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# Synchronize block-mode (IBM) terminals

The TE_wait_sync function is used for synchronization RTE Vusers operating block-mode (IBM) terminals. Block-mode terminals display the "X SYSTEM" message to indicate that the system is in Input Inhibited mode. When a system is in the Input Inhibited mode no typing can take place because the terminal emulator is waiting for a transfer of data from the server.

When you record a script on a block-mode terminal, by default, VuGen generates and inserts a TE_wait_sync function into the script each time the "X SYSTEM" message appears. You use VuGen's recording options to specify whether or not VuGen should automatically insert TE_wait_sync functions.

When you run a Vuser script, the TE_wait_sync function checks if the system is in the X SYSTEM mode. If the system is in the X SYSTEM mode, the TE_wait_sync function suspends script execution. When the "X SYSTEM" message is removed from the screen, script execution continues.

Note: You can use the TE_wait_sync function only with IBM block-mode terminals emulators (5250 and 3270).

In general, the TE_wait_sync function provides adequate synchronization for all block-mode terminal emulators. However, if the TE_wait_sync function is ineffective in a particular situation, you can enhance the synchronization by including a TE_wait_text function. For more information on the TE_wait_text function, see Synchronize character-mode (VT) terminals, and the Function Reference.

In the following script segment, the Vuser logs on with the user name "QUSER" and the password "MYLAB". The Vuser then presses `Enter` to submit the login details to the server. The terminal emulator displays the X SYSTEM message while the system waits for the server to respond.

The TE_wait_sync statement causes the Vuser to wait until the server has responded to the login request, that is, for the X SYSTEM message to be removed—before executing the next line of the script.

    TE_type("QUSER");
    lr_think_time(2);
    TE_type("<kTab>MYLAB");
    lr_think_time(3);
    TE_type("<kEnter>");
    TE_wait_sync();
    ....

When a TE_wait_sync function suspends the execution of a script while an X SYSTEM message is displayed, the Vuser continues to monitor the system—waiting for the X SYSTEM message to disappear. If the X SYSTEM message does not disappear before the synchronization timeout expires, the TE_wait_sync function returns an error code. The default timeout is 60 seconds.

Set the TE_wait_sync synchronization timeout:

1. Select Vuser > Runtime Settings. The runtime settings dialog box appears.

2. Select the RTE:RTE node in the Runtimesetting tree.

3. Under X SYSTEM Synchronization, enter a value (in seconds) in the Timeout box.

4. Click OK to close the runtime settings dialog box.

After a Vuser executes a TE_wait_sync function, the Vuser waits until the terminal is no longer in the X S YSTEM mode . When the terminal returns from the X S YSTEM mode, the Vuser continues to monitor the system for a short period to verify that the terminal is fully stable, that is, that the system does not return to the X S YSTEM mode. Only then does the TE_wait_sync function terminate and allow the Vuser to continue executing its script. The period that the Vuser continues to monitor the system, after the system has returned from the X SYSTEM mode, is known as the stable time. The default stable time is 1000 milliseconds.

You may need to increase the stable time if your system exhibits the following behavior:

When a system returns from the X SYSTEM mode, some systems "flicker" to and from the X SYSTEM for a short period of time until the system stabilizes. If the system remains out of the X SYSTEM mode for more than one second, and then returns to the X SYSTEM mode, the TE_wait_sync function assumes that the system is stable. If a Vuser then tries to type information to the system, the system shifts into keyboard-locked mode.

Alternatively, if your system never flickers when it returns from the X SYSTEM mode, you can reduce the stable time to less than the default value of one second.

Change the Back to topstable time for TE_wait_sync functions:

1. Select Vuser > Runtime Settings. The runtime settings dialog box appears.

2. Select the RTE:RTE node.

3. Under X SYSTEM Synchronization, enter a value (in milliseconds) in the Stable time box.

4. Click OK to close the runtime settings dialog box.

   For more information on the TE_wait_sync function, see the Function Reference.

   You can instruct VuGen to record the time that the system remains in the X SYSTEM mode each time that the X SYSTEM mode is entered. To do so, VuGen inserts a TE_wait_sync_transaction function after each TE_wait_sync function, as shown in the following script segment:

       TE_wait_sync();
       TE_wait_sync_transaction("syncTrans1");

   Each TE_wait_sync_transaction function creates a transaction with the name "default." This allows you to analyze how long the terminal emulator waits for responses from the server during a scenario run. You use the recording options to specify whether VuGen should generate and insert TE_wait_sync_transaction statements.

Instruct VuGen to insert TE_wait_sync_transaction statements:

1. Select Vuser > Recording Options. The Recording Settings dialog box appears.

2. Select the Generate Automatic X SYSTEM transactions option, and then click OK.

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