Re: BookManager
,l/s/ Anthony L. Zak6iwjj Original message From: Bernd Oppolzer Date: 3/20/23 12:40 (GMT-05:00) To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: [IBM-MAIN] BookManager I would like to thank all who responded and tell you about the solution we found.First of all, with some support from somewhere, we managed to re-install the BookManager softwareon the z/OS 2.5 system - unsupported / as-is. This, at least, allows us to read the books temporarilyand to start the conversion from here.Then I copied the needed books (some hundred) to Bookmaster GML format, which can be donefrom inside READ/MVS. The MVS (or z/OS) version converts complete books to Bookmaster GML,not only single paragraphs. The Bookmaster files (which are textfiles in the end) then were movedto a PC (using text FTP).Then I used B2H (the Windows variant) to create HTML from the Bookmaster files. I changed theB2H REXX a little bit, so that all texts are enclosed in tags; this way the line breaks etc.from the original documents are preserved.Task completed :-)Some additional remarks:the internal layout of the .BOO files is not usable and very difficult; 4096 byte segments, word fragmentsin EBCDIC, maybe some sort of linked list or tree structure. I spent some time trying to understand this,but no success.I also tried to find the Bookmaster sources - as suggested by some posters - at my customer's sitefor the books, which were present in the "production" bookshelves, but also no success;the sources were partially lost and the people responsible for the books have retired.So it was best to retrieve the Bookmaster sources from the books directly.Kind regardsBerndAm 28.02.2023 um 18:59 schrieb Bernd Oppolzer:> What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF?>> My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access> after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4).>> We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can> at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to > PDFs.> But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > topic> or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > (selected or range),> the output is always empty.>> Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > the free version?> What are the options?>> The eMail address book...@us.ibm.com, which is mentioned in the > Softcopy Reader> help texts, doesn't exist any more (BTW: the Softcopy Reader is a 2012 > edition;> this seems to be the last one available).>> Is there a documented API to read the books using a C or REXX program> and build the PDFs this way? Or build HTML from the books?>> Thanks for all suggestions,> kind regards>> Bernd>>>--For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions,send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
I would like to thank all who responded and tell you about the solution we found. First of all, with some support from somewhere, we managed to re-install the BookManager software on the z/OS 2.5 system - unsupported / as-is. This, at least, allows us to read the books temporarily and to start the conversion from here. Then I copied the needed books (some hundred) to Bookmaster GML format, which can be done from inside READ/MVS. The MVS (or z/OS) version converts complete books to Bookmaster GML, not only single paragraphs. The Bookmaster files (which are textfiles in the end) then were moved to a PC (using text FTP). Then I used B2H (the Windows variant) to create HTML from the Bookmaster files. I changed the B2H REXX a little bit, so that all texts are enclosed in tags; this way the line breaks etc. from the original documents are preserved. Task completed :-) Some additional remarks: the internal layout of the .BOO files is not usable and very difficult; 4096 byte segments, word fragments in EBCDIC, maybe some sort of linked list or tree structure. I spent some time trying to understand this, but no success. I also tried to find the Bookmaster sources - as suggested by some posters - at my customer's site for the books, which were present in the "production" bookshelves, but also no success; the sources were partially lost and the people responsible for the books have retired. So it was best to retrieve the Bookmaster sources from the books directly. Kind regards Bernd Am 28.02.2023 um 18:59 schrieb Bernd Oppolzer: What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to PDFs. But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) topic or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu (selected or range), the output is always empty. Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in the free version? What are the options? The eMail address book...@us.ibm.com, which is mentioned in the Softcopy Reader help texts, doesn't exist any more (BTW: the Softcopy Reader is a 2012 edition; this seems to be the last one available). Is there a documented API to read the books using a C or REXX program and build the PDFs this way? Or build HTML from the books? Thanks for all suggestions, kind regards Bernd -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
If you had the original source of the documents, you could format to PostScript (DEV(PSA), then convert the PostScript to PDF using Adobe Acrobat or equivalent. You'd need to download the BookMaster fonts. -Original Message- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List On Behalf Of Roger Bolan Sent: Friday, March 3, 2023 5:51 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: BookManager The BookManager format (on z/OS at least) is a special output format from the DCF (Document Composition Facility) SCRIPT command. With OS/390 Softcopy Print you could print from the BookManager books but I never thought the results were really great. If you have the original source text which will be in BookMaster, Starter GML, or just Script commands format, I would start from there. If it were me, and I had the original source for the documents I would reformat them with DCF using the BookMaster profile and macro library (if you still have it around), or the Starter Set GML profile and macro library. I would output to a DEV(AFPA) or DEV(AFP2A) format and then use the afpxpdf transform that comes with the "IBM Print Transforms from AFP" product that works with the Infoprint Server component of z/OS to transform the AFP format to PDF. If going from the BookManager format is your only option, the results are going to be not as nice and more work. If you can only convert a topic at a time to PDF then maybe you could assemble them back into a PDF book with Adobe Acrobat. I don't have any experience with that. --Roger -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
