RECEIVE and IND$FILE (Uploading a file to the mainframe

cakask · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: OH

Hello, I would appreciate ideas.

I am trying to upload a text file from my pc to the mainframe command (I pre-allocated the "abendrpt" file). (I was told by someone at the site that I should be able to use IND$FILE command to upload.)

From TSO (ispf option 6) I tried the following
ind$file recv 'c:\temp\abendrpt.txt' abendrpt ascii crlf
But I get the message>>>
IKJ56709I INVALID DATA SET NAME, 'C::temp:abendrpt.txt'
***
Then >> CaamTRANS18 Incorrect option specified: file transfer canceled$

I have also tried to use FTP from the command prompt - but I seem to have forgot the syntax.

Additionally I do have WS_FTP but because I use a (shared) WiFi that doesn't retain the same IPADDRESS, and for that method they need to pre-approve the address.)

Any suggestions would be appreciated - I tried looking in manual and searching the forums - but cannot find this (which I am kind of surprised about).

ASK

Craq Giegerich · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:59 am

IND$FILE will only work when your TSO Session is at the TSO ready prompt.

superk · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:01 am

As far as I know, only a 3270-emulation program (like IBM's Personal Communications) can properly issues the IND$FILE command. I've never heard of it working as a direct TSO command.

For FTP. on my (Vista) system the command FTP /? shows me all of the syntax I need to know.

Have you looked into using the ISPF File Transfer (ISPF 3.7) services?

Anyway, I have nothing further to add since I know nothing about your side and what is or is not allowed. Where I work NO ONE is allowed to transfer data off of the mainframe to a desktop machine to avoid the risk of theft of important and/or confidential information.

cakask · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: OH

I am at option 6 (in ISPF) which is the TSO -command prompt (with Hosaka's TN3270 emulator)

ISPF Command Shell
Enter TSO or Workstation commands below:

===>

ANd although the tools have been a pain - I have successfully downloaded file - using WS_FTP (when I had an IPaddress the MF recognized) and they have some kind of web address that lists/downloads files (but does not provide the ability to do the reverse) The same person who informed me how to use their web (intranet) MVS list data set function is the one who said that he always uses IND$file to upload - but all he had told me was that he uses the std IND$file command.

CICS Guy · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:03 am

IIRC, option 6 was where but the emulator generated and executed the command via a pull-down marked transfer......

Robert Sample · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:27 am

Transfer between desktop and mainframe is extremely site specific -- we can provide some general ideas, but you almost certainly will have to get your site support group involved to actually accomplish what you want to do.

From your PC, you can open a command prompt window (assuming you are allowed to do so), and then type in ftp and hit enter. The commands to use are:
open mainframe.dns.name (or ip address)
user <user id>
<password>
put <local file name> <mainframe name>
quit

Note that the local file name and mainframe file name will need to be fully qualified (although you can use lcd and cd to point to local directory and mainframe high level qualifiers). Since you're using the ascii and crlf options I assume that you're not doing a binary transfer.

The message you got with the IND$FILE attempt indicates that you put a PC file name where the program was expecting a mainframe data set name. I do not recall the precise syntax for IND$FILE so I cannot tell you exactly what needs to go where for it.

cakask · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: OH

Robert...

The FTP from command - thank you for the command (but the pswd didn't work, so I am assuming that is the same problem as the WS_FTP software had). but thank you for the syntax.

While regard to
The message you got with the IND$FILE attempt indicates that you put a PC file name where the program was expecting a mainframe data set name. I do not recall the precise syntax for IND$FILE so I cannot tell you exactly what needs to go where for it.
... I tried switching the order of the two files and it got the same message.

Thanks anyway.

CICS Guy - the TN3270 emulator I have does not have a pull-down marked transfer. (Tthe (IBM WEbsphere) HOD that I had been trying to use did - but that stopped working and gives Comm 662 errors - this site is not making it easy

)

Robert Sample · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:13 am

From my review of IND$FILE, it only takes one parameter -- you generally invoke it from your 3270 emulator package and the command passed to the mainframe from the emulator package has the host file name that will be sent or received. I've used it in the past from ISPF option 6 but I don't know if there is any special set up required for that. I did read something that indicates if your site uses a VTAM session monitor such as CA-TPX, you may not be able to use IND$FILE (another reason to work with your site support group).

When you say the password didn't work for your FTP attempt, you are providing no information about the problem. When you entered your mainframe user id password, did the system come back and say you entered the wrong password? did the system hang up on the password prompt? did you enter the password and see nothing happening since it is not displayed in the FTP session? did something else happen? This is puzzling because usually either FTP works or you cannot connect to the FTP server -- it doesn't normally provide access but have a password problem.

cakask · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: OH

Robert -

In FTP I am getting the same msg as with the WS_FTP which a systems programmer at the site tolf me was because my IP address was not recognized.

But for what it is worth:
I tried to follow the instructions above

c:\Temp>FTP
ftp>OPEN xxx.xxx.xxx.xx (the ip Address for the mainframe)
(it prompted..)
User <connection>: USER### ( my mainframe userid)
Password:
530 PASS command Failed
Login failed.

-----
When I try to connect through WS_FTP I enter my password and the
following messages appear:
220-FTPD1 IBM FTP CS V1R10 at xxxxxxxxxxx, 20:11:48 on 2010-02-07.
220 Connection will close if idle for more than 5 minutes.
USER uxxx154
331 Send password please.
PASS (hidden)
530 PASS command failed
! Logon failure, so quitting

=====
Which is why I assume the same problem was occuring - that the FTP from the Command prompt was having the same problem.

I do appreciate the suggestions - I guess I'll have to wait ?

Robert Sample · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:03 am

You need to talk to a different system programmer, then. The IP address is being recognized and you are connecting to an IBM system running version 1.10 of FTP (TCP/IP), so someone telling you the IP address is not being recognized is either not looking at what you're trying or is so incompetent as to be dangerous -- there simply is no indication of any IP address problem in what you're showing. I suspect you have a RACF problem where your user id does not have authority to do the FTP command, but your site support security group would be the ones to determine this.

cakask · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: OH

Thank you and I see your point. If I get any more info I will post it.

cakask · New User Joined: 20 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: OH

I appreciate the syntax and the ideas.

Here is an update.
I have been told that for some reason this site uses the IP Address /terminal information as part of the authentication for RACF.
The system admin told me that he had made some kind of entry with my current IP Address and then the FTP worked (from the command propmpt and from WS_FTP)

Robert Sample · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:09 pm

In which case your problem makes sense -- the password is where RACF is invoked and that would be where the IP address would be determined to not be valid. I'm glad we don't use such a system, considering the large number of external vendors and customers we send and receive data with using FTP!

Glad to hear you got it resolved!