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Understanding bidirectional language support (Arabic and Hebrew)

Understanding bidirectional Arabic support
Understanding bidirectional Hebrew support
Understanding bidirectional editing functions
Bidirectional support for Copy As Table
Understanding bidirectional support for Database On-Demand
Remapping bidirectional keys
Setting the ScrRev key function
Summarizing shortcut keys
Configuring a CICS Gateway session
Macro Support With BIDI Sessions
Bidirectional support for FTP client in UTF-8 mode
Printing
Unicode Support for OS/400 using Coded Character Set Identifiers
Bidirectional support of Codepage Converter
Understanding the limitations of bidirectional support
 
 
  • Help for VT bidirectional language support (Arabic and Hebrew) is available.
  • To use bidirectional support with the Alternate Terminal interface, you need an Arabic operating system to support an Arabic graphical user interface session or a Hebrew operating system to support a Hebrew graphical user interface session.

Understanding bidirectional Arabic support

Understanding bidirectional Arabic limitations
Using installation tips
Configuring a workstation
Transferring files
Understanding bidirectional keyboard functions for 3270
Setting the Arabic character shape selection functions
Configuring Host On-Demand for iSeries
Understanding Operator Information Area (OIA) indicators
Allocate space for LamAlef
With code page 1388 (Simplified Chinese Extended) Arabic characters are displayed from left to right.

Understanding bidirectional Arabic limitations

The bidirectional Text Assist Function is not supported for Host On-Demand for iSeries. Therefore, you cannot run bidirectional OfficeVision/400.

Using installation tips

If the active font control file does not include the Arabic character set, copy one of the properties files listed below to replace font.properties.ar. The font.properties.ar file is located in one of the following directories: The new properties files are located in the hostondemand\hod\samples\fonts\bidi directory. Right-click one of the links below to download the appropriate file.

Configuring a workstation

For a Host On-Demand server installation, first you must customize an Arabic HTML file using the Deployment Wizard. To customize a HTML file for Arabic, set the appropriate code page.

Setting the code page

To set the appropriate code page:
  1. Click Preload Options on the Additional Options window in the Deployment Wizard.
  2. Select Codepages2 in the preload tree.
  3. Select Arabic.

Configuring an Arabic session

To configure a workstation for Arabic, set the appropriate code page and enable numeric or symmetric swapping.

Setting the code page

To set the appropriate code page:
  1. Right-click a 3270 or 5250 configured session icon.
  2. Click Properties.
  3. Select 420 Arabic Speaking for the Host Code Page.
  4. Click Page Setup in the tree view and either select the bitmap font ARB3270 to be the active font for display or leave the default font, Courier, which is the system font.

 
For Host On-Demand for Windows 95 you can also select ARB3270 for printers with drivers that allow bitmap fonts. 

Setting the swapping option

To set numeric or symmetric swapping for Arabic:
  1. Click View.
  2. Add a checkmark next to the Numeric Swapping or Symmetric Swapping option.

  3. Changes are immediately reflected in the active session.
     
     
    Numeric swapping is a 3270-only feature and is not available for an iSeries session. 

Transferring files

For Arabic, when transferring files between the PC and the host, the available PC code pages are:

Unicode Transfer options (UTF-8 and UCS2) are not available in the PC code page list. To enable Unicode Transfer options, in the Receive Text File or Send Text File Options on the OS/400 tree view in the File Transfer Defaults window, replace the keyword ASCII with either Unicode (UTF8) or Unicode (UCS2), depending on the user requirement.

Unicode transfer options are available only in 5250 sessions.

To set the Bidi properties:

  1. Click Actions > File Transfer Defaults.
  2. Select the appropriate PC code page.
  3. Select the Bidi settings:

Visual PC File Type is only highlighted for PC code page 864, AIX-1046, and Unicode. Select a PC code page first, then select the PC file type.

If you select Visual PC File Type during Unicode Transfer, Arabic data is received in the shaped FE range. Otherwise, Arabic data is received in the 06 isolated range.

  • For Lam-Alef Expansion, check the On checkbox.
  • For Lam-Alef Compression, check the On checkbox.

  • Lam-Alef options are valid for only PC Codepage 1256, AIX-1089, and Unicode with PC file Type not Visual.
  • For Symmetric Swapping Option Enabled, check the On checkbox.
  • For Round Trip Option Enabled, check the On checkbox.

