[Info-vax] Backup TK50 tapes

[David Froble]

Johnny Billquist wrote:
> On 2013-02-24 10:16, supervinx wrote:
>>
>>> I'm sure that quite a few people could give you very specific
>>> directions, if you can clearly state your goals to them.
>>
>> Well, let's try to be minimal.
>> My goal was to create a physical image of the tapes so, if they will
>> "die" (everything has an end, only a sausage has two ;) ) I'll be
>> able to recreate them.
>> Usually I use a SCSI tape interface, and used tapecopy/tapedd.
>>
>> Marginally I had the curiosity to try those tape images to install
>> in simh an older VMS version.
>>
>> So the question wasn't only to archive tape content but to
>> preserve their functionality.
> 
> Search through the DECUS library for a tool called TPC. It does what you 
> think and want.
> 
> (TPC stands for tape copy, just for the record.)
> 
>     Johnny
> 

Now doesn't that bring back some dismal memories.  I've written a few 
programs to read data from tapes, and to write data to tape.  While most 
likely not unique, VAX Basic (and RSTS/E Basic Plus for that matter) is 
quite capable of of doing the job.  Even with an option to read EBCDIC 
and convert it to ASCII.

With a large buffer, the RECOUNT verb would give you the bytes from each 
read and you could then write out that block at the right size.

Now, this isn't from long ago, this is from VERY, VERY long ago.  I'm a 
bit shocked that I can still see the relevant code in my head.  Now if 
only I could remember what I did 5 minutes ago ....