"Error communicating with emulator" while open a terminal session with IBM Personal Communications

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Despite reading documentation and searching in the forum, I'm unable to open an HLLAPI terminal session with IBM personal communications. I'm using the suggested parameters and instructions, e.g.:

So, I firstly open my ws session which is then shown in task manager:

Then, in PAD, I launch the "Open terminal session" command but, after a minute, I get:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.: Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.SDK.ActionException: Error communicating with the emulator ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.TerminalEmulation.Actions.HLLAPISessionFacadeToVariant..ctor(String path, String sessionId, Boolean isEnhanced)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.TerminalEmulation.Actions.TerminalEmulationActions.OpenTerminalSession(Variant installationPath, Variant dllPath, Variant sessionName, Variant profile, Variant host, Variant port, Variant& session, Int32 provider, Int32 configuration, Int32 hostType, Boolean attach)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.TerminalEmulation.Actions.OpenTerminalSession.Execute(ActionContext context)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.ActionRunner.RunAction(String action, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments, IActionStatement statement)

Thanks in advance for any hint

[Anonymous]

Hello @Anonymous 

Did you already refer the past thread below?

Solved: Terminal Emulation session with IBM Personal Commu... - Power Platform Community (microsoft.com)

I don't know if they discussed the same issue as you, but there may be some helpful part or hint for you.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Hi SHindomo,

yes, I saw it, before opening this topic. In fact, the list of actions I specified I took reflect what was suggested in that topic. But still no success.

[sunilb]

You need to open that application with run application action. 

Also give add some wait.

After that you can use Open Terminal Action with correct session name. 

I hope above will help you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I've tried it but didn't solve. The 3270 emulator is opened fine using "Run application action" but then "Open terminal session" doesn't work. Same error as shown in my main post.

[sunilb]

Can you please try giving more wait after Run Application action.

[Anonymous]

I did it when I tried, as you suggested. When the "Open terminal" action is parsed, the emulator is already opened.

[sunilb]

I am guessing it is taking more time for session initialization so you need to give more wait after Run Application.

[Anonymous]

Ok, I'll try to give 30 seconds. Anyway, in the documentation related to terminal sessions, it's not specified to use a "Run application" action before.

What it's actually said in another post here:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Desktop/Terminal-Emulation-session-with-IBM-Perso...

is that the terminal should be opened before starting the bot (and that's what I was trying to do: starting manually the emulator and then, once opened and it's active in task manager,  trying to connect with "open terminal".)

[Anonymous]

This is the attempt with 30 seconds, same result:

[Anonymous]

UPDATE:

I've installed IBM personal communications and PAD on my personal laptop and the same exact action "OPEN TERMINAL SESSION" works fine. So it looks like somehow PAD is unable to connect to the opened PCOMM session on my working laptop. I've tried reinstalling and running PAD as administrator but still no luck. I've also tried, instead of PCOMM, with Quick3270 (another terminal emulator) but again, PAD is unable to establish the connection with the active session.

Any idea?

[efr2000]

I have the same problem. Did you solve it?

I am not sure it the office version has anything to do with it. I have the 32 bit office.