In addition to rock-solid telnet and SSH connectivity, TinyTERM Enterprise for iOS has several features to increase usability and security. Quick access to connecting and disconnecting, as well as on-the-fly keyboard changing and zoom, give users security, flexibility and enhanced productivity.

Setting and Using a Passcode

To add passcode security to TinyTERM, turn on the Passcode Lock switch in the Global Options. This brings up the Enter Passcode dialog. Enter a four-digit number here. TinyTERM will request the passcode a second time to verify it, then return to the Global Options.

Once a passcode is set, every time TinyTERM starts the Enter Passcode dialog will come up. You can also Require Passcode on switching to TinyTERM. The default value is "Immediately", which means TinyTERM will ask for the passcode every time it comes to the foreground: whenever it's started, when returning to TinyTERM from another app, or when the iPad has been in sleep mode. By setting a time value, a specified number of idle minutes must pass before the passcode is required again.

To disable the passcode, turn the switch off in the configuration screen. You'll be asked to enter the passcode once to confirm the change.

Title Bar

While connected, the title bar displays the name of the currently selected configuration and several buttons.

The Configure button opens the list of configurations, allowing you to create new configurations or edit existing ones. The current connection stays open unless another configuration is connected from that screen.

Tapping the keyboard button brings up a list of available keyboard layouts, transparency controls, an option to scan a barcode, and a key remapping item. Holding the button down hides the keyboard. You can also hide the keyboard by tapping the hide button on the bottom row of the keyboard or double-tapping the emulator window with one finger. When the keyboard is hidden, the keyboard button restores the keyboard and opens the keyboard menu.

The zoom button indicates that TinyTERM is in pinch zoom mode, provided it's also in landscape orientation and the keyboard is not transparent. Tapping it in either orientation switches TinyTERM to scrollback mode, indicated by a vertical arrow. This allows you to scroll through the display history by swiping up and down in the emulator window.

The Disconnect button brings up "Disconnect" and "Cancel" buttons. Cancel closes the dialog. Disconnect will terminate the current connection and change the button to read "Connect."

The Connect button connects the current session. Holding it down brings up a list of available connections. Select any session to connect it immediately.

Pinch Zoom

In landscape mode, the TinyTERM emulator window fills the entire screen if the keyboard is transparent or hidden. With a non-transparent keyboard, TinyTERM displays the emulator text at full size, which leaves only a portion of the screen visible.

The visible portion of the screen depends on the height of the main keyboard, and whether or not a supplemental keyboard is displayed.

You can move through this display with a finger swipe. With a supplemental keyboard displayed, you can also pinch zoom to reduce the display size, so that more of the screen is visible.

At minimum size, the entire emulator window is visible in the available screen space. Any size in between the minimum and full width is available.

In portrait mode, TinyTERM's emulation fills the top part of the screen not used by the keyboard. Pinch zoom is not supported in portrait mode. This helps maintain an aspect ratio that keeps characters free from distortion.

Software Scanner

TinyTERM also includes software scanner support for the rear camera. To activate this, tap the scan button on the keyboard, select Scan Barcode from the keyboard menu in the title bar, or double-tap the TinyTERM screen with two fingers simultaneously.

This brings up a live camera window with a Cancel button. Center the barcode or QR code in the camera window. The software will recognize the code, then return to TinyTERM and enter the data at the current cursor position. Supported code formats include EAN/UPC, Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5 and QR.