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LS NVS: Stretching Your Investment in Wang
Lightspeed NVS is the most powerful software available to connect Wang's VS line of minicomputers with PCs, LANs and WANs. Its power comes from its speed, vast functionality, and ease of use. VS resources such as files, documents, disk space, programs and printers are shared effortlessly. The software may be used for both coexistence and migration to a new environment. And that, in itself, translates into all kinds of savings for you: no more workstations to buy, no more WLOC cards to buy, no more maintenance costs to pay. How do we do all that? Lightspeed NVS communicates with a VS through a gateway PC on the LAN housing a Wang Local Office Connection (WLOC) card. Once up and running, everyone on the network can access the VS, exchange and convert files as needed, print anywhere any time (e.g. VS workstation to PC printer, PC to VS printer), and be alerted on their PCs of Wang Office messages.
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Additional Features
VS Access from PCs
Virtual terminal emulation allows PCs to perform like Wang multi-workstations on the VS. Each window, when logged onto the VS, becomes an interactive task with a remote workstation device number. Any application that does not require the downloading of microcode may be run from a Lightspeed virtual terminal window. And, like any other PC window, the VS window may be re-sized, reduced to an icon and closed.
Wherever Wang Systems Networking (WSN) is installed, PC users can log on to remote VS minis by simply adding a system ID below the user ID and password. Other features of Lightspeed's 32-bit VS terminal windows allow you to:
- Simultaneously run eight virtual terminal windows, each with separate VS tasks
- Create an unlimited number of window configurations (e.g.., for Office, Editor, PACE, time and billing, etc.) with size, font and color preferences, window title, and logon sequences
- Create keyboard macros through an easy-to-use interface that records the user's keystrokes
- Add macros or any other supported Wang function (e.g., pickup, putdown) to a customizable button bar displayed at the bottom of the screen
- Cut and paste entries from one window to another
- Save window positions
Fast PC/VS File Transfer and Document Conversion
With Lightspeed's FileExchange, PC/VS file transfers and document conversions are as simple as a point and click. From a single entry screen, users can locate and select files on both systems and begin copying. Further, routine transfers and conversions require minimal keystrokes because file-type selections for file conversion are recalled each time that FileExchange is started.
Adding to its functionality and ease of use are these FileExchange options:
- Reduce search time by narrowing the field of displayed files using wildcards (e.g., *.doc or 012?)
- Restore the last VS directory accessed to speed the process of selecting VS files
- Prompt for file copy confirmation before replacing an existing file on the target system
- Copy whole PC subdirectories or VS libraries at once
- Accept or change default names at time of transfer
Print Anywhere
VS-to-PC Printing
Users of VS data processing applications, WP/IIS and WP Plus, can print on PC printers as if they are locally connected VS printers. No special procedures or separate utility programs are necessary. A print redirector executes in the background on the VS, looking for DP or WP print jobs that should be printed on PC printers.
Rather than simply scanning queue libraries and consuming VS resources, the print redirector impersonates a dedicated WP print task and mimics actual WP printers, which causes the operating systems to signal the print redirector. When a print job is destined for a PC printer, the print redirector starts a background print format task to convert the VS print file or document to the proper format for the PC printer. The formatted printer data is delivered to the PC Services program on the PC, which in turn passes the data on to the Windows print spooler. Up to 128 printers can be configured for each Lightspeed client PC.
Print jobs can be aborted at any time with the Cancel Print Job button. A red status light indicates printer errors. Detailed descriptions of such errors are easily viewed with a click on the Show Printer Errors button.
DP print jobs can be formatted by your WIN 95/98/NT print driver. This offloads the processing chore from the VS to the PC driver, freeing up VS resources. Further, your print jobs can utilize any font available for that printer.
PC-to-VS Printing
Windows users may send their print output from PC applications to VS printers by using the Lightspeed print monitor, allowing them to print on a VS printer just as they would with any other printer.
VS printers are created and controlled with the Windows Print Manager. The Lightspeed Print Monitor supports all print drivers, but you must select a driver that is compatible with the intended VS printer. Windows provides a specific definition for Wang LCS15 printers. LDP8 printers may be defined as described in Lightspeed documentation.
Wang Message Alert
When PC users receive a message in their Wang Office mailbox or a broadcast message from the VS operator, Lightspeed NVS will visually alert them with a flashing messages icon. When the message icon is clicked on, the memo title and sender's name are displayed for the recipient to determine whether or not he needs to read the full message right away. Of course, if the user has an iconized terminal emulation window running Wang Office, a mailbox message can be retrieved with a couple of mouse clicks.
Keeping Things Secure
Security is a primary concern for every administrator. With Lightspeeds's capabilities, you may be wondering what your users can get into if Lightspeed is installed. Don't worry, Lightspeed NVS was developed with you in mind. It includes a variety of ways for you to nail down precisely what each user or group of users is able to do and access.
Options
- Web VT allows access to Wang VS systems across the Internet.
- LANWP allows Wang WP and Wang WP Plus to be run on LAN client PCs without WLOC cards.
- VSDMS API ToolKits were developed by Lightspeed to extend file + system access.
System Requirements
The software also comes with a simplified Windows install routine and configuration files which may be altered by individual users, if the administrator chooses to allow them to do so.
Requirements for your system:
- Windows 98 or Windows NT 3.51 or greater, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
- An Intel-based PC capable of executing Windows 98 or Windows NT 3.51 or greater or Windows 2000
- Approximately 3Mb of disk space on the PC
- A Wang Local Office Connection card for over 24-32 users
- A Wang VS with Operating System 7.42 or greater
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