Introduction

Using the Display Interface

BlueZone Scripts

Introduction

BlueZone Scripts can be recorded in either a proprietary format or in a text based format recorded in either VBScript or JavaScript.

BlueZone Proprietary Scripts are targeted at users with a basic understanding of scripting and logic but without skill sets required to write and edit VBScripts or JavaScripts.

BlueZone Text Based Scripts are targeted at users who wish to leverage their proficiency with either VBScript or JavaScript and want to take advantage of being able to write and edit BlueZone scripts in a scripting language that they already know.

The type of script desired is selected at the time when the script is created by selecting the desired file extension.

BlueZone Script File Extensions

File Extension	Script Type
.BZS	BlueZone Proprietary Script
.VBS	VBScript
.JS	JavaScript

The pros and cons of BlueZone proprietary formatted vs. BlueZone text formatted scripts are discussed at the end of each topic below.

BlueZone Proprietary Script Format

BlueZone Proprietary Scripts are recorded and played back using a proprietary method. Scripts are typically created by recording keystrokes, but can be edited later to change the desired playback. Scripts are edited using the BlueZone Script Editor (bzse.exe) application which is launched from the BlueZone MenuBar by selecting Script:Edit and choosing the desired script. Choosing a script that ends in .bzs will result in the launching of the BlueZone Script Editor application with the requested script displayed in the editing region as shown in illustration 10-1 below.

BlueZone Script Editor is a GUI tool allowing users to drag Script Events into the Script flow, change the order of events, and delete previously recorded events. BlueZone Scripts support a proprietary mechanism called Wait_Ready that ensures the host is ready to accept input, even when using TN3270 or TN3270E.

Advantages of BlueZone Proprietary Scripts are:

They are easy to record.
They are easy to edit with BlueZone Script Editor.
They are keyboard lock state aware.
They support advanced functions like wait for, watch for, text input, etc.
They can execute other programs using the Run command.
They can run BlueZone Menu commands, ex; Copy, Paste, Print Screen.
They can accept variables passed from a BlueZone Web to Host Object Tag. ex: Login ID and Password generated dynamically by the web application and used to sign the user into the mainframe.

Disadvantages of BlueZone Scripts are:

They do not support text input variables.
They do not support file I/O.
There is no external application integration.

BlueZone Text Based Scripts

BlueZone Text Based Scripts can be written or recorded in either VBScript or JavaScript. Scripts are typically created by recording keystrokes, but can be edited later to change the desired playback. Scripts are edited using the BlueZone Script Host & Debugger (bsh.exe) application which is launched from the BlueZone MenuBar by selecting Script:Edit and choosing the desired script. Choosing a script that ends in either .vbs or .js script will result in the launching of the BlueZone Script Host & Debugger application with the requested script displayed in the editing region.

Advantages of BlueZone Text Based Scripts are:

They are easy to record or can be written from scratch.
They can be written in VBScript or JavaScript
They are easy to edit with BlueZone Script Host & Debugger.
They support unique BlueZone methods which control the behavior of BlueZone.

Disadvantages of BlueZone Text Based Scripts are:

They require a working knowledge of VBScript or JavaScript.

SEE The BlueZone Advanced Automation Guide for more information on the BlueZone Script Host and BlueZone Script Host & Debugger and also the BlueZone Dialog Editor.

TIP All BlueZone documentation can be found on the BlueZone CD-ROM or BlueZone CD image. To locate a particular document, double click the DocumentationRoadmap.htm document located in the root of the BlueZone CD-ROM or BlueZone CD image.