VMS files, other than text files, cannot be sent through email systems or downloaded through the internet because the VMS file characteristics are stripped by the non-VMS systems in the email or download path. This makes the files unusable at the destination VMS system.

VMS files can be sent safely and reliably by using FCX to compress the files before sending them through the email system. FCX protects VMS files as they pass through non-VMS systems and restores the files completely at the receiving computer.

Using FCX to compress VMS files provides these advantages:

• Only one command is needed to compress the files on the sending computer

• Only one command is need to restore the files on the receiving computer

• No tricks are required, such as sending the file characteristics in a separate file or command procedure so they can be restored at the destination computer

• The files are a lot smaller and transfer faster