This chapter describes how to get started with RSF Express, a graphical interface to Remote Software Facility that you run from a PC under Windows.
Complete documentation for RSF Express is available on-line. While working with RSF Express, select the Contents option from the Help pull-down menu to see a list of major help topics. The help contents display is shown below.
Requirements
The following requirements must be met to run the 16-bit version of RSF Express:
1. RSF and RSFTOOLS must be installed on the local and remote AS/400s. See Chapter 3, Installation, for more information.
2. PCs using RSF Express must be running Microsoft Windows version 3.1x.
3. PCs using RSF Express must be attached to an AS/400 using either:
- IBM PC Support/400, Extended DOS Version 2 Release 2 or later, with PC Support Windows support loaded.
- IBM Client Access/400
- A third-party product providing EHNAPPC support or equivalent function to one of the above.
4. The Client Access or equivalent APPC router must be started.
5. The directory containing the Client Access or equivalent programs must be included on the path statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file of the PC.
The following requirements must be met to run the 32-bit version of RSF Express:
- RSF and RSFTOOLS must be installed on all local and remote AS/400s to be accessed. See Chapter 3, Installation, for more information.
- PCs using RSF Express must be running Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT.
- PCs using RSF Express must be attached to an AS/400 using either:
- IBM Client Access/400
- A third-party product providing E32APPC support or equivalent function.
- A native TCP/IP connection.
To load RSF Express onto a PC from CD:
- Insert the CD into the PC drive. After a few seconds, the Remote
Software Facility CD install window will be automatically displayed.
- Click on "Install RSF Express".
- If prompted, select "Run this program from its current location"
and "Yes" at the security warning.
- Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
If you do not have the appropriate RSF Install CD, you can download RSF
Express from our web site:
http://www.bugbusters.net/download.htm.
With RSF Express, you open various windows to represent lists of packages, libraries, objects, members and spooled files that exist on the local machine and on remote machines.
You open one or more server lists to represent remote locations to which you can send items, and from which you can retrieve items. The entries in an RSF Express server list correspond to the entries in the RSF server directory on the local machine. See Working With Servers for more information about server directory entries.
The figures below show typical RSF Express displays.
RSF Express 16-bit version.
RSF Express 32-bit version.
You send items to remote locations by selecting the items from local package, library, object, member, output queue or spooled file lists, and then using the mouse to drag and drop the items onto a server list. The server list can be full sized or minimized (represented by an icon). The servers selected in the server list at the time items are dropped onto the list determine the
location(s) to which the items are sent.
You retrieve items from remote locations by selecting the items from remote package, library, object, member, output queue or spooled file lists, and then using the mouse to drag and drop the items onto the Home Machine icon (16-bit version) or onto the desktop (32-bit version).
In the 16-bit version, you open server list windows and lists containing information about the local machine by double clicking the Home Machine icon and then selecting the desired window type from the pop-up menu. You open lists containing information about remote machines by clicking on a server list window with the right mouse button, and then selecting the desired window type from the pop-up menu.
In the 32-bit version, you open windows by clicking the appropriate button on the toolbar.
You can also use the Window pull-down menu to open list windows.
Points to remember:
- Clicking on a list with the right mouse button displays a pop-up menu of functions you can perform on items in the list.
- Double clicking on an item in a list displays more information about the item. If the item can be exploded into a more detailed list, then double clicking opens a more detailed list for the item.
For example: Double-clicking on an entry in a package list displays detailed information about the package. Double clicking on an entry in a library list opens an object list for that library. Double clicking on a data base file entry in an object list opens a member list for that file.
- Context-sensitive help is available throughout RSF Express by pressing F1.
To run RSF Express, double-click on the RSF Express icon in Program Manager.
The first time you run RSF Express, no list windows will be open. You might begin by performing the following steps:
- Double-click on the Home Machine icon to display the pop-up menu. Select "Server List" from the menu to open a server list for your machine. The server list will initially be empty and you will be prompted to refresh it. Select OK to refresh the list.
- Double-click on the Home Machine icon again to display the pop-up menu. Select "Library List" to open a list of libraries on your machine.
- Double-click on one of the libraries in the list of libraries to open an object list for that library.
- Select a server location from the server list and minimize the list. You can use server LOCAL to treat your own machine as a remote server location. When LOCAL is specified, requests are sent back to your own machine without using a communications line or modem.
- Select one or more objects from the object list; drag and drop the objects onto the server icon. This initiates the process of sending the objects to the server machine. You will be prompted for confirmation and additional parameters.
To open lists of information for a remote machine:
- Locate your server list. If it's minimized, double-click on the icon to return the list to normal size.
- Select an entry from the server list.
- Click on the server list with the right mouse button. A pop-up menu is displayed allowing you to open lists for the remote location. Remote lists take longer to open because the data for the list must first be retrieved from the remote machine.
- Once you have opened a library, object, member, output queue or spooled file list for the remote machine, retrieve items back to your machine by selecting the items from the list and then dragging and dropping onto the Home Machine icon.
To run RSF Express, click Start and then click on RSF Express.
The first time you run RSF Express, no list windows will be open. You might begin by performing the following steps:
- If you will be using TCP/IP to connect to the AS/400, click the
button on the toolbar to add a new TCP/IP connection definition.
- Click the
button on the toolbar to open a new server list. The server list will initially be empty and you will be prompted to refresh it. Click OK to refresh the list.
- Click the
button on the toolbar to open a list of libraries on your machine.
- Double-click on one of the libraries in the list of libraries to open an object list for that library.
- Select a server location from the server list and minimize the list. You can use server
LOOPBACK or LOCAL to treat your own machine as a remote server location. When
either server is specified, requests are sent back to your own machine without using a communications line or modem.
- Select one or more objects from the object list; drag and drop the objects onto the server icon. This initiates the process of sending the objects to the server machine. You will be prompted for confirmation and additional parameters.
To open lists of information for a remote machine:
- Locate your server list. If it's minimized, double-click on the icon to return the list to full size.
- Select an entry from the server list.
- Click on the server list with the right mouse button. A pop-up menu is displayed allowing you to open lists for the remote location. Remote lists take longer to open because the data for the list must first be retrieved from the remote machine.
- Once you have opened a library, object, member, output queue or spooled file list for the remote machine, retrieve items back to your machine by selecting the items from the list and then dragging and dropping onto the RSF Express desktop.