Re: PC Downloads of Apple Files

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Steve Sanders writes ...
> 
> Okay, I know this has been discussed, but I can't find my archives
 ....
> 
> I currently use Netscape Communicator on a PC to surf the web, and
> download files from various ftp and http sites. These files were saved
> on the PC hard drive, and in the old days I used to modem between the
> Apple IIgs and PC to transfer files.

     Which is a pretty good way to go. You can get up to 57.6k baud.


> 
> People talked about using MUG and Zip disks to transfer the files,

     I know; but, it's a pain if you don't have a Zip drive on both computers.


> so I
> bought a scsii Zip, and things started looking up for me. If I could get
> MUG to the Apple, then I could read and write msdos Zip disks on the
> Apple. Great I thought.
> 
> I downloaded MUG, then recently read about a PC program called MacOpener
> by DataViz that allowed creation of Mac HFS formatted disks on the PC
> that could be read on the Apple. And you know what, the program works
> like a charm. I can now read and write HFS formatted disks on both the
> Apple and PC.

     That really is pretty neat! On the other hand, MacOpener is $59.95 (ref:
http://www.dataviz.com/ ).  Obviously, DataViz pricing is set for Mac/PC
business types-- wonder if they also sell super-certified 3.5" diskettes at
$4.95 each?


> 
> Copied MUG to the zip disk, took it to the IIgs and tried unshrinking it
> using GS Shrinkit. First problem was when GS Shrinkit didn't recognize
> the file as an archived file.

     If it is an archive file and not recognized (due to having a wrong
filetype and name not ending with .shk), you can click on "Show all files" to
have a chance to unshrink the file.


> 
> Sooo, went back to the PC. Downloaded the file using Netscape and Shift
> Click to choose the location as the HFS formatted disk, and the download
> proceeded smoothly. Unfortunately, GS Shrinkit reported a corrupted file
> and wouldn't continue.

     Maybe you should download to your PC (MS-DOS) hard disk and, then, if it
looks like a good download, copy the file to your HFS diskette.


> 
> Remembered someone discussing Uncook. Tried that program, still no dice.
> 
> What am I missing here?? Should I just try using the modem to transfer
> and see what happens? Any advice is appreciated.
 ....

     First, download to an MS-DOS disk. This will avoid any ambiguity about
whether the software involved screws up when downloading to an HFS diskette or
whether UnCook has problems dealing with stuff on an HFS diskette.

     If you are downloading from an http site and the MUG file name has an
unrecognized suffix (like .shk), you are fairly likely to get Textmode
corruption-- i.e. the file will be treated as a Text file and characters will
probably be added. If you know the exact length of the file on the archive
site, you can check the download by checking that its length is identical.

     If you think you may have gotten a corrupted download, use UnCook. It
usually works fine. (For UnCook info, Click on "Download Help" at
http://www.grin.net/~cturley/gsezine/GS.WorldView/v2000/Feb/index.html .)

     Transfer the file to the HFS diskette and unshrink it on your IIgs. (You
may need to tell GS-ShrinkIt to 'Show All Files' to have the MUG file show
up.)



Rubywand