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10BACKUP                                                            Page 1


                             10BACKUP V2.2
                            Computer Centre
                          La Trobe University
                              16-May-1985





1  INTRODUCTION

     10BACKUP is an easy to  use  VAX  program  to  read  files  from  a
magnetic tape written by the DECsystem-10 BACKUP utility.  It's main use
is to aid in transfering files from a DECsystem-10 to a VAX, or to  read
existing DECsystem-10 BACKUP format tapes.

     Tapes written by the TOPS-20 DUMPER utility  are  very  similar  so
most of these should be able to be read by 10BACKUP as well.

     Because of the architectural differences between the two  machines,
binary  files  from  a  DECsystem-10  (such  as  .EXE or .REL files) are
normally meaningless on a VAX.  10BACKUP is  therefore  intended  mainly
for  restoring  normal ASCII text files (such as .FOR or .RNO files).  A
facility for transferring binary information is  available  through  the
SIXBIT command.

     10BACKUP uses 'interchange' mode to read the tape.  This is because
DECsystem-10 disk and UFD information does not apply on a VAX and has to
be ignored.



2  USING 10BACKUP

     Before using 10BACKUP the tape to be read must be mounted using the
/FOREIGN qualifier.  Also you should set your default directory to where
you wish to put any restored files.

     At La Trobe the 10BACKUP program  resides  in  the  SYSPUB  (SYStem
PUBlic)  area.   When the program is RUN it prompts for commands using a
'/'.  This is the same  prompt  as  DECsystem-10  BACKUP  uses  although
10BACKUP  has  neither  the  same  commands  nor  Run-Time commands like
DECsystem-10 BACKUP.

     The commands used in 10BACKUP may be abbreviated as  long  as  they
are not made ambiguous.  10BACKUP continues to prompt for commands until
it reaches the end of command input or an EXIT command.

     The first command normally used in 10BACKUP is the TAPE command  to
identify  the  input tape.  After that the SSNAME command may be used to
select a particular tape save-set, and DIRECTORY  and  RESTORE  commands
can  be  used  to get directory information or to restore files from the
tape.

10BACKUP                                                            Page 2


3  COMMANDS

The commands available in 10BACKUP are:-


     1.  The HELP command provides help from the 10BACKUP help  library.
         This  command  uses  the  VMS  help  routines  and is therefore
         similar to the DCL HELP command in use.
                   Format:  HELP [topic [,...] ]


     2.  The EXIT command exits from the program.
                   Format:  EXIT


     3.  The TAPE command identifies  the  tape  device  for  subsequent
         commands.   The  tape device must contain a DECsystem-10 BACKUP
         format tape and must be mounted with the /FOREIGN qualifier.  A
         logical  name  may be used to specify the device.  This command
         must be given before any other command which accesses the  tape
         device.   A  file-name  may be used in place of the device name
         when the file contains a copy of a DECsystem-10 BACKUP tape.
                   Format:  TAPE device-name
                   Example:  /TAPE MTA0:


     4.  The SSNAME command may be used to select a specific save set on
         the  tape  for  processing.   Subsequent  RESTORE and DIRECTORY
         commands will only process files from the  selected  save  set.
         If  no  save  set  name is given then all save sets on the tape
         will be  processed  (the  default).   To  preserve  lower  case
         characters  or  exact spacing in the save set name it should be
         put in double quotes (").
                   Format:  SSNAME [save-set-name]
                   Example:  /SSNAME "COBOL File Save"


     5.  The RESTORE command restores files from the tape to the current
         default  directory.   A  file name list may be given to restore
         only specific files.  The  '*'  character  may  be  used  as  a
         wildcard in the file name list.  Before this command is given a
         TAPE command must be used to identify the tape to be read,  and
         an  SSNAME  command may be used to select a particular save set
         for processing.  As each file is restored appropriate directory
         information is printed.
                   Format:  RESTORE [file-names]
                   Example:  /RESTORE SYS*.CBL,BACK.RNO


     6.  The DIRECTORY command prints file-name, size, and creation date
         information  about  files on the tape.  A file name list may be
         given to print information only on  specific  files.   The  '*'
         character  may  be  used  as  a wildcard in the file name list.
         Before using this command a tape must be selected with the TAPE
         command,  and  a  specific  save-set  may be selected using the

10BACKUP                                                            Page 3


         SSNAME command.
                   Format:  DIRECTORY [file-names]
                   Example:  /DIRECT *.RNO


     7.  The REWIND command repositions the tape to its beginning.  This
         allows the contents of the tape to be reprocessed.
                   Format:  REWIND


     8.  The OUTPUT_DEFAULT command sets the default  output  file  name
         specification for files generated by the RESTORE command.  This
         is useful for when you wish to restore files to an  area  other
         than the current default.
                   Format:  OUTPUT_DEFAULT [file-specification]
                   Example:  /OUTPUT_DEFAULT DSK1B:[CCPN]


