R3K - About LZW Compression packaging utility

LZW

LZW is a great compression/packaging utility from Vytek Wireless, formerly Telamon. It provides a convenient method of packaging MPE files, and retaining their file characteristics. Files compressed with LZW are about 1/2 the size of MOVER files. (If you'd like to see an example of how to use LZW to upload/unpack a file in LZW format, click here.)

You can get either an NM or CM version from Vytek's site. At that page, you'll be asked to read (and agree) to the @#$% Unisys LZW license. If you agree, you'll be taken to a page where you choose which form of LZW you want (raw file or WRQ "label" format), and for which machine/operating system (e.g., MPE/iX, MPE V, MS DOS, HP-UX, AIX, Linux and many others).

(If the Vytek site does not respond, you may be able to get LZW fropm Telamon's old site: lzw.mpeix (raw), or lzw.mpeix.wrq (WRQ labels), or from an older version lzw.mpeix here (raw).)

Notes on Uploading raw version of LZW to MPE:

(Assuming you've downloaded the "raw" MPE/iX (or MPE V) version of LZW to a PC/workstation/whatever to a local file called "LZW.PUB" (or LZWCM.PUB).)

Use one of the following two methods to upload the file to your HP e3000:

FTP
Start an FTP session (perhaps: click on <START>, select <RUN>, and then enter "FTP", connect to your HP 3000 and logon).
Use the following FTP put command:
```
   binary
   put LZW.PUB LZW.PUB;rec=128,1,f,binary;code=NMPRG
```
or, on MPE V:
```
   binary
   put LZWCM.PUB LZW.PUB;rec=128,1,f,binary;code=PROG
```

WRQ Reflection Terminal Emulator

Connect to your HP 3000 and logon.

Issue the following MPE command:

      :file lzw.pub;rec=128,1,f,binary;code=NMPRG

or, on MPE V:

      :file lzw.pub;rec=128,1,f,binary;code=PROG

Upload the LZW.PUB file with the following commands:

      <ALT Y>     (i.e., enter Reflection Command Line mode)
      s lzw.pub to *lzw.pub binary rec=256

or, on MPE V:

      <ALT Y>     (i.e., enter Reflection Command Line mode)
      s lzwcm.pub to *lzw.pub binary rec=256

NOTE! the "rec=256" is important! Without it, Reflection and/or PCLINK may not upload the file correctly!

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MOVER

We have dropped the use of MOVER!

The program comes in something like two thousand versions, all of which have the same version number! (Ok, maybe not *that* many...but about six have been seen!) This causes many, many headaches for us, so we've decided to switch to exclusively use LZW. For a comparison of archiving utilities, check: /papers/posix/archiving.html.

MOVER is a file packaging / unpackaging utility from HP, and is distributed via the TELESUP account. It is generally found as MOVER.PRVXL.TELESUP.

NOTE! MOVER is available only as a Native Mode program, no Compatibility Mode (PROG) version exists for Classic HP3000s!

NOTE! before installing a MOVER package, be *SURE* that you first create the necessary groups and accounts! Otherwise, MOVER will create HFS directories for them instead of accounts & groups...and things will generally not work for you. To determine what accounts & groups you need to create, use the MOVER "-t" command to list the contents of the MOVER truck.