Method and apparatus for converting files stored on a mainframe computer for use by a client computer
AssigneeSerena Software, Inc.
InventorsBruce Engle, Kevin Parker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus allows a file to be transferred from a mainframe computer to a client computer. A folder is set up on the client computer with a list of filenames and/or filters that designates some of the files on the mainframe computer as belonging to the folder. Conversion properties are assigned to the folder. A file is requested using the folder name and filename, and the file is transferred from the mainframe to the client computer and converted according to the properties of the folder to which the file belongs.
Claims40
A method of transferring a portion of a file from a first computer to a second computer, the method comprising:
- receiving at the second computer a description of a set of a plurality of files, the set comprising the file and less than all files on the first computer;
- associating at least one property with the set of the plurality of files so that the at least one property is associated with all of the plurality of files in the set;
- receiving a request to transfer the portion of the file, the request comprising an identifier of the set of the plurality of files and an identifier of the file;
- retrieving at least one of the at least one property responsive to the identifier of the set received;
- providing the portion of the file from the first computer to the second computer;
- and
- altering the portion of the file responsive to the at least one property retrieved.
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for providing a portion of a file from a first computer to a second computer, the computer program product comprising:
- computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to receive at the second computer a description of a set of a plurality of files, the set comprising the file and less than all files on the first computer;
- computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to associate at least one property with the set of the plurality of files so that the at least one property is associated with all of the plurality of files in the set;
- computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to receive a request to provide the portion of the file, the request comprising an identifier of the set of the plurality of files and an identifier of the file;
- computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to retrieve at least one of the at least one property responsive to the identifier of the set received;
- computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to provide the portion of the file from the first computer to the second computer;
- and
- computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to alter the portion of the file responsive to the at least one property retrieved.
An apparatus for providing a portion of a file from a first computer to a second computer, the apparatus comprising:
- a registry interface at the second computer having an input operatively coupled to receive a description of a set of a plurality of files, the set comprising the file and less than all files on the first computer, the registry interface for associating and providing at an input/output the at least one property responsive to an identifier of the set of the plurality of files received at the input/output so that the at least one property is associated with all of the plurality of files in the set;
- a client file retriever/provider having a first input operatively coupled to receive a request to provide the portion of the file, the request comprising the identifier of the set of the plurality of files and an identifier of the file, the client file retriever/provider for providing at a first input/output the identifier of the set received and receiving at the client file retriever/provider first input/output at least one of the at least one property, for providing at a second input/output coupled to the first computer a command for a portion of the file;
- and
- a client file converter having a first input coupled to the first computer for receiving the portion of the file, and a second input coupled to the registry interface for receiving at least one of the at least one property, the client file converter for altering the portion of the file responsive to the at least one property received at the second input and for providing at an output coupled to an apparatus output the altered portion of the file.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.