Common Applications - Converting Unisys Print Backup Files to Text
Unisys mainframe applications often use a file format commonly known
as "print backup file". A normal MOVEit Central task
can download and move these files,
frequently via non-secure FTP (binary transfer mode) or a mapped drive.
However, MOVEit Central is also asked to "crack" or "convert" these
files from their native print backup file format into an ASCII text format
that many non-Unisys mainframe applications can use.
To convert Unisys mainframe print backup files to ASCII using MOVEit Central:
- Sign on to the MOVEit support site and download "ConvertPBA.exe" from
the "Distribution / MOVEit / Central / Extras" folder into your "C:\Program Files\MOVEit" folder (or other appropriate local folder).

- Set up a file transfer task (one source and one destination) to download and
save the Unisys print backup file without converting it. If your source is
an FTP source, you will need to specify "BINARY" mode and you may also need
to specify additional "QUOTE" commands to complete the transfer.

- Once you have the basic file transfer task working, add a "Command Line App" built-in process.

- Configure "Command Line App" with the following parameters:
- CommandLineApp_AppPath = C:\Program Files\MOVEit\ConvertPBA.exe (or the actual location of this file)
- CommandLineApp_AppParms = [InputFile] [OutputFile]
- CommandLineApp_OutputFile = Yes
- Save these parameters and test. When checked, the file at the destination should be readable using any ASCII text reader (such as notepad.exe).
Please note that NULL characters encountered by this utility are converted to spaces.