Containment of terminal application run-time data for viewing when disconnected from a host server

A computer program product for viewing terminal-based content comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:

• computer usable program code configured to store run-time data and visual layout definition data in a storage medium, wherein the run-time data and the visual layout definition data are associated with a terminal application, which is configured to communicate with a host server in blocks of data in accordance with a standardized terminal protocol;
• computer usable program code configured to generate a visual screen for the terminal application by combining the layout data and the run-time data, wherein the generating occurs when the terminal application is disconnected from the host server and when the terminal application is disconnected from a host server emulator;
• and
• computer usable program code configured to present the generated visual screen,
• the stored run-time data comprises:
• state data of a plurality of Boolean indicator flags;
• state data of the visual screen to which data is written;
• an order in which sequential blocks of data are to be written to the visual screen;
• and
• data values of fields of records to be written to the visual screen, the visual layout definition data comprises:
• record definitions for the blocks of data, where each record defined by the record definitions comprises at least one field;
• field definitions each of which represents a data value or string constant within a record;
• and
• field attributes and record attributes, each of which affects at least one of a run-time behavior or visual presentation of a field or record, wherein each of the field attributes and record attributes is enabled or disabled based upon a Boolean condition.

A system for viewing terminal-based content comprising:

• a processor;
• a non-volatile memory;
• a volatile memory;
• and
• a bus connecting said processor, said non-volatile memory, and said volatile memory, wherein a set of computer readable instructions are stored in the non-volatile memory, which are executable by the processor, wherein said system is configured to:
• store run-time data and visual layout definition data in a storage medium, wherein the run-time data and the visual layout definition data are associated with a terminal application, which is configured to communicate with a host server in blocks of data in accordance with a standardized terminal protocol;
• generate a visual screen for the terminal application by combining the layout data and the run-time data, wherein the generating occurs when the terminal application is disconnected from the host server and when the terminal application is disconnected from a host server emulator;
• and
• present the generated visual screen,
• the stored run-time data comprises:
• state data of a plurality of Boolean indicator flags;
• state data of the visual screen to which data is written;
• an order in which sequential blocks of data are to be written to the visual screen;
• and
• data values of fields of records to be written to the visual screen,
• the visual layout definition data comprises:
• record definitions for the blocks of data, where each record defined by the record definitions comprises at least one field;
• field definitions each of which represents a data value or string constant within a record;
• and
• field attributes and record attributes, each of which affects at least one of a run-time behavior or visual presentation of a field or record, wherein each of the field attributes and record attributes is enabled or disabled based upon a Boolean condition.