Looking for something like 'wc -l' for a binary file

[elspethB]

I need to get a line count on binary files. The files are being ftp'd from a mainframe in EBCDIC format to a unix server and are read by an application running on that server. I would like to verify the record count before submitting an overnight process using the file. Since the binary file doesn't contain recognisable EORs, the wc -l command returns 0. Any thoughts on how to obtain a record count? Changing to a non-EBCDIC format is not an option here.

 

[PHV]

Changing to a non-EBCDIC format is not an option here
Even like this ?
dd conv=ascii if=/path/to/ebcdicfile | wc -l

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[p5wizard]

If the records are all the same length, count the characters and divide by record length?

HTH,

p5wizard

 

[elspethB]

That might do it. I wasn't aware of the 'dd' command. Thanks for your quick reply.

 

[marrow]

strings" is a useful command to view binary files.

strings binfile |wc -l

strings binfile| tail or head