CONVERT - converts files from one media code to another.

Syntax:

convert [infile[;infile]*] [=outfile] [:option[,option]*]

Examples:

conv this =out:bcd    (convert to media 0)
conv this;file:ascii  (convert files in ASCII)
conv this(#90,300)    (lines numbered 90 to 300)
conv file(90,300)     (lines 90 to 300)

Options:

Options are separated from each other by commas and from the rest of the command line by a colon.

Character Options:

(See "expl convert character")

The options are performed in the following order: "Begin", "Tab", "Columns", "Untab", "SQUEeze", "TRAIl", "LOWEr" and "UPPEr".

Dollar Control Options:

(See "expl convert dollar")

There are only two options ("SELEct" and "DEFAult") which must be specified on dollar control cards. Any other options may be specified on the control cards also, and they only affect the file they are in.

Linenumber Options:

(See "expl convert linenumber")

These options are: "Asis", "Insert", "Label", "Move", "N", "Resequence" and "Strip".

Media Code Options:

(See "expl convert media")

The media code options are "BCD", "COMDK", "CARD", "PRINT", "OLDASC", "ASCII", "APRINT", "ACARD", and "SAME". These options are only meaningful to the CONVERT command.

Miscellanous Options:

(See "expl convert miscellaneous")

These options are "DISCard", "EXCLude", "IGNOre", "INCLude", "TIME", and "Verify".

Specialized options:

(See "expl convert specialized")

These options are only applicable to JRN, JPUNCH, and JPRINT. They are "COPY", "DIREct", "DISMiss", "IDENt", "Jout", "MONItor", "ROUT", "TALK", "URGC" and "Wait".

Description:

The CONVERT subsystem converts files from one media code to another. It does this by taking all the specified input files, translating them to ASCII, then writing them out to the output file. If the output file is included as an input file, a temporary file (cnvrt*) is used until CONVERT is finished.

The input file is a string of valid pathnames with or without altnames or permissions, separated by semi-colons. Line or sequence numbers can be specified in parentheses after each file name. The input file(s) must be preceded by a semi-colon if it is not the first argument given to CONVERT on the command line. Since all input files are removed from the AFT if they weren't there to begin with, there is no limit to the number of input files.

The equal-sign ("=") must precede the output file name. This name can have an altname and corresponding permissions. The "=" construct is only allowed with the CONVERT command.

If the input or output files are not specified, the current file (*src) is assumed. The terminal can be specified as a file name by specifying two stars ("**").

Requests for more input are issued when a command line is terminated by the delimiters

(    ,    ;

or at the file descriptor delimiters

/    $    '

Ending a line while using parenthetical input also initiates a prompt for more input.

Files Used:

*src - when no input or output files are specified. cnvrt* - when the output file is also one of the input files.

Notes:

When CONVERT decides to jump to a new page, instead of putting out a formfeed it calculates where it is on the current page and how long a "standard page" (66 lines) is, and outputs the difference in line-feeds.