InfoConnect Desktop 16.2 Update 6 Release Notes (Includes Updates 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)

1.0 Introduction

InfoConnect Desktop products are full-featured desktop applications that allow you to run host applications, transfer files, and integrate host data into the latest Windows and Office software applications.

  • InfoConnect Desktop Pro for Unisys is a Windows-based terminal emulator that connects users to Unisys, T27, UNIX, Linux, OpenVMS, IBM, and HP 3000 hosts.

  • InfoConnect Desktop Pro for Unisys with X includes all the functionality of InfoConnect Desktop Pro for Unisys, plus Reflection X Advantage, an X server that allows you to view your UNIX or Linux desktop and work with X client applications from a remote workstation.

  • InfoConnect Desktop Pro for Airlines is a family of Windows-based terminal emulators, print delivery options, and software development tools built specifically for the airline industry. These products enable users to access and print from multiple systems, including TPF, ALCS, IBM, Unisys, UNIX, Linux, HP 3000, and Global Distribution Systems.

  • InfoConnect Desktop for Airlines Print and Transaction Router (PTR) is flexible print delivery software that complements InfoConnect Desktop Pro for Airlines with support for shared printers and host devices as well as for intelligent card readers, specialized ticket printers, and point-of-sale terminals.

  • InfoConnect Airlines Gateway NG is A TCP/IP-based gateway that connects Windows computers and networks to multiple TPF/ALCS and Unisys systems – including Amadeus, Apollo/Galileo, HP Shares, Sabre, and Worldspan – via a single connection.

These release notes include new security improvements, enhancements, and resolved issues for InfoConnect Desktop 16.2 Updates.

Many of these improvements were made in direct response to suggestions from our customers. We thank you for your time and valuable input. We hope you continue to help us ensure that our products meet all your needs.

2.0 What’s New

InfoConnect Desktop 16.2 Updates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 include several improvements.

2.1 Update 4 (Version 16.2.831)

Security Features

  • Improved how the Disconnect automatically when token is removed setting functions in InfoConnect Desktop so the removal of a smart card disconnects the session.

  • Developed a new option for users to select the appropriate certificate during TLS connections. When Prompt for certificate is selected during the connection, the Select Certificate dialog box presents the user with options to select from, based on information from the Server’s Certificate Request message.

Security Updates

InfoConnect Workspace

  • Added the ability to manage session lists in Host Access Management and Security Server with an HTML-based user interface. These sessions can now be managed without using a Java applet.

2.2 Update 3 (Version 16.2.780)

Reflection X Advantage

  • 18057 Added support to send a complete certificate chain when the client identity is in the SystemStore. Added support to send intermediate CAs along with the user certificate (RFC6187). This feature allows the client to send a complete Certificate chain (if available) when the client identity is in the SystemStore and the algorithms from RFC6187 are being attempted.

2.3 Update 2 (Version 16.2.754)

InfoConnect Workspace

  • The key combinations Ctrl+Left Arrow and Ctrl+Right Arrow now move the cursor to the previous field or word in 3270 and 5250 sessions to match the behavior of Extra!.

  • The RADIUS protocol is now supported as an authenticator when a user is attempting to access host resources from Host Access Management & Security Server (MSS) 12.6 via Micro Focus Advanced Authentication (MFAA).

2.4 Update 1 (Version 16.2.731)

  • For VT terminals, added the Capture Incoming Data action that is available in the Extra! product and in InfoConnect Enterprise editions. You can use the Capture Incoming Data action to capture data received from the host and save it to a file. This allows you to save a report (or other data) on the host screen and distribute it as a text file. It is also useful for logging data received from the host.

3.0 Resolved Issues

InfoConnect Desktop 16.2 Updates resolved the following issues.

3.1 Update 6 (Version 16.2.882)

InfoConnect Workspace

  • Fixed an issue so sessions launched from the Management and Security Server (MSS) with a CA issued certificate connect via the Security Proxy.

  • Improved how InfoConnect Desktop handles data exchange with security proxy server.

