How to make SendKeys act Synchronously in IBM Host Access Library

Question

I use the IBM Host Access Class Library for COM Automation as a way to communicate with an IBM AS400 (aka iSeries, IBM i, green screen, 5250) through a terminal emulator. I

Answer 1

The "Operator Information Area" class seems to provide a solution for this problem.

My general case seems to be working correctly with this implementation:

 Friend Sub PutTextWithEnter(ByVal field As FieldDefinition, ByVal value As String)
    If IsNothing(field) Then Throw New ArgumentNullException("field")
    If IsNothing(value) Then Throw New ArgumentNullException("value")
    _Presentation.SendKeys(Mid(value.Trim, 1, field.Length).PadRight(field.Length) & "[enter]", field.Row, field.Column)
    WaitForEmulator(_Session.Handle)
End Sub

Private Sub WaitForEmulator(ByVal EmulatorHandle As Integer)
    Dim Oia As New AutOIATypeLibrary.AutOIA
    Oia.SetConnectionByHandle(EmulatorHandle)
    Oia.WaitForInputReady()
    Oia.WaitForAppAvailable()
End Sub

I give thanks to a user named "khieyzer" on this message board for pointing our this clean and general-purpose solution.

Edit:

After a few weeks debugging and working through timing and resource release issues, this method now reads like:

Private Sub WaitForEmulator(ByRef NeededReset As Boolean)
    Dim Oia As New AutOIA
    Oia.SetConnectionByHandle(_Presentation.Handle)

    Dim inhibit As InhibitReason = Oia.InputInhibited
    If inhibit = InhibitReason.pcOtherInhibit Then
        _Presentation.SendKeys("[reset]")
        NeededReset = True
        WaitForEmulator(NeededReset)
        Marshal.ReleaseComObject(Oia)
        Exit Sub
    End If

    If Not Oia.WaitForInputReady(6000) Then
        If Oia.InputInhibited = InhibitReason.pcOtherInhibit Then
            _Presentation.SendKeys("[reset]")
            NeededReset = True
            WaitForEmulator(NeededReset)
            Marshal.ReleaseComObject(Oia)
            Exit Sub
        Else
            Marshal.ReleaseComObject(Oia)
            Throw New InvalidOperationException("The system has stopped responding.")
        End If
    End If

    Oia.WaitForInputReady()
    Oia.WaitForAppAvailable()
    Marshal.ReleaseComObject(Oia)
End Sub