Improve Your TN5250 Experience in VS Code for IBM i

Update: New installations of Code for i include the +uninhibited option by default, as described here.

The open-source TN5250 emulator provides a handy way to launch IBM i 5250 sessions from within VS Code for IBM i.

The one drawback I’ve found in TN5250 is the Cursor in protected area of display error when I accidentally type on a protected area of the screen—an area where input isn’t allowed. The error must be cleared before I can continue to work.

TN5250: “Cursor in protected area of display.”

On classic 5250 dumb terminals, the solution was to press the Reset button. With the TN5250 emulator, however, the developer needs to remember to press Ctrl+R to clear the condition, potentially interrupting the user’s flow of thought.

TN5250 offers a solution: the +uninhibited connection keyword. After this setting is added in the Code for i Settings, TN5250’s behavior will change. From now on, pressing any key will move the cursor back to a valid input field.

How to make the change

First go to Settings. One way to find Settings is to hover over the connection name until a little menu pops up. The menu will include the Settings option, as shown here:

Access settings in Code for i

Then, from the Settings page, click the Terminals tab, add +uninhibited in the Connection string for 5250 area, then click Save settings.

Code for i settings with “+uninhibited” in the Connection string for 5250

Now your TN5250 screens will let you get out of “protected” mode with any key press.

To learn more about TN5250 with Code for i

For more information about TN5250, including how to install it in Code for i, in the Code for i terminal documentation.