NAME

     xcram  - module to do multi  -  volume  read/write  of  UNIX
     files.

SYNOPSIS

     xcram [ -r ]

DESCRIPTION

     xcram is an utility to provide read/write access to  a  dev-
     ice.

INPUT

     xcram gets both its data and parameters from the  UNIX  com-
     mand line.

  Command line arguments
     -r   Enter to read from a device.

     -b   Enter blocksize to use. NOTE: xcram  handles  blocksize
          internally  so  that  if you are read a file previously
          written using cram or xcram default this entry. It is a
          good practice to always default this entry when writing
          to tape.

DISCUSSION

     xcram uses the standard UNIX redirection symbols  for  stdin
     and stdout.

          xcram -r > OutPut_File

          xcram < InPut_File

     You may also choose to pipe into or out of the process.  For
     example,  say you have a multi - volume dataset to read into
     a job:

          xcram -r | job.name

     or you may have data comming out to tape that will more than
     fill one cassette:

          job.name | xcram

     or you may just want to process tape to tape:

          xcram -r | job.name | xcram


     xcram
          will prompt the user for the name of the device at each
          eof  or  eot.   This enables you to wait until the next
          tape is loaded and the drive  is  ready  to  go  before
          continuing  execution.   When reading from tape a Motif
          file selection box titled xcram READ will  appear  con-
          taining  a list of drivers to choose between.  Once you
          have made a selection the box will disappear.  When the
          routine  encounters an eof or eot on input the box will
          reappear allowing you to select a new driver.  The out-
          put  will  remain open during this process so that many
          input files may be concatenated into one  output  file.
          Similarly  when  writing to tape a selection box titled
          xcram WRITE will appear allowing you to assign an  out-
          put  device.  Once selected the box will disappear only
          to reappear upon xcram encountering and eot on the out-
          put device.  You may now select a new output device and
          execution continues until  an  eof  is  encountered  on
          stdin.

BUGS

     Unknown.....Let us know.

SEE ALSO

     dd   cpio

AUTHOR

     Paul G. A. Garossino (APR:3932)

     [Modified  from  cram  by  Martin  L.  Smith  (New   England
     Research)]

COPYRIGHT

     copyright 2001, Amoco Production Company
               All Rights Reserved
          an affiliate of BP America Inc.