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Rocket® Reflection Desktop 18.0 Service Pack 2 Release Notes

Last Updated: October 2024

Introduction

Rocket® Reflection Desktop (formerly a Micro Focus product) products are full-featured desktop applications that allow you to run host applications, transfer files, and integrate host data into the latest Windows and Office software applications.

  • Reflection Desktop for IBM provides access to applications running on IBM mainframe (IBM Z) and AS/400 systems (iSeries, System i, IBM i).

  • Reflection Desktop for UNIX and OpenVMS provides access to applications running on UNIX and OpenVMS systems.

  • Reflection Desktop provides access to applications running on IBM, UNIX, and OpenVMS systems.

  • Reflection Desktop for X provides access to applications running on UNIX and OpenVMS systems. It also includes Reflection X, an X server that allows you to view your UNIX desktop and work with X client applications from a remote workstation.

  • Reflection Desktop Pro includes Reflection Desktop along with Reflection X, and provides access to applications running on IBM, UNIX, and OpenVMS systems, as well as X clients.

  • The Reflection Desktop for NonStop Add-On is a separately licensed product for connecting to HP NonStop hosts (Tandem 6530).

The Reflection Desktop 18.0 Service Pack 2 release includes a number of new security improvements, new features, and resolved issues.

Many of these improvements were made in direct response to suggestions from our customers. We thank you for your time and valuable input. We hope you continue to help us ensure that our products meet all your needs.

What's New

Reflection Desktop v18.0 Service Pack 2 includes several major new features and enhancements:

Reflection Desktop Enhancements

  • Implemented Rocket branding for the installer, splash screen, and about box.

  • Added the ability to open HostExplorer sessions and settings in Reflection Desktop.

  • Tested and verified Reflection Desktop functionality when Microsoft Smart App Contol is enabled.

  • Modernized the create new document user interface for all terminal types.

  • Modernized the InfoConnect path wizard user interfaces, creating a more streamlined user experience for path creation.

  • Implemented support for running VT host-initiated Reflection Workspace VBA macros that use new Reflection objects.

  • Developed VBA macro recording capability for 3270/5250 printer sessions.

  • Added Save session as encrypted document setting to the Configure Workspace Defaults settings panel.

  • Added the MoveCursorTo function for VT terminals. This function moves the cursor to the specified screen location.

Security Enhancements

  • Improved how the product requests IP addresses when configured to allow both IPv6 and IPv4.

  • Added support for AES-GCM authenticated encryption in SSH. This cipher is proposed at the beginning of the ciphers list in a default connection.

    The default order of ciphers has been updated and ordered by preferred algorithms and key strength. The default hmac list has also been updated to preferred algorithms and to remove older algorithms. Please refer to the Configuration File Keyword Reference - Secure Shell Settings to review the new default orders.

  • Updated to OpenSSL 3.0.15 to address the following CVEs:

    • CVE-2023-5678

    • CVE-2023-6237

    • CVE-2024-0727

    • CVE-2024-4603

    • CVE-2024-6119

Resolved Issues

Reflection Desktop

  • Reflection Desktop now converts all the printer settings for 3270/5250 printer sessions .rsf files created in a previous Reflection Desktop release.

  • When metering is required, Reflection Desktop will display an error when the metering server cannot be identified.

  • Resolved screen position errors when Microsoft Power Automate interfaces with Reflection Desktop 5250 session.

  • Fixed Reflection Desktop 3270 session stability issues when .NET API calls to Connect(), followed by an immediate Disconnect(), and a final Connect() method.

  • When deploying a custom application.settings file the selected user interface mode will be enabled at startup.

  • Resolved compile errors when a PCOMM macro contains Set autECLSession.autECLOIA = ThisIbmScreen.oia.

  • Reflection Desktop now properly sets the OLEServerName application property.

  • Resolved API related timing issues with Reflection Desktop when the host supports TN3270E Contention-Resolution.