  • Two different applications can now use ExtraBasic to access a Reflection Desktop 3270 Host session simultaneously.

  • Resolved an error during VT sessions that prevents an "after the initial connection" macro from running after a “before the initial connection” macro containing the following: ThisTerminal.Connect.

  • Updated the code signing certificate.

  • Fixed an error with InfoConnect Desktop when running Python scripts using the EXTRACOM interface.

  • Addressed an issue where the flatfiledb-data.xml file can become truncated leaving the XMgr unable to launch.

Reflection X Advantage

3.2 Update 5 (Version 16.2.839)

InfoConnect Workspace

  • Resolved an issue that occurred after certain October 2020 updates for Microsoft Office were installed.

    After installing these updates, InfoConnect VBA macros did not work. When loading the InfoConnect Workspace or when loading an InfoConnect host session, the following error message was displayed:

    Error initializing VBA components. One of the VBA components is missing or corrupt. VBA needs to be reinstalled.

    You could dismiss the error message and continue using the product, but the VBA programming language and VBA macros were unavailable for use.

    For additional information about this issue, see "Error initializing VBA components..." when loading a Reflection or InfoConnect Workspace or a host session.

  • Fixed an issue that caused certain EHLLAPI applications to fail to restart after they were closed.

Reflection FTP Client

  • Fixed an issue with using a shortcut to open the Reflection FTP client in certain locked down Microsoft Windows 10 environments.

3.3 Update 4 (Version 16.2.831)

InfoConnect Workspace

  • Connection errors are no longer hidden on SSH sessions when using the default user authentication.

  • Memory leaks that occurred while running CASL macros have been fixed.

  • InfoConnect no longer displays an empty window frame while authenticating with single sign-on.

  • Resolved a change of behavior issue when using the SFTP command line -q option. This fix restores the output information for each command.

  • Resolved an issue with the Ctrl-Tab key combination (the Windows command for switching documents or tabs) that occurred when the Ctrl key was mapped to an action. When the Ctrl key is mapped to an action, pressing CTRL-TAB no longer runs that action.

  • Resolved an issue that caused InfoConnect Desktop to crash when a request to enter a pin for a smartcard “timed out.” This issue occurred when using a smartcard to connect to a host using client authentication with ActivClient 7.1 middleware.

  • Users are now returned to the AS/400 Sign On screen when "Automatically sign-on using Windows Credentials" fails.

  • Resolved issues with the Terminal User Control (TUC) that could cause the following error when multiple TUC sessions were open:

    Failed to connect to an IPC Port: The system cannot find the file specified.

  • Fixed problems that caused the keyboard to freeze.

  • The Legacy InfoConnect OLE/COM WaitForString function now works as expected.

  • Fixed an issue with the Screen.PutText1 and Screen.PutText2 methods in the InfoConnect VBA and .Net API. When these methods were used to put text on the screen, characters were dropped if the text spanned across fields.

    Screen.PutText1 and Screen.PutText2 methods put text at a specified screen location. PutText1 and Puttext2 now have two modes: Mask and LinearStream. These modes are set with the PutTextMaskProtectedField Property.

    In Mask mode (the default), text that coincides with protected fields is skipped and is not placed on the screen.

    In LinearStream mode, protected fields are ignored and the text is placed sequentially in unprotected fields until all of the text is placed on the screen or the specified length is exceeded.

  • The Alt key now triggers the menu property.

  • The "Require Authentication" centralized management setting now works as expected.

  • Resolved a connection failure error when trying to reconnect to a centrally managed InfoConnect Desktop SSH session to an OpenVMS host.

Reflection Desktop for NonStop Add-On

  • Resolved issues that caused crashes when closing Non-Stop (RD6) host sessions before connections “timed out.”

