ActiveX Control vs. ActiveX Document
PASSPORT PC to Host, PASSPORT Web to Host, PASSPORT Host Integration Objects
TN3270, TN5250, VT, SCO ANSI, Wyse 60
Does PASSPORT have an ActiveX Control that may be embedded into an application to provide host connectivity?
First of all it is important to point out that PASSPORT PC to Host and PASSPORT Web to Host are not ActiveX controls. They are ActiveX Documents, which must run in their own process. PASSPORT Web to Host is a full blown terminal emulation application running inside of Internet Explorer. It is an ActiveX Document Server based on Microsoft ActiveX Document Architecture, and it can be run in any ActiveX Document Container application, such as Internet Explorer. When PASSPORT Web to Host is running inside of Internet Explorer, its menu merges with the browser as well as the toolbar and button bars. However, there are still two independent processes running, i.e. PASSPORT.exe and IEXPLORE.exe. PASSPORT Web to Host is fully tested with different versions of Internet Explorer to ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently. There are other ActiveX Document Containers, such as Microsoft Web Browser Control or iFrame inside Internet Explorer which can host PASSPORT Web to Host. However, Rocket Software does not recommend running PASSPORT Web to Host inside such containers for the following reasons:
PASSPORT Web to Host was not designed and has not been tested under such circumstances
These containers do not provide a mechanism to merge the menu, toolbar, button bars and status bar so there are some known issues related to user interface drawing and updating such as toolbar update, cursor focus, etc.
Certain function keys may not work because these containers can filter out these keys, which never reach the PASSPORT Web to Host process. Instead of embedding PASSPORT Web to Host in iFrame, you should use HIO Terminal Control (see below).
On the other hand, PASSPORT HIO Terminal Control is a true ActiveX control. It presents the host screen just like PASSPORT Web to Host, without the menu and toolbar. It may be embedded in a customized application written in Visual Basic, Visual C++, or any programming language which supports ActiveX Controls, or existing applications such as Internet Explorer, which can host ActiveX Controls. When the HIO Terminal Control is embedded in such an application, it runs inside the main application's process so the host application has full control.
It is important to note that, although PASSPORT Host Integration Objects Terminal Control is an ActiveX Control, it currently has support for TN3270 and TN5250 host connections only and does not provide support for VT, SCO ANSI or Wyse 60.
The best method of integration will all depend on the level of integration that you wish to achieve. For instance, with PASSPORT PC to Host or PASSPORT Web to Host you may use the HLLAPI or Object API.
ActiveX, control, document, API, embed