  • Fixed implementation of Host Settle Time parameter when Contention-Resolution is enabled in TN3270E sessions.

  • Resolved slow screen painting and refresh times when a 3270 terminal window containing line draw characters is displayed.

  • Fixed terminal key conversion issues when importing IBM Personal Communications (PCOMM) macros.

  • Resolved formatting errors when pasting content from the Scratch Pad to Microsoft Word.

  • When entering a hostname in a new or existing VT session with a Telnet connection, the hostname will be preserved when configuring security settings.

  • Resolved startup errors when a SharedMacro is edited while being referenced by another open session.

  • Reimplemented the following printer commands with VBA API support for 3270 Printer sessions:

    • Print Retain Host Format

    • Print Suppress Initial Form Feed

    • Print Suppress Null lines

  • Resolved setting up VBA References for SharedMacros when added from a Trusted Location.

  • The Reflection Workspace is no longer sent to the background when selecting OK from the About Reflection Workspace dialog. The Reflection workspace will remain in the foreground when exiting the dialog.

  • Resolved unresponsive 3270 session issue when running a Reflection Basic macro that is started from the Run legacy RB Macro or Run Legacy Reflection Basic Macro action.

  • Reintroduced missing configuration values for IBM 3270 printer sessions.

  • Fixed retrieval of LU Name (3270 Terminal) and Assigned Device Name (5250 Terminal) in terminal sessions.

  • Issues with host session loading have been resolved when starting Reflection Desktop sessions from the command-line.

Security

  • Tested and verified that the guidance to address CVE-2013-3900 would not disrupt Reflection Desktop functionality.

Reflection FTP Client

  • Resolved intermittent transfer failures with large files.

  • Fixed how the Reflection FTP Client handles sensitive data when performing a memory dump.

  • Resolved failures when initializing an Active Mode FTP connection.

    A wait has been implemented for the FD_ACCEPT and the LIST command response before starting the TLS handshake.

Known Issues

  • Product documentation has been updated for this release and rendering issues can be experienced in environments with older web platforms such as Internet Explorer. Please install webview2, which is a modern web platform to navigate the product documentation.

Installing Reflection Desktop

Maintained customers are now eligible to download the latest product releases (see Welcome to the new Rocket Software Support Experience). You will be prompted to login and accept the Software License Agreement before you can download a file.

System Requirements

Reflection Desktop

For information about supported platforms and hardware requirements for Reflection Desktop, see System Requirements in the Administrative Guide.

Note

Reflection Desktop 18.0 and all subsequent releases require a 64-bit operating system.

For more information about installing Reflection Desktop, see the Reflection Help and the Reflection Deployment Guide.

Reflection X

For information about supported platforms and hardware requirements for Reflection X, see System Requirements in the Reflection X Help. For more information about installing Reflection X, see the Reflection X Help and the Reflection X Planning and Installation Guide.

Note

Reflection X 18.0 Service Pack 2 requires a 64-bit operating system that supports Java 17 Update 8.

Reflection X when installed uses Micro Focus Java 17 Update 8. By default, Reflection X installs and uses a private Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that supports all Reflection X features. It is also possible to configure Reflection X running on Windows to use a different JRE.

Java Version Notice for 18.0, 18.0 SP1, and 18.0 SP2 Deployments

Micro Focus Java version 17 update 1 is packaged with the current 18.0, 18.0 Service Pack 1 and 18.0 Service Pack 2 releases. If Reflection X has been installed with Reflection Desktop, the current Java version will need to be uninstalled and replaced with Micro Focus Java version 17 update 8 to ensure Reflection X features and functionality are supported.

When updating from 16.0 or 17.0 release packages the correct JRE will be automatically installed.

Previous Releases

For information about the Reflection Desktop 18.0 release, see the Reflection Desktop 18.0 Service Pack 1 Release Notes and the Reflection Desktop 18.0 Release Notes.

Contacting Rocket Software

For specific product issues, contact Rocket Software Support.

Additional technical information or advice is available from several sources:

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