Reflection X Advantage

  • Fixed installation problems that occurred when Reflection Desktop Pro was installed without any RXA components, but was later modified to add X Manager. When users logged into the same workstation and tried to run X Manager, the following message was displayed:

    File does not exist: \identity\root

  • Fixed problems that resulted in the following error message when using RXA to run RStudio from an xterm client.

    libGL error: No matching fbConfigs or visuals found
    libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast
    The X11 connection broke: Maximum allowed request length exceeded (code 4)
    XIO: fatal IO error 2 (No such file or directory) on X server "display #" after 36x requests (36x known processed) with 0 events remaining.

    NOTE:In certain scenarios, setting the following environment variable before you run RStudio may provide a performance gain.

    QT_QUICK_BACKEND=software

  • Fixed problems that sometimes caused windows to be hidden or displayed improperly when they were moved.

  • Fixed various display issues that occurred when running the IDS (Integrated Development System) X client.

3.4 Update 3 (Version 16.2.780)

InfoConnect Workspace

  • Multi-threaded HLLAPI apps can now connect to multiple terminals with each thread connecting to its own terminal and interacting with it. Before this fix, the threads wrote to a single session.

  • The EXTRACOM Screen.WaitForKeys() method now correctly captures key presses from the host session instead of timing out.

  • Problems that occasionally occurred when exiting a Terminal User Control (TUC) WPF application have been fixed.

  • Fixed an unintended UI Preference change; “Look and Feel / Color Scheme” was set to Office 2016, when using workspace update files.

  • Fixed problems that caused crashes when the user’s MyDocument location was mapped to a folder in which the user does not have write access to.

  • Copying a continuous Primary Account Number PAN and pasting it into multiple fields now works as expected.

  • Fixed problems that occurred when using certain barcode scanners.

  • Resolved an intermittent problem with the VBA WaitForHostSettle method. This method occasionally did not return a value or returned a value after exceeding the timeout value.

  • Fixed issues that caused some macros (or parts of macros) to be improperly displayed in the Run Reflection Workspace Macro dialog. This fix allows the display of VBA macros in dialogs when a comment has been added on the sub declaration line.

  • The Padlock tool tip on the Status Bar refreshes correctly when switching between sessions.

Reflection X Advantage

  • Session definitions named with a semicolon now launch properly.

  • The mouse pointer now moves smoothly when running X clients in sessions with Remote session services enabled.

  • A new compatibility mode is available for working with older SGI clients. The new feature can be enabled by adding '-Drx.sgicompatibility.sessions=<session name>' to the rxmgr.alp file. With this feature enabled, the following error is no longer displayed:

    * X Error of failed request: BadLength (poly request too large or internal Xlib length error)

  • Window stacking is now performed correctly when running the EMS X client.

  • The Motif window manager no longer freezes when run in an X terminal desktop session that is minimized by using the combination of the Windows and Down Arrow keys.

  • Fonts with a non-zero max-byte1 value are now rendered correctly. EUC fonts are an example of fonts which can have a non-zero max-byte1 value.

3.5 Update 2 (Version 16.2.754)

InfoConnect Workspace

  • Fixed the FTP command line -q option to display the correct output data when certain commands are executed while the switch is invoked. This fix restores the original behavior for the -q option.

  • In certain situations, SSH sessions would not disconnect when the setting Disconnect automatically when token is removed was enabled.

  • Fixed the decoding of custom extensions in certificates.

  • When the F1 key is remapped to a new action it no longer calls both the Help and the remapped action.

  • The HLLAPI copystringtops() function now copies the string in the argument to the presentation space after a HLLAPI Disconnect and Connect (or reconnect) instead of returning 5.

  • Fixed problems where legacy VBA code was missing in SharedMacros files.

  • UTS session colors are no longer inverted when a VBA macro changes the cursor shape.

  • The Enter key and Function keys now work properly after selecting and deleting double-byte characters in a 5250 terminal.

  • Legacy SharedMacros.r2w and SharedMacros.r4w files now open in the Classic user interface mode.

  • InfoConnect no longer crashes when it receives a screen from the host backup application BL/PACK.

  • When Spell Check replaces a shorter word with a longer word it no longer causes the input inhibited condition that displayed the X Stickman right-arrow in the Operator Information Area (OIA).

