 
     
This technical note provides tips for transferring PC files to and from
the AS/400 in the SAVE format.
-------- What is the SAVE format? --------
WinTran defines a special file format for saving and restoring PC files
on the AS/400 as physical data files. Using this format, it is possible
to upload PC files to the AS/400, and then download them to the another PC
without gaining extraneous data (to pad the file to a multiple of AS/400
record length), or losing characteristics of the PC file such as creation
date or read-only status. In other words, the PC file uploaded and then
downloaded in the SAVE format will exactly match the original PC file
in every respect but the user-specified file name.
Uploading and downloading PC files in the SAVE format was designed to be
simple, and it is - except for the first time the upload function is used.
Unfortunately, the IBM-defined file transfer API used by WinTran requires
that an object, namely a "field reference file", must already exist on the
AS/400 before a data file may be created. This seems to be a source of
much confusion to users attempting for the first time to upload files in
the SAVE format.
-------- Creating an AS/400 Field Reference File --------
Before a PC file can be uploaded to a new AS/400 data file, a "field
reference file" must first exist on the AS/400 to define the new file's
record layout (the names, types and order of fields in the record). A field
reference file is nothing more than an existing AS/400 file that has the
same record layout as the new file you are trying to create.
The SAVE format uses a simple record layout: each record consists of a
single, 2048 character alphameric field named "PCSAVF". To create a
field reference file, first create a source member (using SEU or PDM, or by
uploading the file PCSAVDDS.SRC to a source member) with the following two
entries defining the record layout:
A R SAVREC
A PCSAVF 2048A
Use the CRTPF command, referencing the DDS source member created above, to
create a field reference file for use with subsequent uploads in the SAVE
format.
-------- Uploading files in the SAVE format --------
To upload a PC file in the SAVE format, enter "*SAVE" in the "PC File
Description File name" edit box. If the transfer request will create a
new data file on the AS/400, the aforementioned field reference file
name must be entered in the "AS/400 field reference file" edit box.
-------- Downloading files in the SAVE format --------
To download a file previously uploaded in the SAVE format, choose "SAVE"
from the "PC file type" drop down list. Besides the PC and AS/400 file
names, there is nothing else to enter. The file will be restored on the
PC with its data, date and attributes intact.
Note that you can't download a file in the SAVE format unless it was
previously uploaded that way.
-------- An easy method for saving & restoring PC files --------
Instead of creating a field reference file to specify whenever
uploading a new PC file to the AS/400, consider creating an AS/400
data file that is capable of containing multiple members. Each PC
file uploaded to the AS/400 would then be uploaded as a member in this
file rather than occupying a unique AS/400 data file.
Such a file is created identically to creating the field reference file
for SAVE format uploading (see above), but the MAXMBRS parameter of the
CRTPF command must be changed to *NOMAX (the AS/400 default for MAXMBRS
is 1, for some reason).
Having once created the multiple-member AS/400 data file, uploading and
downloading PC files in the SAVE format is much simpler, as there is no
need to ever specify a field reference file. One only needs to remember
to choose "new member" whenever uploading a PC file for the first time.
Copyright © 1997-2008 Fraser's Hill Ltd. All rights reserved.
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FHL 14-Apr-2002
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