topic Re: HTML to ASCII Conversion in Operating System - OpenVMS

HTML to ASCII Conversion

James Summerhill — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 06:38:56 GMT

Does anyone know of any conversion utilities that can convert simple HTML files into ASCII equivalents? The HTML files will include some tables. The system is a VAX4000-400 running OpenVMS 7.1.

Many Thanks

James.

Re: HTML to ASCII Conversion

Mobeen_1 — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 06:41:23 GMT

James,
Preview the link below which has a host of freeware for VMS platform and see if you can find what you are looking for

http://vms.process.com/fileserv-software.html

regards
Mobeen

Re: HTML to ASCII Conversion

Joseph Huber_1 — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 08:18:08 GMT

Well, for me HTML files always look like ASCII text :-)

The only programs I know which extract the essential text content of a HTML file (this is probably what is wanted, right ?) are browsers like LYNX, which has a Print command to save the extracted text to a file.

The Netscape/Mozilla browser can do it as well,
using the "save page as" menu entry, and then choose text as output format.

Netscape/Mozilla can also work in "remote command" mode, so it may be possible to script the save_as command somehow ...

Re: HTML to ASCII Conversion

Joseph Huber_1 — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 08:46:08 GMT

A quick search found this page

http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2005/05/26/textonly.html

describing the "lynx -dump -force_html url_or_file "

command. That seems to be a way to go.
In VMS, precede the command by a define/user sys$output textfile, and see what You get in textfile.

Re: HTML to ASCII Conversion

comarow — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 20:13:17 GMT

When they are displayed they are displayed in test mode. Why not cut and paste them into another document.

Now a tool that convert html to plain text would be useful.

Bob

Re: HTML to ASCII Conversion

Joseph Huber_1 — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 07:58:53 GMT

In fact , such a tool has to parse the HTML syntax, and omit any graphic items.
And the lynx browser does it the best way I can imagine. Why reinvent the wheel ?

Re: HTML to ASCII Conversion

Paul Beaudoin — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:05:39 GMT

James,

I acquired an AWK programme some years ago called dehtml. It requires installation of 'GAWK'(FREEWARE). it detags the file back to ascii and if I remember correctly, has some smarts in it for tables and other 'formatted' data. Used it extensively a long time ago and was impressed. If you want a copy (DEHTML.AWK) mail me and I'll zip it up. It is only 10 blocks.

Regards

PAul