Re: Help: Writing PRODOS disks from a MAC? (fwd)

[Toby Reiter <str4552@OBERLIN.EDU>]

On 15 Oct 1996, Randy Shackelford wrote:

> In article <53uatv$j7m@darla.visi.com>, Nathan Mates <nathan@visi.com> wrote:
> >In article <JRD.96Oct14094308@hotsprings>, John Dunning <jrd@hotsprings> wrote:
> >>A bit of digging reveals that the mac seems to have written files with
> >>prodos file-type $00.  My surmise is that it's supposed to be some
> >>code that signifies a text file.
> >
> >   Nah, it's because of the Mac's silly and unnecessary habit of
> >forcing the adding of resource forks to files, either in downloading
> >or copying to ProDOS disks. If the file doesn't have a resource fork,
> >the FAQ lists how to change the filetype; if it does have a resource
> >fork, there are several things you can do on the mac side of things to
> >get binscii unpacked.
> >   [Yes, there are Apple II programs that'll rip off the resource
> >forks.  However, they're stored in binscii and/or shrinkit archives,
> >which you don't have the ability to unpack. Thus, a classic case of a
> >can opener contained in the middle of a tin can...]
There is another way to get around this problem. If you have a mac, 
download Commbin from the mac folder. This is an equivalent of binscii. 
In order to use it, files must be in text format, but text converters are 
easy to come by for the mac. I use it often because it is faster and allows me
 to put more stuff on a disk. You can then download shrinkit GS (GSHK in the
 useful directory, I believe), transfer it to your mac, and unshrink everything
 with that on your gs. Once you have GSHK installed, download GSCii+, 
which can unbinscii anything irregardless of filetype (although it will 
only clearly read files with binsciied material).
> I just had another idea to get around this problem. Suppose we put a disk
> copy image of a 3.5 ProDOS disk which contains binscii and Shrinkit and
> other handy utilities on one of the popular ftp sites. This would convert on
> the Mac and work on a 3.5 equipped II pretty as you please. Maybe even make
> it bootable unless people would bellow if it had system software on it. I 
> doubt anyone could muck up getting software running on their II if they 
> downloaded such a disk.
This is a very smart idea. It might make a huge amount of sense to simply 
have a newbie directory with disk images of basic utilities, 
communication apps and utils, and possibly music or sound tools.

Anyway, just my two grains of salt,
Toby


"Beauty is truth, truth beauty;-that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."-Keats 

Idiot statement of the day: Salary comes from the word salt,
			    Because in Roman times, they used
			    all their money to buy salt.
				----Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego