WND Software also opens a free library of mainframe error codes.
AUSTIN, Texas (October 12, 2026) - WND Software today announced the fall release of WND Terminal, its 3270 and 5250 terminal emulator. The release adds Ask WND, AI that explains why a mainframe or IBM i job failed. Like the existing Explain this screen feature, it uses a model on the PC or on a server inside the customer’s network. Nothing is sent to WND Software. The company will show the release at IBM TechXchange 2026 in Atlanta, October 26 to 29.
Asked “Why did PAYRL01 fail last night?”, Ask WND opens SDSF in the person’s own session, reads the job log, finds the S0C7 and explains it, showing every step. It is read-only by default. Text is masked before it reaches the model, and IT can turn the AI off. For a single screen, Explain this screen (Ctrl+E, or ⌘E on a Mac) explains the error, abend or message in front of the person.
Nationwide cut mainframe service-desk tickets by 40% with Explain this screen, using a model hosted in its own network.
“Mainframe teams have been told to use AI, but not to let a single job log leave the building. So we built Ask WND to run on their own PCs and servers. It reads the job log the way a good operator would, and nothing it reads ever comes to us,” said Albert Joseph, founder and CEO of WND Software.
The release also cuts retyping and copying for people who use the green screen all day.
- Fill from Excel. Drop a spreadsheet on a CICS, ISPF or IBM i entry screen. WND Terminal shows a dry run, types every row and writes the host’s answer back to the spreadsheet.
- Capture all pages. One key on an ISPF 3.4, SDSF or IBM i spooled-file list saves every page as one Excel table.
- Modern view. Ctrl+Shift+M turns the same live screen into a form with labeled fields and buttons. Nothing changes on the host.
Other additions include guided training on live screens, Send to help desk, a Migration readiness report, a browser version through a gateway the customer hosts, session recording for privileged users and response-time monitoring. See all ten.
A free error-code library
WND Software has also opened a free reference at wndsoftware.com/mainframe-errors/. Each page says in plain English what a code means, what usually causes it, how to find the problem and how to fix it. Seventy codes are live today, from S0C7 and ASRA to SQLCODE -805.
At TechXchange
The booth demo runs on a laptop with a test mainframe and Wi-Fi off, the AI included. It shows four of the new features in five minutes. Visitors can book a 20-minute session at wndsoftware.com/techxchange.
Pricing and availability
The fall release is on the customer portal now. Desktop is $69 per user per year and Enterprise is $75, with a minimum of 100 users. A free proof of value runs two to four weeks on the customer’s own systems.
About WND Software
WND Software LLC makes WND Terminal, a 3270 and 5250 terminal emulator for IBM mainframes and IBM i on Windows, Mac and web browsers. Customers install and run it themselves. Host traffic and screen data never pass through WND Software. WND stands for We’re Not Difficult. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has been in business since 2021. 20% of the Fortune 100 trust WND. Customers include Fifth Third Bank, Nationwide, Texas HHSC, The Home Depot and Union Pacific. Learn more at wndsoftware.com.
Media contact
Albert Joseph
WND Software
[email protected]
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