Transfer Files

Reflection ZFE supports two different file transfer protocols; IND$FILE for 3270 host transfers and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) which allows a local computer to act as an FTP client. Once connected, you can view files on the server and use the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to transfer files between your local computer (or any networked drive) and the FTP server.

Before you can transfer files, the administrator must enable the transfer option for the current session and make the necessary configurations. This is done on the File Transfer settings panel.

Depending on the transfer method you want to use, you will see different configuration options. Once configured, the file transfer dialog box is available from the toolbar.

IND$FILE

IND$FILE is a file transfer program from IBM which you can use to transfer information between your computer and a 3270 host computer.

From the Host file system drop down list, select which IBM 3270 operating environment the host is running. ZFE supports TSO (Time Sharing Option), CMS (Conversational Monitor System) and CICS. The default selection is None.

NOTE:When using CICS as the host system you must enter the names of the files you are transferring manually. A list of files to choose from is not available.

There is support for ASCII or binary transfers and, if you connected to a TSO host, you can navigate directly to particular TSO dataset.

Transferring files

You must be connected and logged into the host to transfer files for the current 3270 session.

  1. Verify that the host is in a ‘ready’ state to accept the IND$FILE command.

  2. From the toolbar, click the IND$File icon .

  3. The File Transfer dialog box displays, containing a list of host files and directories that are available to transfer. Directories and files are indicated by an icon when you select the file. For CICS hosts, type in the names of the files you want to transfer.

  4. Select the transfer method. The options are:

    • Binary

      Use for program files and other types of files that should not be translated, such as files that have already been formatted for a particular type of printer or files with application-specific formatting. Binary files contain non-printable characters; using this method, a file is not converted or translated during the transfer.

    • ASCII

      Use to transfer text files with no special formatting. ASCII files on the PC are translated to the EBCDIC character set on the host and host text files are converted from EBCDIC to ASCII when they are downloaded.

  5. If you are connected to a TSO host, click Level to type in the new dataset you want to view. Reflection ZFE updates the remote file list using the dataset level you specify.

You can refresh the file list at any time by clicking the Refresh icon in the upper left corner of the File Transfer dialog box.

Downloading files

  1. From the list, select the file or directory to initiate the transfer. You can choose to save or open the files in the format you selected in step 3.

  2. If necessary, you can cancel the transfer from the transfer progress panel.

Uploading files

NOTE:IBM mainframe computer systems impose certain naming conventions for files. For detailed information on naming requirements, see the IBM documentation.

There are two methods for uploading files:

  1. From the File Transfer dialog box, click Upload.

  2. Choose the file you want to upload from the Browse window.

Or:

  1. Drag the file you want to upload from its location to the File Transfer dialog box.

  2. Click Refresh to verify the file was successfully uploaded.

If you cancel the upload process before a file has been completely transferred, a partial file will be left behind on the host.

Troubleshooting your file transfers

Occasionally you might encounter errors when attempting a file transfer. These errors may be mainframe issues or may be caused by browser security settings.

If a transfer completes but the file doesn’t contain the data expected, verify that the transfer method is properly set to either Binary or ASCII.

For host-specific errors, see IBM File Transfer Error Messages.

FTP

With Reflection ZFE your local computer can act as an FTP client. Using the FTP client, you can connect to an FTP server running on another machine. Once connected, you can view files on the server and use FTP) to transfer files between your local computer (or any networked drive) and the FTP server. Using FTP, a client can upload, download, delete, rename, move and copy files on a server.

Select FTP to open the File Transfer dialog box.

To configure FTP

Select Enable FTP and proceed with the configuration:

  • Protocol

    Use FTP to start a standard FTP session. Use SFTP to start an SFTP session.

    You can set up an FTP client to use the SFTP protocol and perform all operations over an encrypted secure shell transport. Reflection ZFE uses user name and password to authenticate.

  • Host

    Specify the host name or IP address of the FTP server to which you want to connect.

  • Port

    The port of the FTP server specified.

  • If remote files exists when uploading file

    Specify how you want to handle the transfer if a file with the same name already exists. You can select:

    This option

    Does this...

    Append

    Append the file being sent to the existing file

    Ask user (default)

    Prompt for a decision on how to handle the duplicate file name

    Cancel

    Cancel the file transfer

    Fail

    Cancel the file transfer and receive a notification of failure

    Overwrite

    Overwrite the existing file on the remote machine

    Skip

    IWhen multiple files are in a request, skip the file matching an existing file name, but proceed with the transfer for other files.

    Unique

    Create a new file with a unique file name

  • Initial remote directory

    Specify the path to a home or default directory for the FTP site. When a connection to the FTP site is opened, the server working directory is set automatically to the specified home path. The files and folders in the server home directory appear in the FTP session window. If the initial remote directory is not found, a warning is reported and the connection continues.

  • Session timeout (seconds)

    This value tells the FTP client the maximum number of seconds to wait for data packets being transferred to or from the host. If nothing is received within the period specified, a timeout error displays and the transfer terminates; in this case, try the operation again. If you receive repeated timeout errors, increase the timeout value. Entering 0 (zero) in this box prevents the FTP client from ever timing out when waiting for a response. For SFTP sessions, the default is 0 (zero).

  • Keep Alive time (seconds)

    Select this option and enter a time in seconds if you want to continue your connection to the server beyond the server’s automatic timeout value for inactivity. Most servers have an idle time value that specifies how long a user’s FTP session can last when no activity is detected. When the user exceeds the time limit, the server connection is closed.

    This setting allows you to direct the FTP client to send a NOOP command to the server at timed intervals to prevent the server from closing the connection due to inactivity. Be aware that by continuing your session you may prevent another user from making a connection to the FTP server.

  • Anonymous user

    Select this option to log onto the specified FTP server as a guest, with the user name “Anonymous”.

  • Host encoding

    Specifies the character set used by the host to display the names of files that are transferred. By default Reflection ZFE uses UTF-8 (Unicode). If you transfer files with the default setting and the file names are unrecognizable, change the Host encoding option to the character set used by the host. (This option does not affect the encoding for the contents of the files that are transferred; it applies to the file names only.)

Transferring files

After the administrator configures a session to include FTP functionality, click to open the FTP File Transfer window containing a list of host files that are available to transfer. Directories and files are indicated by an icon when you select the file.

  1. Select the transfer method. The options are:

    • Binary

      Use for program files and other types of files that should not be translated, such as files that have already been formatted for a particular type of printer or files with application-specific formatting. Binary files contain non-printable characters; using this method, a file is not converted or translated during the transfer.

    • ASCII

      Use to transfer text files with no special formatting. ASCII files on the PC are translated to the EBCDIC character set on the host and host text files are converted from EBCDIC to ASCII when they are downloaded.

  2. You can rename, delete, or download a file from the list of files.

  3. Refresh the file list at any time by clicking the Refresh icon in the upper left corner of the File Transfer dialog box.

Downloading files

  1. From the list, select the file to initiate the transfer.

  2. If necessary, you can cancel the transfer from the transfer progress panel.

Uploading files

There are two methods for uploading files:

  1. From the File Transfer dialog box, click Upload.

  2. Choose the file you want to upload from the Browse window.

Or:

  1. Drag the file you want to upload from its location to the File Transfer dialog box.

  2. Click Refresh to verify the file was successfully uploaded.

Click New Directory to create a new directory on the remote server. You are prompted to enter the new directory name.