Date   : Mon, 30 Nov 1987 09:04:45 PST
From   : Bridger Mitchell <bridger%rcc@rand-unix.ARPA>
Subject: Re: PIPing random files

Copying randomly-written sparse CP/M files is considerably more
involved than the sequential read/sequential write operation used
by PIP and nearly every other file copy utility; it is especially
tricky when the source and destination have different logical block
sizes.  When I wrote DATSWEEP for DateStamper I queried the list
about interest in adding that capability; no one expressed interest.
I know know of no general-purpose utility that can do it correctly.

Your best bet is probably to use the database program that created
the sparse file to copy it; I expect that all such programs contain an
internal copy command that will work (e.g. for dbase II, "copy to
<drive>").

--bridger mitchell