Creating a custom login screen for thin client users

If you are using the login screen that comes with the application server for your application’s login, you can customize the behavior and look of this screen.  There is a sample program that will get you started in %ISCOBOL%/sample/as/custom-login. 

The program must be called A$CUSTOM-LOGIN.class and it must be on the client’s computer and in their CLASSPATH.  Here’s how to do that:

1. Modify A$CUSTOM-LOGIN.cbl as needed. 
   - Don’t change the linkage section variables, this is passed from the runtime framework.
   - The sample program uses an bitmap called “BACKGROUND.png” . You can replace this with your own image.
   - You can replace the screen section if you wish – for instance with a login screen that you draw in our IDE.
   - The “DO-LOGIN” paragraph executes after the user logs in. Use A$GET-USER to get the user’s assigned ID and permission level and add your logic here for your needs.
   
2. Create a batch script that sets the CLASSPATH, then runs your application. For instance:
   @echo off
   set CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%; c:\veryant\isCOBOL_SDK2025R2
   c:\veryant\isCOBOL_SDK2025R2\bin\iscclient MYPROG
3. Move the A$CUSTOM-LOGIN.class, batch file, and any other files needed, such as your bitmap, to your client’s machine. Our customers often include this in the standard download to the client, for instance with the installation setup.  Make sure it is installed where your CLASSPATH setting specifies in step #2.

When the user clicks on the batch script to run your application (perhaps from a desktop shortcut using your company’s icon), they will see the custom login screen you’ve created.  Here’s an example of the sample A$CUSTOM-LOGIN with just the background image replaced.