🚀 go-pugleaf

>I would like to get a MODULE from a ftp site, but am having difficulty.
>I am ftping to a UNIX machine, transfering the file to a PC, and then
>uploading the file from the PC to a mainframe VM-CMS system. I have tried
>to follow the instructions that the host ftp gave me:
>
>	TYPE e (for EBCIDIC)
>	MODE b (for block mode)
>
>The file that I get is always recfm 80, and I am not so sure that this is
>what is supposed to happen. The file that I am trying to get is VMARC MODULE
>so that I can then get some REXX code and other VM-UTILS...
>Any help would be greatly appreciated....

Well, assuming you do not have direct access to BITNET, you might try starting
with (a version of) the VMARC program source.  You can request a copy from
LISTSERV@RPIECS.BITNET (aka VM.ECS.RPI.EDU) under the name $VMARC ASSEMBLE.
Being 80-byte, plain text records, it should survive the mail gateways'
translations.  (If you *do* have direct access to BITNET, then all this FTP
stuff is silly; you should just be requesting the VMARC PACKAGE from
LISTSERV@RPIECS :-)

Once you have a working version of VMARC, FTP-ing VMARC-archives and unpacking
them shouldn't be a real problem *as long as you maintain strictly binary
transfers every step of the way to the VM system*.  (Standard VMARC-archives
are lrecl=80 files.  If you every run across one that isn't, a grungy little
program that "re-blocks" the records to their proper length will suffice.)


/JSFisher