#Downloaded Text Files
14 messages in this thread
I know this subject has been discussed here before but I can't remember what
was the out come of it all. My situation is this. I'm using Online! with a
U.S. Robotic Courier 2400 modem. The "CR+LF" is set on and the word, parity,
and stop options are set to 8,N,1. When I download a text file from my works
VAX and do a TYPE <Filename> everything looks okay. If I do a ED <Filename> I
get a "File Contains Binary" message. How can this be straightened out. Also
another problem related more or less is if I try to upload a text file I either
a message such as "out string to long" and the file does not get transferred.
If I do get the file transferred it usually is one continous line unreadable.
Is there an easy way to correct these problems? Thanks in advance for any
help. One more thing I forgot to mention, I am using XMODEM as my file transfer
protocol.
John,
I haven't used ED in quite some time, but if I remember correctly, you can
start up ED and do an IF (Insert File) to load up a file that contains
characters that ED complains about.
You might want to try MicroEmacs as an editor, or perhaps MED. MED is
available here in our Data Libraries. We also have a demo version of TxED that
will handle files under about 10K. I use the full blown TxED and find it to be
all that I ever need.
On the uploads, you probably need to change the Linefeeds to either CRs or
CR/LF pairs. There is a program for doing this in the Data Library as well.
I'm not too sure which one though, as I have not yet made up an index for all
the libraries. 8, 9 and 10 are the most likely for these files.
Regards, Larry.
I'll try what you suggest and get back with you on if everything works. I've
got most of the editors that you suggested. Its that it often easier to pull
up ED because its on WB instead of searching through all my disks for one of
editors. Might be a different story if I had a hard disk. Thanks again for
your input.
John,
An easy "fix" for the "editor on the WB" problem is to replace ED
and/or EDIT on your WB with one of the other editors….obviously, this should
only be done on a copy of WB.
Don
John:
Delete ED, EDIT and some of the other stuff from the 'c' directory
(watch out that you don't delete something that 'startup-sequence' uses) and
copy your favorite editor to your 'c' directory, there should be plenty of
room. Alternatively, you can create a command file that trys to run the
editor. It will tell you what disk it is on if the disk is not in the machine
(naturally, you have to know to write the command file, but at least you don't
have to remember after that).
73s,
bill
Your the second one to come up with the same idea about replacing ED with
another text editor. I guess that should convince me that that's the direction
to go. Thanks for your input. Sometimes the easiest solutions are the hardest
to come up with your self. Thanks again.
Any time John. One of the characteristics of this machine is that for most
things that you might want to do, there really is no 'One Right Way' to do it!
We each seem to have our favorite, though there are some things that most of us
pretty well do the same way. Enjoy, you have at your hands computing power
that many business do not have availible.
73s,
bill
John, if you like another editor, simply copy it into your C: directory (boot
disk, directory C by default). Rename it to whatever you like and then you can
just call it up. The Amiga is nothing if not versatile.
Regards, Larry.
You're the third one to come up with the same solution. Like I said previously
in answer to another reply sometimes the easiest solutions to a problem are the
hardest for a person to come up with. Then when you hear it, it seems so dumb
that you didn't think of it yourself. Thanks alot for your input. As soon as I
log off I'm taking everyones suggestion. Thanks again……John
John, as Larry replied you can insert a file in ED – the format is to create a
dummy file withthen ESC IF!filename! – however this doesn't ALWAYS work.
Marlene
PS You can also use EDIT (it will accept the file) – but it is ONE HUGE PAIN IN
THE BUTT to use!!!
Thanks Marlene I'm going to try what you and Larry suggested by using IF
command. Thanks again…..John
John,
The cause of the problem is Xmodem itself. It requires all data sent
to be in even multiples of 128 bytes and pads enough ^Zs (0x1A) to the last
block to fill it out to 128 bytes. ED (or the Amiga for that fact) doesn't
recognize ^Z as an EOF marker…so it thinks it's part of text and chokes on
it. The solution is fairly simple with ED. You type ED test (where test is a
non-existant filename) and once ED is up and running, you type ESC IF!filename!
and ED will include that file even if it contains binary. Go to the bottom of
the file and delete the last line or so (it will show up as blank lines) via
the CTL-B and then ESC SA!filename! to re-save as the original filename. You
then ESC Q to quit ED and not create "test".
The upload problem is similar…ED only uses a LF as an EOL marker
while most systems need a CR or CR+LF to indicate an EOL. If you are only
sending text, I'd do a reverse capture and use OnLine!s OUT-COM filter to
convert the LF (0x10) into a CR (0x13), that should work.
Don
As I find the norm on this forum, the answers to questions are fast and helpful
in resolving problems. Thanks for your suggestions and I'll give them a try.
I'll let you know if everything works okay.
I concur…this is the best interative medium I've ever experienced! michael