Terminal/Mainframe Emulator Driver
Patterns for automating green-screen terminal emulators (AS/400, 3270, 5250) using keyboard-based navigation, OCR screen reading, and screen ID validation.
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Problem this solves
Many enterprises still run AS400/mainframe systems with no API. Screen-scraping via keyboard is the only option.
Usage Notes
- 1.MouseAndKeyboard.SendKeys.FocusAndSendKeys is standard PAD but NOT in the verified production reference.
- 2.Function key notation uses curly braces: {Enter}, {Tab}, {F1}-{F24}.
- 3.Screen transition timing: always prefer OCR WaitForTextOnScreen over fixed WAIT delays.
- 4.Pattern composition: Launch & Focus (1) → Send Input (2) → Validate (3).
- 5.OCR accuracy: Green-screen emulators with fixed-width fonts produce reliable OCR results.
- 6.The PowerShell Win32 API window focus approach works without an interactive desktop session.