mar_ftp.exe

mar_ftp runs on 32 bit versions of Windows that have the DOS command-line
version of ftp. It may or may not run on 64 bit versions of Windows.

mar_ftp does not run on Mac or Linux. 


mar_ftp is designed to be an adjunct to the regular process of working directly 
on the Marist system using a 3270 terminal emulator. Its primary function is to
provide a simple way to fetch output from the job queue at Marist so that it 
can be printed locally with Wordpad or another editor of your choice.

Read all instructions and use care when entering ID and password. Pay attention
to messages returned.

Before using mar_ftp to access the Marist mainframe, you should follow the
instructions provided in class to logon to Marist with TN3270 or another 3270
terminal emulator to change the default password issued to you. It is not
possible to use mar_ftp or other ftp to change an account's password, this 
can only be done with a 3270 terminal emulator.

If you attempt to access Marist with a bad password too many times, your
account will be suspended. If mar_ftp indicates that the password or ID is
invalid, quit mar_ftp and try to figure out what went wrong. Try logging into
Marist with Vista TN3270 or another terminal emulator to confirm ID and 
password.


You may run mar_ftp from a DOS command prompt or by clicking on the program in
Windows explorer.

When run, mar_ftp prompts you for your login ID and password.

When entering the ID, you may use backspace to correct input. Press [enter] to
submit ID.

When entering the password, mar_ftp will display a * each time you enter a
character. You may use backspace to correct, but mar_ftp will continue to add
*'s to the screen display. You may enter up to 8 actual characters. Press 
[enter] to login.

Upon obtaining the ID and password from you, mar_ftp will prompt with :

   Accept Provided account information ? : [y/n]

If you believe you entered everything correctly, respond with y. Otherwise,
respond with n and mar_ftp will allow you to reenter the ID and password.

If you enter a 9th character other than [enter], mar_ftp will automatically
continue to the confirmation prompt. However, a nine character password is not
valid and you should answer n at the confirmation question and re-enter your
user information.

Once you have approved the account information, mar_ftp will list any jobs you
may have on the Marist system to confirm your account ID and password.

Even if you do not have any programs out on the Marist job queue, the job
listing itself will run if all information is correct or return an error
message if something is wrong.

mar_ftp will then prompt with the following :

  Did job listing run successfully? Enter :
    y - if it did.
    q - if you wish to quit this program now.
    n or any other character - to repeat the ID and password entry. :


Answer y if the listing ran successfully, even if there were no jobs on the
Marist system.

Answer q if the attempt indicates a problem with your account or the system and
you believe the information you provided is correct. You can and probably
should contact your instructor for help.

Answer n if you suspect that you mis-entered the account information and you
would like to try again.

Note : if you have re-entered your account information and it continues to
indicate a problem, select q instead and seek help. Attempting to contact the
Marist system too many times and failing will cause your account to be
suspended and make it harder to get help.


Once you have confirmed that your account information can properly access the
Marist system, you will be provided a menu of possible actions :

   1 - Submit job.
   2 - List jobs on mainframe job queue.
   3 - Fetch job
   4 - Add MSGCLASS=H and submit job
   6 - Jcl list of programs in local directory
   7 - Quit
   Choose (1-7) :


Selections :

1 - Submit jobs. This selection prompts you for the program name to submit.
Provide the full name including the extension.

It may be possible to specify a path but it may be simpler to keep your
programs in the same directory as mar_ftp. It is also a good practice to create
all mainframe jobs with a .jcl extension.

This selection assumes that your program's jcl is fully formed and will provide
the proper ftp coding to transfer your program under your ID and password to
the job queue at Marist allowing Marist to attempt to execute it.

Note that mar_ftp will transfer your program even if the program code or JCL
itself is bad. In some cases, badly coded JCL will require you to use the 3270
terminal emulator to clear it from the job queue at Marist.


2 - List jobs on mainframe job queue. This selection lists any jobs on the
Marist job queue belonging to you.


3 - Fetch job. This selection prompts you for a particular job to copy back to
the Marist working directory. To select a particular job, enter the job name,
usually the string JOB followed by a 5 digit value. The job remains out on the
job queue and may be fetched again if desired.

Another feature of this selection is that you will see 2 copies of the job in
the mar_ftp directory, one consisting just of the job name and is a direct copy
from Marist. The other will have a .ext extension and will have the basic
Mainframe print controls converted to DOS print controls. If you print this
with Wordpad, form-feeds and double spacing should be correctly printed.


6 - Jcl list of programs in local directory. This selection will list all
programs with a .jcl extension in the mar_ftp directory.


7 - Quit. This selection quits mar_ftp.


Important technical information :

Marist's DNS address is hardcoded into the program.