The format of TEXT files downloaded from a mainframe can vary depending on how the information was being used and the method used for exporting it.
A popular format is what A/S calls variable length columnar, where spaces are used to align data in columns when a monospaced font is used. The Variable -> Tab Delimited and Variable String Insertions processes are commonly used to convert these files, but other processes may be useful for some files.
Like TEXT files from DOS-based machines, files from mainframes can contain a CRLF sequence at the end of each line. These LFs should be removed.
Macintosh TEXT files that will be sent to a mainframe will likely need to be adjusted. The changes vary depending on the mainframe software being used. In many cases, the conversion is very similar to what needs to be done when the file is going to be used on a DOS-based machine.
Uncurl quotes and apostrophes should be chosen for files that are going to be used on a mainframe.
Depending of the contents of the TEXT file, it may need more extensive character remapping. See the Character Mapping section for more.
