Converting Unisys Print Backup Files to Text

Unisys mainframe applications often use a file format commonly known as "print backup file". A normal MOVEit Automation task can download and move these files, frequently via non-secure FTP (binary transfer mode) or a mapped drive. However, MOVEit Automation 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 Automation:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. Once you have the basic file transfer task working, add a "Command Line App" built-in process.
4. 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
5. 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.