Separators

When Windows Regional Settings use comma separators rather than decimal separators, for commas to work properly, the [Edit Scheme] section of the .EDP file DisableCSVCommaDelimiters needs to be set to TRUE:

1. Using a text editor, open your session file (*.EDP), located in the Sessions subdirectory. For example:

2. With the file open, in the [Edit Scheme] section, change the DisableCSVDelimiters setting from FALSE to TRUE.

Using Raster Fonts and Non-Microsoft Video Drivers

Using raster fonts with a non-Microsoft video driver could result in a GPF error. This error occurs most often when using the IntelliMouse to zoom in or out of a session.

Host Authentication for SSH

By default, Host Authentication for SSH only works when the SSH server is set up to use DSA keys and when you connect to the Server with your client a DSA fingerprint will be put automatically to the client PC. But if the SSH server is set to use only RSA keys then the connection will fail and following error occurs in the Status Log:

In order to enable RSA key generation with SSH you need to add a "use_SSH2_RSA" string with a value of "Y" to the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Attachmate\EXTRA!\WorkStationUser\Preferences.

Printing

Making New Line Processing Configurable with ByPass WinGDI

If you selected the Bypass Windows GDI printing system option, so that printing to file prints in Raw Output Mode, you can make new line processing configurable by editing the .EPP file:

1. Using a text editor, open your SESSION.EPP file.
2. In the [Terminal] section, on any line, add the following text:

Sending Printer-Specific Commands Before and After a Print Job

To set values for AtStartDoc and AtEndDoc to allow printer-specific commands to be sent before and after the print job, follow these steps:

1. Create a printer session and save it.
2. Open the saved .EPP session file using Notepad or WordPad.
3. Change the [Terminal] section as shown below:

File Transfer

Viewing File Transfer

For PC code pages other than 1252, you need to make sure that the application used to view transferred files is configured for the correct subset of the desired font. For example, PC code page 1250, which represents Czech and Croatian, should use the Attachmate (Central Europe) font. (Lucida for Attachmate defaults to subset Western.)

5250 File Transfer

Using file transfer on the AS/400 with NetWare for SAA via TCP/IP may cause your PC to hang in certain situations. To resolve this issue, you will need to change the buffer size in the registry:

1. Click Start > Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, type the following then click OK:

3. In the left pane of the Registry Editor, open the following key:

4. In the right pane of the Registry Editor, double-click the word MaxDataBufferSize.
5. In the Value data box, type the following, and then choose OK.

6. Exit the Registry Editor.

Batch File Transfer Format Issues

DIF Format Files—We recommend against using Excel-formatted DIF files for the following reasons:

• Microsoft Excel reverses the meaning of tuple and vector when writing a DIF format file. As there is no official standard, this is most likely acceptable. However, our file transfer considers the tuple to correspond to a record in a file or file member, and the vector to correspond to a field in a record. (This is consistent with past practice.)
• Microsoft Excel also lists date items as value items while EXTRA! X-treme interprets them as string values, since they contain separators in the usual representations (that is, year, month, and day values.)

CSV (Comma Separated Variables) Format Files—EXTRA! X-treme file transfer ignores quoted fields in file formats. For example, if a file contains a comma within a string enclosed in quotation marks, the comma will terminate the field (instead of treating the comma as part of a literal string).

BIF Format Files—EXTRA! X-treme only supports the transfer of a BIF file that Microsoft Excel can read within the BIF envelope. EXTRA! X-treme does not support uploads of a BIF file in this release.

HLLAPI and OLE

Presentation Space Sharing

The IBM EHLLAPI and WOSA WinHLLAPI specifications identify a set of session parameters that determine how, or if, the presentation space of a currently connected HLLAPI application is shared. Presentation space sharing has not yet been implemented in Enhanced Transport HLLAPI, therefore multiple HLLAPI applications will be allowed to connect to a single host session at the same time. With Standard Transport HLLAPI, where presentation space sharing HAS been properly implemented, only one HLLAPI application is allowed to connect to a host session at a time, unless an appropriate session parameter has been set in the HLLAPI applications using function 9, Set Session Parameters. A second application, attempting to connect to a session already in use by another HLLAPI application will receive a return code of 11 on the call to ConnectPS (Function 1).

The Reset System Function

HLLAPI programs must use the Reset System Function (21) in their unload routines to allow EXTRA! X-treme to properly unregister HLLAPI and related OLE resources upon unload. If Reset System is not used, some resources may persist in memory after exiting EXTRA! X-treme.

Sessions Open as Visible

In myEXTRA! Enterprise 7.11 and earlier, a host session opened by an OLE Automation Open call is not visible on opening. In EXTRA! X-treme 8.0, the session is visible when OLE Open is used. In EXTRA! X-treme 9.0, this behavior has been updated to be consistent with 7.11 — the OLE Open call does not open a visible session.

