ZCOPY.COM Command Bob Flanders 1989 No. 4 (Utilities) Purpose: Transfers files at high speed, via a serial link, between machines that do not share a common disk format. Format: ZCOPY source [target] [/w][/n][/u][/o][/a][/p][/d] Remarks: The two machines must be IBM-compatible and must be connected by a standard "null modem" cable. ZCOPY is executed, with appropriate parameters, on both machines; a 30-second (default) connect timeout is provided. On the sending machine both a source (filename plus any needed drive and path) and a target (COM1 or COM2) must be specified. ZCOPY supports the * and ? DOS filename "wildcards," but it does not permit renaming files during transfer. On the receiving machine the source is COM1 or COM2, and the target, if specified, must be a directory path. (Any needed subdirectories must be created on the receiving machine before using ZCOPY.) The optional /w and /n switches operate before connection is established, and so are entered on the ZCOPY command line of each machine. The /w parameter prolongs the default connection timeout indefinitely; it can be cancelled with Ctrl-Break. The /n parameter sets the highest bit-per-second (bps) rate at which ZCOPY will attempt to transfer data. If used, it must be the same on both machines. The default is /1 (115 kbps). Other acceptable values are /2 through /6 (57.6 kbps, 38.4 kbps, 19.2 kbps, 9600 kbps, and 4800 kbps, respectively). If ZCOPY cannot maintain error-free transfer at a given transfer rate, it automatically steps down to the next lower speed. The other optional parameters may be entered on either machine's ZCOPY command line. The /u (Update) switch permits overwriting same-named files on the receiving machine without operator confirmation if the source file is more recent. The /o (Overwrite) switch suppresses the confirmation prompt for all files. By default, when ZCOPY receives a disk-full signal, before aborting it tries to find a smaller selected source file that will fit on the receiving disk. The /a (Abort on Full) aborts at the first disk-full indication. The /p (Pause) switch creates a pause before the transfer operation begins after the connection between machines has been made, permitting changing a disk. The /d option changes the date of a received file to that of the receiving machine.