FCX Software Product Description

FCX Menu

Overview

FCX is a powerful and fast file space management system which helps alleviate file storage and transfer problems. FCX creates two different types of container files which can be used independently or in combination to solve disk space, file transfer, and archiving problems in many different scenarios.

Transport files - sequential access container files which can be accessed on disk or tape and which are similar to backup savesets, but in compressed format. These container files are called transport files because they are ideal for transporting files from one computer to another in compressed format to save time.

Discpac files - random access container files which can only be accessed on disk and which are similar to a disk within a disk, but also in compressed format. These container files are called discpacs because they are ideal for saving disk space by storing files online in compressed format.

Advanced data compression techniques are combined with extensive file selection and control features to:

Speed up file transfer operations
Reduce disk space required for files
Exchange files with other systems
Archive files online in compressed format
Create multi-platform discpacs which support a combination of files from different systems
Allow files to be associated and retrieved by a key

One or more files may be compressed and packaged together into a single sequential transport file. Space savings of 50% to 80% are standard; up to 90% is typical on files such as spreadsheets, ASCII reports, and large databases.

Files to be compressed may be of any type, size or structure (e.g., CAD/CAM files, database files, memos, spreadsheets, etc.). FCX preserves the differing file types and structures as it expands the compressed files. All expanded files completely retain their original structure (including ACLs for VMS files). The files are expandable on any of the systems and they will exactly match the original input files in data content.

File Transfer

File transfer times can be drastically reduced by using FCX transport files. Files at the sending node are compressed using FCX, then only the single, smaller transport file is transferred. Multiple files can be transferred in a single operation. FCX is used to expand and reconstruct the original files at the destination. Significant time and cost savings can be realized, especially when the transfer involves phone lines or satellite links.

Reduce file transfer time and costs

Hours of end-to-end transfer time may be saved since file sizes are reduced up to 90%. Reduce time and overhead on LANs by sending multiple files in one transfer operation.

Supports DECnet (VMS only)

Files on one node can be compressed and transferred to another node in one operation, allowing overlap of compression and I/O.

Exchange files between systems in compressed format

Files may be exchanged between any supported platforms in compressed format providing a much faster transfer operation. Conversion of files to the proper destination platform format is automatic or can be specified manually.

Increase file transfer privacy and security

Compressed data is unintelligible except to sender and receiver who can expand and decode the data. In addition, password security is available.

File Storage

Sequential transport files may be created on disk or tape (VMS only) to store large files or sets of files. The transport file may contain any number of compressed files.

Get more disk space without more hardware

Instead of purchasing another disk drive, use FCX to get greater efficiency from the equipment you already have. Compress infrequently used files in system, project, and user directories to immediately return thousands of blocks of disk space to use.

Keep more files online and reduce time lost retrieving files from tape

Since files are stored online in a compressed format, you can keep more files online in the same amount of space. In production environments such as CAD or CAE, project files can be stored online to reduce the hassle of retrieving them from tape. Since files can be expanded quickly when needed, compression is practical even for files accessed on a daily basis.

Online Archiving

FCX creates random access discpac files, i.e., files may be added, removed, or retrieved from the discpac.

Keep multiple versions of files online

Up to 65535 versions of a file may be kept in the discpac. With the multi-platform discpac feature, versions of files may be from different platforms.

Automatic version control

Specify a maximum number of versions of a file to keep online. When the maximum number is reached, the oldest file is thrown away, ensuring that disk space is not wasted on unnecessary old versions of files.

Multi-platform Discpacs

The multi-platform discpac allows the creation of discpacs containing files from different platforms.

Create discpacs of VMS, Windows, LInux, and UNIX files

Gather any combination of files into a single discpac.

Simplify data sharing and management

All files from a specific project or application, regardless of platform, may be maintained in one place while being accessible to machines on any supported platform.

General Features

Supports all file structures and record formats
Compression and expansion of directories and directory trees
Up to 90% space savings
File selection by name, type, size, and date
Full wild card support
transport file integrity verification
Self expanding files
Extensive online HELP
Preservation of file characteristics

Transport Operations

FCX reduces file sizes by representing the file information using a more compact coding scheme and writing the compressed data to a different file called an transport file. The transport file contains one or more input files whose data have been compressed. These files are called compressed files. In other words, an transport file contains one or more compressed files. A transport file is a sequential file and may reside on any media.

The operations available with FCXtransport are described below:

COMPRESS Operation

The COMPRESS operation will compress any number and combination of input files. A Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) is calculated for each input file and stored with the compressed file in the transport file. Complete file header information from the original files is also kept as part of the transport file for later file reconstruction.

File selection

Any number and type of files may be included in the input file list.
All valid wild cards are supported allowing the user the flexibility to include any combination of files in the transport file
Select or exclude input files by any system file date
Specify input files by using a list of input file specifications

Security

Compressed data is unintelligible except to sender and receiver.
Preserve ACLs (VMS only) in addition to file header information
Password protection (optional)

Reports and Logs

Request logging of messages
Statistics reports which include elapsed time, CPU time, number of buffered I/Os, number of direct I/Os, peak number of pages of virtual memory allocated, number of page faults, working set extent and working set quota
Display total blocks input, total compressed blocks output, and the percent reduction
Place a comment for later identification

File Destination

Specify format and destination of transport files.
Compress to disk
Compress directly to tape (VMS only)
Compress and copy to a different node in one operation using DECnet

Other File Compression Options

Create self expanding file for any supported target platform
Request separate transport files be generated for each input file
Request verification of the transport file after it is created to assure data integrity
Delete input files after compressing with or without user confirmation

APPEND Operation

The APPEND operation compresses any number and combination of input files and appends them to an existing transport file.

