Re: Help with a new //gs...(me too!)

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

jdeeley writes ...
>
> ....  I think I wasn't clear enough.
> I'm using a modern Mac (a 7200 Power Mac) to download Apple IIGS files
> (applications in this case). Then I unstuff them on the 7200. Then I   
> format a disk to ProDos. Then I drag the files to the ProDos disk.
> 
> Then I boot my IIGS with a IIGS boot disk.
> Then I put the floppy disk containing the applications into the IIGS.
> 
> Once in the IIGS, I double-click the diskette icon, then in the open   
> window I double-click the application. Then I get the error. It says it 
> isn't an application. But it is.
>

     If the file is supposed to be a GS application, then, it probably 
does not have the correct filetype. GS applications usually have filetype 
$B3. Such a file usually shows up as "GS/OS application" on the GS 
Finder. In a ProDOS-8 CATALOG, this corresponds to an "S16" file.

 
> Today I am going to try again. This time I am using applications that I
> have dragged to ForkOff (the FAQ mentions you may need to remove the
> resource fork a modern mac may have added), plus I am going to try one
> diskette with applications that I have not taken the fork off.
> ....


     There seem to be many concerns about what may happen to files in an 
.SHK file archive during and after unpacking on a Mac. (Evidently, some 
Macs running some utilities under a certain System experience fewer 
problems than others.)

     The easiest, most trouble-free approach is to avoid processing 
Apple2 .SHK files on the Mac or PC. Download the .SHK file (as a 
"binary file") via the Mac or PC, put it on a ProDOS diskette (or 
transfer via NULL modem) and do the un-Shrinking on the GS using 
GS-ShrinkIt.

     Regarding the above 'do everything on the GS' suggestion, it may be 
that a new GS owner could run into a roadblock: GS-ShrinkIt is not yet on 
the GS. This is a relatively minor problem if you have an NDA (like "File 
Manager") or some other utility (like ProSel) which can change filetype 
...

You just download an Apple2 self-extracting archive of GS-ShrinkIt-- like 
GSHK.SEA-- , move it to the GS on diskette (or via NULL modem), change 
the filetype of GSHK.SEA to $B3, and double-click on the file's icon. 
GSHK.SEA will unpack itself leaving you with GS-ShrinkIt and a docs 
files.

Note 1: If GSHK.SEA arrives on the GS with the correct, $B3, filetype, 
there is no need to worry about changing filetype. Often, however, an 
.SHK or .SEA file downloaded from an ftp site via a PC or Mac will end up 
on the GS with the wrong filetype.

Note 2: If a self-extracting version of GS-ShrinkIt is available on one 
of the popular Apple2 ftp sites as GSHK.SEA (or whatever), it is likely 
to be a GS, not a Mac, .SEA file and should be executed on a GS.

Note 3: By the way, a GS-ShrinkIt-created .SEA file can be un-Shrinked 
using GS-ShrinkIt (i.e. it can be treated like an .SHK file). Actually, 
about the only file which _needs_ to be self-extracting is GS-ShrinkIt.


     Suppose, however, that you do not yet have a utility to do filetype 
changing on the GS? Downloading one of the usual filetype changer 
utilities may not be much help because it also ends up on the GS 
with the wrong filetype. No way to change filetype means your GSHK.SEA 
with the wrong filetype cannot be executed, and, once again, you're 
stuck.

     To handle the above possible roadblock, a file called "TCHANGE.BIN" 
has been uploaded to popular A2 sites (ground.isca.uiowa.edu, uni-kle.de, 
and montipora.athenet.net) along with a text info file TCHGINFO.TXT. On 
Ground, the address is /2/apple2/upload/AOL/Utilities/tchange.bin for  
TCHANGE.BIN . (GSHK.SEA is in the same /Utilities folder.)

     You can download TCHANGE.BIN as a binary file, move it the GS, and 
follow directions presented in TCHGINFO.TXT. Basically, if TCHANGE.BIN 
arrives on the GS as a TXT file, you go to BASIC system (or start BASIC 
by booting a ProDOS-8 diskette) and convert TCHANGE.BIN to a binary 
file ...

     BLOAD TCHANGE.BIN, TTXT, A2048

     DELETE TCHANGE.BIN

Then, BSAVE the file:

     BSAVE TCHANGE.BIN, A2048, L15711


     TCHANGE.BIN is now BRUN-able. BRUN TCHANGE.BIN to start the filetype 
changer program.

     Having the type changer program as a plain BASIC file is a bit more 
convenient. When TCHANGE.BIN is running, you can exit the program and 
just SAVE TYPE.CHANGER to have a BASIC type changer program which you can 
RUN to start.

     Of course, once you have GS-ShrinkIt you will not need to be so 
concerned with filetype of .SHK files you move to the GS. GS-ShrinkIt can 
un-Shrink .SHK files whether or not they have the .SHK ($E0) filetype.

 
Rubywand