I blogged Copying pages out of PDF files to make mini books. This uses pdftk package <https://www.pdflabs.com/tools/pdftk-the-pdf-toolkit/> on Linux to extract pages from pdf - and appending pdf documents into a big document. On Sun, 5 Mar 2023 at 21:19, Seymour J Metz wrote: > AFAIK, IBM used the BookManager BUILD tag set, which is a superset of > BookMaster. Note that the PC versions of BookManager BUILD were totally > different and did not support Script input. > > > -- > Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz > http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 > > > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf > of Roger Bolan [rogerbo...@gmail.com] > Sent: Friday, March 3, 2023 6:51 PM > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: BookManager > > The BookManager format (on z/OS at least) is a special output format from > the DCF (Document Composition Facility) SCRIPT command. With OS/390 > Softcopy Print you could print from the BookManager books but I never > thought the results were really great. If you have the original source > text which will be in BookMaster, Starter GML, or just Script commands > format, I would start from there. > > If it were me, and I had the original source for the documents I would > reformat them with DCF using the BookMaster profile and macro library (if > you still have it around), or the Starter Set GML profile and macro > library. I would output to a DEV(AFPA) or DEV(AFP2A) format and then use > the afpxpdf transform that comes with the "IBM Print Transforms from > AFP" product that works with the Infoprint Server component of z/OS to > transform the AFP format to PDF. > > If going from the BookManager format is your only option, the results are > going to be not as nice and more work. If you can only convert a topic at > a time to PDF then maybe you could assemble them back into a PDF book with > Adobe Acrobat. I don't have any experience with that. > --Roger > > On Fri, Mar 3, 2023 at 2:04 PM Dave Wade wrote: > > > On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:59:09 +0100, Bernd Oppolzer < > > bernd.oppol...@t-online.de> wrote: > > > > >What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > > > > > >My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot > access > > >after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > > > > > >We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we > can > > >at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to > PDFs. > > >But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > > >topic > > >or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > > >(selected or range), > > >the output is always empty. > > > > > >Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > > >the free version? > > >What are the options? > > > > > > > The old "ILRWIN" product will let you print an entire book, but I think > > its a16 bit application.. > > So:- > > > > 1. Find a machine with a 32-bit copy of Windows installed and the 16-bit > > DVM installed. > > > you run 16-bit app in 64-bit windows here:- > > > https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fotya128%2Fwinevdm%2Freleases%2Ftag%2Fv0.8.0=05%7C01%7Csmetz3%40gmu.edu%7C6943f52e36c842e5e10208db1c423d12%7C9e857255df574c47a0c00546460380cb%7C0%7C0%7C638134843053542272%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C=54C8LC4IRUycWvMyCj5MjYxozYd%2F5U9fNZUmPJ%2BB%2BTk%3D=0 > > > > > > 2. Find an old documentation CD or similar with the old "Book Manager > Read > > for Windows". > > I found a copy on the PCOMMS 5.4 CD in the \win\install\ilrwin folder. > > > > 3. Open the book and print using a PDF print driver. Microsoft include > one > > with recent Windows. > > FOXIT PDF viewer has one for older windows. > > > > I hope this is helpfull > > > > Dave > > > > >Thanks for all suggestions, > > >kind regards > > > > > >Bernd > > > > > > > -- > > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
AFAIK, IBM used the BookManager BUILD tag set, which is a superset of BookMaster. Note that the PC versions of BookManager BUILD were totally different and did not support Script input. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Roger Bolan [rogerbo...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, March 3, 2023 6:51 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: BookManager The BookManager format (on z/OS at least) is a special output format from the DCF (Document Composition Facility) SCRIPT command. With OS/390 Softcopy Print you could print from the BookManager books but I never thought the results were really great. If you have the original source text which will be in BookMaster, Starter GML, or just Script commands format, I would start from there. If it were me, and I had the original source for the documents I would reformat them with DCF using the BookMaster profile and macro library (if you still have it around), or the Starter Set GML profile and macro library. I would output to a DEV(AFPA) or DEV(AFP2A) format and then use the afpxpdf transform that comes with the "IBM Print Transforms from AFP" product that works with the Infoprint Server component of z/OS to transform the AFP format to PDF. If going from the BookManager format is your only option, the results are going to be not as nice and more work. If you can only convert a topic at a time to PDF then maybe you could assemble them back into a PDF book with Adobe Acrobat. I don't have any experience with that. --Roger On Fri, Mar 3, 2023 at 2:04 PM Dave Wade wrote: > On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:59:09 +0100, Bernd Oppolzer < > bernd.oppol...@t-online.de> wrote: > > >What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > > > >My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access > >after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > > > >We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can > >at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to PDFs. > >But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > >topic > >or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > >(selected or range), > >the output is always empty. > > > >Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > >the free version? > >What are the options? > > > > The old "ILRWIN" product will let you print an entire book, but I think > its a16 bit application.. > So:- > > 1. Find a machine with a 32-bit copy of Windows installed and the 16-bit > DVM installed. > you run 16-bit app in 64-bit windows here:- > https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fotya128%2Fwinevdm%2Freleases%2Ftag%2Fv0.8.0=05%7C01%7Csmetz3%40gmu.edu%7C6943f52e36c842e5e10208db1c423d12%7C9e857255df574c47a0c00546460380cb%7C0%7C0%7C638134843053542272%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C=54C8LC4IRUycWvMyCj5MjYxozYd%2F5U9fNZUmPJ%2BB%2BTk%3D=0 > > > > 2. Find an old documentation CD or similar with the old "Book Manager Read > for Windows". > I found a copy on the PCOMMS 5.4 CD in the \win\install\ilrwin folder. > > 3. Open the book and print using a PDF print driver. Microsoft include one > with recent Windows. > FOXIT PDF viewer has one for older windows. > > I hope this is helpfull > > Dave > > >Thanks for all suggestions, > >kind regards > > > >Bernd > > > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
The BookManager format (on z/OS at least) is a special output format from the DCF (Document Composition Facility) SCRIPT command. With OS/390 Softcopy Print you could print from the BookManager books but I never thought the results were really great. If you have the original source text which will be in BookMaster, Starter GML, or just Script commands format, I would start from there. If it were me, and I had the original source for the documents I would reformat them with DCF using the BookMaster profile and macro library (if you still have it around), or the Starter Set GML profile and macro library. I would output to a DEV(AFPA) or DEV(AFP2A) format and then use the afpxpdf transform that comes with the "IBM Print Transforms from AFP" product that works with the Infoprint Server component of z/OS to transform the AFP format to PDF. If going from the BookManager format is your only option, the results are going to be not as nice and more work. If you can only convert a topic at a time to PDF then maybe you could assemble them back into a PDF book with Adobe Acrobat. I don't have any experience with that. --Roger On Fri, Mar 3, 2023 at 2:04 PM Dave Wade wrote: > On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:59:09 +0100, Bernd Oppolzer < > bernd.oppol...