  • The Round Trip option disables the reversal of numerals if preceded by Arabic characters.
  • Select the appropriate Numerals Shape: nominal, national, or contextual.
  • Click OK. Changes are saved for each session.
  • If you don't set Bidi settings, the following defaults are used:

    Understanding bidirectional keyboard functions for 3270

    This section describes the keys and functions that are unique to bidirectional 3270 for Arabic. These key combinations are identical to previous versions of 3270.

    The keys unique to bidirectional 3270 are:

    Language selection
    The key combination Ctrl+N or Ctrl+L allows you to change the language layer. If the language layer is Latin, pressing Ctrl+N changes the language layer to Arabic. If the language layer is Arabic, pressing Ctrl+L changes the language layer to Latin.
    Screen reverse
    The key combination Ctrl+S reverses the screen image. If the screen orientation is left-to-right, pressing Ctrl+S reverses the screen image right-to-left. If the screen orientation is right-to-left, pressing Ctrl+S reverses the screen image to left-to-right.

     
    Screen reverse does not reverse the operator information area.

    When the screen orientation is changed, the language layer changes to the default language of the new screen orientation. If the screen is reversed to right-to-left, the language changes to Arabic. If the screen is reversed to left-to-right, then the language changes to Latin.
    If the swapping of symmetric characters is enabled, the inversion of the screen causes directional characters to be replaced by their counterparts.
    If the swapping of numeric characters is enabled, the inversion of the screen causes Hindi numerals to be replaced by their Arabic counterparts and the Arabic numerals to be replaced by their Hindi counterparts.

    Field reverse
    The key combination Ctrl+F toggles the field orientation to either opposite to or the same as the screen orientation. In most cases, the field direction is the same as the general screen direction. However, sometimes it is necessary to have a field whose direction is the opposite of the screen direction. The Field Reverse function allows such transitions. When this function is activated, the typing direction reverses, but the existing text in the field and the screen image do not change. When activated, this function creates a temporary change which stays in effect as long as the cursor remains within the field, or until Field Reverse is activated again.
    If the function is activated while the cursor is at the beginning of a line or field, the cursor jumps to the end of the line or field, so that the reversed field begins logically from that position. Otherwise, the cursor remains in its position and allows natural and correct editing of existing texts whose direction is the opposite of the screen direction.
    Auto field reverse
    The key combination Ctrl+R toggles the auto field reverse mode for the current screen orientation.

    Auto field reverse affects the automatic selection of the field orientation of unprotected fields:
    Push and end push
    This function is activated by the key combination Ctrl+P and allows the entering and editing of text whose direction is opposite from the field direction. When this function is activated, the cursor orientation is reversed, the language layer is changed accordingly, and a push segment is created.

    End push, activated by the Ctrl+O (the letter "O") key sequence, ends the push mode.
     
     
    In Windows mode, push is also activated by the Shift+NumLock key sequence and end push is also activated by the Shift+NumPad/ key sequence.

    When you end the push mode, the cursor jumps to the end of the push segment, and its direction changes to the original direction. You can also perform end push by pressing any field exit keys (for example, Cursor Up or Cursor Down) or an aid key (for example, Enter).

    The push function has two secondary modes:

    Boundary mode
    This mode is activated upon entering push mode. In this mode, the cursor remains in its position, and the typing of additional characters pushes the text in the direction opposite from the field direction. To indicate this boundary mode, the cursor has a block shape.
    Edit mode
    This mode is activated when the cursor is moved from its boundary position into the push segment area. In this mode, you can edit the text within the push segment, while typing in the field's natural direction.
    AutoPush
    This function is activated by the key combination Ctrl+A and helps the terminal operator type mixed left-to-right and right-to-left text. When enabled, reversed segments are automatically started and ended, according to the entered character or the selected language layer. This mode relieves the operator from manually pressing Push, as it is automatically invoked.

     
    • In right-to-left fields, typing a digit or a Latin letter causes the automatic initiation of push, without language change. Further Latin letters or digits will continue the push mode; any other character automatically terminates push mode. This feature allows you to type Arabic text with embedded numbers or Latin words without using push or end push.
    • In left-to-right fields, typing an Arabic character or special character causes the automatic initiation of push, without language change. Typing any digit or Latin character causes the automatic termination of the mode. This allows you to type Latin text with embedded Arabic words using language layer selection rather than push and end push.

