Sequential files and simulated partitioned data set members in text format (FILEDATA=TEXT) can be created and maintained using any workstation-based ASCII text editor. They may also be downloaded from mainframe data sets in text format.
Sequential files and simulated partitioned data set members in fixed-length record format (FILEDATA=RECORD and RECFM=F, FS, FB or FBS) may also be easily downloaded from mainframe data sets using binary format. However, files in undefined or variable-length record format (RECFM=U, V, VB, VS or VBS) cannot be directly downloaded from mainframe data sets because the record length information required by the Tachyon Operating System is not preserved by most file transfer programs.
The best way to download record-format (and even text format) mainframe data sets is to first export them using TSO TRANSMIT. The TSO TRANSMIT command creates a copy of the source data set in an easily transportable format. The copy can then be downloaded to your workstation and its contents can be extracted using Tachyon Un-Xmit, which is one of the utilities included in the Tachyon File Tools product. Tachyon Un-Xmit can extract sequential data sets and partitioned data set members in a wide variety of formats, including ASCII text and the FILEDATA=RECORD formats used by the Tachyon Operating System.