@t-online.de> wrote: > > >What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > > > >My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access > >after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > > > >We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can > >at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to PDFs. > >But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > >topic > >or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > >(selected or range), > >the output is always empty. > > > >Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > >the free version? > >What are the options? > > > > The old "ILRWIN" product will let you print an entire book, but I think > its a16 bit application.. > So:- > > 1. Find a machine with a 32-bit copy of Windows installed and the 16-bit > DVM installed. > you run 16-bit app in 64-bit windows here:- > https://github.com/otya128/winevdm/releases/tag/v0.8.0 > > > 2. Find an old documentation CD or similar with the old "Book Manager Read > for Windows". > I found a copy on the PCOMMS 5.4 CD in the \win\install\ilrwin folder. > > 3. Open the book and print using a PDF print driver. Microsoft include one > with recent Windows. > FOXIT PDF viewer has one for older windows. > > I hope this is helpfull > > Dave > > >Thanks for all suggestions, > >kind regards > > > >Bernd > > > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:59:09 +0100, Bernd Oppolzer wrote: >What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > >My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access >after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > >We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can >at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to PDFs. >But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) >topic >or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu >(selected or range), >the output is always empty. > >Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in >the free version? >What are the options? > The old "ILRWIN" product will let you print an entire book, but I think its a16 bit application.. So:- 1. Find a machine with a 32-bit copy of Windows installed and the 16-bit DVM installed. https://github.com/otya128/winevdm/releases/tag/v0.8.0 > 2. Find an old documentation CD or similar with the old "Book Manager Read for Windows". I found a copy on the PCOMMS 5.4 CD in the \win\install\ilrwin folder. 3. Open the book and print using a PDF print driver. Microsoft include one with recent Windows. FOXIT PDF viewer has one for older windows. I hope this is helpfull Dave >Thanks for all suggestions, >kind regards > >Bernd > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
s/was/is From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List on behalf of Roger Bolan Date: Wednesday, 1 March 2023 at 01:07 To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: BookManager The B2H tool was BookMaster source to HTML, not BookManager On Tue, Feb 28, 2023, 11:19 AM Colin Paice wrote: > There is a very old B2H package which I think is Rexx based. It was > supported on Windows NT, OS2, VM, OS390 etc, > I think I used to use it. It is mentioned > http://afrodita.rcub.bg.ac.rs/~ivica/b2h.html > Colin > > On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 at 18:00, Bernd Oppolzer > wrote: > > > What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > > > > My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access > > after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > > > > We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can > > at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to > PDFs. > > But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > > topic > > or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > > (selected or range), > > the output is always empty. > > > > Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > > the free version? > > What are the options? > > > > The eMail address book...@us.ibm.com, which is mentioned in the Softcopy > > Reader > > help texts, doesn't exist any more (BTW: the Softcopy Reader is a 2012 > > edition; > > this seems to be the last one available). > > > > Is there a documented API to read the books using a C or REXX program > > and build the PDFs this way? Or build HTML from the books? > > > > Thanks for all suggestions, > > kind regards > > > > Bernd > > > > -- > > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN Unless otherwise stated above: IBM United Kingdom Limited Registered in England and Wales with number 741598 Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hants. PO6 3AU -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
B2H does BookMASTER to HTML, not BookManager to PDF. (And, yes, HTML to PDF is probably trivial for most people.) I use B2H on TSO in Batch almost daily, FWIW. Cheers, Martin From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List on behalf of Colin Paice Date: Tuesday, 28 February 2023 at 18:19 To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: BookManager There is a very old B2H package which I think is Rexx based. It was supported on Windows NT, OS2, VM, OS390 etc, I think I used to use it. It is mentioned http://afrodita.rcub.bg.ac.rs/~ivica/b2h.html Colin On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 at 18:00, Bernd Oppolzer wrote: > What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > > My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access > after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > > We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can > at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to PDFs. > But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > topic > or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > (selected or range), > the output is always empty. > > Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > the free version? > What are the options? > > The eMail address book...@us.ibm.com, which is mentioned in the Softcopy > Reader > help texts, doesn't exist any more (BTW: the Softcopy Reader is a 2012 > edition; > this seems to be the last one available). > > Is there a documented API to read the books using a C or REXX program > and build the PDFs this way? Or build HTML from the books? > > Thanks for all suggestions, > kind regards > > Bernd > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN Unless otherwise stated above: IBM United Kingdom Limited Registered in England and Wales with number 741598 Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hants. PO6 3AU -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
The B2H tool was BookMaster source to HTML, not BookManager On Tue, Feb 28, 2023, 11:19 AM Colin Paice wrote: > There is a very old B2H package which I think is Rexx based. It was > supported on Windows NT, OS2, VM, OS390 etc, > I think I used to use it. It is mentioned > http://afrodita.rcub.bg.ac.rs/~ivica/b2h.html > Colin > > On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 at 18:00, Bernd Oppolzer > wrote: > > > What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > > > > My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access > > after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > > > > We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can > > at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to > PDFs. > > But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > > topic > > or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > > (selected or range), > > the output is always empty. > > > > Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > > the free version? > > What are the options? > > > > The eMail address book...@us.ibm.com, which is mentioned in the Softcopy > > Reader > > help texts, doesn't exist any more (BTW: the Softcopy Reader is a 2012 > > edition; > > this seems to be the last one available). > > > > Is there a documented API to read the books using a C or REXX program > > and build the PDFs this way? Or build HTML from the books? > > > > Thanks for all suggestions, > > kind regards > > > > Bernd > > > > -- > > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: BookManager
There is a very old B2H package which I think is Rexx based. It was supported on Windows NT, OS2, VM, OS390 etc, I think I used to use it. It is mentioned http://afrodita.rcub.bg.ac.rs/~ivica/b2h.html Colin On Tue, 28 Feb 2023 at 18:00, Bernd Oppolzer wrote: > What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? > > My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access > after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). > > We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can > at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to PDFs. > But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) > topic > or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu > (selected or range), > the output is always empty. > > Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in > the free version? > What are the options? > > The eMail address book...@us.ibm.com, which is mentioned in the Softcopy > Reader > help texts, doesn't exist any more (BTW: the Softcopy Reader is a 2012 > edition; > this seems to be the last one available). > > Is there a documented API to read the books using a C or REXX program > and build the PDFs this way? Or build HTML from the books? > > Thanks for all suggestions, > kind regards > > Bernd > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
BookManager
What is the preferred way to convert BookMgr books to PDF? My customer has some home-written BookMgr books, which they cannot access after the z/OS migration (BookMgr support was dropped with z/OS 2.4). We managed to transfer the books to Windows (and OS/2, BTW), where we can at least look at the books. Now I would like to convert the books to PDFs. But the free Softcopy Reader refuses to print more than one (selected) topic or ranges of topics; if you try to do this using the print menu (selected or range), the output is always empty. Is this a bug - or: is printing larger portions of text not allowed in the free version? What are the options? The eMail address book...@us.ibm.com, which is mentioned in the Softcopy Reader help texts, doesn't exist any more (BTW: the Softcopy Reader is a 2012 edition; this seems to be the last one available). Is there a documented API to read the books using a C or REXX program and build the PDFs this way? Or build HTML from the books? Thanks for all suggestions, kind regards Bernd -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: [EXTERNAL] Copy BookManager Read & Library Server to 2.4
Thanks for the better approach. Hadn't thought of that -- too many years of everything SMP! -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: [EXTERNAL] Copy BookManager Read & Library Server to 2.4
As best I can tell, Bookmanager support ended in 2014. If that's the case I would assume the chance of ever getting any kind of maintenance to it is nil. Does it even need to be kept in SMP/E anywhere or could you just copy the runtime libraries to the 2.4 system and let them be? Rex -Original Message- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List On Behalf Of Randy Hoekstra Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:46 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: [EXTERNAL] Copy BookManager Read & Library Server to 2.4 I don't want to reinvent if someone has successfully copied BookManager Read and Library Server to their z/OS 2.4 system. (We have some old documentation that is only available in BookManager format.) If you have done so and may share the process please do. Short of a proven process any suggestions on which SMP/E process is preferred: BUILDMCS or GZONEMERGE for the FMIDs? -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- The information contained in this message is confidential, protected from disclosure and may be legally privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, distribution, copying, or any action taken or action omitted in reliance on it, is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this message and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Copy BookManager Read & Library Server to 2.4
I don't want to reinvent if someone has successfully copied BookManager Read and Library Server to their z/OS 2.4 system. (We have some old documentation that is only available in BookManager format.) If you have done so and may share the process please do. Short of a proven process any suggestions on which SMP/E process is preferred: BUILDMCS or GZONEMERGE for the FMIDs? -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
Alas, the Firefox that I'm using is the most recent version that has been ported to OS/2, and rust, the new implementation language for FF, has not been ported. There is a project to port a more recent browser, but for the time being this is what I have, I'm fairly certain that anybody running z/OS would be using either Linux or windows on their PCs, so they would have no problem getting a current version of Chrome, Chromium or Firefox. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 10:27 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files Hi Shmuel, I'm glad that you found an environment that lets you access the content properly. Thanks for you tip about IE Explorer. I'm not an official tester - I just tried the site on all the browsers on my local system to see if I saw any immediate problems. I'm sure that the official testers ensure that the product and content works on all supported browsers. On that note, I recommend that you update your browsers to at least the minimum supported versions just to help prevent any additional compatibility issues like this in the future. For example, z/OSMF requires Firefox ESR Version 60 or later (so your Firefox 68.7 is well supported), and I'm currently running Firefox 75. The fact that you're running such an old, unsupported version with Firefox 38.8 likely caused or at least contributed to the content display problem. -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 5:14 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: > I'm using Firefox 38.8.0, which is probably much older than you have. I > notice that you didn't mention IE; while I dislike it and microsoft has > deprecated it, there are still people using it due to problems with edge, so > you might want to include it in what you're testing. > > Is there enough of a difference between Chromium and Chrome to warrant > separate testing? > > It works much better on Linux, with Firefox 68.7.0esr. > > > -- > Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz > http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 > > > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of > Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] > Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 2:34 PM > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files > > Hi Shmuel, > > So, there's just the page title but no contents? That's strange. It > looks okay to me on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge, so I'm not sure what the > problem is on your end. If others notice the same behavior, I'll look > into if it's a problem on the content or site end. > > In the meantime, here are direct links to the Softcopy Reader downloadables: > > IBM Softcopy Reader/Windows V4.0: > ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/ilrjava.exe > > Release Notes: > ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/swinread.txt > > -Sue Shumway > > > On 4/27/2020 1:57 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: >> Is it browser dependent? What I get is >> >> >> IBM® >> IBM Support Offerings My support Downloads Documents Cases Communities >> Training Other >> >> Downloadable free BookManager tools and components >> >> Contact IBM Privacy Terms of use Accessibility >> >> with different values for the middle line. >> >> >> -- >> Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz >> http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 >> >> ____ >> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of >> Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] >> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 1:43 PM >> To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU >> Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files >> >> Hi Shmuel, >> >> It's a sort of old-school site - you just need to do some clicking. From >> https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 , click "IBM Softcopy >> Reader", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324679 >> . From there, click "Download Softcopy Reader for Windows 4.0", which >> gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/731199 . Scroll to >> the bottom for the link to download the package with FTP. >> >> -Sue Shumway >> >> On 4/27/2020 12:47 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: >>> I assume that's under the Download tab, but none of the menu options seem >>> appropriate. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz >>> http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 >>> >>> >>> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
Hi Shmuel, I'm glad that you found an environment that lets you access the content properly. Thanks for you tip about IE Explorer. I'm not an official tester - I just tried the site on all the browsers on my local system to see if I saw any immediate problems. I'm sure that the official testers ensure that the product and content works on all supported browsers. On that note, I recommend that you update your browsers to at least the minimum supported versions just to help prevent any additional compatibility issues like this in the future. For example, z/OSMF requires Firefox ESR Version 60 or later (so your Firefox 68.7 is well supported), and I'm currently running Firefox 75. The fact that you're running such an old, unsupported version with Firefox 38.8 likely caused or at least contributed to the content display problem. -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 5:14 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: I'm using Firefox 38.8.0, which is probably much older than you have. I notice that you didn't mention IE; while I dislike it and microsoft has deprecated it, there are still people using it due to problems with edge, so you might want to include it in what you're testing. Is there enough of a difference between Chromium and Chrome to warrant separate testing? It works much better on Linux, with Firefox 68.7.0esr. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 2:34 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files Hi Shmuel, So, there's just the page title but no contents? That's strange. It looks okay to me on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge, so I'm not sure what the problem is on your end. If others notice the same behavior, I'll look into if it's a problem on the content or site end. In the meantime, here are direct links to the Softcopy Reader downloadables: IBM Softcopy Reader/Windows V4.0: ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/ilrjava.exe Release Notes: ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/swinread.txt -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 1:57 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: Is it browser dependent? What I get is IBM® IBM Support Offerings My support Downloads Documents Cases Communities Training Other Downloadable free BookManager tools and components Contact IBM Privacy Terms of use Accessibility with different values for the middle line. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 1:43 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files Hi Shmuel, It's a sort of old-school site - you just need to do some clicking. From https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 , click "IBM Softcopy Reader", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324679 . From there, click "Download Softcopy Reader for Windows 4.0", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/731199 . Scroll to the bottom for the link to download the package with FTP. -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 12:47 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: I assume that's under the Download tab, but none of the menu options seem appropriate. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 12:25 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files See "Downloadable free BookManager tools and components" ( https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 ) for links to download IBM Softcopy Reader and other helpful resources. If you ever need to access older z/OS documentation, note that we've made available PDF versions of it back to V1R10, available in the IBM Z Publications Library Archive: https://www.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zos-library-archives -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 5:49 AM, R.S. wrote: W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: Hello, where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these files to PDF or HTML? BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows running u
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
I'm using Firefox 38.8.0, which is probably much older than you have. I notice that you didn't mention IE; while I dislike it and microsoft has deprecated it, there are still people using it due to problems with edge, so you might want to include it in what you're testing. Is there enough of a difference between Chromium and Chrome to warrant separate testing? It works much better on Linux, with Firefox 68.7.0esr. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 2:34 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files Hi Shmuel, So, there's just the page title but no contents? That's strange. It looks okay to me on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge, so I'm not sure what the problem is on your end. If others notice the same behavior, I'll look into if it's a problem on the content or site end. In the meantime, here are direct links to the Softcopy Reader downloadables: IBM Softcopy Reader/Windows V4.0: ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/ilrjava.exe Release Notes: ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/swinread.txt -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 1:57 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: > Is it browser dependent? What I get is > > > IBM® > IBM Support Offerings My support Downloads Documents Cases Communities > Training Other > > Downloadable free BookManager tools and components > > Contact IBM Privacy Terms of use Accessibility > > with different values for the middle line. > > > -- > Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz > http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 > > > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of > Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] > Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 1:43 PM > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files > > Hi Shmuel, > > It's a sort of old-school site - you just need to do some clicking. From > https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 , click "IBM Softcopy > Reader", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324679 > . From there, click "Download Softcopy Reader for Windows 4.0", which > gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/731199 . Scroll to > the bottom for the link to download the package with FTP. > > -Sue Shumway > > On 4/27/2020 12:47 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: >> I assume that's under the Download tab, but none of the menu options seem >> appropriate. >> >> >> -- >> Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz >> http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 >> >> >> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of >> Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] >> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 12:25 PM >> To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU >> Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files >> >> See "Downloadable free BookManager tools and components" ( >> https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 ) for links to download >> IBM Softcopy Reader and other helpful resources. >> >> If you ever need to access older z/OS documentation, note that we've >> made available PDF versions of it back to V1R10, available in the IBM Z >> Publications Library Archive: >> https://www.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zos-library-archives >> >> -Sue Shumway >> >> On 4/27/2020 5:49 AM, R.S. wrote: >>> W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: >>>> Hello, >>>> >>>> where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you >>>> know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But >>>> unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some >>>> very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question >>>> is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these >>>> files to PDF or HTML? >>> >>> BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy >>> Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. >>> You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and >>> will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows >>> running under Virtual Box or other tool. Personally I prefer Library >>> Reader, but it is simpler to use Softcopy Reader. >>> Note: both tools were available for download and IMHO you can still use >>> it, even if
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
Hi Shmuel, So, there's just the page title but no contents? That's strange. It looks okay to me on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge, so I'm not sure what the problem is on your end. If others notice the same behavior, I'll look into if it's a problem on the content or site end. In the meantime, here are direct links to the Softcopy Reader downloadables: IBM Softcopy Reader/Windows V4.0: ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/ilrjava.exe Release Notes: ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/bookmanager/tools/swinread.txt -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 1:57 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: Is it browser dependent? What I get is IBM® IBM Support Offerings My support Downloads Documents Cases Communities Training Other Downloadable free BookManager tools and components Contact IBM Privacy Terms of use Accessibility with different values for the middle line. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 1:43 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files Hi Shmuel, It's a sort of old-school site - you just need to do some clicking. From https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 , click "IBM Softcopy Reader", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324679 . From there, click "Download Softcopy Reader for Windows 4.0", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/731199 . Scroll to the bottom for the link to download the package with FTP. -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 12:47 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: I assume that's under the Download tab, but none of the menu options seem appropriate. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 12:25 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files See "Downloadable free BookManager tools and components" ( https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 ) for links to download IBM Softcopy Reader and other helpful resources. If you ever need to access older z/OS documentation, note that we've made available PDF versions of it back to V1R10, available in the IBM Z Publications Library Archive: https://www.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zos-library-archives -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 5:49 AM, R.S. wrote: W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: Hello, where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these files to PDF or HTML? BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows running under Virtual Box or other tool. Personally I prefer Library Reader, but it is simpler to use Softcopy Reader. Note: both tools were available for download and IMHO you can still use it, even if IBM removed it from webpage. If you need a copy, just look for older documentation on DVD or CD. I hope you don't want to use BOO files under z/OS. ;-) -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
Is it browser dependent? What I get is IBM® IBM Support Offerings My support Downloads Documents Cases Communities Training Other Downloadable free BookManager tools and components Contact IBM Privacy Terms of use Accessibility with different values for the middle line. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 1:43 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files Hi Shmuel, It's a sort of old-school site - you just need to do some clicking. From https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 , click "IBM Softcopy Reader", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324679 . From there, click "Download Softcopy Reader for Windows 4.0", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/731199 . Scroll to the bottom for the link to download the package with FTP. -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 12:47 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: > I assume that's under the Download tab, but none of the menu options seem > appropriate. > > > -- > Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz > http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 > > > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of > Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] > Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 12:25 PM > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files > > See "Downloadable free BookManager tools and components" ( > https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 ) for links to download > IBM Softcopy Reader and other helpful resources. > > If you ever need to access older z/OS documentation, note that we've > made available PDF versions of it back to V1R10, available in the IBM Z > Publications Library Archive: > https://www.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zos-library-archives > > -Sue Shumway > > On 4/27/2020 5:49 AM, R.S. wrote: >> W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: >>> Hello, >>> >>> where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you >>> know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But >>> unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some >>> very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question >>> is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these >>> files to PDF or HTML? >> >> BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy >> Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. >> You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and >> will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows >> running under Virtual Box or other tool. Personally I prefer Library >> Reader, but it is simpler to use Softcopy Reader. >> Note: both tools were available for download and IMHO you can still use >> it, even if IBM removed it from webpage. If you need a copy, just look >> for older documentation on DVD or CD. >> I hope you don't want to use BOO files under z/OS. ;-) >> > > -- > Sue Shumway > z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate > IBM Poughkeepsie > chale...@us.ibm.com > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > -- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
Hi Shmuel, It's a sort of old-school site - you just need to do some clicking. From https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 , click "IBM Softcopy Reader", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324679 . From there, click "Download Softcopy Reader for Windows 4.0", which gets you to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/731199 . Scroll to the bottom for the link to download the package with FTP. -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 12:47 PM, Seymour J Metz wrote: I assume that's under the Download tab, but none of the menu options seem appropriate. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 12:25 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files See "Downloadable free BookManager tools and components" ( https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 ) for links to download IBM Softcopy Reader and other helpful resources. If you ever need to access older z/OS documentation, note that we've made available PDF versions of it back to V1R10, available in the IBM Z Publications Library Archive: https://www.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zos-library-archives -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 5:49 AM, R.S. wrote: W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: Hello, where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these files to PDF or HTML? BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows running under Virtual Box or other tool. Personally I prefer Library Reader, but it is simpler to use Softcopy Reader. Note: both tools were available for download and IMHO you can still use it, even if IBM removed it from webpage. If you need a copy, just look for older documentation on DVD or CD. I hope you don't want to use BOO files under z/OS. ;-) -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
I assume that's under the Download tab, but none of the menu options seem appropriate. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Susan Shumway [chale...@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 12:25 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Read BookManager/READ files See "Downloadable free BookManager tools and components" ( https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 ) for links to download IBM Softcopy Reader and other helpful resources. If you ever need to access older z/OS documentation, note that we've made available PDF versions of it back to V1R10, available in the IBM Z Publications Library Archive: https://www.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zos-library-archives -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 5:49 AM, R.S. wrote: > W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: >> Hello, >> >> where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you >> know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But >> unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some >> very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question >> is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these >> files to PDF or HTML? > > BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy > Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. > You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and > will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows > running under Virtual Box or other tool. Personally I prefer Library > Reader, but it is simpler to use Softcopy Reader. > Note: both tools were available for download and IMHO you can still use > it, even if IBM removed it from webpage. If you need a copy, just look > for older documentation on DVD or CD. > I hope you don't want to use BOO files under z/OS. ;-) > -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
See "Downloadable free BookManager tools and components" ( https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/324693 ) for links to download IBM Softcopy Reader and other helpful resources. If you ever need to access older z/OS documentation, note that we've made available PDF versions of it back to V1R10, available in the IBM Z Publications Library Archive: https://www.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zos-library-archives -Sue Shumway On 4/27/2020 5:49 AM, R.S. wrote: W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: Hello, where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these files to PDF or HTML? BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows running under Virtual Box or other tool. Personally I prefer Library Reader, but it is simpler to use Softcopy Reader. Note: both tools were available for download and IMHO you can still use it, even if IBM removed it from webpage. If you need a copy, just look for older documentation on DVD or CD. I hope you don't want to use BOO files under z/OS. ;-) -- Sue Shumway z/OS Project Lead and Client Advocate IBM Poughkeepsie chale...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
I use the OS/2 Library Reader and it works just fine for old manuals. What current documentation does IBM have in BOO format. -- Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz http://mason.gmu.edu/~smetz3 From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] on behalf of Juergen Kehr [kehrjuer...@t-online.de] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 5:14 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Read BookManager/READ files Hello, where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these files to PDF or HTML? Thanks in advance for any help. Kind regards Juergen -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Read BookManager/READ files
