  Importing and Exporting File Formats? 
 The Question is:
 
I have a number of files backed up off a VAX system utilizing VMS 5.4-1 and an
 8mm drive. I wish to transfer these files onto a MS Windows platform to do so
 analysis before returning them back to the VAX system. I do not have a net
 connection. Does Compaq
 have or know where I may obtain a piece of software That will convert VAX
 files to MS files from the 8mm tape or some other removable media?
 
 The Answer is:
 
  Media itself is of less interest than the on-media file format(s) used.
 
  OpenVMS can read and write FAT- and tar-format media using tools in the
  FAQ, and there are reputedly various BACKUP-compatible tools for other
  platforms.  There are also ODBC server tools available for OpenVMS (though
  for more recent versions of OpenVMS).
 
  You may find that creating fixed-length files containing solely ASCII
  (ISO Latin-1) data -- no binary floating point formats -- prior to the
  transfer to the other platform to be the easiest approach.  Files in
  indexed and some of the other more complex formats should be converted
  to at least sequential before attempting the transfer.
 
  The OpenVMS Wizard wishes you luck with this effort, there are enough
  subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences with even the sequential file
  formats that this process can be quite difficult.
 
