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.

Summary of Features

• Creation of Hybrid Library/Maintenance CDs. The same CD may contain files on both the A-Series Library/Maintenance and Windows 2000 JOLIET file systems.
  
  
• The ability to copy files into and out of Library/Maintenance CD Images. The CD Image is a file which acts as a container of native A-Series files.
  
  
• A WFL Copy to NULL verifies the files on source media such as DISK, TAPE or CD, by copying the files from the media, but discarding the data without creating a file.
  
  
• Files copied from a Library/Maintenance source, may be searched or transformed into another format by writing a transformation library and label equating it to the Copy statement.
  
  
• Native File Transfer and Remote Host Services using TCP/IP.
  
  
• Self Extracting Archives, which package A-Series files and associated instructions, such as ODT commands, into an A-Series executable codefile. When the codefile is run, the files are extracted from the archive, and the instructions are applied.
  
  
• The Distributed Disk Farm, where a Windows 2000 system provides disk storage for storing and retrieving native A-Series files.
  
  
• CopyWrite for NT provides access to A-Series files on a CD-ROM unit, or within a CD Image File, or in a Disk Farm.
  
  

Applications

• Century Backup
  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.
  
  
• PC Formats
  CopyWrite can provide further security by converting data files to PC formats. The intrinsic module will convert all text files including BACKUPPRINTER to ".txt" format in ASCII. This is ideal for clients who are moving data from an A-Series to another architecture.
  
  
• Backup on a Budget
  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, very 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.
  
  
• Software Distribution by CD
  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.
  
  
• Software Distribution by Internet
  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.
• System-Wide Data Searches
  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.
  
  
• Native File Transfers without BNA
  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.

COPY Enhancement

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.

Intrinsic Modules

• Making CDs
  This module will generate a CD image from the source files and can optionally send it to a PC to be burnt on a CD-R unit. The following base formats are available:

a) Library/Maintenance - readable for all types of files on MCPs back to 4.0.

b) Data CD - standard format (ISO-9660) with MCP file attributes to allow access from standard system or user software.

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.

• Containers
  A Library/Maintenance CD image residing on a disk or Data CD can be used as the source volume for a COPY.

• Verify/Catalog
  
  COPY *= FROM SOURCE TO NULL(CD,HOSTNAME=H)
  
  With a destination of NULL, the files are read from the source, then verified or recorded in the Catalog, but are not written to the destination.

• Finding Text
  This module gives CANDE-like FIND syntax in the COPY. All the source files are searched, irrespective of their FILEKINDs, and their LASTACCESS times are not affected. The output goes to PRINTER or a disk file.

• File Transfer
  Unisys Native File Transfer (NFT) is restricted to BNA networks. This module allows other networks, such as TCP/IP, to use the Native File Transfer.