     9.  The SKIP command skips over one or more save-sets.  The command
         parameter  describes how many save-sets to skip.  The parameter
         may be a positive number to skip forward or a  negative  number
         to skip backwards.
                   Format:  SKIP save-set-count


    10.  The SIXBIT command causes the  RESTORE  command  to  write  out
         restored  files  in  SIXBIT  mode.   SIXBIT  takes  an  integer
         parameter to say how big the output records should be in bytes.
         If the record size is zero then SIXBIT mode is switched off and
         the restored files are written using normal ASCII text  format.
         SIXBIT  mode  is  used  to  restore binary information from the
         tape.  Each 36 bit word is written as six sets of six bits each
         converted  to  an ASCII byte by adding decimal 32.  If the file
         contained SIXBIT text in fixed length records then  no  further
         conversion is required, otherwise a user supplied program would
         have to convert the appropriate  binary  data  types  into  the
         desired format.
                   Format:  SIXBIT record-size





4  MULTI-VOLUMES

     When 10BACKUP reaches the end of the tape volume while it is  still
processing  a save set, it assumes that another tape volume must follow.
For interactive jobs, or if the  tape  input  is  coming  from  a  file,
10BACKUP  rewinds  the current volume and prompts "Please ready the next
10BACKUP tape volume:".  The response to this prompt may be:

     1.  A <RETURN> to re-use the same  device.   Before  entering  this
         response   the   next  tape  volume  containing  the  save  set
         continuation must be loaded into the device by  contacting  the
         operators.   This may be done by ringing and telling them which

10BACKUP                                                            Page 4


         volume to  load,  or  by  spawning  a  subprocess  to  send  an
         appropriate request message.

     2.  The name of another device  to  use.   10BACKUP  will  continue
         processing  the  save set from this device which must also have
         been mounted using the /FOREIGN qualifier.

     3.  A CTRL/Z to abort further processing of the save set.


     For non-interactive jobs 10BACKUP sends a request to the  operators
asking  them  to  physically  mount  the next volume in the tape device.
When the operator replies 10BACKUP will continue processing the save set
from the new volume.



5  EXAMPLE USAGE

     The following is an example of the usage of 10BACKUP.  It shows the
commands  used  to get a directory of the whole tape, and how to restore
files *SKL.CTL and *.RNO from the save set "My Save Set".


          $ MOUNT/FOREIGN MTB1: BACKUP TAPE
          $ RUN SYSPUB:10BACKUP
          /TAPE TAPE:
          /DIRECTORY
             ... directory appears here ...
          /REWIND
          /SSNAME "My Save Set"
          /RESTORE *SKL.CTL,*.RNO
             ... information on files appears here ...
          /EXIT

                               APPENDIX A

                           INSTALLATION GUIDE



     To use 10BACKUP on a system two files are required.  These are  the
image  file  10BACKUP.EXE,  and the help library file 10BACKUP.HLB.  The
minimum required to install 10BACKUP is to copy these two files from the
installation  tape  to the desired directory.  At La Trobe both of these
files reside in our SYStem PUBlic area, SYSPUB.

     As supplied, the program expects the help library to have the  name
SYSPUB:10BACKUP.HLB.  To put the help library in an appropriate area for
your installation you must define  the  logical  name  SYSPUB,  or  edit
10BACKUP.BAS (and recompile/relink etc.) to use the correct name.

     The installation tape contains the following files:

             The ready to use files:
        10BACKUP.EXE    The 10BACKUP program.
        10BACKUP.HLB    The program help library.
        10BACKUP.MEM    This text file.

             Program sources:
        10BACKUP.BAS    The main program.
        BIO.MAR         Program IO routines.
        BUR.MAR         Utility routines.
        C36.MAR         36 bit conversion routines.
        BMS.MSG         Message definitions
        10BACKUP.RNH    Help library source.
        10BACKUP.RNO    This text source.

             Intermediate files (in case you don't have a compiler):
        10BACKUP.OBJ            BIO.OBJ         BUR.OBJ
        C36.OBJ                 BMS.OBJ         10BACKUP.HLP

INSTALLATION GUIDE                                                Page A-2


     If need be the program can be compiled and linked from the  sources
using the following commands:

                $ BASIC 10BACKUP
                $ MACRO BIO
                $ MACRO BUR
                $ MACRO C36
                $ MESSAGE BMS
                $ LINK/NOTRACE 10BACKUP,BIO,BUR,C36,BMS
                $ RUNOFF 10BACKUP.RNH
                $ LIBRARY/CREATE/HELP 10BACKUP 10BACKUP



A.1  PROBLEMS

     10BACKUP is distributed on an 'as is' basis with no  responsibility
being  taken  by  the  author  for its use.  If you have any problems or
suggestions then please let me know.

                Paul Nankervis,
                Computer Centre,
                La Trobe University,
                BUNDOORA 3083,
                AUSTRALIA.