Ipswitch Forums / File Transfer / WS_FTP Professional / how to download mainframe generation datasets?? / Latest Posts

RE: how to download mainframe generation datasets??

RTChing — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 13:23:37 GMT

Hi, I'm on the same boat. Have you found a way to download the most current GDGs (0)? Please advice. Thanks!

RTChing

RE: how to download mainframe generation datasets??

skiz — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:33:32 GMT

Thanks for the information -- I will check into the sites you listed.

The dos ftp command will allow generation datasets to be downloaded using the '(0)'.

I will post more information as I find out anything new,

Thanks again.

RE: how to download mainframe generation datasets??

/dev/null — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 12:05:14 GMT

Thanks for the info on generation datasets....

> "This works with other ftp programs, but not wsftp pro?"

After googling for "generation dataset ftp server", I don't think what you're asking is available in *any* FTP client for the PC (at least natively). Generation dataset support probably depends on the ftp server running on the mainframe. If the ftp server supports it, maybe it can be enabled via a "SITE" command?

One of the searches turned up the following: http://users.commkey.net/fussichen/ptipftp.htm
Generation Datasets on an IBM Mainframe, #3 said: Run ftp from the mainframe, not from Unix or Windows platform. Neither Unix nor Windows has any clue what a generation dataset is and will likely choke on the syntax.

You may also want to checkout: http://www.csd.sc.edu/ars/handouts/mvstcpip.shtml

Since I'm out of ideas for your situation, I'll stop talking. If there's one floating around, maybe a mainframe/ftp server expert can chime in!

RE: how to download mainframe generation datasets??

skiz — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 10:40:29 GMT

I think you might want to look up some information on Generation dataset groups. Since the '(0)' part of the filename stands for the 'most recent generation' -- it is not part of the actual filename. So, that explains why when you tranfered a unix file with the filename with '(0)' it worked.

With generation dataset groups, each file added to the generation group tacks on a generation number as the last piece of the filename.

Example;
1st version/generation: "my.test.name.gv001"

specified as: "my.test.name(-2)

2nd version/generation: my.test.name.gv002

specified as: "my.test.name(-1)

3rd version/generation: my.test.name.gv003 (this is the most recent)

specified as: "my.test.name(0)"

So, in wsftp pro, if I specify my.test.name.gv003, it will transfer that file. BUT I always want the most recent version (ie. '(0)'). This works with other ftp programs, but not wsftp pro?

skiz

RE: how to download mainframe generation datasets??

/dev/null — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 13:33:55 GMT

Unfortunately I don't have access to a mainframe system to test. On my unix system, I created a plain text file called my.dataset.tstname(0) and I was able to download it properly using ws_ftp's GUI.

Can you post the ws_ftp log files that were generated? They're usually found in %appdata%\ipswitch\ws_ftp\logs. Or you could copy and paste the "connection log" window. The log files might shed more light on the problem.

Could you also post the full command line for wsftppro.exe that you are using?

Maybe the problem lies in the (0) part of the filename. WS_FTP might be interpreting the parenthesis as some sort of meta character.... Have you tried any other ftp clients other than the "dos" ftp command? Maybe try SmartFTP and see if it has the same behavior (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/smartftp.html)?

RE: how to download mainframe generation datasets??

skiz — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 10:34:41 GMT

Hi,

Using the regular dos command line ftp, I can tell ftp to get the most recent generation dataset, by specifying '(0)' where '0' is the most recent generation.

example:

get my.dataset.tstname(0) c:\test.txt

This works.

However, using wsftp pro I cannot specify this, it gives an error. In the GUI the error is :

"501 A qualifier in "tstname(0)" is more than 8 characters"

Using the command line 'wsftppro.exe -s ........" command the error is:

File specification error: "tstname(0)" did not match any file

Thanks,

Skiz

RE: how to download mainframe generation datasets??

/dev/null — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:25:31 GMT

We'll probably need more details of exactly what you're trying to do in order to help you.

Can you manually download the file? If you can't manually download the file using the GUI, then you won't be able to download it automatically.

What exactly does "folder error" mean? Can you do a screen shot of the error and post it?

how to download mainframe generation datasets??

skiz — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:34:54 GMT

HI,

I am trying to schedule an automated download for a mainframe generation dataset.

I want to download the most recent generation , example: my.gdg.data(0)

How can I do this? It always gives me a folder error when I try to directly download.

I can navigate to the dataset manually via the GUI, but I need to automate this process.

Thanks,

Skiz