    Setting the Arabic character shape selection functions

    There are five shape selection keys: one for Contextual Shape Determination (CSD) and four for Specific Shaping modes (Base/Isolated, Initial, Middle, Final). The default Shaping Mode is CSD.

    The keys unique to bidirectional 3270 are:

    Contextual Shape Determination (CSD) key
    Pressing this key sets the shaping mode to Contextual Shape Determination (CSD), which is the default. Note that contextual shape determination is performed only for right-to-left text entered or modified by the operator. This key toggles between CSD and Base mode.

    Pressing any of the Specific shape selection keys disables CSD.

    The character Alef-Madda in the operator information area indicates that CSD is selected. This function is initiated by the key combination Ctrl+D.

    Specific Shape Selection keys:
    Pressing one of the above keys disables CSD and sets shaping mode to the selected value. Arabic letters subsequently typed will have the selected shape.

    Some Arabic characters do not have middle, initial, or final shapes. In this case, if you enter one of those characters where the requested shape does not exist, the closest shape is selected according to the following rules:

    The selected Shaping Mode is shown in the operator information area:
    Field shape key
    Pressing the key combination Ctrl= causes the shaping of the Arabic data present in the current field or line. The cursor position remains unchanged.
    Field de-shape key
    The key combination Ctrl- de-shapes the Arabic data present in the current field or line. All Arabic letters are converted to their Base/Isolated shapes.

    Configuring Host On-Demand for iSeries

    The keys and functions unique to bidirectional Host On-Demand for iSeries are:
    Language selection
    This function is activated by the key combination Ctrl+N or Ctrl+L and allows the changing of the language layer. If the language layer is Latin, pressing the Ctrl+N key combination changes the language layer to Arabic. If the language layer is Arabic, pressing the Ctrl+L key combination changes the language layer to Latin.
    Screen reverse
    This function is activated by the key combination Ctrl+S and reverses the screen image. If the screen orientation is left-to-right, pressing this key combination changes the screen image to right-to-left. If the screen orientation is right-to-left, pressing this key combination reverses the screen image to left-to-right.


    Note that the operator information area is not reversed by this operation.

    When the screen orientation is changed, the language layer changes to the default language of the new screen orientation. If the screen is reversed to right-to-left, the language changes to Arabic. If the screen is reversed to left-to-right, the language changes to Latin.

    The inversion of the screen causes directional characters to be replaced by their counterparts.

    Field reverse
    This function is activated by the key combination Ctrl+F and toggles the field orientation to either left-to-right or right-to-left. The text in the field is not inverted. The cursor orientation is set equal to the new field orientation and the language layer is selected accordingly.

    If the cursor is in the first logical position of a field or line and you select the field reverse function, the cursor skips to the other side of that field or line, which now becomes the first logical position. If the cursor is not in the first position of the field or line and you select the field reverse function, the cursor remains in its position and allows natural and correct editing of existing text.
    Close
    This function is activated by the key combination Ctrl+C and is provided so that the data entered in one keying direction can be concatenated with the data that was previously entered in the opposite direction. It operates as follows:
    Base
    This function is activated by the key combination Ctrl+B and is a toggle that activates or deactivates the Automatic Shape determination function for Arabic right-to-left text. It is valid only when processing right-to-left Arabic text. If it is pressed in a left-to-right field, an operator error 0027 results.

    Understanding Operator Information Area (OIA) indicators

    In the host session, the bottom line of the screen is called the Operator Information Area (OIA). This line is always displayed from left-to-right. For the Arabic environment, the following symbols have been added:

    Allocate space for LamAlef

    5250 session

    The Lam-Alef character is traditionally stored as a single character in files tagged with visual CCSID 420. To comply with the Implicit representation new CCSIDs introduced to the iSeries, the Bidi layout engine converts between Visual and implicit representation. This expands <Lam-Alef> ligature in visual representation to <lam> and <Alef> in implicit representation, consuming the spaces at the end of Arabic text, for example, the beginning of the English field.

    When the <Lam-Alef> is converted to implicit format and the blank spaces at the beginning of the field are not sufficient to expand into <Lam> and <Alef> it is lost and replaced by the <SUB> control character.

