Download instructions

You may want to print this page if you aren't familiar with XMIT files.

I deliver standalone programs and REXX execs as regular text files (which may or may not have translation problems). You can view these files on your PC and upload them to MVS/TSO with normal ASCII->EBCDIC translation. These instructions are not needed for the name.TXT files.

When I have a collection of related items such as an ISPF application, they are delivered as "packages" in TSO XMIT format compressed with PKZIP. You must have a program on your PC or MVS mainframe that can process PKZIP 2.04g files.

Typically you would:

Download the name.ZIP file to your PC using your web browser.
Unzip the file on your PC using PKUNZIP or your favorite unzip program like the freeware INFOZIP.
- Unzip example: "PKUNZIP name.ZIP"
- This will put one or more name.XMI files on your PC.
- If you don't have an unzip program, one place to get one is www.shareware.com
FTP or file transfer the name.XMI to your MVS system. You must ensure that:
- Transfer must be binary (no CRLF or ASCII translation)
- Dataset should be LRECL=80 and record format of fixed.
  
  This is very important! The RECEIVE command requires that the XMIT files be Lrecl=80 and fixed. I usually use:
  
  LRECL=80 BLKSIZE=3120 RECFM=FB
Click here to see sample OS/2 and Windows 95 FTP commands for PC to MVS.
On TSO:
- RECEIVE INDATASET(name.XMI)
- When prompted by message "INMR906A Enter restore parameters or 'DELETE' or 'END' +":
  
  Enter: DA(name.of.your.library) UNIT(unit) VOLUME(volume)
  
  Note: The UNIT() and VOLUME() operands are optional but shown in case your installation puts RECEIVE files on work packs by default like mine does.
- Follow the instructions in the $$README member (if any).

Once you've done this a few times, it will come naturally. For more information on XMIT files, see my UnXMIT page.

In-Frequently Asked Questions:

Why XMIT format?

You may be wondering why these files are in TSO XMIT format:

Pros:	Easy packaging of a Partitioned Dataset. No EBCDIC->ASCII->EBCDIC translation problems. ISPF stats are preserved. Load libraries can be downloaded to a PC Variable Blocked files can be downloaded to a PC
Cons:	Can't view on a PC (without a UnXmit product) More complicated procedure

The XMIT datasets were created in TSO via this command:

XMIT userid DA(input.pds) OUTDATASET(name.XMI)

What about other methods?

Another way for easy packaging of a PDS is to use a program that creates a IEBUPDTE-compatible sequential version of a PDS. This file consist of add control cards followed by each member. The control cards have more ISPF stats (if any) added on the add control card, for example:

./ ADD NAME=$$README 1000-97137-97137-1819-00012-00012-00000-DAVE

There are two utilites that I know of that create this IEBUPDTE-compatible sequential version of a PDS with the ISPF stats:

The REVIEW command from the CBT tape has a =OFFLOAD option which does this. You must preallocate file SYSUT2 to a sequential LRECL=80 dataset in which a sequential version of the PDS in IEBUPDTE format is placed.

Note: The PDSLOAD utility, also from the CBT tape can process the =OFFLOAD output and create a PDS along with ISPF stats.
StarTool from Serena can also create this IEBUPDTE-compatible version of a PDS via the COMBINE command. The SEPARATE command can create a PDS from the IEBUPDTE source.

IBM's IEBUPDTE ignores the ISPF stats that these programs place on the add cards so you can still use IEBUPDTE to process them. If the IEBUPDTE format was used:

Pros:	Easy packaging of a Partitioned Dataset. Can view on a PC. ISPF stats are preserved.
Cons:	EBCDIC->ASCII->EBCDIC translation problems. Load libraries can't be downloaded to a PC Variable blocked files can't be downloaded to a PC

On a collection of items like an ISPF application, I'd personally would rather not have to edit a bunch of members to fix all of the translation problems one at a time when problems arose. These are MVS datasets and that's where they belong.

Why not provide both?

I am limited to 20 megs of web space although I may provide this in the future.

Return to Dave's MVS Freeware web page.