py3270 0.1.2

A Python interface to x3270, an IBM 3270 terminal emulator

Intro

py3270 is a Python interface to x3270, an IBM 3270 terminal emulator. It provides an API to a x3270 or s3270 subprocess.

Example

A brief example of usage:

from py3270 import EmulatorBase

class Emulator(EmulatorBase):
    x3270_executable = '/fake/x3270'
    s3270_executable = '/fake/s3270'

# use x3270 so you can see what is going on
em = Emulator(visible=True)

# or not (uses s3270)
em = Emulator()

em.connect('3270host.example.com')
em.fill_field(17, 23, 'mylogin', 8)
em.fill_field(18, 23, 'mypass', 8)
em.send_enter()

# if your host unlocks the keyboard before truly being ready you can use:
em.wait_for_field()

# maybe look for a status message
if not em.string_found(1, 2, 'login succesful'):
    abort()

# do something useful

# disconnect from host and kill subprocess
em.terminate()

Documentation

None. Read the code, its pretty self-explanatory :)

More information on x3270/s3270 can be found at:

• http://x3270.bgp.nu/

• http://x3270.bgp.nu/x3270-man.html

• http://x3270.bgp.nu/s3270-man.html

• http://x3270.bgp.nu/x3270-script.html

Questions & Comments

Please visit: http://groups.google.com/group/blazelibs

Current Status

The interface seems sound, but the Emulator class has only basic functionality. There are more x3270 commands that the Emulator could have methods for. That being said, I believe most x3270 functionality can be supported at a lower-level by the use of Emulator.exec_command().

The py3270 tip is installable via easy_install with easy_install py3270==dev.

Change Log

0.1.1 released 2011-12-05

• renamed Emulator to EmulatorBase to make it clearer that a subclass is needed

• adjusted readme

0.1.0 released 2011-12-01

• initial release