[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Apple II FAQs File Utilities
The comp.sys.apple2 Usenet newsgroup Apple II FAQs originate from
the Ground Apple II archive, 1997-1999. Administrator: Steve Nelson
Csa2 FAQs-on-Ground ref: Csa2FLUTILS.txt rev016 6/27/1999
File Utilities
001- What are "binscii" files and how are they used?
002- What are .SHK files and how do I use them?
003- How do I get ShrinkIt or GS-ShrinkIt going on my Apple II?
004- How do I deal with the $00 type Apple II files I get on my Mac?
005- Can I create .ZIP files on my Apple II?
006- What are DSK, 2MG, ... disk image files and how do I use them?
007- Where can I get ShrinkIt, binscii, DSK2FILE, ASIMOV, etc.?
008- I have downloaded files in "gz" format? How do I use them?
009- Which programs can change ProDOS filetype?
010- What is Copy II Plus and where can I get it?
011- How do I use Copy II Plus to create and convert IMG files?
From: Rubywand
001- What are "binscii" files and how are they used?
The term "binscii" comes from combining "binary" with "ASCII". A
file in binscii form has been changed so that it can be transmitted as
text to/from net servers and services which do not handle pure binary
transfers.
Today, practically all servers can handle pure binary transfers; so,
binscii is no longer in popular use. However, quite a few old A2 files are
still in binscii form and binscii is used for files uploaded to
comp.binaries.apple2.
To convert binscii'd files to their un-biniscii'd form, you can use a
program named "BINSCII" or, on a GS, the New Desk Accessory named "GScii".
These programs can, also, create binscii files.
Note: Binscii is in no way related to Binary II. Binscii changes the
entire file into Text. Binary II is just a small block of bytes tacked
onto the front of a file, mainly to identify the file's filetype.
----------------------------
002- What are ShrinkIt (.SHK) files and how do I use them?
ShrinkIt files are the Apple II world's answer to .ZIP files in
PC-ville. An .SHK file is a file which contains one or more files which
are almost always in compressed form. Usually, they are produced by
GS-ShrinkIt (also called "GSHK" or "ShrinkIt-GS") or, on 8-bit Apple II's,
by ShrinkIt. Some .SHK files are produced by Macs; these may not always be
compatible with A2 ShrinkIt programs.
An .SHK file can be unpacked by ShrinkIt even if it shows up on the
Apple II with a TXT or BIN filetype. If an .SHK file has a Binary II
header, ShrinkIt will automatically remove it and assign the correct
filetype. (Of course, this will usually be SHK.)
Other kinds of ShrinkIt files include .SEA and .SDK. An Apple II
.SEA file is a IIgs executable self-extracting archive-- i.e. you can
click it on the GS Finder and it will unShrink. There are also Mac .SEA
files and these are not GS-compatible.
A ShrinkIt disk archive is usually labeled ".SDK" to show that it is
a Shrinked diskette. A disk archive retains all data bytes on a diskette,
including files, Catalog/Directory sectors, empty tracks, and DOS if
present. An .SDK file can archive a 3.5" diskette (both sides) or 5.25"
diskette (one side). Most are archives of 5.25" DOS 3.3 diskettes produced
by 8-bit ShrinkIt.
8-bit/IIe ShrinkIt can be used to fully unshrink any .SHK file
_except_ .SHK files which contain files with GS/OS resource forks and .SEA
files. For this reason, 8-bit ShrinkIt should not be used to unshrink .SHK
files containing GS programs unless you know none of the contained files
has a resource fork.
GS-ShrinkIt can handle nearly all kinds of .SHK and .SDK files. It
will not handle shrinked 5.25" DOS 3.3 .SDK files created by 8-bit
ShrinkIt. For this reason most users automatically use 8-bit ShrinkIt to
handle .SDK files of old 5.25" wares.
Naturally, you can use the 8-bit and GS-ShrinkIt programs to create
.SHK files. For 64K Apple II users, the functions are separated. SHRINK
creates .SHK files and UNSHRINK unshrinks them.
The unshrinking process is very speedy and the size of a compressed
ShrinkIt file is, often, around half that of the original files it
contains. This makes .SHK files very handy for archiving your software.