W dniu 27.04.2020 o 11:14, Juergen Kehr pisze: Hello, where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these files to PDF or HTML? BOO files can be still read using existing tools like IBM Softcopy Reader which works nicely under Win10 x64 and older Windows versions. You can still use IBM Library Reader which is 16-bit application and will not work under 64-bit Windows, but you can run it under old Windows running under Virtual Box or other tool. Personally I prefer Library Reader, but it is simpler to use Softcopy Reader. Note: both tools were available for download and IMHO you can still use it, even if IBM removed it from webpage. If you need a copy, just look for older documentation on DVD or CD. I hope you don't want to use BOO files under z/OS. ;-) -- Radoslaw Skorupka Lodz, Poland == Jeśli nie jesteś adresatem tej wiadomości: - powiadom nas o tym w mailu zwrotnym (dziękujemy!), - usuń trwale tę wiadomość (i wszystkie kopie, które wydrukowałeś lub zapisałeś na dysku). Wiadomość ta może zawierać chronione prawem informacje, które może wykorzystać tylko adresat.Przypominamy, że każdy, kto rozpowszechnia (kopiuje, rozprowadza) tę wiadomość lub podejmuje podobne działania, narusza prawo i może podlegać karze. mBank S.A. z siedzibą w Warszawie, ul. Senatorska 18, 00-950 Warszawa,www.mBank.pl, e-mail: kont...@mbank.pl. Sąd Rejonowy dla m. st. Warszawy XII Wydział Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sądowego, KRS 025237, NIP: 526-021-50-88. Kapitał zakładowy (opłacony w całości) według stanu na 01.01.2020 r. wynosi 169.401.468 złotych. If you are not the addressee of this message: - let us know by replying to this e-mail (thank you!), - delete this message permanently (including all the copies which you have printed out or saved). This message may contain legally protected information, which may be used exclusively by the addressee.Please be reminded that anyone who disseminates (copies, distributes) this message or takes any similar action, violates the law and may be penalised. mBank S.A. with its registered office in Warsaw, ul. Senatorska 18, 00-950 Warszawa,www.mBank.pl, e-mail: kont...@mbank.pl. District Court for the Capital City of Warsaw, 12th Commercial Division of the National Court Register, KRS 025237, NIP: 526-021-50-88. Fully paid-up share capital amounting to PLN 169.401.468 as at 1 January 2020. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Read BookManager/READ files
Hello, where just in the process to migrate our z/OS systems to V2.4. As you know, on z/OS V2.4 BookManager/READ isn't available anymore. But unfortunately some developers come up with a requirement to read some very old homegrown documentation files (.BOO files). So my question is, are there any free tools available to read and/or convert these files to PDF or HTML? Thanks in advance for any help. Kind regards Juergen -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Bookmanager/Library Server is Up Again (on the Web)
Hallelujah! The new URL base is http://ibm.com/support/libraryserver_os390 ... ... but all the old links with http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390 ... seem to automatically resolve to the new address OK. e.g. http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/Shelves/iea2bkb5 - "z/OS 1.13 MVS" ... resolves to http://ibm.com/support/libraryserver_os390/Shelves/iea2bkb5 automatically. z/OS 1.13 Bookshelves are here: http://ibm.com/support/libraryserver_os390/Shelves?filter=z%2FOS+V1R13=Find z/OS 1.13 is the last z/OS Release with documentation on web based Bookmanager Thank you IBM! In doing this you have made a *lot* of people *very* happy. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Bookmanager BUILD and z/OS V2.2
Juergen Kehr wrote: As you probably know Bookmanager BUILD isn't supported and delivered with z/OS V2.2 anymore. We've had the idea to transfer the "old" Bookmanager BUILD FMIDs via BUILDMCS into a seperate CSI in the V2.2 environment. Now our question is: Will this work? Of course it's not offically supported, but their are many unsupported old z/OS or even MVS or OS/VS product, which run perfect although in very new environments. Does anybody have any experiences with this approach? Thanks in advance. We generally do not break things on purpose when they are no longer supported or offered. For example, I think BTAM/SP worked for at *least* a decade after we withdrew it, and maybe even two. However, we also do not test with them, and if we happen to make a change that breaks them, we will not even know we did it--as happened, eventually, to BTAM. That said, my guess is that Bookmanager Build does nothing special and will likely continue to work. The usual caveats around BUILDMCS apply, though. ACCEPT all service first, look in the zone where it's installed to see whether it has any cross-FMID considerations that would preclude installation in a separate zone and libraries (e.g., shared load modules), and so on. If it does have an intra-zone dependency, it might even be something reasonably easy to manage (such as an interaction with Bookmanager Read, which you could BUILDMCS out and install alongside it). BUILDMCS is remarkably fast, and APPLYing something relatively small without any PTFs is pretty quick too. I'd be inclined to do some quick checking, try it, and see whether it works. -- John Eells z/OS Technical Marketing IBM Poughkeepsie ee...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: (External):Re: Bookmanager BUILD and z/OS V2.2
A more outrageous example. Some years ago management decided that we did not really need Netview, so they refused to order the next upgrade that was actually quite a bit more expensive. BUILDMCS came to the rescue. By comparison with Book Mgr, Netview is very complicated. Had elements in NUCLEUS as I recall. Nonetheless it worked long enough for management to see the light and pony up for the next version. BUILDMCS a powerful tool. . . . J.O.Skip Robinson Southern California Edison Company Electric Dragon Team Paddler SHARE MVS Program Co-Manager 626-302-7535 Office 323-715-0595 Mobile jo.skip.robin...@sce.com -Original Message- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of John Eells Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2015 10:20 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: (External):Re: Bookmanager BUILD and z/OS V2.2 Juergen Kehr wrote: > As you probably know Bookmanager BUILD isn't supported and delivered with > z/OS V2.2 anymore. > > We've had the idea to transfer the "old" Bookmanager BUILD FMIDs via BUILDMCS > into a seperate CSI in the V2.2 environment. Now our question is: Will this > work? Of course it's not offically supported, but their are many unsupported > old z/OS or even MVS or OS/VS product, which run perfect although in very new > environments. > > Does anybody have any experiences with this approach? Thanks in advance. We generally do not break things on purpose when they are no longer supported or offered. For example, I think BTAM/SP worked for at *least* a decade after we withdrew it, and maybe even two. However, we also do not test with them, and if we happen to make a change that breaks them, we will not even know we did it--as happened, eventually, to BTAM. That said, my guess is that Bookmanager Build does nothing special and will likely continue to work. The usual caveats around BUILDMCS apply, though. ACCEPT all service first, look in the zone where it's installed to see whether it has any cross-FMID considerations that would preclude installation in a separate zone and libraries (e.g., shared load modules), and so on. If it does have an intra-zone dependency, it might even be something reasonably easy to manage (such as an interaction with Bookmanager Read, which you could BUILDMCS out and install alongside it). BUILDMCS is remarkably fast, and APPLYing something relatively small without any PTFs is pretty quick too. I'd be inclined to do some quick checking, try it, and see whether it works. -- John Eells z/OS Technical Marketing IBM Poughkeepsie ee...@us.ibm.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Bookmanager BUILD and z/OS V2.2
As you probably know Bookmanager BUILD isn't supported and delivered with z/OS V2.2 anymore. We've had the idea to transfer the "old" Bookmanager BUILD FMIDs via BUILDMCS into a seperate CSI in the V2.2 environment. Now our question is: Will this work? Of course it's not offically supported, but their are many unsupported old z/OS or even MVS or OS/VS product, which run perfect although in very new environments. Does anybody have any experiences with this approach? Thanks in advance. Regards. Juergen -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