Macros

Macro Recording on Asynchronous Hosts

The macro recorder automatically inserts WaitHostQuiet statements after every SendKeys operation. For asynchronous hosts, the default Wait time may be too long. This can easily be modified. For example, to wait for only two seconds (rather than the default five), change all the WaitHostQuiet statements to wait for a specific user-defined timeout value and define that value at the start of the macro. Then, when you want to change the value of the Wait time, you only have to make the change in one place.

For example:

WaitValue = 2000	'define this once at start of macro
... ...
WaitHostQuiet(WaitValue)	'change each WaitHostQuiet statement to wait for this user-defined time

EXTRA! Basic Macros

All EXTRA! Basic macros from all clients run on a single thread. Therefore, when one client's macro displays a dialog box, all other macros are temporarily suspended.

Converting KEA! Macros and Sessions

You can convert KEA! macros and sessions using the Migration Wizard as described in the following procedure.

To convert KEA! macros and sessions to EXTRA!:

1. Click Start > Programs > Attachmate EXTRA! X-treme > Migration Wizard.
2. To convert sessions, select KTC_Migrate.

For more information on using the Migration Wizard, see Technical Note 2123.

Using the Minimize or Maximize Buttons with Macros

When a macro document is maximized within the macro editor, the minimize/maximize/close controls in the macro title bar disappear. To un-maximize a macro document, you must choose tile or cascade from the Window menu.

Microsoft

Transferring Files to or from Computers Running Windows XP Service Pack 2

Microsoft changed default security settings with Windows XP Service Pack 2 to tighten desktop security. Because Microsoft Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is enabled by default, if you are using FTP in EXTRA! to transfer a file, EXTRA! may not be able to establish a session to the remote host. To resolve this issue, open ports on the local or remote machine. For further information, see Technical Note 2144.

Using Help

Microsoft Vista does not include the software necessary for viewing the Help from the EXTRA! user interface. To use Help, you must download the Help software (WinHlp32.exe) from the Microsoft Web site. Help will continue to function normally on Windows XP and Windows 2000. For more information, see Technical Note 2294.

Global Preferences

Running Multiple Sessions in a Portal

When Multiple Instances of a Session is selected in Global Preferences, running a session in a portal is not supported.

Protecting Passwords

Although the global option Set Macro Password Box is available for all host types, it is applied only to IBM Mainframe sessions, and is ignored for other sessions.

Graphics

Tips for Working with Graphics

• Sometimes objects displayed in a graphics session may appear to be out of proportion. A square may look more like a rectangle and a circle may look more like an oval. If this occurs, try changing the size of the session window to correct the display, or go into the EXTRA! X-treme session's Settings Font General page and change the font your session is using.
• Choosing the best match depends on the graphic model your session is using and the type of display your PC has.
• When working in a graphics application, if you press a command key and the X clock appears, but nothing happens, press the Reset key, then press the command key again.
• At this time, when cutting or pasting graphic images from a display session, EXTRA! X-treme supports only the Device Independent Bitmap (DIB) format — EXTRA! X-treme does not support the Windows Metafile (WMF) format. Currently, when you cut or copy host graphic images, no distinction is made by EXTRA! X-treme between the graphic and text layers: everything that is selected in the EXTRA! X-treme session is cut or copied as a bitmap.
• Using the Print Screen Feature:
  • For a sharper screen print image, maximize the screen. If the screen is not maximized, the screen print may have a jagged appearance (both graphics and text). The smaller the image, the less sharp the printout.
  • When printing a screen (graphic image), make sure that no other windows are open in the client area of the graphic.
  • When printing a screen to file (Print to File option), save the file as a .BMP so that it can be opened easily on any system.
  • When printing graphic images using the Print Screen feature and any 3270 connectivity, it is recommended that your color resolution be set to True Color (24-bit). (To change your color resolution, from the Control Panel, choose Display, then from the Settings page, adjust your Color Palette if necessary.)

To view a graphic in the clipboard: From the View menu, choose DIB.

To print a graphic or the contents displayed in your EXTRA! X-treme session:

-22. From the Edit menu, choose Select All, or highlight the area, then choose Copy or Cut.
-22. Change to the application that supports the DIB format and from which you can print.
-22. Paste the graphic into the program, then print the graphic.

To cut or copy a graphics selection when a graphics cursor is displayed:

1. Using a text editor, open your session file (*.EDP), located in the Sessions subdirectory. For example:

2. With the file open, in the [Terminal] section, change the APAGCSelection setting from FALSE to TRUE.

Running a Graphics Program with TN3270

When you run a graphics program with TN3270, you will need to modify your session file:

1. Using a text editor, open your session file (*.EDP), located in the Sessions subdirectory. For example:

2. With the file open, in the [Terminal] section, insert the following line of text:

Using SAS Host Graphics in a EXTRA! X-treme Session

Because of the complexities involved in displaying SAS host graphics in a Windows graphic environment, you may need to work with the various graphics options available in EXTRA! to achieve optimum results in your EXTRA! display session.