And, since a ShrinkIt file also preserves filetype information of
contained files, ShrinkIt has become the preferred format for uploading
and storing Apple II files on the internet.
----------------------------
003- How do I get ShrinkIt or GS-ShrinkIt going on my Apple II?
Getting GS-ShrinkIt
If you do not already have Balloon or an earlier version of
GS-ShrinkIt, the easiest way is to get GS-ShrinkIt going is to download
the self-extracting (.SEA) version and execute it on your IIgs. Since the
file will, most likely, arrive as a Text type file, you will need to
change the file's filetype to $B3 (S16) before it can be executed.
Several utilities can change ProDOS filetype. If you do not have one,
you can download tchange.bin and follow the directions* in
tchange_info.txt to get it going on your Apple II.
You can find GS-ShrinkIt in an .SEA file (e.g. gshk.sea) and
tchange.bin on several archive sites. One is Ground at
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/useful.stuff/.
If you already have a utility to un-binscii files, you can just
download a binscii-ed (.bsc) version of GS-ShrinkIt from Ground at the
above URL.
Getting SHRINK and UNSHRINK (for 64k Apples)
SHRINK and UNSHRINK permit 64k Apple II users to work with .SHK
files. These files are usually maintained in non-shrinked form. You can
find them at
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/SHRINKITandGSHK/.
To get these utilities going on your Apple II, download SHRINK,
UNSHRINK, and SHRINK2PLUS.TXT. Once the files are transferred to your
Apple II, follow the directions* in SHRINK2PLUS.TXT.
Getting 8-bit ShrinkIt
If you already have some version of ShrinkIt or GS-ShrinkIt, a quick
way to get 8-bit ShrinkIt v3.4 going is to download ShrinkIt34.shk. Once
it is on your Apple II, you can unshrink it.
If you do not already have some version of ShrinkIt or GS-ShrinkIt, a
fairly easy approach is to transfer ShrinkIt34.shk and Shk34Docs.shk along
with UNSHRINK and the SHRINK2PLUS.TXT directions. Follow the directions*
in SHRINK2PLUS.TXT to get UNSHRINK going and unshrink ShrinkIt34.shk.
ShrinkIt34.shk includes two files. One is a small start file which
may be named named "Shrinkit.System", "ShrinkitST.sys", or something
similar. The other is the main program file which must be named
"Shrinkit".
You can find all of this stuff on Apple Cabi.net:
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/SHRINKITandGSHK/ .
If you already have a utility to un-binscii files, you can just
download a binscii-ed (.bsc) version of ShrinkIt v3.4 from Ground at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/useful.stuff/ .
*Note: If you download an Apple II file to a PC and transfer to a Mac and
get filetype $00 ("Unknown"), the process described in the directions
will not work when the $00 file is moved to your Apple II. One solution is
a Mac utility to set filetype to $04 (TXT). See ProTYPE info below.
----------------------------
From: Beverly Cadieux
The easiest way to get the current version of 8-bit ShrinkIt going is
via the self-extracting archive, SHRINK.EXE.
Download the file, (transfer to your Apple II if necessary, ) and get into
AppleSoft BASIC (run BASIC.SYSTEM and get to the AppleSoft "]" prompt).
Be sure to set the ProDOS PREFIX to the location of SHRINK.EXE on your
Apple II. For example, if it is in the main directory of volume HD1, you
would enter
PREFIX /HD1
Now, enter -SHRINK.EXE (that's a dash, then the file name):
-SHRINK.EXE
Shrinkit will self-extract, along with a documentation file.
You can find SHRINK.EXE on the Texas II Appleworks site at
http://members.aol.com/A2MG/dl.html .
____________________________
From: Randy Shackelford
004- How do I deal with the $00 type Apple II files I get on my Mac?
Some II users like to download Apple II files to a PC and transfer
them to a Mac for eventual transfer to Apple II ProDOS diskettes.
Unfortuantely, under most circumstances, PC Exchange writes files onto
ProDOS disks as extended typeless ($00) files which are difficult to work
with on the Apple II.
What you need is to get hold of a Mac application named "ProTYPE".
