Abstract
			========

ETAPE is a general-purpose program for handling EBCDIC tapes. It allows
the user to move around at will within the tape, send output to different
files, specify different blocksizes and record lengths for different files
on the tape, and combine multiple tape files into a single output file.
The capability of writing an EBCDIC tape from an ASCII file is also
included.

ETAPE removes all trailing blanks from tape records after reading them.
On output, records will be blank padded and blocked to create fixed length
tape blocks. A switch can be set to turn off the EBCDIC translation and
allow the translation (or writing) of ASCII tapes.


			Installation
			============

There should be the following files on the tape:

	ETAPE.FOR	source program & subroutines
	ETAPE.HLP	help file for the program
	ETAPE.COM	procedure to compile, link and install ETAPE
	IODEF.FTN	parameter file for compilation
	LBRDEF.FTN	parameter file for compilation
	SSDEF.FTN	parameter file for compilation
	ETAPE.EXE	executable version
	README.TXT	this file

After copying the files off the distribution medium, simply @ETAPE to
install the program. Then, type "HELP ETAPE" for further information.
An executable version of the program is also included, in case you
don't have the VAX FORTRAN compiler.


Please direct questions or comments to:

Mike Shefler
CONSAD Research Corp.
121 N. Highland Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA  15206
(412) 363-5500