Kerry Paul wrote:
>
> I need to get some data off a Hewlett Packard 918LX running MPE/iX which
> has
> a 4mm DAT tape drive.
>
> I have *no* HP experience what-so-ever and the operator of the machine
> knows the daily routine and not much more.
>
> We have produced a tape using the following commands:
>
> FILE T;DEV=TAPE;REC=-2048,1,F,ASCII
> FCOPY FROM=ABCDATA.DATA;TO=*T
>
> I work with Advanced Pick (http://www.picksys.com) and to a much lesser
> degree, UNIX.  All I want is the string of bytes that must be on that tape
> (we've printed them to the HP's printer, from the tape, so I know they are
> there).
> All my AP and UNIX attempts suggest the tape is blank, however.
>
> Is there something about that "FILE" command that I need to know (eg. what
> are the 1 and F parameters for?)
> Is -2048 giving me 1024 byte blocks on the tape?
> I read somewhere about "partitions" on an HP 4mm tape.  Are there?  What's
> that mean?
> Am I just so clued out about HP and/or 4mm DAT that I'm beyond help?
> What ever happend to 1/2" reels anyway ;)
>
> A UNIX command to get the file's data into a UNIX file would be wonderful
> . . . winning $6 million in the lottery would be as well.  Is anyone
> willing to help me with either?
>
> (an e-mail response would help)
>
> Thank you to all.
> Kerry.
> --
> Kerry Paul, Quinte Computer Services Ltd.
> 141 William St, Box 578, Belleville, ON  K8N 5B2 CANADA
> voice: 613-966-3070        fax: 613-966-3095
> http://www.quinte.com    email: [log in to unmask]
> "MS Access is pretty, but its not my Pick!"
 
To answer a few of your questions:
 
a) Yes, it is 1024 bytes.
 
b) I assume you have access to the HP computer.  You should try reading the
information from the tape into a
file on your Hp computer.  Here is a set of commands:
 
a) First use the same file equation for your tape drive, this way it will
retrieve the information you require.
 
    - FILE T;DEV=TAPE;REC=-2048,1,F,ASCII
 
b) You must make a disk file, for this information to reside in.  I have no
idea the amount of information on
the tape, but I will assume less that 100,000 records.  I will build a file
with the capacity to hold 100,000
records, and don't worry, it does not allocate all the space at once.
 
    - build tempfile.data;disc=100000;rec=-2048,1,f,ascii
 
c) Now, use a file equation to point to this newly created file, with the hp
"Append-To-File" Option.
 
    - file myfile=tempfile.data;acc=append
 
d) NOw retrieve the information from the tape.
 
     - FCOPY FROM=*T;TO=*myfile
 
   Now, the information resides in the disk file.  You can print the file, or
download it to a PC using
reflections (for example), or if you know what records out of the file you wish
to print, just make a file
equation for the printer and subset out those lines.
 
     -  Ie, lines 20 to 100 to be printed,
 
        fcopy from=tempfile.data;to=*lp;subset=20,80  <---Start at line 20, go
for 80 lines!
 
If you need more information, feel free to call me at my office until 4 pm EST.
(508-584-5505 x759)
 
Good Luck!