You drag 'n drop the files on ProTYPE, then copy 'em to the floppy. The
files will work then.
You can find ProTYPE on Ground at
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Mac/ .
____________________________
From: Rubywand
005- Can I create .ZIP files on my Apple II?
The GS can unZIP .ZIP files via PMPunZip; but, at present, there is
no Apple II utility for creating modern .ZIP files.
----------------------------
006- What are DSK, PO, DO, NIB and 2MG "disk image" files and
how do I use them?
A "disk image" is a file containing every data byte on a diskette--
i.e. Catalog tracks, files, DOS (if present) etc.. Apple II emulators
running on a PC, Mac, etc. treat disk image files like diskettes. Disk
image files are also a handy way to archive Apple II disks on hard disk
and to maintain wares on ftp and other download sites.
There are several disk image formats. DSK (.dsk) files are disk image
files used by popular Apple II emulators like AppleWin to run A2 wares on
the PC or Mac. Usually, they are images of Apple 5.25" game, utility, etc.
diskettes. A standard 5.25" DSK file is 143,360 bytes in length:
1 side x 35 Tracks/side x 16 Sectors/Trk x 256 Bytes/Sec = 143,360 Bytes.
DSK files of 800k 3.5" disks are much less common.
On Ftp sites, DSK files are usually in a ZIPped form to conserve
space. For example, on the Asimov site, narfgames.dsk.gz is a DSK file of
the narfgames disk which has been g-zip compressed. On a PC, WinZIP will
unZIP g-zipped DSK files into uncompressed form.
On an Apple II, a DSK file can be converted to actual diskette form
using DSK2FILE or (GS-only) ASIMOV. Most 5.25" DSK (.DSK and .DO) files
are of a DOS 3.3 or some related DOS disk. The target diskette should be
formatted for DOS 3.3. (or, it can be INITed) and you should use the
default DSK2FILE or ASIMOV "DOS 3.3 Order" setting. If a disk image file
has a .PO suffix, use a diskette formatted for ProDOS and the DSK2FILE or
ASIMOV "ProDOS Order" setting.
Here is a quickie step-by-step guide for getting a 5.25" DSK disk
image file into useable form:
1. Download the file in binary mode from an ftp archive site via ftp://
...
2. If file length is not 143,360, use WinZIP or equivalent to unZip it.
3. Transfer the DSK file to your GS via Mac diskette or a NULL modem
transfer. One way or another, the file needs to end up on a ProDOS
diskette or ProDOS hard disk volume on the GS.
4. If you are using DSK2FILE, jot down the complete path name of the DSK
file (e.g. /RAM5/NARFGAMES.DSK ) because DSK2FILE will ask you to type it
in.
5. Insert the formatted 5.25" target diskette into Drive 1 (Slot 6). This
diskette needs to be 16-sector formatted. Plain DOS 3.3 formatting with
the default Volume number is, generally, best and easiest. (You can boot a
DOS 3.3 or Prontodos disk and do an INIT HELLO to format a 5.25"
diskette.)
6. Start DSK2FILE or ASIMOV. Normally, you will accept the defaults
(5.25", DOS 3.3 order). If you know the DSK is a ProDOS image in ProDOS
order-- like the file name ends with ".PO", select "ProDOS Order". (ProDOS
disk images are, fairly often, in DOS order to make them more universally
transferable.)
7. Select the "Image file ---> Diskette" option, follow prompts, and you
should end up with a good diskette. (If everything seemed to go well but
the disk does not work, try repeating the process using the other "Order"
option.)
DSK2FILE and ASIMOV can, also, create DSK files from game, etc.
diskettes so long as the diskette is not copy protected.
Note: DOS 3.3 products which depend upon Volume numbering to identify
diskettes will normally not work in disk image form on an Apple II
emulator because Volume number information is embedded in non-data parts
of a disk and is not included in a standard .dsk disk image file.
Some copy protected diskettes can be converted to another kind of
disk image called "NIB" using Saltine's Super Transcopy. SST incorporates
Copy II Plus routines to attempt to produce a nibblized disk image of a
5.25" diskette. If successful, you have .nib file which can be used like a
diskette on some popular Apple II emulators. The standard length of a .nib
file is 232,960 bytes.