Append files to an existing transport file
Original files remain intact unless deletion is requested
Append files to existing transport files created on the same or other platforms
Use the same file selection as the COMPRESS operation

EXPAND Operation

The EXPAND operation expands compressed files contained in an transport file and generates new files which exactly match the original counterparts both in format and data content. File header information is stored in the transport file so that the EXPAND operation can construct the expanded files to exactly match the original format.

File Destination

Select the output destination of the expanded files.

Expand files to a different device and directory
Expand directory trees as trees or collapse into one directory
Expand across DECnet (VMS and Windows only)

Revise File Structure

Change the file structure as files are expanded.

Expand files creating contiguous or contiguous-best-try files (VMS only)
Expand and truncate files (VMS only)
Expand and optionally preserve ACLs (VMS only)

Update Existing Files

Expand files creating new versions of existing files (VMS only)
Expand files replacing latest versions of existing files

Expand Files By Record (VMS only)

Display a selected number of records
Select records to be expanded by specifying the beginning and ending record numbers
Expand records to a file by specifying output file name

Other Expansion Options

CRC verification to insure data integrity
Rename expanded files
Optionally confirm files before expansion

LIST Operation

The LIST operation provides a formatted directory style report of the contents of transport files. The report contains information about the compression process and lists the file specifications and file header information for each of the compressed files.

Optional data verification
Brief, full, or summary directory listing
Send directory output to a file

DISCPAC Operations

FCX creates discpac (or random access) files. When invoked to create a discpac, FCX compresses the data and writes it to a different file (the discpac file). The data is compressed by using a more compact coding scheme. The file maintains its original content and structure when expanded because header information is preserved.

Multi-platform discpacs may contain files from different platforms. All files retain their original structure (including ACLs for VMS files).

Several discpac operations are available with FCX. These include the following:

Create multi-platform discpacs containing any number of files which may be associated with a key
Directory style listing of discpac file contents.
Insert compressed transports into a discpac with no expansion of data.
Extract a group of files from a discpac file and create a transport file
Refresh the discpac, i.e., search for later versions of files in the discpac and add these later versions to the discpac; old versions may be deleted
Set a version limit (i.e., the maximum number of old copies of a file to be kept in a discpac) when creating a discpac
Update a discpac by adding new files; old files of the same name may be automatically deleted when the version limit is reached
Remove files from a discpac
Retrieve and expand files contained in a discpac

CREATE Operation

The CREATE operation is used to generate an FCX discpac. Discpacs are created containing only the most recent version of a file. Within the discpac, these files are then given the status of primary file.

With subsequent updates to the discpac (REFRESH and UPDATE) newer versions of the primary files can be added; the current primary files are then "pushed down" one level in their status (i.e., the existing primary file becomes the most recent backup file).

Wildcard support for file selection
Designate a KEY to label a set of files as belonging together
No limit to the number of files contained in a discpac
Set the version limit for files to be retained in the discpac; excess files will automatically be deleted
Specify a title for the discpac

RETRIEVE Operation

The RETRIEVE operation is used to retrieve and expand compressed files contained in an FCX discpac file to their original format. This operation is analogous to the EXPAND operation for transport files.

CRC verification
Rename expanded files
File selection by file specification, relative version, or key
Expand files by-record (VMS only)

EXTRACT and INSERT Operations

The EXTRACT and INSERT operations allow files to be extracted from one discpac and inserted into another without compression or expansion of the files. EXTRACT and INSERT facilitate the use of multi-platform discpacs allowing files to be moved quickly and easily between discpacs and platforms. Since files are not compressed or expanded, the operations are a fast way of moving files; and, since EXTRACT allows you to specify which files you wish to pull out of a discpac, it is not necessary to move an entire discpac.

When used with multi-platform discpacs, EXTRACT and INSERT allow you to extract a file from a discpac and insert that file into another discpac, regardless of whether the file is a VMS, UNIX, Linux or Windows file.

The INSERT and EXTRACT operations also provide a useful link between discpac and transport files. Files extracted from a discpac file have the same file structure as transports; therefore, extracted files can be treated as transports. For example, a transport file may be transferred to a computer at another location and inserted into a discpac. Since the file is not compressed or expanded during this operation, the transfer is very fast.

Extract a file from a discpac created on one system and insert the file into a discpac created on another
Designate a KEY for files inserted into a discpac
Select files for extraction based on KEY
Select files to be extracted based on time/date parameters
Preserve file names from another platform (e.g., preserve Windows filenames on a VMS system)

DIRECTORY Operation

The DIRECTORY operation provides a formatted directory style listing of the contents of an FCX discpac file.

Optional data verification
Brief, full, or summary directory listing
Select files for display by file key

REFRESH and UPDATE Operations

The REFRESH and UPDATE operations check for the latest version of a file and assign it primary file status. FCX checks the original directory to see if a later version of the file exists; if so, the newer version is added and assigned primary file status and the current primary file and any older versions (or 'backup' files) are pushed down one level in their status. REFRESH is used to update files currently in a discpac; UPDATE is used when adding files to a discpac.

REFRESH and UPDATE can be used when creating multi-platform discpacs in order to create discpacs containing primary files which may have backup files in different platforms. For example, if a discpac contains a VMS file which was subsequently revised using Windows, a REFRESH operation using /NODEVDIR will ignore device and directory information and cause a comparison of file name only; the later Windows file would then become the primary file in the discpac with the VMS file as its backup.

Refresh or update using a path other than the original (i.e. ignore device and directory)
Select files for REFRESH by KEY
Specify a KEY for files to be added to the discpac during an UPDATE
Full wildcard support for file selection

REMOVE Operation

The REMOVE operation is used to remove files from a discpac file.

Remove both primary and backup files simultaneously
Specify specific version numbers for removal
Select files by KEY

Platform Requirements

FCX is available on a number of platforms.