Re: Apple GS --> Mac - Is it possible?

[wyanttr@spoc.dnet.dupont.com (Tom Wyant)]

> rob@pluto.njcc.com (Robin Normart) wrote:

> I have some files on a Apple GS 5 1/4 disk that I need to
> transfer to a Mac 3 1/2. Is this possible?

Is it possible? Yes. Is it useful? Depends on what they are.

The current (and ultimate) version of GS/OS, 6.0.1, is able 
to both read and write Mac diskettes. The trick is diskette 
density. If you have a "plain vanilla" IIgs, the 3.5" drive 
is an 800k drive. If you stick a 1.44 meg floppy in it, it 
will merrily format it to 800k (your choice of ProDos (the 
Apple II format) or HFS (the Mac format)) and put the data on 
it. Most Macs will read 800k floppies. But most Macs will 
first look at that extra hole in the diskette case, decide 
that it's supposed to read the diskette at high density, and 
fail. So what you do is to take your high density diskette 
with the double density data on it, and stick a write protect 
tab from the 5 1/4" diskette over the extra hole. Now the Mac 
will read it.

If your 5 1/4" diskette is DOS 3.3, you're probably still OK. 
The GS/OS finder will read DOS 3.3 disks, it just won't write 
them.

As for usefulness: if your files are text, you're OK. If not, 
you're going to have to work at it:

* Appleworks WP goes to ClarisWorks no problem
* Appleworks DB requires ClarisWorks 4.0v4 (patch on web)
* Appleworks SS converts only values, and those not reliably
* Apple Preferred graphics can be converted
* I haven't figured out what to do with the Music Studio 
stuff yet
* Programs? In general, forget it.

Tom Wyant                     The opinions expressed in this
wyanttr@spoc.dnet.dupont.com  document are those of the 
twyant@freenet.vcu.edu        author.