Advanced uploading and downloading

Advanced File Transfer Feature

Once you have the basic functionality for uploading and downloading files, you may want to investigate the following advanced file transfer feature. This feature combines the use of the UNIX pipe command with the file transfer protocols. Essentially, you can send most information that normally displays on the screen direct to your local host computer and store it in a local file.

For example, the command 'help Primer' displays the online copy of the World's user guide. You can download this file by Zmodem with the following command:

	world% help primer | sz -a -

This causes the text output from the 'help primer' command to get sent directly to the download command. Your local host will create a file for this information. The vertical bar is called a UNIX pipe and allows two or more commands to be joined together. This character is usually found above the backslash character on your keyboard. The final hyphen is required as this tells the program zmodem to expect the data to arrive from the UNIX pipe. Whenever you use a UNIX pipe with a download command, you must also use the final hyphen.

You may need to explicitly specify the filename for use on your local host. The following command allows you to specify a filename when using the UNIX pipe command:

	world% help primer | env ONAME=filename sz -a -

Another useful shortcut is the ability to download manual pages for reference on your local host. The following command will convert online manual pages and download the results to your local host.

	world% man sz | col -b | env ONAME=filename sz -a -

The second command 'col -b' removes all the special codes for underlining and font changes which are normally used when displaying manual pages.

Here are the same two examples for use with kermit and also with specification of a local host filename:

	world% help primer | kermit -s -a filename -

	world% man kermit | col -b | kermit -s -a filename -

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