Transfer save files located in QSYS.LIB on IBM i

Managed File Transfer supports the transfer of save files located in the QSYS.LIB file system between two IBM i systems. Consider the following information when requesting file transfers of save files.

A save file on IBM i is located in a library on IBM i. A library can be one of the standard libraries that ship with the operating system for example QSYS or QGPL or it can be a library that is created by the user. Save files in the QSYS.LIB file system are identified in two different ways on IBM i. When working with CL commands on an IBM i command line, the naming syntax used is as follows: 
FILE(library name/file name)
For example, a save file called MYSAVF is located in a library called SOMELIB is identified as FILE(SOMELIB/MYSAVF). We can also identify the same save file by specifying a UNIX-like path name that follows the Integrated File System (IFS) naming convention. See Path names in the QSYS.LIB file system for more information. Using the IFS naming convention, MYSAVF in SOMELIB has the following path name: 
/QSYS.LIB/SOMELIB.LIB/MYSAVF.FILE

Managed File Transfer on IBM i recognizes the IFS naming convention but does not support the syntax used by CL commands. The following examples illustrate valid and invalid path names for Managed File Transfer.

Some examples of valid path names for save file transfers are as follows:

  • /QSYS.LIB/SOMELIB.LIB/MYSAVF.FILE (assuming MYSAVF save file is located in the library SOMELIB)
  • /QSYS.LIB/MYSAVF.FILE (assuming MYSAVF is located in the library QSYS)

Some examples of invalid path names for save file transfers are as follows:

  • SOMELIB.LIB/MYSAVF.FILE (Path name must start with /QSYS.LIB)
  • /QSYS.LIB/MYLIB.LIB (Path must end in a save file name, not a library name)
  • /QSYS.LIB/MYLIB.LIB/ (Save file name is required)
  • /QSYS.LIB/SOMELIB.LIB/MYSAVF (Save file name must have a .FILE extension in name)
  • /QSYS.LIB/SOMELIB.LIB/MYSAVF.SAVF (Save file name extension must be .FILE)


Transfer multiple save files from a library in a single transfer request

Managed File Transfer on IBM i supports the transfer of multiple save files from a library as a single transfer request. We can specify an appropriate path name that includes wildcard characters as shown in the following examples:

  • ABCLIB contains many save files. To transfer all these files in a single request, specify the following path name: 
    /QSYS.LIB/ABCLIB.LIB/*.FILE
  • XYZLIB contains several save files whose names differ by a single character, that is: TEST1.FILE, TEST2.FILE. TEST3.FILE, and so on. To transfer all of these files in a single request, specify the following path name: 
    /QSYS.LIB/XYZLIB.LIB/TEST?.FILE

The following types of transfer requests are not supported for transferring multiple save files and result in an error: 

  • /QSYS.LIB/MYLIB.LIB/*.*
  • /QSYS.LIB/MYLIB.LIB/*

Managed File Transfer supports the transfer of save files that are located in the QSYS.LIB file system but the transfer of other types of files that are located in the QSYS.LIB file system is not supported. However, Managed File Transfer provides samples that use the save file support and use predefined fteAnt tasks to demonstrate how a complete library, a source physical file, or database file can be transferred between two IBM i systems. See Getting started using Ant scripts with MFT for details on how to customize and use these samples.

Parent topic: Guidelines for transferring files


Related reference