    Solution

    Leave a blank space at the beginning of the field for each typed Lam-Alef character and prevent users from entering data there, as the layout engine uses the blank space to expand the <Lam-Alef> character.

    This new behavior is supported only by Host On-Demand emulation and not by the terminal.

    The following example illustrates the intended behavior.

    Example

    To enable Allocate space for LamAlef, click Language in the 5250 Display session tree view. On the Language window, click On for Allocate space for LamAlef.

    Limitations

    Understanding bidirectional Hebrew support

    The bidirectional Hebrew support in 3270 enables the program to emulate an English/Hebrew 3270 display terminal. Special language and bidirectional functions are added to the list of standard functions supported by the emulation program.

    Setting a font control file
    Configuring a workstation
    Transferring files
    Understanding Hebrew and bidirectional functions
    Summarizing bidirectional key combinations for 3270
    Summarizing bidirectional key combinations for 5250 sessions
    Understanding the Operator Information Area (OIA) in terminal emulation mode
    Understanding the keyboard layout

    With code page 1388 (Simplified Chinese Extended) Arabic characters are displayed from left to right.

    If you use code page 1388 (Simplified Chinese) to view Arabic text, then the Arabic characters are displayed in the wrong order (from left to right instead of from right to left).

    The reason is that Host On-Demand's DBCS code does not support bidirectional input and display.

    The solution is to configure the session to use an Arabic code page instead of code page 1388 (Simplified Chinese Extended).

    Setting a font control file

    If the active font control file does not include the Hebrew character set, or if you have any problems with Hebrew characters appearing, copy the properties file listed below to replace font.properties.iw. The font.properties.iw file is located in one of the following directories: The new properties file is located in the hostondemand\hod\samples\fonts\bidi directory. Right-click the link font.properties.iw.win to download the file for Windows.

    Configuring a workstation

    For a Host On-Demand server installation, first you must customize a Hebrew HTML file using the Deployment Wizard. To customize the HTML file for Hebrew, set the appropriate code page.

    Setting the code page

    1. Click Preload Options on the Additional Options window of the Deployment Wizard.
    2. Select Codepages2 in the Preload tree.
    3. Click Hebrew.

    Configuring a Hebrew session

    To configure a workstation for Hebrew, set the appropriate code page and font.
    1. Right-click a 3270 or 5250 configured session icon.
    2. Click Properties.
    3. Select 424 Hebrew (New Code) or 803 Hebrew (Old Code) for the Host Code Page.
    4. Click Font in the session properties tree view and either select the bitmap font HEB3270 to be the active font for display or leave the default font, Courier, which is the system font.

    Transferring files

    For Hebrew, when transferring files between the PC and the host, the available PC code pages are: Unicode Transfer options (UTF-8 and UCS2) are not available in the PC code page list. To enable Unicode Transfer options, complete the following:

    In the Receive Text File or Send Text File Options on the OS/400 tree view in the File Transfer Defaults window, replace the keyword ASCII with either Unicode (UTF8) or Unicode (UCS2), depending on the user requirement.

    Unicode Transfer options are available only in 5250 sessions.

    To set the Bidi properties:

    1. Click Actions > File Transfer Defaults.
    2. Select the appropriate PC code page.
    3. Select the Bidi settings:
    4. Click OK. Changes are saved for each session.
    If you don't set Bidi settings, the following defaults are used:

    Understanding Hebrew and bidirectional functions

    3270 can run as a native Windows application. The layout and user-interface functions in the Windows-based product conform to the IBM user-interface standard (SAA/CUA); they are similar to the layout and functions implemented in other IBM products, such as OS/2.

    The functions and key sequences for Hebrew are:

    Language selection
    The key combination Ctrl+N or Ctrl+L allows you to change the language layer. If the language layer is Latin, pressing Ctrl+N changes the language layer to Hebrew. If the language layer is Hebrew, pressing Ctrl+L changes the language layer to Latin.
    Screen reverse
    The key combination Ctrl+S reverses the screen image. If the screen direction is left-to-right, the screen image is inverted and displayed from right-to-left. Pressing this hot-key again returns the screen to its original direction, left-to-right. When the screen orientation is changed, the language layer changes to the default language of the new screen orientation. If the screen is changed to right-to-left, the language changes to Hebrew. If the screen is changed to left-to-right, the language changes to Latin.

