Nlynx ETU400 - Manual (Page 58)

ETU400 User Guide 011603 4-12
Using Microcomputer Data Formats
In addition to translating files from ASCII to EBCDIC, ETU formats the
data so that it can be used in the various types of microcomputer
applications such as spreadsheets, word processors, and database
programs. Each type of application stores data in its own format. ETU
provides four translation types that enable the host data to be formatted
for the type of application in which you will use it.
As an example, you may want to transfer a host file to the microcomputer
and use the file in a database program. By using the *TAB translation
type (used with database applications) when you transfer the file to the
micro, the file can be imported into a database application.
You must also specify a translation type when you are translating files
from the micro to the host. ETU strips off the formatting created by the
microcomputer application, which allows the data to be used on the host.
To specify a translation type, enter the appropriate value at the
TRANSLATE parameter in any of the file transfer commands. To transfer a
file between the host and a micro with no translation, enter *NONE at the
TRANSLATE parameter.
The four micro formats supported by ETU are explained below.
ASCII Text format
(*TEXT)
Basic Sequential
format (*BASICS)
ASCII Text is a character-oriented format. Use
*TEXT with files created with any kind of word
processing program or text editor.
BASIC Sequential format is a standard method of
storing data on the PC or Mac. These files are
field-oriented and are created with database
programs. All fields are separated by commas,
and alphabetic fields are surrounded by
quotation marks (") to distinguish them from
numeric fields. Data in a *BASICS format looks
similar to that shown below:
Table 4-3 Example of *BASICS data file
9.00,”LO111”,”10119”,”BLACK”,”DOG”,9.00,”890101”
9.00,”LO118”,”10119”,”RED”,”DOG”,8.00,”890301”
9.00,“LO118”,“10221“,“BLACK”,”BIRD”,6.00,”890401“
9.00,“LO118”,“10222”,”BLUE”,”CAT',6.00,“890201“
8.00,“LO118“,“10222”,“BLACK”,“HORSE”,7.0,“890202”
8.00,“LO118”,“1
0224”,
“GREEN”,“FISH”,7.0,“890202”