One of the fundamental uses of a metafile is that it can be stored in a device independent manner and transferred to other hosts and other sites where it can be subsequently interpreted. Metafiles at CERN are normal text files written in 80 character records, which makes transfers between host computers straightforward. However, it should be mentioned that for transfers from VAX/VMS to VM/CMS using NFT, the qualifier '/CR' is essential if the file has not been opened using the parameter CARRIAGECONTROL='LIST'. The REXX exec below gives an example of an appropriate metafile transfer using interlink:
/* Interlink metafile transfer */ 'exec nft receive vxcern::disk$gg:[userid]gts.met gts metafile a/cr'