Introduction to Emulator APIs

The IBM® Z and I Emulator for Windows product supplies several application programming interfaces (APIs). Each interface has a specific set of functions and may be used for different purposes. Choose the programming interface that best matches the functional requirements of your application. Some applications may use more than one interface to achieve the desired results. The programming interfaces are:
  • Emulator High Level Language API (EHLLAPI): This interface provides functions to access emulator "presentation space" data such as characters on the host screen. It also provides functions for sending keystrokes to the host, intercepting user-entered keystrokes, querying the status of the host session, uploading and downloading files, and other functions. This interface is often used for automated operator applications which read host screens and enter keystrokes without direct user intervention. See EHLLAPI Functions.
  • Any 32-bit APIs which accept\return Window Handles and pointers might not work correctly with HCL ZIEWin due to difference in pointer\handle sizes between x86 and x64 platforms.

    For Example:

    "Data String" parameter returned in byte numbers (9-12) in API Start Communication Notification (80) might be truncated on x64 platform.

  • Z and I Emulator for Windows Session API (PCSAPI): This interface is used to start, stop, and control emulator sessions and settings. See PCSAPI Functions.

    For Z and I Emulator for Windows Version 1.0, functions have been added to allow control and retrieval of page and printer settings. See Page Setup Functions and Printer Setup Functions.

  • HCL Z and I Emulator for Windows Host Access Class Library (ECL): ECL is a set of objects that allow application programmers and scripting language writers to access host applications easily and quickly. Z and I Emulator for Windows supports three different ECL layers (C++ objects, ActiveAutomation (OLE), and LotusScript Extension (LSX)). Refer to Host Access Class Library (HACL) for more details.