Here is a simple, three-step solution:

1. compare the file size of your download to the correct size,
2. clear your browser’s cache if the sizes do not match, and
3. download the file again.

How to Check File Size

After you download a file, you can check to see if the file is intact by right-clicking on the file and clicking on the “Properties” option. this opens the “Properties” window.

In the “Properties” window, look at the “Size:” field. In parenthesis, there will be a large number followed by “bytes”. This number should match the size number for the specified Aton Connect product that you downloaded. The correct file size is shown .in the email with the link to the download.

If the number does not match the one specified for the Aton Connect product that you downloaded, you will have to clear your browser’s cache (as described in the next section) and then download the file again. If you still have difficulty, please contact us.

How to Clear Your Browser’s Cache

For Internet Explorer 7 (or Later) Users

Click on the “Tools” menu and then click on the “Internet  Options” item. On the window that appears, there will be a “Browsing History” section under the “General”  tab. Click the “Delete…” button. Make sure that “Temporary Internet files” is selected (but not anything else) and click the “Delete” button. Now, try downloading the file again..

For Internet Explorer 6 (or Earlier) Users

Click on the “Tools” menu and then click on the “Internet  Options” item. On the window that appears, there will be a “Temporary Internet files” section under the  “General” tab. Click the “Delete Files…” button. Then, click the “OK” button on the window that pops up. Another window will pop up. Click the “OK” button. Now, try downloading the file again..

Download Again

Use the download link in the email you received or go here to download the file again.

Hardware “QWERTY” Keyboard Map

The “QWERTY” style hardware keyboard included on many Windows Mobile devices has less than half the number of keys that you find on a laptop or desktop PC computer. To access all the letters, digits, and symbols, the typical Windows Mobile QWERTY keyboard includes several shift keys, variously labled Shift, CAPS, Alt, Function, or simply a large dot.

Using these shift keys in combination with one of the other keys provides the ability to input most of the graphics found on a laptop or desktop PC computer keyboard. For Aton Connect terminal emulation, an additional set of keyboard inputs is required for the various 3270, 5250, and VT-220 terminal functions.

The additional keyboard inputs are generated using two new shift modes unique to Aton Connect. These two shift modes are accessed by using the left soft key. When Aton Connect is in active connection with a host and displaying the terminal emulation screen, the left soft key is labled “Mode”. The left soft key is found directly below the screen on the left side. For Windows Mobile devices with slide out keyboards, the left soft key is also found on the keyboard, typically labeled with a large dash or hyphen.

When Aton Connect has lost host connection, then the left soft key is labled “Done”, and can be used to exit the terminal emulation screen. The “Mode” key will sequentially move the keyboard shift status from normal/unshifted, to Mode 1 shift, to Mode 2 shift, and finally back to normal/unshifted again.

The current mode shift state is displayed on the bottom left corner of the screen on the Aton Connect status line. For Mode 1 shift state, the symbol will be displayed. For Mode 2 shift state, the symbol will be displayed. For the normal/unshifted state, this location on the status line will be blank.

When in Mode 1 or Mode 2 shift state, the keystrokes that normally produce a lower or upper case letter (or period symbol) will instead produce a terminal emulation function according to the tables listed below. Either a lower case or upper case letter will produce the same terminal emulation function when in a mode shift state. Graphic symbols other than the period character will be ignored in the mode shift state.

Note: Not all the terminal functions listed below are meaningful for all emulation types (3270, 5250, VT-220). Terminal functions not meaningful for a particular emulation are ignored.

The following keystrokes with Mode 1 shift convert into terminal functions as described below.

The following keystrokes with Mode 2 shift convert into terminal functions as described below.

The following keystrokes with no Mode shift convert into terminal functions as described below.

The timeout value for Aton Connect can be set in the “Advanced” tab of the “Options” settings. You can bring up the Options settings by using “Tap ‘n Hold” on the mainframe profile you want to adjust.  For example, hold the stylus down on the Aton Connect host profile name for your mainframe listed on the initial Aton Connect screen. The ring of dots will occur, then a pop up menu to allow choice of “Edit” or “Delete”,  Choose Edit to bring up the Options screen, then choose the “Advanced” tab on the bottom.  The lower option on the Advanced options screen allows you to set the “Operation Timeout” in seconds.

The default Operation Timeout is 30 seconds. We recommend setting this to either 45 or 60 seconds for cell phone connections. We regularly use Aton Connect over GPRS cell phone service. The initial call setup, on occasion, will take longer than 30 seconds. In our experience, once the call is set up and data begins to flow, the response time to get mainframe screens is excellent, almost as fast as over the local LAN.

If setting the timeout larger does not work, let us know exactly what messages you are getting. We are here to help you deliver a successful project result.

You need to install .NET Compact Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 Redistributable on your device. You can download it from Microsoft’s website.

Why is the phone dropping my VPN connection?

One known problem with Pocket PC communications is how the Connection Manager (CM) switches between modes. The design of CM has broadly divided the types of connections into two realms, “The Internet” (My ISP) and “Work” (My Work Network). The VPN is associated with Work, and will automatically drop when the CM switches to The Internet.

The CM switches between these two realms (Internet and Work) by looking at the destination address. If the destination address includes any periods, the CM will decide it needs to enter the Internet realm, and drop any VPN connection it may have in progress. You can override this automatic switching by identifying “Work URL Exceptions”.

