Introduction

The Z and I Emulator for Transformation (ZIETrans) Toolkit offers many tools for creating and customizing rich client platform (RCP) ZIETrans applications that provide an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) for your character-based 3270 or 5250 host applications. ZIETrans rich client applications can be developed to run in an Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) implementation to provide native client applications targeted for an end user's desktop. ZIETrans can also be used to create service-oriented architecture (SOA) assets from logic contained in your character based 3270, 5250, or VT applications.

Because ZIETrans rich client applications are Java™ programs that are deployed as Eclipse plug-ins, you should be familiar with following topics to create your own ZIETrans rich client applications:
  • Java programming
  • Eclipse plugin development
  • Standard Widgets Toolkit (SWT), which is the graphical user interface toolkit used by Eclipse
If not, refer to the following technical documentation:
  • Java Tutorials
  • Eclipse documentation
You might find that your ZIETrans application requires some additional function that you cannot add using the wizards and editors in ZIETrans Toolkit and Eclipse. This Rich Client Platform Programmer's Guide explains several ways that you can extend your ZIETrans application with additional programming. It also assumes that you are familiar with basic ZIETrans concepts such as:
  • How ZIETrans processes host screens
  • Creating a transformation using components and widgets
  • Events and actions
  • Using global variables
  • Recording a macro

If you are not already familiar with any of these topics, refer to the information about them in ZIETrans User's and Administrator's Guide so that you will have the necessary background to make good use of the information in this book. You should also be familiar with using Eclipse to create rich client applications.

This Rich Client Platform Programmer's Guide describes ways to enhance your ZIETrans application by programming. You can:
  • Extend the workbench classes provided by ZIETrans to customize the workbench window where your application is running.
  • Customize the transformation view of your application, by extending the view class provided in your plug-in project.
  • Programmatically interact with a ZIETrans session. For example, send a command from another Eclipse view.
  • Add new host components or widgets to be used in transformations by extending the existing host components and widgets. See for more information.
  • Customize the perspective of your application.

When enhancing your applications, you might find that you need to edit some of the Java source files. Eclipse documentation can help you with this task.