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.
Table 3: BlueZone script types
| File extension |
Script type |
| .BZS |
BlueZone proprietary script |
| .VBS |
VBScript |
| .JS |
JavaScript |
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 menu bar by selecting and selecting 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
|
• |
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
|
• |
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 and Debugger (bsh.exe) application which is launched from the BlueZone menu bar by clicking and selecting the desired script. Selecting a script that ends in either .vbs or .js script results in the launching of the BlueZone Script Host and Debugger application with the requested script displayed
in the editing region.
Advantages
|
• |
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
|
• |
They require a working knowledge of VBScript or JavaScript. |
Refer to the BlueZone Advanced Automation Developer's Guide for more information on the BlueZone Script Host, BlueZone Script Host and Debugger, and the BlueZone Dialog Editor.