Best 3270 Access Software

Top 3270 Emulation Belongs To NetSoft

Over the past couple of years, 3270 emulation in Windows has become a commodity item. Not only does every SNA gateway have an emulator, but also almost every TCP/IP stack now comes with the TN3270 variant. All of the major 3270 emulation products support all of the available SNA gateways and SNA protocols, and most legacy system users typically take what matches their SNA gateway.
More demanding sites have a very short list of requirements that quickly narrow the field to a handful of products. These requirements include: true 3270 keyboard maps as the default; function-rich scripting and DDE capabilities; and support for all of those old DOS-only systems that just seem to hang around.
While we were surprised to find that NetSoft's DynaComm/Elite was winning a majority of product evaluations, from a functionality standpoint it's actually no surprise at all. Its key differentiating factor is its ability to control the Windows environment. Security is a growing concern for organizations, and with DynaComm/Elite you can control the security on the workstation through mainframe security systems.
DynaComm/Elite started as a blending of NetSoft's asynchronous terminal emulation and Open Connect Systems 3270 expertise. The result: a package that has matured considerably from those beginnings, and one that is recognized as having the best Windows calls function by those who have to write the scripts and programs.
Attachmate's EXTRA for Windows and Wall Data's RUMBA for the Mainframe are worthy runners-up. EXTRA has long been the prod uct to emulate (so to speak). Its partnering with Novell and recent acquisition of DCA has made it a key 3270 emulation player.
Wall Data lead the fray into Windows 3270 applications. It has continually enhanced and expanded its product to yield a single-user interface to multiple platforms.

DynaComm/Elite, from $395, NetSoft,
31 Technology Dr., Second Fl., Irvine, CA 92718. (714) 753-0800; fax (714) 753-0480.

Runners-Up
RUMBA for the Mainframe (WIN), Wall Data, 11332 N.E. 122 Way, Kirkland, WA 98034.
(206) 814-9255; fax (206) 814-4300.

Attachmate EXTRA for Windows 4.1, Attachmate Corp.,
3617 131 Ave. Southeast,
Bellvue, WA 98006.
(206) 644-4010; fax (206) 649-6040.