Does anyone out there have a solution to our problem.

We have a HP3000 mini computer (Operating Program MPE version 7) which is
being used to support our existing library system HP BOOK.
We are about to move across to a new library system and need to extract
our bibliographic and item records. We have been advised by the supplier
of our HPBOOK system that the best way of doing this is to generate a
print of our catalogue and item records and to capture this print to
tape.

We have now run into the problem that we can only generate very small
prints because we receive an error message that there is insufficient
spool file space. Our computer Centre staff (who have limited knowledge
of the HP 3000) believe that this error message is generated because when
the printer is off line the HP system has been set to spool only as much
data as the printer can store in its memory at any one time. According to
our computer Centre HP don't seem to be able to suggest a solution.

To generate a complete output of our existing Catalogue (Bib records)
using the above method may require several hundred print requests to
cover the whole data base and will increase the likelyhood of dirty data
or incomplete database output. Which we may not know about untill it is
too late to correct.

Our preferred option is to generate a report request through a print
catalogue data report function in HPBOOK and instead of printing it
capture it to tape. In order to do this we need to overcome the spool
file problem.

NOTE: the report that we are trying to copy to tape (or write directly to
disc) is a compilation of a number of files and needs to be extracted
through the running of a report and capturing it to disk or tape. The FTP
option available for files therefore doesn't seem a viable option.

If there are any  HP 3000 specialists out there who may have a solution
we would be pleased to receive your advice.

Please Email your response directly to :
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In anticipation of a solution,
Cheers,

Robet Hornett
Institute Librarian
Hawthorn Institute of Education
442 Auburn Rd. Hawthorn Vic. 3122
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phone: (intl+61+3) 9810 3364
fax: (intl+61+3) 9810 3226