     
    Screen reverse does not reverse the operator information area.
    Field reverse
    The key combination Ctrl+F toggles the field orientation to either opposite to or the same as the screen orientation. In most cases, the field direction is the same as the general screen direction. However, sometimes it is necessary to have a field whose direction is the opposite of the screen direction. The Field Reverse function allows such transitions. When this function is activated, the typing direction reverses, but the existing text in the field and the screen image do not change. When activated, this function creates a temporary change which stays in effect as long as the cursor remains within the field, or until Field Reverse is activated again.

     

     

    If the function is activated while the cursor is at the beginning of a line or field, the cursor jumps to the end of the line or field, so that the reversed field begins logically from that position. Otherwise, the cursor remains in its position and allows natural and correct editing of existing texts whose direction is the opposite of the screen direction.

    Auto field reverse
    The key combination Ctrl+R sets the field orientation for you when you are entering data for mixed applications (Hebrew and English). This is done by automatically activating the Field Reverse function. The Auto Field Reverse mode is activated by the Ctrl+R key sequence, and can be applied independently for each screen orientation, left-to-right or right-to-left.
    Initially, the auto field reverse option functions when the screen direction is right-to-left, and does not function when the screen direction is left-to-right. To terminate the auto field reverse mode, press Ctrl+R again.
    Push and end push
    The key combination Shift+NumLock enables you to type or edit text whose direction is the opposite of the field direction. When this function is activated the cursor orientation reverses, the language layer changes accordingly, and a push segment is created.


    End push, activated by the Shift+NumPad/ key sequence, terminates the temporary mode. The cursor jumps to the end of the push segment, and its direction reverts to that of the field.

    The push function has two secondary modes:

    Boundary mode
    This mode activates upon entering the push mode. In this mode, the cursor remains in its position, and the typing of additional characters pushes the text in the direction opposite to the field direction. To indicate this boundary mode, the cursor shape changes.
    Edit mode
    This mode activates when the cursor is moved from its boundary position into the push segment area. In this mode, you can change the text within the push segment, while typing in the text's natural direction.
    Autopush
    The key combination Ctrl+A makes work easier and more efficient when typing mixed text - Hebrew and English. When this mode is enabled, reverse segments initiate and terminate automatically, according to the entered character or the selected language layer. It relieves the operator from manually selecting push and end push. Autopush is especially useful for typing digits in Hebrew fields (right-to-left fields). The Autopush mode is activated by the Ctrl+A key sequence; it can be applied independently to fields whose direction is left-to-right or right-to-left. In this mode, the push and end push functions automatically activate according to the language of the text being typed. There is no need to worry about starting and stopping the push mode manually.

    Summarizing bidirectional key combinations for 3270


     
    Function Combination
    Hebrew language Ctrl+N
    English language Ctrl+L
    Screen reverse Ctrl+S
    Field reverse Ctrl+F
    Auto field reverse Ctrl+R
    Push Shift+NumLock
    End push Shift+NumPad/
    Autopush Ctrl+A

    Summarizing bidirectional key combinations for 5250 sessions


     
    Function Combination
    Hebrew language Ctrl+N
    English language Ctrl+L
    Reverse Ctrl+R
    Close Ctrl+C
    Screen reverse Ctrl+S
    Hebrew language
    Same meaning as in 3270
    English language
    Same meaning as in 3270
    Reverse
    Pressing this key allows the operator to reverse the current cursor direction. It functions as follows:
    Close
    By pressing this key, data entered in one key direction is joined with data that was previously entered in the opposite direction:
    Screen reverse
    Same meaning as in 3270

    Understanding the Operator Information Area (OIA) in terminal emulation mode

    In the host session, the bottom line of the screen becomes an Operator Information Area (OIA). This line is always displayed from left to right. For the Hebrew environment, the following symbols have been added:

    Understanding the keyboard layout

    Two Hebrew keyboard templates (Bulletin and Old Code) are supplied with the product. The Old-Code template is similar to the Bulletin template, with the following exceptions:

    Understanding bidirectional editing functions

    To use the bidirectional cut, copy, and paste functions:
    1. Right-click a configured session icon.
    2. Click Properties.
    3. Select the bidirectional Host Code Page.
    4. Click Language.
    5. Select the appropriate values for:
    6. Click OK.
    To change the cut, copy, and paste settings in an active Host On-Demand session:
    1. Click Edit > Text Type > Text Orientation, Numeral Shape, or Round Trip
    2. Select the appropriate values for bidirectional cut, copy, and paste:
    Note: Round Trip disables the reversal of numerals if preceded by Arabic characters.
     
