Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Funny, I have just the opposite problem.  I can never seem to get ARC
    files to work.  A lot of them show up as being corrupt even before I
    download them (using VMS ARC).  
    
    What type of protocol do you use when downloading?  Remember, if you
    are using Kermit, the file format must be 510 byte and if you are using
    Xmodem, it must be Stream_LF.  If you need to convert them, use CVTARC,
    availible on the net.  I use Zmodem exclusively now.  It doesn't car
    what format your file is.
    
    Check your switches for Zoo.  I normally use "Zoo e///// {filename}".
    This maintains the original directory structure of the archived
    program.  Many archived files have subdirectories included in them.
    
    Give the above a try.  If you have problems, reply here and I will try
    to help you solve them.  I have been downloading a large number of
    zoo'ed files lately and have encountered no problems.
    
    Ken
    

    I have the same problems. I can't use XMODEM because of TYMNET &
    TSN (no eightbit), and even if I dialed direct I don't have the
    ability to disable LAT flow control, so I am left with KERMIT and
    ZMODEM.
    
    KERMIT will download and CVTARC'd file perfectly, while I have never
    gotten a downloaded ZOO file to unZOO on the Amiga (I even tried
    CVTARC, but it  doesn't seem to make a good ZOO file either). I
    have to unZOO a ZOO file, then rebuild it as an ARC before I can
    send it reliably. What a pain.
    
    
    I haven't tried ZMODEM yet because I mostly use SMOKEY and it doesn't
    have ZMODEM. Are there any special instructions or terminal/LAT
    settings involved?
    
    I have no idea how to download an LZH file.

Check your Amiga side versions of ZOO and ARC.

Check that you can list the arc|zoo before downloading.

John

    An .LZH file is just another way of compacting the programs.  To
    decompact just run lharc on the amiga (lharc.zoo can be found on the
    net).  Unfortunatly at the moment there is no VMS version of lharc.
    Can anybody who is good at coding translate it for the VAX.  I have the
    sources but I can't program in C yet.
    
    Thanks Shaun.
    

    I have no problems getting Zoo's to De-Zoo.  I also use either Smokey
    or VLT (I've been switching more or less to the latter).  I also come
    in from a TYMNET/TSN gate and have to forego XMODEM.  Also, I'll second
    the request for a simple, step-by-step, getting ZMODEM to work.  [I'm
    getting envious of the comments on how it is so much faster but haven't
    had the time to take to really try it out].
    
    Anyway, check your Zoo/Arc's before they leave the net and CVTARC 'em
    and it works for me.
    
    One thing, using KERMIT I always "SET FILE TYPE BINARY" and also,
    before you log in you have to set your session to passall on the LAT:
    (to wit..)
    
    <login thru TYMNET/TSN>
    
    DECserver...garble..........
    Local> SET LOCAL ^E			! Set an escape to local char (clt-E)
    Local> CONNECT <NODE>		! Login, etc...
    ....
    When your logged in hit Ctlr-E and you'll get back to local
    ....
    Local> SET SESSION PASSALL		! Enable Passall for the session
    Local> RESUME			! Resume your session
    ....
    $ COPY <filename> *.*		! Get the ARC or ZOO from library
    $ CVTARC V <filename>		! Convert file to fixed (for Kermy)
    $ KERMIT				! Enter Kermit
    Kermit-32> SET FILE TYPE BINARY	! Set for binary files
    Kermit-32> SEND <filename>		! Send it and set your term to
    					! receive it..
    
	This all works for me from TYMNET.  I have no special settings on
    	my terminal that I use (standard SET TERMINAL/INQUIRE settings).
    	If I have any luck in getting VLT to work with Zmodem I'll post
    	something but this works fine for me using either VLT Kermit or
    	Smokey Kermit.
    
    	Hope it helps,
    	George
    

    The following is possible too:
    Log into the server, don't change ANYTHING. Connect to the VAX. 
    Prepare the files for downloading (CVTARC ect.)
    Mc KERMIT, put Kermit into SERVER-mode. Check the settings on the
    Amiga (8n1, binary and so on) select GET on the menu.
    
    It is not necessary to set parameters on the remote (server-running)
    Kermit, they can be set on the local Kermit ! In the normal case the
    server's port switch to passall when you begin the file-transfer.
    
    Ralf
    ====

I've recently found a way to transfer files that hadn't been CVTARC'd to
the fixed 510 (or whatever) format using Kermit.

Run Kermit on the VAX

KERMIT-32> SET FILE TYPE BLOCK
KERMIT-32> SERVER

on Amiga I've used an old old version of VT100, pull down the menu and
set the transfer mode Image, then do a Kermit Get.

Set file type block isn't documented in the help file, and there's no other
doc on my kit, so I have no idea what it really does.

PS the version of KERMIT used on VMS is

$ kermit
VMS Kermit-32 version 3.3.111

Hope this helps...
			Mark

    Using C-Kermit on the VAX gives the option of extended packets ie.
    up to 1000 bytes.  This greatly speeds up the transfer and would
    more than offset any time benefit of not having to cvtarc the files.
    
    This assumes that you are using something like VLT on the Amiga
    that can support extended packets.

    Personally I find that the combination of C-Kermit on the VAX and VLT
    on the Amiga is reliable and fast for uploading and downloading.
    
    Peter