Glink for iOS

Terminal emulators with support for barcode scanners for Apple iPad, iPhone and Mac computers with M1/M2 chip that can run iOS applications. 

 

Glink for iOS is a port of our immensely successful and popular Glink for Windows product that has been chosen by more than 600,000 people world wide for connection to legacy host applications from Windows platforms. Glink is a fast, efficient and highly functional terminal emulator for connecting Apple’s iPad, iPhone and Mac devices to legacy business applications running on IBM, UNIX, Linux and Bull host systems.

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Glink for iOS is an App for terminal emulation and communication with legacy host systems. It includes terminal emulations for the Bull, IBM, Open Systems and Public Information environments. It uses standard TCP/IP protocols for communications with the legacy systems, and can secure all protocols with the use Secure Socket Layer (SSL/TLS) encryption. The VT emulation can be secured with SSH protocol. For Bull legacy systems, Glink offers the extremely efficient G&R/Ggate protocol in addition to TNVIP and Telnet.

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The IBM 5250 emulation, that is used to access applications running on IBM iSeries (AS/400) systems, supports Double Byte Character Sets (DBCS) like Chinese, Japanese and Korean and TN5250 Enhanced Auto Sign-On.

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Glink allows you to have multiple concurrent host sessions running at the same time. They can be any mix of terminal and print sessions, to the same or different hosts and applications. Glink can be configured to automatically connect at start-up. Configurable hotspots for function keys, numbers, characters and URLs, and a configurable multiline toolbar where you put frequently used operations, recorded as macros, and function keys makes Glink a very powerful tool.

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In Glink for iOS we:

• have carefully ported decades of experience, as well as proven emulation and communication code, from Glink for Windows to iOS. We have also included the popular and powerful macro feature that all Glink users know and appreciate

• provide you with reliable terminal emulation software that you install and administrate on the device using techniques that are standard for Apple’s handheld devices

• open an e-mail Client if you tap-and-hold a finger on an e-mail address

• support multiple host sessions running concurrently with in-app switching between the sessions

• support the Infinite Peripherals Linea Pro and Infinea Tab barcode scanners and magnetic card Readers

• support the Socket Mobile barcode scanners

• support the built-in camera as a barcode scanner

• support external Bluetooth keyboards and barcode scanners

 

Look-and-Feel: 

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• Glink is compliant with Apple’s design guidelines for the iPad/iPhone/iPod devices and supports Dark Mode in iOS 13 and iPadOS. Zooming, scrolling, selection, focus, enabling/disabling of keyboard are implemented the same way as in Apple’s Safari browser.
   

• Hotspots can be configured for function keys, numbers, characters and URLs. For numbers and characters, you can configure Glink to send Enter after the selected number/character.
   

• Multiple customized toolbars are available from a single multi-toolbar line. Tap the list icon to select the appropriate toolbar.
   

• Glink's macro feature minimizes the need for keyboard entry and is a very useful tool for automating logon or frequently used operations involving multiple interaction steps with the host. You can prompt the user for input up front or as you go. The macros are easily assigned to buttons on the toolbar with your customized text.
   

• Press and hold Command-key on external keyboard to see list of built-in keyboard shortcuts.
   

• Two finger swipe gesture moves the cursor.
   

• Double-tap can be configured to mean Enter. Normally it resets the screen zooming. 
   

Installation and configuration: Glink for iPad/iPhone is a client App, downloaded from the App Store and installed and configured on each user’s device. The configuration export/import feature allows administrators and power users to prepare customized configurations (including customized toolbars) and distribute them to other devices/users. Access to configurations can optionally be protected with a password.

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Glink also supports Managed App Configuration, which allows users to configure Glink remotely through Mobile Device Management (MDM). When Glink is deployed (Managed) from a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system, the Glink configuration can also be completely controlled by the MDM system, making Glink ready for use without any need for configuration by the end user!

Contact G&R to get access to the Glink Enterprise version in the Apple Business Manager (ABM) Store. G&R will need your ABM Organization Id.

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Security: Glink for iOS supports SSL/TLS for encryption of all host communication. The VT emulation supports SSH for encrypted host communication. Both direct communication with the SSH Daemon and tunelling of the Telnet protocol is supported. Username/password or private keys can be used for authentication. Configurations and connection macros can be protected by passwords.

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Print: Glink supports both print screen and printing from the host in all emulations. Either in separate 3270, 5250 or DKU/VIP print sessions or in the terminal session from Unix/Linux hosts and from Bull hosts when the Ggate- or TNVIP- server merges the print into the terminal session.

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Glink for iOS is available on the App Store as four different apps:

• Glink : Full version that includes all emulations and communication protocols. Glink is used to access applications running on Bull, IBM, DEC, UNIX and Linux host systems. Glink has emulations for the IBM 3270 and 5250 terminals, Bull Questar DKU7107 and DKU7211 terminals, Bull VIP7800, VIP7760 and VIP7700 terminals, and DEC VT420, VT320, VT340, VT220 and VT102 terminals. ANSI 3.64 is supported for general communications work.
   

• Glink 3270 : Glink 3270 is used to access applications running on IBM host systems. Glink 3270 emulates all IBM 3270 terminals and uses the TN3270 protocol for communication with the host systems.
   

• Glink 5250 : Glink 5250 is used to access applications running on IBM iSeries systems. Glink 5250 emulates all IBM 5250 terminals and uses the TN5250 protocol for communication with the host systems. TN5250 Enhanced Display Auto Sign-On supported.
   

• Glink VT : Glink VT is used to access applications running on UNIX, Linux and DEC host systems. Glink VT emulates DEC VT100/220/320/340/420 terminals and uses SSH and/or the Telnet protocol for communication with the host systems.