     
    The Numeral Shape menu option is available for Arabic sessions only.

    Bidirectional support for Copy As Table

    MS Excel Arabic and Hebrew Edition has an option named Default Orientation. If Default Orientation is right-to-left, the order of pasted columns is reversed relatively to how they are pasted with left-to-right Default Orientation. To make the Copy As Table operation compatible with MS Excel Arabic and Hebrew Edition, you can reverse the table columns.

    To reverse the table columns, select Reverse Table Columns in the Edit window.

    Understanding bidirectional support for Database On-Demand

    Bidirectional conversion and layout is provided so the user can send and retrieve bidirectional data correctly.

    In Database On-Demand, the bidirectional support provides two functions:

    File upload
    This option enables the user to send bidirectional data to the iSeries. This data is converted from the PC code page to the iSeries code page, according to the PC file attributes, such as PC-File Type and PC-File Orientation as source attributes, and the field coded character set ID (CCSID) as target attribute. For example:
    CCSID 420 (Visual  LTR), CSSID 62224 (Logical RTL)
    The Database On-Demand detects the CCSID of the iSeries field automatically. However, the user needs to set the PC-File Type and PC-File Orientation attributes. Other PC file attributes default to:
    SQL wizard (to get the results of an SQL query as displayed records or as an output file)
    This option enables the user to retrieve bidirectional data from the iSeries. This data is converted from the iSeries code page to the PC code page, according to the PC file attributes, such as PC-File Type and PC-File Orientation as target attributes, and the field coded character set ID (CCSID) as source attribute. For example:
    420 (Visual  LTR), 62224 (Logical RTL)
    The Database On-Demand detects the CCSID of the iSeries field automatically. However, the user needs to set the PC-File Type and PC-File Orientation attributes. Other PC file attributes default to:
    The BiDi Option tab appears on the Database On-Demand User Options window if your system is configured for Arabic or Hebrew. This tab includes the following bidirectional options:
    PC-File Type
    This option specifies whether a transferred PC file is saved in logical or visual format. The default is Logical.
    PC-File Orientation
    This option specifies whether the transferred PC file is saved in left-to-right or right-to-left format. The default is Left-to-Right.

    Remapping bidirectional keys

    1. Right-click a configured session icon.
    2. Click Properties.
    3. Select the bidirectional Host Code Page.
    4. Click Keyboard Remap.
    5. Press the key you want to remap.
    6. Select the bidirectional function that you want to remap.
    The following bidirectional functions are available for 3270, 5250 and CICS bidirectional sessions:

    Summarizing shortcut keys

    To access functions that are often used, the following shortcut key combinations are available:
     
     
    Function Shortcut key
    JumpNext Ctrl+J
    Print Screen Ctrl+G
    Exit Ctrl+Q
    Cut Ctrl+X
    Copy Ctrl+Insert
    Paste Ctrl+V
    Select All Ctrl+K
    Send File to Host... Ctrl+Z
    Receive File from Host... Ctrl+Y
    Play Macro  Ctrl+O (the letter "O")
    Run Applet Ctrl+1
    Index Ctrl+H

    Setting the ScrRev key function

    For 3270, 5250 and CICS bidi sessions, clicking ScrRev reverses the screen image.

    Configuring a CICS Gateway session

    1. Right-click a configured session icon.
    2. Click Properties.
    3. Select a bidirectional CICS Gateway Code Page:
    4. Click OK.

    Related tasks

  • Understanding VT bidirectional language support (Arabic and Hebrew)
  • Macro Support with BIDI Sessions

    When creating variables, updating variables, or extracting from Presentation space to variables, the variables are stored in Implicit format.

    To correctly output BIDI data or variables to the Presentation Space using different MacroActions, complete one of the following:

    1. Disable Translation of Host Action Keys with the MacroAction

    2. In this case Transformation from Implicit Format to Visual Format (Presentation Space format) takes place, so the data will be displayed correctly on the Presentation Space.
    3. Enable Translation of Host Action Keys with the MacroAction

    4. The user must add appropriate BIDI Key Mnemonics within the Macro String, for example, Screen Reverse, Field Reverse, Push. In this case No Transformation from Implicit Format to Visual Format is done, as the data is sent by SendKeys() HACL method and data is processed Key-By-Key through Host On-Demand, that's why the user should insert the appropriate BIDI Key Mnemonics.

