Re: Need to get data from Franklin ACE 1000 PC

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Chinh Do writes ...
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I need to get an old mailing list (The General Manager from Sierra Online)
> from a Franklin ACE 1000 PC computer. The PC is supposed to be Apple I
> compatible. I can save the files to a 5.25" diskette. I need to get the data
> into a PC...

 ....

     By "Apple I", you probably mean to refer to an Apple II. The
Franklin ACE 1000 is very Apple II compatible.

     One way to transfer files from Apple II to PC is using a package
from Sequential Systems named "CrossWorks" which  lets you transfer
Appleworks, Word Perfect, text, and other ProDOS files to a PC and
transform them to a variety of PC formats including those which fit a
variety of PC word processors.

     CrossWorks includes Apple & PC software plus an 8' cable which
connects your IIe, IIc, IIc+, or IIGS to a PC. I do not know if
CrossWorks includes special support for The General Manager (which may
be required if you want to transfer data base files and use them with a
PC data base program). Sequential is at http://www.sequential.com .
Their number is 800-759-4549.


     Another fairly easy way to transfer files to a PC is using a NULL
modem connection. In this case, probably, you will need to save the
files you want to transfer in Text file form first. 

     NULL modem is a direct machine-to-machine transfer between serial
ports with a NULL modem connector joining modem cables from each
computer.

     You will need a NULL modem connector and each computer needs a
modem cable and telecom program.  A IIe or II+ will also need a serial
card.

  ____________                                        ____________ 
 |  PC or Mac |                                      |  Apple II  |
 |  running a |                                      |  running a |
 |  telecom   | <--modem--> [NULL modem] <--modem--> |  telecom   |
 |  program   |    cable    [connector ]    cable    |  program   |
 |____________|                                      |____________|


    "NULL modem" means "no modem". A NULL modem connector is just a pair
of connectors wired 'back to back' with a few lines switched so that
each computer views the other pretty much as though it were a modem.
NULL modem connectors can be found at Radio Shack for a few dollars or
you can make your own. 

     On the Apple II side, you can choose from several good telecom
programs. Since you would like to be able to do z-modem transfers, good
choices include Intrec's ProTerm-A2 3.1 (Enhanced IIe -- IIgs), MGR
Software's Modem MGR (II+ -- IIgs), AnsiTerm (IIgs), and Spectrum
(IIgs).  You can also choose from many freeware and shareware programs.
Generally, these support x-modem but do not support z-modem. 

     If you're running under a current version of Windows, HyperTerm
works very nicely on the PC side. (For sending Text files from PC to
Apple under HT, be sure to uncheck "send line enders" in the ASCII
settings.)  If there is a choice of terminal emulations, it seems best
to stick with something simple, such as "TTY". A good NULL modemming
program for running under DOS is Telemate, commonly available as
shareware. Many other telecom programs are available and work fine under
current Windows, old Windows, and DOS. Similarly, there is a good
selection of Mac telecom wares.  

     To do transfers, you just connect the modem cable from each machine
to the NULL modem connector. If your PC or Mac has a spare COM port, the
connection can remain in place without disrupting normal net connections
through the other COM port. For a GS, the modem  cable should be a "high
speed" type which allows hardware handshaking and this option should be
set in the GS telecom software. The same is true for other Apple II's
running at 9600 baud or above.

     Set the same format (8-N-1) and baud rate on each telecom program.
(The format will, almost always, already be set to 8 bits-No parity-1
Stop bit.)  A good first-try speed setting is 9600 baud. If errors
indicate this is too fast for either machine, you can move down to 2400
baud. An accelerated GS running Spectrum can connect with modern PC's
running HyperTerm at 56k baud or better.

Note: Spectrum (and most other newer Apple II telecom programs) do not
require that you modify Control Panel settings for speed and
handshaking. Since Spectrum directly accesses the GS serial port, speed,
etc. settings are done in the program. (By the way, this frees-up Slot 2
-- the GS modem firmware Slot-- for any peripheral card which needs to
have its Slot set to "Your Card" in the Control Panel.)

     Place each program in terminal mode-- often, this is the default
mode. Or, the particular telecom program may have menu items or buttons
you select for specific kinds of transfers.

     Next, you will usually select the function (send or receive) on
each machine and the protocol. The protocol should be the same on both
machines. Z-modem is the best choice for most single or multiple file
transfers. Text files can be an exception (see the next question). A
plain ASCII transfer will circumvent most problems but is slower; and,
you may need to send and receive/capture files one-by-one instead of in
batches.

     Finally, you will select the file or files to send or "Open".

     Usually, it is best to start Receive on the target machine before
starting Send on the source machine. If you find that one telecom
program or the other does not give you enough time to start Send-- i.e.
it keeps "timing out"-- change the program's "Time Out",  "Inactivity
Delay", etc. setting.


Note: Some telecom programs may expect an end-of-send signal which the
sending program does not supply.  Pressing CTRL-X or RETURN on the Apple
II or ESC on the PC often seems to work okay for terminating the Send.
 
Note: (from Jeff Blakeney) You don't need to manually tell Spectrum or
other modern telecom programs to receive a file each time you do a
Z-modem transfer. Just make sure that you have Auto Receives turned ON.
In Spectrum the setting is in the Settings/File Transfer/Receive
Options... dialog.


     If the files you want to send to the PC are Text files, you can use
Z-modem or some other block transfer protocol if you have a PC utility
which can convert Apple II text to text PC's like. For example, one way
to send several Text files is to put them in a .SHK file, z-modem them
to the PC, and use Nulib (v3.24) to unshrink the files in PC Text
format.

     Otherwise, you are probably better off doing a Text transfer. Set
your A2 telecom program to "send LF's". If there is a "Prompting" option
it should be OFF. Do an "ASCII Text", "Plain Text", etc. Send. The PC
telecom program should be set to Receive Text if this option is
available. If it is not, you will be able to select and save the text
from the PC program's display or save the text from some capture buffer.

Note: Some programs with a "Receive Text" option may expect some
end-of-send signal which the sending program does not supply.  Pressing
CTRL-X on the Apple II or ESC on the PC often seems to work okay for
terminating the Send. For example, Telemate will ask if you wish to
abort the transfer-- you answer "Y"es-- but, the file will still be
saved on the PC.


Rubywand