Add HEX key to PC5250

iSeries Access PC5250 keyboard does not have the Hex key that the old 5250 keyboard did. Assign this script to a key to get this function back.

To create the script, go to Edit->Preferences->Macro/Script... in the emulator. Click on the Customize button. Then go to File->New->VB Script. Paste the code below into the edit window and save it. I call it HEX.MAC.

Now go to the keyboard mapping editor of PC5250 and assign this macro to a key combination like Shift-Ctrl-X.

If you want to be able to enter display attributes, change the lower limit to 32 (x20) as needed. 


 
LANGUAGE=VBSCRIPT
[PCOMM SCRIPT HEADER]
LANGUAGE = VBSCRIPT
DESCRIPTION=Hex input
[PCOMM SCRIPT SOURCE]

Option Explicit

Dim input_value, hex_value

autECLSession.SetConnectionByName (ThisSessionName)

subHex_

Sub subHex_()
input_value = InputBox("Enter a decimal number between 64 and 254, or a hex value between x40 and xFE (either uppercase or lowercase")

If input_value = "" Then
    MsgBox ("invalid input")
    Exit Sub
    
ElseIf (IsNumeric(input_value) Or _
        (Len(Trim(input_value)) = 3 And _
         UCase(Left(input_value, 1)) = "X") And _
         IsNumeric("&H" & Mid(input_value, 2, 2))) Then

    If (UCase(Left(input_value, 1)) = "X") Then
        input_value = "&h" & Mid(input_value, 2, 2)
    End If
    
    If (input_value >= 64 And input_value <= 254) Then
        hex_value = Hex(input_value)
  
    Else
        MsgBox ("value '" & input_value & "' out of range")
        Exit Sub
    End If

Else
    MsgBox ("non numeric input '" & input_value & "'")
    Exit Sub
End If

autECLMacro "apl " & Hex(input_value)
End Sub

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This was first published in September 2004

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