  • Fixed an issue where, if the workspace setting Open documents in same workspace was checked, the splash screen didn't appear.

  • The HLLAPI QueryFieldAttribute function now returns the expected value of 24 when the screen is unformatted, instead of 0.

Reflection X Advantage

  • When using RXA Local Input Method Editor (IME) mode, the Delete key now works in gnome-terminal sessions.

  • When using the Reflection Window Manager, certain X clients no longer stop responding after windows are maximized or minimized.

  • The X Manager now starts even if it was improperly shut down. The following error message is no longer displayed:

    Database may be in inconsistent state.

  • Running glxinfo no longer results in the following protocol error:

    X Error of failed request: GLXBadContextTag

  • Secure Shell connection issues no longer occur when connecting to OpenVMS hosts.

  • Double Byte True Type Fonts now display properly when using Remote Session Services.

3.6 Update 1 (Version 16.2.731)

InfoConnect Workspace

  • Fixed an issue that caused the InfoConnect Workspace and host sessions to stop responding (“freeze”) when left idle for a period of time. Host session “freezes” could occur for a number of reasons and could also occur if the InfoConnect Workspace was resized or the Windows screen resolution was changed while the host sessions were running.

  • The InfoConnect Desktop host sessions now disconnect when a CAC/PIV card is removed from the card reader.

  • When managed by a Host Access Management and Security Server (MSS), an SSH connection to an OpenVMS system no longer fails to reconnect after the first successful connection.

  • Resolved an issue where referencing an Extra! Session object by a session name with the Sessions.Item method failed and displayed the error message "Runtime error 450. Wrong number of arguments."

  • Using the ALT-key and other key combinations did not properly perform menu activation when running in Classic MDI mode for 3270 and T27 connections.

  • Using the CTRL-TAB key to switch back to InfoConnect Desktop from another Windows application could put focus on the Search box instead of the terminal session window.

  • Resolved errors that were caused by the incomplete loading of the security modules for secure TLS connections.

  • IND$FILE file transfer to TSO (uploads) no longer adds unnecessary single quotes (tick marks) around multilevel dataset names. The user is now in control and responsible for adding the appropriate tick marks to the TSO dataset names.

  • Fixed an unhandled exception error which could occur when trying to create a new host session from an encrypted host session template.

  • Resolved an issue where the Copy command failed to copy selected text to the clipboard if the Control key was pressed down before releasing the left mouse button.

  • The ThisTerminal.vbProject and the ThisIbmTerminal.vbProject now correctly point to the vbProject of the session that is open.

  • Resolved error that occurred when using the keyboard mapper to map the “Set Theme File” action in a compound session document.

  • Resolved problems that occurred when upgrading InfoConnect Desktop from 16.1SP1 to 16.2. The InfoConnect Backplane component ICSVCCHK.DLL caused upgrade problems because it did not contain proper version information.

Reflection X Advantage

  • Fixed an issue that caused the Reflection X Advantage Manager to stop responding (“freeze”) temporarily when configured for “On my Desktop” while running the Serena PVCS Version Manager application.

4.0 Installing InfoConnect Desktop

Maintained customers are now eligible to download the latest product releases at https://download.attachmate.com/Upgrades/. You will be prompted to login and accept the Software License Agreement before you can download a file.

If you have already installed InfoConnect Desktop 16.2, you can apply this update to your existing installation. New installations automatically include this update.

For information about installing, see the InfoConnect Help and the InfoConnect Desktop Deployment Guide.

5.0 Previous Releases

For information about the InfoConnect Desktop 16.2 Update 6 release, see the InfoConnect Desktop 17.0 Service Pack 1 Release Notes.

6.0 Contacting Micro Focus

For specific product issues, contact Micro Focus Support at https://www.microfocus.com/support-and-services/.

Additional technical information or advice is available from several sources:

7.0 Legal Notice

For information about legal notices, trademarks, disclaimers, warranties, export and other use restrictions, U.S. Government rights, patent policy, and FIPS compliance, see https://www.microfocus.com/about/legal/.

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