CopyWrite provides an easy way to create CD-ROMs and multi-file archives on Unisys A-Series machines. It is based on the WFL COPY statement and a Metalogic enhancement, which exports the I/O handling of Library/Maintenance. See the Summary of features below.
CopyWriteNT is a Windows program, which can run on many Windows NT systems, such as NT4,2000,Windows 7 & 10 and Windows Server 2016. It supports the Disk Farm implementation and provides PC access to A-Series CD-Rom images. Please see CopyWriteNT for the full functionality of the PC version.
CD-R media are very stable for long-term data storage. The most robust (gold plated) are even rated at 100 years between parity errors, unlike tapes where reliable long-term storage needs a strict regime with multiple copies of files kept and re-copied every 1-2 years. Backups of a pack to CDs are good insurance in rapid development situations like Y2K projects, where software errors can often make it difficult to get back to a known clean point.
CD-R media are inexpensive (currently less than US $1 each), they have a 650MB capacity and are very compact. Good quality CD-R burners are also reasonably priced (currently around US$400) and moderately fast (0.7 MB/s). If the burner is attached to a PC on the network, CopyWrite can automatically transfer the CD images to the PC hard disk. CD-ROM units are economical, ver fast, and can be attached to an A-Series without a Unisys key or PROM. When combined with CopyWrite, CD-R becomes a viable alternative to backup on tape for all but the most demanding A-Series installations. CopyWrite is also fully integrated with FLEX, Metalogic's file backup system.
The CopyWrite FIND module allows a search across any or all directories, tapes, CDs, or pack families, and against most types of files. CopyWrite does not alter USEDATEs on pack so big searches will not affect the correct functioning of a backup system.
If an installation links its machines by a non-BNA network, such as TCP/IP or Hyperchannel, transferring files becomes a complex affair. Using CopyWrite, moving files between machines is as simple as moving it to another pack.
A CD image can be sent via the Internet to anyone with access to a CD-R burner. They then burn the CD themselves and move it to the A-Series. Once CopyWrite is installed (needs MCP 4.1 or above), an image can be loaded directly to the A-Series and a COPY will extract the files. If the A-Series is linked directly to the Internet, CopyWrite can use Native File Transfer on TCP/IP to directly move files between A-Series machines.
CD-Rs are small, lightweight, inexpensive and robust media. These properties have made CDs the preferred media for sending software by mail. CopyWrite allows an A-Series base (Library/Maintenance) and a PC files overlay, so both A-Series software (data, code, even system files) and documentation files (e.g. ".pdf" , ".txt", ".doc" etc) can share the same physical CD. Any A-Series with MCP 4.0 or above can read the A-Series files and a PC with Windows 3.1/95/98 and a CD-ROM reader can read the documentation.
With the software installed, a statement like
COPY *F/= FROM SOURCE TO DESTINATION(CD,HOSTNAME=H)
takes a new meaning. The COPY reads the files from the source as usual, but they are not written to the destination - instead they are passed to a Library. CopyWrite can then send the files to external user procedures, and/or supply one of its own intrinsic modules.
The module can also make hybrid formats by adding a secondary overlay (Joliet) so that a PC sees a normal Windows-native view of the same CD.