    Bidirectional support for the FTP client in UTF-8 mode

    File and directory names are passed to the FTP client as they are saved on the server. For example, files named on an AIX system using Logical VT terminal appear in incorrect order if the FTP client displays them in Visual mode. Therefore, when the FTP server is working in UTF-8 mode and the language is Arabic or Hebrew, the display mode should be Visual or Logical.

    The Host On-Demand FTP client attempts to set the display mode according to client and server platform types, but sometimes the server platform information is not available. In those cases, you can manually set bidirectional reordering.

    If you want the FTP client to perform bidirectional reordering, complete the following:

    1. Right-click on the FTP session and select Properties.
    2. Click Connection > Internationalization in the FTP session properties tree view.
    3. Click Yes for Force BIDI reordering.

    Printing in Arabic Sessions

    Configuring a 5250 printer session

    To configure a 5250 printer session, do the following:

    1. Right-click a 5250 Printer Session icon and click Properties.
    2. Select 420 Arabic Speaking Host Code Page.

    In the session window, complete the following:

    1. Specify that Host-Print Transform (HPT) will be used in the device description of a printer: Host print transform . . . . . . TRANSFORM        (*YES)
    2. Specify your printer type and model in the parameter: Manufacturer type and model  . . MFRTYPMDL (*_____________)
    3. Make sure the character identifier parameter is capable of handling Arabic language:
      Character identifier
      CHRID
      Graphic character set
      235
      Code page
      420
    4. Arabic support on 5250 Printer Session (HPT Mode) requires 864 font on printers.

    Configuring a 3270 printer session (PDT mode)

    To configure a 3270 printer session in PDT mode, do the following:

    1. Right-click a 3270 Printer Session icon and click Properties.
    2. Select 420 Arabic Speaking Host Code Page.
    3. Select Printer in the tree view.
    4. On the Printer window, click Other for Choose Windows Printer.
    5. Select the Printer Definition Table (PDT).

      If your printer is not included in the predefined Arabic PDT list, create an Arabic PDT file for an Arabic printer.

    6. Click OK.

    Arabic support on 3270 Printer Session (PDT mode) requires 864 font on printers. If your printers do not have 864 font, use GDI mode.

    Creating an Arabic PDT file for an Arabic printer

    If none of the pre-defined PDTs are acceptable, you can create a new one. To create a PDT, first create a printer definition file (PDF) and then compile it to create a PDT. To customize an existing PDF file for Arabic, you must first understand a PDF's structure and the types of statements.

    1. In Macro Definition, define a macro to a printer command that selects Arabic printer font.

      You can get the font escape sequences by printing out the font names from the printer menus. For example:

      /* Naseem ( 1 0 V ( s 0 p 1 5 h 9 v 0 s 0 b 3 T */ NSM EQU 1B 28 31 30 56 1B 28 73 30 70 31 35 68 39 76 30 73 30 62 33 54
    2. Add this macro to START_JOB in the Control Code section.

      For example:

      START_JOB=CUL CBP NSM /*Switch to Arabic Font */
    3. Save your new PDF file and copy it to the \pdfpdt\usrpdf directory.
    4. Run the PDT compiler to create a user-defined PDT file.

    Configuring a 3270 printer session (GDI mode)

    To configure a 3270 printer session in GDI mode, complete the following steps:

    1. Right-click a 3270 Printer Session icon and click Properties
    2. Select 420 Arabic speaking Host Code Page.
    3. Click Printer in the tree view.
    4. Set the Print To option to Windows Printer.
    5. Set the Use Printer Definition Table option to No.
    6. Click Page Setup in the tree view.
    7. Make sure the Font is Typing Arabic. If not, click Select Font and choose Typing Arabic from the font list.
    8. Click OK.

    Configuring a 3270 printer session (Adobe PDF mode)

    To configure a 3270 printer session in Adobe PDF mode, complete the following steps:

    1. Right-click a 3270 Printer Session icon and click Properties.
    2. Select 420 Arabic Speaking Host Code Page.
    3. Click Printer in the tree view and select File in the Print to list.
    4. Click Yes for Use Adobe PDF.
    5. Type output directory in the File Path and Name field.
    6. Click Page Setup in the tree view and on the Page Setup window, click Advanced Options.
    7. Select TypingArabic as the Font.
    8. Click OK.