Today, more and more IIgs software is being converted to 2MG disk
image format used on XGS IIgs emulators. You can use DSK2FILE v5.5 to
convert .2mg files back to diskette form as well as for creating .2mg
files from 800k diskettes.
----------------------------
007- Where can I get ShrinkIt, Shrink (64k), Unshrink (64k),
GS-ShrinkIt, binscii, GScii, BISCIT, TCHANGE, DSK2FILE, ASIMOV,
PMPunZip, FileManager, 2qwk!, GZPK, Copy II Plus, and ProTYPE?
You can download
ShrinkIt v3.4 or later ("8-bit ShrinkIt") at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/useful.stuff/ as binscii file
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/SHRINKITandGSHK/
http://members.aol.com/A2MG/dl.html as self-extracting archive
Shrink (v2.1) for 64k Apple II's at ...
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/SHRINKITandGSHK/
Unshrink (v2.1) for 64k Apple II's at ...
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/SHRINKITandGSHK/
GS-ShrinkIt ("ShrinkIt-GS", "GSHK") at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/useful.stuff/ as binscii & .SEA
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/SHRINKITandGSHK/
GScii NDA at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/apple16/System/Ndas/
BISCIT ("BSC-It") at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/useful.stuff/
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/
TCHANGE at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/useful.stuff/
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/
DSK2FILE (for a 128k //e or later Apple II recommend version 4.3 for
5.25" .dsk files and version 5.5 for 3.5" .dsk files;
for 64k Apple II's, recommend version 3 or earlier.) at ...
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/DSK2FILE/ v3, v4.3, v5.5
http://net-24-42.dhcp.mcw.edu/dsk2file.html v5.5 and v3
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Emulators/ v5.0
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/apple8/Utils/ v2.1
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/utility/ early version
as EXEC-able Text file
ASIMOV at ...
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/images/utility/disk_utils/
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Emulators/
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/
PMPunZip at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/apple16/Com/Utils/
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/
FileManager NDA at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/apple16/System/Ndas/
2qwk! at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/apple8/Com/
GZPK at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/apple8/Com/
Copy II Plus (various versions) at ...
ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/ as ShrinkIt .sdk files
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/images/utility/disk_utils/
as ShrinkIt & disk images
ProTYPE for Macs at ...
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Mac/
----------------------------
008- I have downloaded a bunch of files for the Apple II
lately that are in a format called GZ. I understand it
is some variation of Zip but I don't have a translator for
it on my GS. Does anyone know where I can find one?
Files downloaded from Asimov, mod files, and some others are, often,
in GZ "g-zipped" format and usually have the .gz file name extension (like
narfgame.dsk.gz). If you download the files to a PC, you can use the
Windows version of PKZip (WinZIP) to unzip the file.
Usually, once unzipped, an Asimov GZ image file will end up as a 143k
DSK file. The file may be moved to your Apple via NULL modem and converted
to Apple-readable diskette form using DSK2FILE or (GS-only) ASIMOV.
If you download a GZ file directly to your Apple you can use a
program named "GZPK" v2 to convert it from gzip form to a zip format which
can be unzipped via PMPUnzip 2.0 or Angel. A GZ file from the Asimov site
should end up as a DSK file.
____________________________
From: Slick
009- Which programs can change ProDOS filetype?
I prefer More Info or Disk Witch, myself. I'll go through a list of
stuff on my hard drive to manipulate filetypes:
DAs:
Alter (NDA)
Conchshell (CDA)
Disk Witch (CDA)
File Manager (NDA)
File Info2 (NDA)
File Info Edit (NDA)
Super Info II (NDA)
Utilities CDA (CDA), not very good
Finder Extras:
More Info
GS/OS Applications
Instant Access
File Passage
ProDOS 8
FAZ II (File Attribute Zap II)
----------------------------
From: Boris Guenter
File-A-Trix by Karl Bunker should do the job. Best of all, the latest (and
last) version 1.1.1 of this program is freeware.
Since I had a few troubles with the latest version, I have made both
version 1.1 and 1.1.1 available in the gs/utils/files folder on
ftp.uni-kl.de
Try them both and find out which version works best for you.
