The Generalized Interface (GLI) facility provides an interface into an application.

The GLI client is an executable command, which reads the command line input, parses the input buffer, and uses the view name, passed as one of the parameter to get the system information. The GLI program (GLI.exe) accepts input formatted for GLI from stdin and sends it to the target system. Responses are returned to the GLI program and echoed to stdout. Some error conditions may be noted in stderr.

You can use GLI with your own applications by piping your application's stdout into the GLI program (GLI.EXE), and redirecting stdout and stderr back into your application. Using this technique, your application is in control of the interaction with the target system.

GLI input format uses commands and keywords in a freeform style. A graphical representation of GLI is shown below:

Figure 3. GLI (Generalized Interface)

When GLI data is passed to the application, edit checks are performed on the data.

The value of Glb.Stn is GLI for data entered through the Generalized Interface. The value of Glb.Source is G. GLI is assigned the same value of Glb.Priv as for the initiating username. Glb.Work is also available for use in GLI.