As the Internet is primarily still UNIX dominated, DOS users might certainly have noticed longer file names, multiple suffixes and especially the TAR (UNIX Tape ARchive) and Z or gzip formats of archived files.

In addition, text files often may not contain the new line control character.

However, there are three very useful freeware tools available for the DOS environment:

GZIP

Uncompressing gzip files: Often the original file name is something like name.tar.Z, name.tar.gz, or name.tgz. The second suffix (.z or .gz) is removed from the file name through transfer to the DOS (FAT) file system. So you have to rename the file to 'name.tgz'. After enter at the DOS command prompt: 

gzip -dv name.tgz

In most cases the file name is changed to name.tar. So you have to use

TAR

to extract the files from the tape archive. TAR automatically creates subdirectories (if included) and copies all files to them accordingly: 

tar xfv name.tar

CVTANSI

Text files can be converted to ASCII standard with the cvtansi tool.

If you have downloaded a text file named gl960501.txt for example, it may not printable or cannot be properly displayed in a text editor. So, enter at the DOS command prompt: 

cvtansi gl960501.txt gl960501.asc

You can use other filenames or suffixes as well. However the old and the new filename must not be the same as the file would be corrupted, e.g. cvtansi gl960501.txt gl960501.txt damages the file seriously.

Sample DOS session

C:\SUB> dir

M3INFO    TGZ    87760  6.05.96 18:52

C:\SUB> gzip -dv m3info.tgz

m3info.tgz:              78.0% -- replaced with m3info.tar

C:\SUB> tar xfv m3info.tar

tar: info/ : No such file or directory
x info/m3.info, 3320 bytes, 7 tape blocks
x info/m3.info-1, 50085 bytes, 98 tape blocks
x info/m3.info-2, 41909 bytes, 82 tape blocks
tar: texinfo/ : No such file or directory
x texinfo/m3info.texi, 88626 bytes, 174 tape blocks
tar: www/ : No such file or directory
x www/m3_1.html, 1279 bytes, 3 tape blocks
x www/m3_10.html, 1779 bytes, 4 tape blocks
x www/m3_11.html, 1204 bytes, 3 tape blocks
x www/m3_12.html, 1737 bytes, 4 tape blocks

[...]

ANSI to ASCII conversion

The text file gl960501.txt reads something like this in many text editors (please scroll to the right): 
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICEJET PROPULSION LABORATORYCALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYNATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONPASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011                   GALILEO MISSION STATUS                         May 1, 1996     The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in orbit around Jupiter, continuing to collect and transmit information on the magnetic field and dust environment and to prepare for the first Ganymede encounter just eight weeks away.  (...)
Now apply CVTANSI: 
C:\SUB> cvtansi gl960501.txt gl960501.doc

CVTANSI v1.02 - converts ANSI printer control codes to ASCII
printer control characters.

Copyright (c) 1991 by Paul McGinnis - this program may be freely
distributed but may not be sold or altered.
Now the text looks right: 
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011

                  GALILEO MISSION STATUS
                        May 1, 1996

    The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in orbit around
Jupiter, continuing to collect and transmit information on the
magnetic field and dust environment and to prepare for the first
Ganymede encounter just eight weeks away. (...)

back

MPL UNIX TOOLS V 01.02 current as of August 12, 1999
Author: Alexander F. Walz, alexander.f.walz@t-online.de
Original file location: http://www.math.utsa.edu/mirrors/maple/mplendos.htm