[comp.sys.hp] Need Info about EBCDIC-to-ASCII Protocol Converters

robert@peregrine.peregrine.com (Robert Young) (09/26/89)

A while ago I posted a request for information about protocols converters but
I think the request got lost somewhere. So here it is again:

We are developing graphics interface between our Database System and Postscript
printers. Our database runs on IBM mainframe under MVS X/A on a 4381. Our software will take a print a PRINT request and conver the data into a series of Post-
Script commands that generate the graph (or graphs). The idea is the following:

	User Requests to create a graph based on some input data
	A program massages the input data and generates PostScript commands
	These commands are sent (via a printer) to a direct attached protocol
	converter which will convert the ebcdic data (postscript commands) into
	ascii data (the same postscript commands) which goes to a PostScript
	printer. The idea works as we have tried it on an APPLE LASERWRITER printer
	using a Black Box protocol converter. We tried a QMS-80 postscript printer
	but had no luck with it.

	We would like to:

	1)	Know if there are other protocol converters to choose from that we
		can test. Price is an important factor as the one from Black Box
		cost about $1300. Too much for a protocol converter I think.

	2)	Know of people who have done this already and would like to share
		their experiences.

	3)	Know about other PostScript printers that may already have an 
		embedded protocol converter.


	We are waiting for a cartridge from Pacific Data which is supposed
	to make our HP LAserjet Series II work like a PostScript printer.
	Then we will be able to test the HP printer.


Any clues, hints, etc... will be appreciated.



Robert Young
Peregrine Systems

diamant@hpfclp.SDE.HP.COM (John Diamant) (09/27/89)

Re: ASCII to EBCDIC protocol converter

I'm not sure what hardware connection requirements there are (if the protocol
converter is providing some sort of hardware connect you can't get any other
way), but if you just want conversion from ASCII to EBCDIC, try the
command "dd conv=ibm" or "dd conv=ebcdic."  Try "man dd" for more
information.



John Diamant
Software Engineering Systems Division
Hewlett-Packard Co.		Internet: diamant@hpfclp.sde.hp.com
Fort Collins, CO		    UUCP: {hplabs,hpfcla}!hpfclp!diamant

Disclaimer:  The above statements do not constitute an official statement
by Hewlett-Packard Company.