[Simh] file transfers

[Bob Supnik]

Amen!

If you're trying to transfer files to or from a simulator, then think 
about how it was done /on the real machine/. There's almost always a 
solution, for any given simulator/OS pair.

For systems from the 50s and 60s, it's punched cards, which are usually 
simulated as ASCII text files. Simulated line printers convert the 
native format (BCD etc) to ASCII.

For minicomputers from the 60s and 70s, it's paper tape (in and out) and 
line printer (out); ASCII was pretty standard by then.

For the VAX, it's TCP/IP, which is available in both VMS and Unix. VMS 
can also read and write ANSI compliant magtape files. It can print to a 
line printer to export text files.

If a particular simulator lacks a convenient or supported method, look 
at fixing the issues in that simulator.

/Bob


On 4/20/2016 5:31 PM, simh-request at trailing-edge.com wrote:
> <snip>
>
> If it was <me>, and I was having problems with file transfers to a <specific> emulator/OS combination, I’d look to find a solution for that specific platform problem, and not try to solve all of the SIMH host file transfer problems with a universal solution. You’re looking for a universal solution to 50+ years of device and filesystem incompatibility. Most people agree that Kermit is the most universal file transfer solution available.  :-S
>
> Dave