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Conference iosg::all-in-1_v30

Title:	OLD ALL-IN-1 (tm) Support Conference
Notice:	Closed - See Note 4331.l to move to IOSG::ALL-IN-1
Moderator:	IOSG::PYE

Created:	Thu Jan 30 1992
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 23 1996
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	4343
Total number of notes:	18308

877.0. "7/8 bits conversion" by SWETSC::WESTERBACK (Mimsy were the borogroves) Tue Jun 16 1992 23:29

    Hi,
    
    A customer called in and wanted some advice on an application
    they have made, but want to speed up.
    
    This application uses a long report which comes from some external
    source as a text file in 7 bit format. This file is first converted
    to 8 bit, then again converted to WPS-PLUS. Then it is mailed to
    various recipients. 
    
    The problem is that these two conversions take a long time. Since
    there is really no need for WPS-PLUS functionalities here, they
    will skip that part, and send it as a text file, which should be OK.
    But then they thought, is it possible to also leave it as 7 bit, and
    put something in so that when the recipients print the report it will
    either be converted at that time to 8 bit, or the printer will be
    switched to 7 bit. And they would also like the same thing for 
    reading the report on screen, but that's not essential.
    
    Any ideas on this ?
    
    Thanks,
    Hans

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
877.1	What does 7->8 bit conversion do..??	TAV02::CHAIM	Semper ubi Sub ubi .....	`Wed Jun 17 1992 14:46`	17
	> > This application uses a long report which comes from some external > source as a text file in 7 bit format. This file is first converted > to 8 bit, then again converted to WPS-PLUS. Then it is mailed to > various recipients. > Could you pleae be a little more specific as to what your 7-bit to 8-bit conversion does? Normally, the standard ASCII characters resides in the 7-bit range, and the 8-bit range contain MCS or Supplemental characters. Thanks, Cb.
877.2	Use a new Handling type	IOSG::NEWLAND	Richard Newland, IOSG, REO1-D/4A	`Wed Jun 17 1992 17:25`	21
	The 7-bit format file could be treated as a Foreign format file. You could then create a new handling type with PRINT and READ special functions to convert the 7-bit format file during a Print or Read operation. When the 7-bit format file is imported into ALL-IN-1 it's handling should set to the new type. All Print and Read operations on this document will then use the defined functions to convert the file. When this document is mailed it should be attached to a normal mail message. A disadvantage of doing the above is that the conversion will have to be performed each time every recipient reads or prints the document. I would say that it is better to perform the conversion once when the document is being created, and therefore mail the document in a format which is easier to process. It's difficult to comment swithing the printer to 7-bit without knowing much more about the printer and what 7-bit really means, i.e. only 7 data bits are received or only 7 out 8 bits are processed. Richard
877.3	have you tried just working with the 7-bit data directly?	SKNNER::SKINNER	I'm doing my EARS	`Wed Jun 17 1992 19:52`	10
	I too would like to understand the importance of the 7-bit to 8-bit translation. Normally, devices that are "set to" 8-bit, such as terminals and printers, can handle just fine 7-bit characters. It's devices set to 7-bit that can't handle 8-bit! So unless your 7-bit to 8-bit conversion actually does something else, it doesn't really stike me why it's needed at all. /Marty
877.4		SWETSC::WESTERBACK	Mimsy were the borogroves	`Wed Jun 17 1992 20:25`	14