    Related topics

    Printing Right-to-left files

    This option is only for 3270 Display and 3270 Printer sessions.

    A file created by an application on a RTL screen is displayed with reversed lines on a LTR screen. If you attempt to print the file, the lines print in reverse. To print the file as it appears on the RTL screen, click Language in the 3270 Printer session properties tree view and click Yes for Print RTL file. The default is No. In runtime, select File > Language and click Yes for Print RTL file.

    To print the file as it appears on the RTL screen for ZipPrint in a 3270 Display session, select File > ZipPrint > Language and click Yes for Print RTL file.

    Screen orientation for ZipPrint print screen does not depend on the current display screen orientation. To reverse screen with ZipPrint's Print Screen, click Yes for Print RTL file on the Language window.

    For Arabic sessions only, you can also specify Symmetric Swapping and Numeric Swapping in the same window. The functionality of Symmetric Swapping and Numeric Swapping is similar to display session. These functions are available only when you click Yes for Print RTL file.

    Printing Limitations

    Using special fonts for 3270 native Windows printing

    Arabic code pages
    Install the font Typing Arabic on your workstation. The font file, Typearb.ttf, is located in the lib\samples\fonts\BIDI subdirectory.
    Hebrew code pages
    For Hebrew code pages running on Windows without Hebrew support, install the font Cumberland Hebrew on the client and server. The font file, Cumrheb.ttf, is located in the lib\samples\fonts\BIDI subdirectory.

    Possible truncation in RTL print

    If the Characters per Inch and the Maximum Characters per Line parameters result in a greater number of characters per line than can appear in your printed area, then the rightmost characters will be truncated.

    Unicode Support for OS/400 using Coded Character Set Identifiers

    For general infomation and host and client requirements, refer to Unicode support for OS/400 using Coded Character Set Identifiers.

    BIDI support allows the user to display and type BIDI text in fields tagged with CCSID in BIDI sessions. CCSID-based entry field behave like normal BIDI Logical Text Fields. Therefore, 5250 BIDI-specific functions such as Field Reverse, Field Close, and Field Base are not supported.

    To switch the keyboard between BIDI and Latin, use the following shortcut keys:
    ShortCut Key
    Function
    Ctrl+N
    Switch Keyboard Layer to BIDI
    Ctrl+L
    Switch Keyboard Layer to Latin

    Contextual behaviour

    Tagged "CCSID " unicode fields have a contextual behavior for typing. When the user types the first Strong character as  "BIDI" character, Field orientation is RTL and vice versa.

    To disable this behavior in Right-to-Left fields, click Language in the 5250 Display session properties tree view. On the Language window, click On for RTL Unicode Override. This forces the field to have Right-To-Left Orientation and overrides the contextual behavior.

    Client Workstation requirements

    The client workstation must use one of the following:

    The client workstation must be configured to use System Courier New font.

    Understanding the limitations of bidirectional support

    Netscape supported by Database On-Demand

    Database On-Demand supports Netscape Version 6.0 and later. There is no support for Netscape 4.7.

    Arabic SHADA character displayed as a block

    The Arabic character SHADA is displayed as a block when using the Alternate Terminal interface, because of a limitation in the Courier and Monospaced fonts regarding the display of Unicode Shaped characters.

    Using the Arabic Tatweel character

    The Arabic character Tatweel cannot be used with Java 1.4 unless the current system keyboard is set to Arabic.

    Corrupted national language characters in text entry fields

    URL Hotspots on RTL screen

    Since there is no way to know if a host application that works on a RTL screen displays URL names reversed or not reversed, URL names are recognized in both directions. For example, both www.ibm.com and moc.mbi.www are recognized as URL names on a RTL screen.

    Unicode Support in 5250 BIDI session

    Session limitation

    Copy/Cut/Paste limitation

    Copy/Cut/Paste over different fields (EBCDIC 5250 and Tagged CCSID fields) is not supported, also Copy/Cut/Paste is always in Implicit LTR Format, therefore BIDI Edit options are not effective.

    Printing limitation

    Print Screen is not supported.

    Linux Limitations

    BIDI support is available on Linux with the following limitations: