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HP OpenVMS Systemsask the wizard |
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The Question is: I copied a file last week between two nodes running VMS V5.5-2 using FTP. I then received a call from the user saying that the download did not reflect the changes expected. I tried to run the enquiry myself and received a "file not found" error, upon CQ compilation. The fix is pretty simple ... edit the file and exit to create a new version - but leads me to believe that the ftp has led to a corruption to the file. The only difference I can spot is that the ftp'd file has a record format of "Variable length", where as the 'fixed' file is "Variable length, maximum 80 bytes" This happens extremely frequently, when we transfer files between the machines. Could you please investigate and let me know if this can be fixed. The Answer is : You do not mention which IP package is in use, nor what version, nor if any ECO kits have been applied. Unlike format-independent transfer tools, FTP has two transfer modes: image (binary), and ASCII (text). If the correct transfer mode is not selected, file problems can arise. FTP -- because it supports a variety of operating systems -- may or may not be able to transfer the file attributes exactly as expected. The file data contents are not corrupted, though the file structure may or may not be exactly as expected -- and which can certainly be considered a form of file corruption. With TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS (UCX), consider using a recent version and the appropriate associated ECO kit, to get the latest version of FTP. Versions of UCX such as V4.1 -- while not supported on releases as far back as V5.5-2 -- have been used with success by some customers. One of the more common solutions in the UNIX space is to "zip" or "tar" the file before transfering it. zip and tar are available for OpenVMS, as is BACKUP. (BACKUP savesets can require issuing a SET FILE command, to reset the file attributes after an FTP transfer of the the saveset.) Alternatives include the use of DECnet and DECnet protocols -- DECnet COPY transfers handle the format transparently. And for sites requiring IP, DECnet-Plus can operate over an IP transport, and can provide the capabilities and advantages and integration of DECnet in an IP network environment. If additional information or assistance is required, please contact the customer support center.
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