Abstract ======== ETAPE is a general-purpose program for handling EBCDIC tapes. It allows the user to move around at will within the tape, send output to different files, specify different blocksizes and record lengths for different files on the tape, and combine multiple tape files into a single output file. The capability of writing an EBCDIC tape from an ASCII file is also included. It will also handle ASCII to ASCII conversions. ETAPE removes all trailing blanks from tape records after reading them. On output, records will be blank padded and blocked to create fixed length tape blocks. A switch can be set to turn off the EBCDIC translation and allow the translation (or writing) of ASCII tapes. A set of subroutines callable from any higher-level language to perform these tasks is also included. Documentation on these subroutines can be found in the source listings provided. Installation ============ There should be (at least) the following files on the tape: AAAREADME.TXT this file ETAPE.FOR source program ESUBS.FOR callable subroutine package ESUBS.OBJ compiled version of above ETAPE.HLP help file for the program ETAPE.COM procedure to compile, link and install ETAPE ETAPE.EXE executable version After copying the files off the distribution medium, simply @ETAPE to install the program. Then, type "HELP ETAPE" for further information. The installation procedure will attempt to put the callable subroutines in a place called LIB$CONSAD:CONSAD.OLB; if, as is likely, this does not exist on your machine, figure out where you want them to reside and modify ETAPE.COM accordingly. An executable version of the program is included, in case you don't have the VAX FORTRAN compiler. Please direct questions or comments to: Mike Shefler CONSAD Research Corp. 121 N. Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 363-5500