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N7MF8CNV prompts you for language and file type (text or
data). For each data file, you enter the starting position and length
of each field (portion of a record) to be converted. For a text
file, each record is converted as one field.
The user is prompted for the name of each file to be converted.
Files are read one record at a time; each record is converted (or
certain fields of it are converted for data files), and the result
is written to a new temporary file. When all records have been read,
converted, and written to the new file, the old (unconverted) copy
is deleted, and the new one saved in its place. An exception to
this is KSAM files, which are converted in place, rather than written to
a new temporary file.
A count of the number of records read and converted is displayed
on $STDLIST.
This utility will not convert files containing bytes with
the eighth bit set. This situation probably indicates a misunderstanding
or error. The likely causes are:
File is not a text or data file. File is a data file where the fields have been inaccurately
located. File was created on a terminal configured for 8-bit
operation. File has already been converted.
The maximum record length supported is 8192 bytes. The maximum
number of fields supported in the records of a data file is 256.
If the file being converted contains user labels, these are
copied to the new file without conversion. If a fatal error is encountered
during the conversion (for example, 8-bit data or file system error
found) the conversion stops, the old copy of the file is saved (with
the data unchanged), and the new copy is purged.
An exception to this practise occurs with KSAM files. Since
these are converted in place, some records may already have been
modified. KSAM files (including key file) should be restored from
the backup tape to ensure a consistent copy.
A CTRL-Y entered during conversion displays the number of records
successfully converted, and conversion continues. On variable length
data files, if a field or portion of a field is beyond the length
of the record just read, a warning is displayed and that field is
not converted on that record. Other fields on the same record are
converted, and processing continues with subsequent records. After
each file has been converted, the user is prompted for another file name.
In addition to the text and data options, there is a test
conversion option which shows how the conversion algorithm operates.
The test conversion option must be run from a terminal configured
for 7-bit operation with the chosen national substitution set. The
user is instructed to enter a string, and the result of the conversion
is displayed. The user does not have to switch back and forth between
7-bit and 8-bit operation to see the result. Each character converted
is displayed as a decimal value in parentheses rather than graphically.
Other characters are displayed unchanged.
At any point in the program, a Return exits the current program level.
A Return in response to a request for the starting position and
length of a field in a data file indicates that the definition of
fields is complete, and the program proceeds with the conversion of the data
file. A Return entered in response to a request for a text file name
indicates the conversion of text files is complete; the program
goes back to the question: "Type of file to be
converted?".
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