>"<Elbert E Silbaugh>" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>We are trying to FTP a file from IBM to HP (MPE/iX 5.0).
>>The manual says it automatically converts from EBCDIC to ASCII.
>>Our program burps on COMP-3 fields.
>>Indications are that the conversion is not done.
>>
>>Any ideas from you all would be helpful.
>>
>>Elbert
>Those COMP-3 fields are Packed Decimal fields.  To convert the record(s)
>from EBCDIC to ASCII, you must first store the Packed Decimal fields to an
>internal buffer, translate the record(s) to ASCII, and then move the
>stored numbers back to the record(s).  The least painful way to do this is
>with a Transact/XL program using the CTRANSLATE intrinsic.  Of course,
>this means that the file must be transferred to and stored on your 3000 in
>EBCDIC format.
 
Before you go off and start writing new software try using FCOPY.  You can
perform the FTP transfer in binary and then translate the file,using FCOPY,
to EBCDIC *excluding* the positions that contain the COMP-3 fields.
 
Or perform the FTP transfer in ASCII and use FCOPY to translate the
positions that contain the COMP-3 fields back to EBCDIC.
 
Good Luck
 
Paul H. Christidis