SNAP-IX TN3270 User's Guide - 5.2 Preparing to Transfer Files

5.2 Preparing to Transfer Files

To transfer files between your Solaris computer and a host computer, you can use the menus and dialog boxes of the 3270 emulation program, or you can enter commands at the Solaris command prompt.

You can transfer files in one 3270 session while conducting 3270 emulation in another session.

5.2.1 Setting Environment Variables

Before transferring files, ensure that the IND_FILE and LANG environment variables are properly set.

When you transfer files between a host and your Solaris computer, the host runs a file transfer program, normally called IND$FILE. If you need to use a different host file transfer program (your System Administrator or your SNAP-IX TN3270 product supplier can tell you if this is the case), you must set the IND_FILE environment variable to the correct program name before running the emulation program.

5.2.2 Setting Other Parameters

You may need to set the maximum structured field size (the size of the file transfer data buffer) for the session you are using for the file transfer. For more information, see Customizing Display Sessions.

For command-line file transfer, the session you are using must have a session ID. For more information about session IDs, see Customizing Display Sessions. You can specify the session ID as a command-line parameter when starting the program; for more information, see Starting the 3270 Emulation Program.

5.2.3 Establishing Communications

Before starting to transfer files, you need to start the 3270 emulation program, enable at least one session, and log on to the host. (For more information, see Getting Started with 3270 Emulation.)

You can then determine whether you are ready to begin transferring files by accessing the File Transfer dialog box. Information in this box keeps you informed about the status of your file transfer activity.

Accessing the File Transfer Dialog Box

You can access the File Transfer dialog box in one of the following ways:

From the Control menu, choose File Transfer.
From an active 3270 session press FILE XFR (default keystroke Ctrl + F).

The dialog box shown in File Transfer Dialog Box, is displayed.

File Transfer Dialog Box

For details of the information shown in this dialog box, see Monitoring File Transfer Status.

Available Sessions

If the Transfer Status for the session you want to use is

Available

, you are ready to set host parameters and begin transferring files. You can proceed with Transferring Files Using the Menu Interface.

Unavailable Sessions

If the Transfer Status for the session you want to use is

Unavailable

, check its session status in the File Transfer dialog box. Then do one of the following:

If the session is disabled, use the Control menu to enable the session, and then log on to the host.
If session Status is
```
Enabled nnn
```
, look up the three-digit communications check code
```
nnn
```
in Status Line Information, take any action that may be necessary, and then log on to the host.
If session Status is
```
SSCP
```
, log on to the host.

To log on to the host, use the following procedure (Steps 1-4 are not required if the session you want to use is already the current session):

From the File Transfer dialog box, press Esc to move to the main screen.
From the Control menu, choose Display Sessions.
Designate the session you want to use for file transfer as the current session by highlighting the session and choosing <Make Current>.
Choose <Done> to return to the main screen.
Press Esc to move to the current session.

As an alternative to Steps 1-5 above, return to the main screen, move to the session you want to use for file transfer, and use the following procedure:

Follow the logon instructions from the host.
Press FILE XFR (default keystroke Ctrl + F) to return to the File Transfer dialog box and confirm that the required session is now available.

When communications are established, you can begin transferring files. Follow the instructions in Transferring Files Using the Menu Interface.