You can get to the settings screen that allows you to enter “Work URL Exceptions” by navigating: Start > Settings > Connections > Connections > Advanced. Then depending on the version of Windows Mobile, either tap Exceptions or Select Networks > Exceptions. This will get you to a screen titled “Work URL Exceptions” You can enter the URL of the host server here and this should cure the VPN drop problem.

Tap the ? in the blue circle next to the title to get further information on how to use the exceptions. Note that the exceptions apply to the default VPN and if you are using multiple VPN’s, you may need to redesignate the default VPN exception configuration.

Can I use any font or font size with Aton Connect?

You can select the font face and font size that displays on the screen. Mainframe applications are best viewed with fixed spacing (fixed pitch) fonts. All Windows Mobile Professional PDAs and Phones come standard with the fixed pitch “Courier New” font face that is legible down to about 7 point size. SmartPhones may not have a fixed pitch font. Our product includes a free font for your use in these phones.

Many enterprises choose to license additional fonts for company use. While it is possible to download fonts installed on your desktop to the device, this type of use may not be included in your company’s software/font license. If in doubt, check with your company’s Administrator.

Aton Connect for Windows Mobile 8.1 will automatically detect all fixed pitch font faces installed on your Pocket PC to allow you to select the one you want to display. Fonts are selected from a drop down box on the Display Options screen. We have tested a number of fixed spacing fonts for use with Aton Connect. “Courier New” works reliably for most uses.  Note that the fonts are not continuously scalable, the viewed size of the font may not change for several settings of the font size selection. This is a normal behavior of the TrueType fonts.

At any time, you can use the built in integrated help system of the Pocket PC for information on basic operation and details about the Aton implementation of TN3270, TN5250 and VT220. An extensive implementation of “Tooltips” is available on the host display screen.  By tapping and holding a soft keyboard button or status line icon, a more descriptive caption will be displayed for that key or icon.

With Windows Mobile, the connection route is managed by the Windows Mobile Connection manager. This feature is configured by a number of screens you access from the Start menu, Settings item. Then select the Connections Tab and click on the Connections icon.

Next, select the Advanced tab, and choose Select Networks. The upper section is used if Aton Connect is configured to use an IP address or DNS name that contains period characters. The lower section is used if Aton Connect is configured to use a Net BIOS style, single word name that contains no period characters.

As an option, you can force the lower section to be used for IP address or DNS names containing period characters . This is accomplished by using the Exceptions option shown on the Select Network screen or the previous Advanced tab screen.

Once you determine which section, upper or lower, of the Select Networks screen is to be used for Aton Connect, map this section to the appropriate network connection. By default these are shown in the drop down boxes as My ISP or My Work Network. Other may be optionally defined.

The exact route these network connection names represent depends on the particular Windows Mobile device. The names My ISP and My Network are further mapped to modems, cell phone, 802.11 wireless LAN, ActiveSync, and other communication means that are a function of the particular Windows Mobile device and mobile cell phone carrier.

Some versions of Windows Mobile and ActiveSync will disable wireless or cell phone options if the device is cabled to ActiveSync on the desktop, and only the My ISP may be active.

If your workplace installs VPN, then that is an additional selection that will appear in the various configuration screens inside of the Windows Mobile Connection Manager. For VPN connections, your IT department will be your best source of assistance as VPN arrangements can vary widely.

If the Connection Manager is not properly configured, you may notice that the VPN connection is dropped when you start Aton Connect. The is resolved by adjusting the Host Address in Aton Connect, or by adding the host IP name or DNS address to the Exceptions list in Connection Manager. Another alternative is to append the full domain name to the end of the single word host name in the Aton Connect Host Name box. This will cause Aton Connect to use the upper network selection. See next question for additional directions.

Aton Connect is designed to communicate via cell phone, 802.11 wireless LAN, modems, and ActiveSync. If Aton Connect reports a “No connection path to host could be found” status message when you attempt to connect to your host, then the Connection Manager could not find a path to the name or IP address contained in the Host Address box on Aton Connect. Reconfiguring Connection Manger or changing the contents of the Host Address box in Aton Connect is required to establish a successful connection.

Two default profiles are included with Aton Connect. One is for the TN3270 server at the US Library of Congress and the other is for the TN3270 server at the University of Florida.  Both of these servers are publicly available over the Internet. You can add additional profiles for your enterprise servers by using the “New” item on the menu bar at the bottom of the Aton Connect screen.  You can edit or delete existing profiles by using the “Tap ‘n Hold” stylus gesture on an item in the profile list.

Note: The two sample profiles point to public servers that may be temporarily unavailable outside of normal work hours or slow in operation at times.

To establish a connection with the mainframe, select the desired profile from the “Select Host to View” listing of the Aton Connect program, then tap the “Open” button. This will switch to the main interactive screen of the Aton Connect program and attempt a connection with the host server you just selected.

Use the “Register” entry from the menu on the bottom of the Pocket PC screen and then choose the “Set Code…” menu item. This will bring into view the Registration screen that allows you to install the license registration code into the Aton Connect .NET control.

During the process to purchase a license, you will be asked for the “Name” located in the “Owner Information” screen of the “Personal” tab in the “Settings” Menu selection of the Pocket PC. If you change the owner name in the “Owner Information” settings, you will need a new registration code. Please contact Aton International at 1-800-833-0835 or contact us for further information on obtaining a new registration code.

An Enterprise-wide licensing option is also available for Aton Connect. A different method of activating the product applies for the Enterprise license option and your Help desk will be able to assist you in activating the product.