POISE-SkyLite User Guide - Palmer College of Chiropractic, Intranet ...

INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1
In order for a terminal to communicate successfully with a host, the terminal must speak
the same language as the host. Terminal emulation software such as SkyLite enables the
PC to do this. It allows a PC to act like a particular brand of terminal, for example a
VT320. The PC appears as a terminal to the host computer and accepts the same escape
sequences for functions such as cursor positioning and clearing the screen.
A terminal emulator enables you to connect to one or more hosts across different
networks using many different emulations. To enable your terminal emulator to connect
to a host across a network, you need to have the correct protocol software loaded onto
both your PC and the host. Protocol software, often called a stack, gives your PC the
right information to be able to send data across a network. The host also needs to have
protocol software to be able to interpret the data.
A protocol is a set of formal rules, rather like a language, which enables communications
between hosts and PCs. TCP/IP is a common protocol used with SkyLite.
Note: Choosing the WinSock network option in SkyLite allows your PC to talk to the
TCP/IP, as long as your host has the correct software.
When you make a connection to a host from your PC using SkyLite, you open what is
called a session. In SkyLite, you can create a new session, save a session, open an existing
session, have more than one session running at once, and switch between open sessions.
This is much like opening a new file.
When you create a new session, you have to tell SkyLite which software protocol you
have installed on your PC and the host, and which emulation you are using.
Getting Started
The following sections of this chapter give you an overview of SkyLite’s features, and the
other chapters deal with SkyLite in more detail.
If you want to dive straight in, turn to the Quick Start Section on page 9.
SkyLite Features
SkyLite brings data from host applications into your familiar Windows- and DOS- based
spreadsheets, word processors and other programs. Using SkyLite as a terminal emulator,
you can achieve connectivity immediately. However, SkyLite is not just a terminal
emulator. It is easy to install and configure, disguising the sophistication of the solution.
Once you’re set up, it’s simple and intuitive to use.
You can configure host session files and save them for reuse by all users across LANs.
Sessions are network links between your computer and remote hosts.
The following topics describe some of the features of SkyLite.
See page 57.
See page 32.
Hotspots
A hotspot is text on the screen that has been programmed into the host application so
that when you move the mouse pointer over the text and click the right button, a
particular function is activated. You can use hotspots to add mouse pointer positioning
with a full screen editor, and you can add the ability to point and click on words and
functions on the screen.
These features need to be configured on your PC and do not require any changes to the
host program.
Customizing Your Keyboard
You can customize your keyboard by using the Keyboard Mapping option to define
functions for PC keys pressed. You can also map keys to macros or specific character
strings.
8 POISE-SkyLite User Guide