On Aug 1, 5:19pm, "Michael S. Johnson" wrote: } Related to this question is how should an FTP client (or even a mere } mortal), when connecting to a VM/CMS server, determine the true file size } (in bytes) of any of the files? } } Scenario: } } 1. open an anonymous FTP connection to BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU } 2. CD to LISTSERV.1AC } 3. DIR } } Output: } } [...] } fn ft f/v rcl nrecs ? last modified date } -------- ------ - -- --- - ------- -------- } NAUSICAA DIGEST V 79 244 2 8/01/99 20:00:47 } [...] } NAUSICAA LOG9908A V 79 266 3 8/01/99 20:00:47 } [...] } } Where: } fn = file name } ft = file type } f/v = fixed/variable record length } rcl = record length } nrecs = number of records } ? = (what is this column?) } } >From this data, how do I come up with the true file size after downloading } (which is 7,943 bytes for NAUSICAA.DIGEST and 10,841 bytes for } NAUSICAA.LOG9908A)? You can't. For VM, the record length is the length of the longest record in the file. This is NOT a ListServ problem, its just an artifact of the VM file system. While you can't find the TRUE file size from the display, You can determine a maximum. The largest that the LOG9908A file could be is: (79*266) + 266 if the destination is a unix or Mac system or (79*266) + (266*2) for a PC. This is the length of the largest record times the number of records, plus the lineends that FTP will add (VM doesn't have lineends in the file). As a guess, the next to last column (the "?" col) is the number of blocks the file uses, but unless you know the size of these blocks its little help. The possible sizes of these blocks is 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096 and VM packs the records into these blocks. Based on the actual sizes you came up with, this VM system is probably using 4k blocks (which is the most commonly used size). This can also give you an approximation of the file size. If "n" is the number of blocks, 4096*n >= filesize >= (4096*(n-1))+1 (again you need to add in an allowance for the lineends.) -- Rich Greenberg Work: Rich.Greenberg atsign worldspan.com +1 770-563-6656 N6LRT Marietta, GA, USA Play: richgr atsign netcom.com +1 770-321-6507 Eastern time zone. I speak for myself & my dogs only. VM'er since CP-67 Canines:Val(Chinook,CGC,TT),Red(Husky,(RIP)),Shasta(Husky,TT) Owner:Chinook-L Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. Adopt a homeless Husky. Asst Owner:Sibernet-L