----------------------------
From: Tony Ward
I also prefer File-A-Trix. It performs a wide variety of functions
including copy, move, delete, rename, catalog, make new folder, set file
attributes (lock, unlock, filetype, auxtype), find file, format (floppy
only), view text, Teach and AWP files. Best of all, it's a CDA that works
from GS/OS and ProDOS 8, although there are some restrictions under P8
(ie. no HFS disk access, no viewing forked Teach files, etc.)
----------------------------
From: Gareth Jones
I use either File-A-Trix, Change-A-File 4.20, or Deliverance (part of the
Salvation Utilities).
----------------------------
From: Rubywand
Some programs which can be used to change filetype are ...
Jeff Hartkoph's File Manager- a GS NDA which lets you change Type,
Auxtype, Date, and Access attributes. It is handy for modifying several
files in quick succession.
Paul Parkhurst's PMPunZip- a GS application which includes an option for
changing Type, Auxtype, and Access attributes. (In the File menu click on
Modify File Attributes.)
Glen Bredon's ProSel (ProDOS 8 utilities)
Roger Wagner's Filetype Changer- a vintage BASIC utility which lets you
change just the Type. A BRUN-able .BIN version is on Ground. (This is good
enough for getting the GS-ShrinkIt .SEA file's filetype set correctly so
that it can self-extract.)
----------------------------
From: Beverly Cadieux
And a biggie - AppleWorks v5.1-> File Activities, Change File Type.
____________________________
From: Rubywand
010- What is Copy II Plus and where can I get it?
Copy II Plus is the best general purpose utility for copying disks
and managing files on DOS 3.3 and ProDOS diskettes. Good versions which
handle both DOS 3.3 and ProDOS files are 7.x - 8.x.
Note: Versions 9.x run only on a IIgs and have a few notable bugs. Version
9.0's Catalog Sort option can mess up your directory. Neither version 9.0
nor 9.1 works correctly with the /RAM5 RAM disk. The best added feature
of Version 9.x is being able to compare files.
No version of Copy II Plus will copy files which include a resource
part, usually called a "resource fork". In some cases the copy may seem to
be successful; but, it will be a mess. Only some, relatively new, IIgs
files include a resource fork. No DOS 3.3 files or files intended for
access under ProDOS 8 have resource forks.
The most versatile releases of the utility are, probably, Versions
7.1 and 7.2. They include the capability for creating disk images. The
images are not compatible with popular emulators; but, they are a handy
way to archive DOS 3.3 disks on a hard disk.
You can download Copy II Plus in a ShrinkIt shrinked disk (.sdk) file
from the Apple Cabi.net archive at ftp://209.180.253.179/cabi/Utilities/.
Asimov maintains more versions of Copy II Plus. Mostly, these are in
Zipped disk image (.dsk.gz) form at
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/images/utility/disk_utils/. On a
PC, use WinZip to get a pure .dsk file. To use the .dsk file on an Apple
II, transfer it and use DSK2FILE to convert the .dsk file to a diskette.
____________________________
From: tturner, Rubywand, Greg Buchner, Labelas Enoreth
011- How do I use Copy II Plus to create and convert IMG files?
First, to the best of my knowledge, IMG type disk image files are
created only by Copy II Plus versions 6.x and 7.x. The feature was gone by
version 8, for sure.
To create an IMG file you COPY--> DISK to an over-size target volume.
Versions 6 and 7 will create a type "IMG" file instead of complaining
about a "size mismatch" (which is what other versions of Copy II Plus do).
It is fairly common to end the name of the new IMG file with ".img".
Doing the opposite lets you convert an IMG file back to diskette.
That is, you select the COPY --> DISK option and pick the large volume
with the IMG file as Source and a blank unformatted 5.25" diskette in the
Slot 6, Drive 1 drive as Destination. You pick an IMG file on the Source
volume and it is transferred to the diskette.
By the way, IMG files are not compatible with DSK2FILE or ASIMOV and
will not work on emulators such as AppleWin. Also, not all files ending
with ".img" are Copy II Plus disk image files. I have seen ".img" (and
".image") used for DiskCopy disk image files.