ICL DRS300 dos system problem

Hello John,

Thanks for your prompt reply. Not being technical I am not sure whether I can do what your saying.

The only access I have to the files is by typing A:type (file name).bom. This will then display the files contents on screen.

However I must have a particular floppy in the drive to be able to type the TYPE command. The problem I have is that I do not know how to copy any of the floppy contents onto my good f: so I can then use a different floppy to copy onto.

The floppy consists of 1 file named DRIUTILS.BLD. It is made up of several .CMD lines ie...STOP, TYPE, CHKDSK, PRINTMGR and various others.

Am I correct in saying that if I could copy the contents of this file onto my good F: I could then copy my data onto new floppys ?

Sorry for sounding a bit stupid but I am a bit over my head here at the moment.

Well.... Thought I would give you an update as to where i have got to...

Have got all my bill of materials onto my pc using the kermit program.

Can now access all the text files and cut and paste as desired.....

Still have a problem with my main stock file though. Can copy data across as I did with the BOM's but unfortunately displays the file in some weird format.

There is no file structure. This would be ok as I know somebody that can write a small program to re-assemble the list into something more readable.

Problem is that the whole file does not display. I have been told that there is a possibility that because the file is larger than the rest that there may be some sort of pointers within the file. When displayed it does have some weird characters that appear between records and at the start. Not sure if this means I will not be able to do anything with it. When I say the file is large it is still only 4 or Mb. The file is basically a text file.

Might try and see if some data recovery expert will be able to take the complete file off and put onto a cd. My worry is that I will still get the same display when I open it.

I cannot seem to have any commands that can transfer the file as a file rather than transferring the contents.

Thanks for the advice John.

Basically I have used the following command on my old system COPY (file name) lst:

This copies the contents of my file onto the pc using the kermit program on the pc. I have captured the text on the pc and then saved the contents into notepad.

I can do the same for the main stock file and post it on here to see if you have any ideas. I was assuming if I was able to get the file as a file name ie RMC.DT1 I could then open this file using an appropriate program on the pc which would decipher all the info correctly.

At present when I send the file using the copy command to the pc I am getting approx 50 records in total within the file. I know that there is approx 4000 records on file held in the file name.

I will try and attach the file so you can see what I mean (I HOPE !!!)

Hi John,

I have attached the txt file RMCDT1 that I got when I transferred to dt1 file. Really weird though. On the ICL DRS system it shows in the directory as approx 17 mb in sizes. When copied over using the kermit it reduces to about 8kb.

Although the text is scrambled in the file that can be fixed by making a small program to re-allocate the text.

Basically part of the record consists of the following (this is the 1st record in the txt file)

ASSACCAC/C = Our stock code)
AC/C = Supplier stock code
ALARM CONTROLLER GONG & PIPS = Stock part description
A = Type of part (in this case assembly)
RMC0340 = File number holding the bill of materials
41.93886 = Actual price
45.3736 = Standard price
EA = Each
CSL = Supplier
This is followed by other numerical figures which are for stock quantities and levels etc.

The characters at the start of the file mean nothing to me along with the funny Y's. There are other characters within the record which I assume (or am hoping) because of the file size they condense the actual file on screen. It may be that I need my actual stock program to be able to even open this file in the correct format. I have been assured that all the files are just text files and all data should be there though. Not sure quite what to do at the moment.

My laptop which I am using to trasnfer the info from has the kermit program running.

The old DRS300 mainframe ICL CPM-86 CDOS system is basically in-operative. The main drive has got corrupted which had the bespoke programs and operating system on. The mainfarme also had another hard dive which was used to store the data. This is still ok.

My only way of operating the system is by using a floppy drive that loads the config program onto the system. I am assuming this holds the config in its RAM. I can then use various other floppy discs that I have to access my other drive and view the files. These floppys would usually be used when building the system from scratch (they are standard ICL load discs (About 7 of them).

Therefore once I am into the system after loading the config file, I can type F:user 1 which will change the command prompt to 1F:. I can then type COPY or PIP or LOOK followed by the file name to access the data files. However the system operates all the commands from the A: floppy to be able to run.

I am hoping that makes some sense........

Shall try and expaling how I am running kermit.

PC has kermit running (Baud rate set at 75) capture text enabled. Connect pc to DRS300 monitor using a 25 way to 9 way lead. Type the COPY (file name) lst:

This then send the data to pc in a list format and into a notebook.

Then save the notebook to pc.