To change the settings in EXTRA! X-treme for SAS:

To:	Do this:
Match the EXTRA! X-treme graphics display session as closely as possible to the host graphics display you want to emulate	From the Settings dialog box Display General page, select one of the graphics settings, and make sure that the host SAS application is set for the same graphics display.
Adjust for objects that are not displaying proportionally (such as circles or boxes)	From the Settings dialog box Display General page, change the display font being used. Note: The three ATM graphics fonts, ATM Graphics 1:1, ATM Graphics 2:5 and ATM Graphics 3:4, are better suited for displaying host graphics than the standard text fonts offered by EXTRA! X-treme 2000. Choosing the best match depends on the graphic model your session is using and the type of display your PC has.
Use programmed symbols with an SAS display	From the Settings dialog box Display General page, select Support Program Symbols. Note: Depending on the display model used, and how SAS is using the program symbols, it is sometimes best not to use this feature.
Use APL characters	From the Settings dialog box, Display General page, select Support APL Characters.
Prevent frequent redrawing of SAS graphics	Enable the Graphics Cache option by editing your SESSION.EDP file.

To edit your SESSION.EDP file to enable the Graphics Cache option:

1. Using a text editor, open your session file (*.EDP), located in the Sessions subdirectory. For example:

2. With the file open, in the [Terminal] section, change the APASASExtension setting from FALSE to TRUE.

Editing Images in an Asynchronous Session

Although you can print graphic images directly from EXTRA! in an asynchronous sessions, to copy and paste graphic images, you must select the Bitmap method of Backing Store.

Keyboards

101-Key PC Keyboards and Windows Terminal Server Support

On a 101-key PC keyboard, the Clear function for a 3270 session is typically mapped to the PC's PAUSE key. However, EXTRA! X-treme 3270 sessions that are run from a Windows Terminal Server are unable to use the PAUSE key to invoke the Clear function.

To use the Clear function: Using the EXTRA! X-treme Keyboard Remapper, remap the Clear function to another key.

Remapping Keys for AS/400 Citrix Users

The default mapping of the key combination CTRL + PLUS SIGN (+) conflicts with Citrix default mapping. There are, however, two possible workarounds: Citrix users can either remap the key in Citrix; or remap it using the Attachmate keyboard remapper.

Mouse Controls

Under certain circumstances, the settings in the Mouse Control Panel override EXTRA! X-treme mouse map settings for a mouse wheel or middle mouse button.

If Your Mouse Has a Middle Button

Before mapping your middle mouse button in EXTRA! X-treme, you must first go to the Windows Control Panel and set your middle mouse button action to Middle Button. If the middle button is set to any other action (such as Auto Scroll) in the Mouse Control Panel, the middle button will perform this action rather than the action you assign to it in EXTRA! X-treme.

If Your Mouse Has a Wheel

If your mouse wheel is set to the system's default setting (usually Auto Scroll), the mouse wheel will perform the default action as well as the EXTRA! X-treme action you assign to the wheel button. If you use the control panel to set the mouse wheel to a setting other than the default, the EXTRA! X-treme action you assign to the wheel button will be ignored.

Navigation

Bookmarks and Recorded Pages

You can turn the Stay Visible feature in the Bookmarks and Recorded Pages window on and off by typing ALT + v. This keystroke performs the same action as clicking the "pushpin" button in the Bookmarks and Recorded Pages window. When Stay Visible is activated, the Bookmarks and Recorded Pages window remains visible even after a bookmark or page has been selected.

Reflection Version Conflict

EXTRA! X-treme Secure FTP Client Breaks Reflection

When you install the Reflection Secure FTP client that ships with EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 to a machine that already has Reflection products installed, unpredictable results can occur if all of the Reflection product versions do not match.

EXTRA! X-treme ships with Reflection Secure FTP client version 14.0.1. If you choose to install the secure FTP client, by default, it installs to C:\Program Files\Attachmate\Reflection\, which is the default installation directory for all Reflection products. If you have other Reflection products installed on this machine, they must be the same version or unpredictable results can occur. For this reason, you must upgrade all Reflection products to version 14.0.1 prior to installing EXTRA! X-treme Reflection Secure FTP client.

Related Technical Notes

2123	Using the EXTRA! Migration Wizard
2124	Automatically Copying Selected Text to Clipboard in EXTRA! X-treme
2144	EXTRA! and the Microsoft Windows Firewall
2153	Running EXTRA! X-treme from the Command Line
2154	Upgrading to EXTRA! X-treme 9.0: Overview
2165	Installing the EXTRA! X-treme 9.0 Custom Installation Wizard
2257	EXTRA! 9 Service Pack 2 (SP2): Fixes and Features (Release Notes)
2294	Unable to Open Help on Windows Vista
2384	New Features and Release Notes for Reflection 2008
9970	Technical Notes for EXTRA!