We use approx the same artifice (echo-ing ftp commands in a temporary file)
and it works. The main difference between your jcl code and ours is we use
the standard run parameter   ;STDIN=tempfile    instead of piping
redirection. I'm not sure (and cannot test now) but I think this kind of
redirection works better with implicit run. Here is an example of our ftp
job code:
!build tmpstdin;temp
!file tmpstdin,oldtemp
!echo open 123.456.123.456 >*tmpstdin
!echo user ....                         >>*tmpstdin
!echo ....                                >>*tmpstdin
!echo ... !mpevar ....              >>*tmpstdin
!echo exit                               >>*tmpstdin
!run ftp.arpa.sys;stdin=tmpstdin

Note the use of a temporary mpe file. This way, there may be multiple
instance of the job running at the same time.
HTH
Michel Gauthier
Donohue Inc.

Boris Kortiak <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message
news:F4B1826B1A21D211AEC5006008207AF40302DE08@dogbert.csillc.com...
Sorry, I should have included this code snippet.  Apologies

!SETVAR BK_FTP_FROM "FILE.GROUP.ACCOUNT"
!SETVAR BK_FTP_TO "FileName.txt"
!SETVAR BK_FTP_DTS "!HPYYYY!HPMONTH!HPDATE!HPHOUR!HPMINUTE"
!SETVAR BK_FTP_SAVE "FileName" + "!BK_FTP_DTS" + ".txt"
!PURGE FTPCMD00.TEMP
!FILE FTPCMD00=FTPCMD00.TEMP;DEV=DISC;SAVE
!ECHO open 999.999.999.999>FTPCMD00
!ECHO user usr pwd>>FTPCMD00
!ECHO rename !BK_FTP_TO !BK_FTP_SAVE>>FTPCMD00
!ECHO ExitOnError>>FTPCMD00
!ECHO put !BK_FTP_FROM !BK_FTP_TO>>FTPCMD00
!ECHO close>>FTPCMD00
!ECHO exit>>FTPCMD00
!CONTINUE
!RUN FTP.ARPA.SYS<FTPCMD00

>>> Boris Kortiak <[log in to unmask]> 12/16/99 04:41PM >>>
Still having problems with the suggested methods for using a VAR in an FTP
command.

Apparently we are using a product called STREAMX to stream jobs from a menu.
This doesn't seem to create the temporary file properly.  Therefore I get an
error:
"NONEXISTENT PERMANENT FILE (FSERR 52)"
"Couldn't open input redirection file, command failed.  (CIERR 9427)"

I am at a loss for what to do next.  Any suggestions?

TIA