Launching telnet & tn3270 clients from newer browsers

[David Atkins]

Thanks to all the folks who offered ideas on solving our problem
(autoconnecting to tn3270:// hosts as a Netscape 4.05 mime type).

Here's what works.  NS-HELP is a great little widget that makes the
connection between the latest web browsers and telnet clients.  Check out
http://www.louisville.edu/~mopurc01/ns-help.html for all you need to know
to fix the problem.  This go-between handles both telnet & tn3270 clients.
We're currently running Ewan 1.052 & QWS3270 3.2f on both NT & Win95 PCs.  

As a corallary & for those who desire more info on the future fate of
QWS freeware & the need for this workaround, please see the message
attached below.

Thanks,
David

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David P. Atkins
Electronic Resources Librarian
John C. Hodges Library                   atkins at aztec.lib.utk.edu
The University of Tennessee                    me  (423) 974-0014
Knoxville, Tennessee  37996                    fax (423) 974-9242
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 16:56:13 -0400
From: Jim Rymerson <rymerson at post.queensu.ca>
To: David Atkins <atkins at aztec.lib.utk.edu>
Subject: Re: QWS3270 & NT 4.0

David:
...

>I do have a technical question.  If you can offer any assistance, I'd be
>ablidged.  I can't get QWS to autoconnect to a remote host from a URL.
>For instance, I try the url tn3270://louis.lsu.edu, QWS opens but I don't
>go anywhere.  I'm running Netscape 4.0.5 on NT 4.0 w/ service pack 3.
>
>I've tried toying w/ various switches that work w/ telnet apps (e.g. %1)
>and have had no luck.
>
Jim Rymerson, QWS3270:

Newer versions of Netscape and Internet Explorer have modified the way in
which information is passed to helper applications.  The freeware version
of QWS3270 does not include the code required to support the new format
used by the newer browsers.  You should also be aware that the freeware
version of QWS3270 has been functionally stabilized and is being enhanced
only if the request originates from a user at Queen's University.  This
version is available free of charge on an "AS IS" basis and is not
supported outside Queen's. It became difficult to justify spending
university resources to fix problems and add enhancements for users outside
the Queen's community. 

There is an enhanced commercial version called QWS3270 PLUS that is being
actively developed and maintained by Jolly Giant Software Inc.  This
version contains several features not found in the freeware version:
support for extended data streams (3279 colours and extended highlighting);
a flexible keyboard re-mapping feature; a point and click (hot spots)
feature; an entry assist feature that includes things like word wrap, word
tab, word delete, margins and typewriter style tab stop; a scripting
feature; some limited DDE support; and support for IND$FILE file transfer
protocol. A demo of the most recent version of QWS3270 PLUS can be found in
the /pub directory as qws3270.exe at www.jollygiant.com using an FTP client
and HTTP://www.jollygiant.com if using a WWW browser. A 32 bit version for
Win 95 and Win NT is available to registered users. The register.txt file
that is part of the zip file contains the current pricing info.

QWS3270 PLUS includes support for these new browsers.

If you have any more questions or require additional info, please drop me
another note.

Jim.