Re: downloading to Mac

[Toby Reiter <treiter@cs.oberlin.edu>]

On 12 May 1997 pubpc1@library.ucla.edu wrote:

> g7and7@aol.com (G 7and7) wrote:
> >I'm not sure that this is the place to ask this question, but maybe
> >someone can help.  I am currently a sixth grade teacher who is moving to
> >first grade.  In the process of moving, I will lose my Macintosh 5300
> >machines.  Instead, I will have three Apple IIgs machines.  I am wondering
> >if and how I can download files to the Performa I have at home to be used
> >on the Apple IIgs at school.  What programs do I need?  Any replies may be
> >sent g7and7@aol.com.  Please respond quickly, I planning the new year.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Gina
> 
> cc: g7and7@aol.com
> 
> Gina, yes you can download files to your Performa and use them on
> your Apple IIgs machines.  First, you need to make sure you have
> GS/OS System 6.0 or later and 1MB or more of memory installed in
> your IIgs machines.  Next, you need to make sure that you have the
> HFS FST (filesystem translator that lets the GS read Macintosh disks)
> installed on the GS.  You can install the HFS FST by running the
> "Install" disk of the 6 disk set of GS/OS master disks and selecting
> "Customize Install" and then selecting the option to install the
> HFS FST.

If you don't have 1 mb on each IIgs, or want to get more, I would first
check for used ram cards in comp.sys.apple2.marketplace.  There are
usually people selling ram cards of some sort or another--you can get some
for free, perhaps, by offering them as tax-deductions.  On the other hand,
if your school requires you to buy through companies DO NOT use an
educational equipment supplier.  They will charge you between 6x to 10x
the market price.  Go through Alltech Electronics (619-724-2404), Scantron
Quality Computers (ok, so they're kinda an Educational supplier, but
they're less expensive: 800-777-3642), or Sequential Systems
(800-759-4549). You should also really consider getting a hard drive
--these are immensely useful for the IIgs, which has characteristically
larger files and programs than Apple IIs (comparable to a Mac, really).
There are too many issues to place in one post: check out the Apple II FAQ
at http://www.visi.com/~nathan/a2/csa2.html (or specifically to hard
drives http://www.visi.com/~nathan/a2/faq/csa2d.html#scsi).

> The next step is to make sure you have several important GS programs
> that deal with files placed on the net.  The first is GSHK.  This
> program is to the GS like Stuff-It is to the Mac.  It uncompresses
> disk archives.  The second program is GSCII+.  GSCII+ translates
> binary archives to ASCII form and back.  GSCII+ is to the GS like
> BinHex or MIME is to the Mac.

Scott, you didn't tell her how to get these!  Gina, in your case, you
should go to ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/apple2/Mac.  In this directory,
you should find something called ProTYPE.hqx and commbin.binhex.  If you
have Stuffit on your Mac, you should be able to decompress both of these.
ProTYPE is a drag-and-drop utility which does the work of GSCII+ and also
sets filetypes for Apple II files (which is very useful but not essential
for a IIgs). Commbin also works as a GSCII.  It is not as fast or easy to
use as ProTYPE, but can handle files missed by ProTYPE (it is opened by
double-clicking it). Now go to
ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/apple2/useful.stuff and get gshk.bsc . Drag
this over ProTYPE and you should get a file called GSHK. Transfer this on
on an 800k HFS (or if your Mac has PC Exchange, a ProDOS disk) and install
on the IIgs (preferably a hard drive).  Then, download gscii.bxy (from 
ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/apple2/useful.stuff) copy to the GS and run 
this through GSHK to get GSCII+. Put GSCII+ in the Desk.Accs folder in
your SYSTEM folder on your System (Boot) disk. You can know decompress
everything you need for the IIgs on your IIgs. One other download which
you should consider getting is the file shrinkit.bsc, also from
useful.stuff, which can be used to decompress DOS3.3 files onto 5.25" disks
(many games come in this format).

> Once you have the requisite GSsoftware, you can then downloadthe 
> program archives to your Performa.  Copy the dowloaded programs to
> a Macintosh formatted 800K disk.  It must be 800K since, unless your
> GS happens to have a high density floppy drive, the 3.5" drives on
> a GS won't read and write 1.44MB disks.

If you have PC Exchange (System 7.5), you can also use 800k ProDOS disks.
These will appear on you desktop as disks with a ][ in the middle.

> Take the 800K disk from your Mac and stuff it into your GS's drive.
> Run GSCII+ and decode the file.  You will get an archive as an
> output file.  You can uncompress this archive with GSHK to get the
> program files.  That's all there is to it.  To run your new GS
> software just double-click on the program icon from the GS Finder.

Don't forget that with your setup, you can also use ProTYPE or Commbin to
uncompress the files.  This may be faster if you have a speedy Mac.

> If you need to get the software, check out the web site of Shareware
> Solutions II (http://www.crl.com/~joko/).  This is an organization
> created by Joe Kohn.  He carries various disks that can be ordered
> for practically the price of postage and handling.  You can get
> GSHK and GSCII+ from here, as well as the System 6.0.1 six disk set
> containing the GS/OS operating system.  The six disk operating system
> set can also be had from Apple's ftp site in a form that can be
> extracted on a Macintosh, I believe (but I don't remember the URL).

Joe Kohn is a really great guy, but there's no reason you should pay for
software (i.e. System and utilities) which you can get for free from the
Internet. You can get the software from AOL, I'm not sure of the Keyword
(probably Apple). It should be under something like Support Area, or
System Software. If not, it is also available at:
ftp://ftp02.apple.com/Apple.Support.Area/Apple.Software.Updates/US/Apple_II/
(this is a faster host than the normal one) in the directory Apple
IIGS System 6.0.1. You want to download 5 disks (Install, System,
SystemTools 1 and 2, and Fonts each with the suffix ".sea.hqx". You will
need Stuffit to uncompress these, 

> The GS also uses the same ADB keyboards and mice as the Mac and the 
> same modem cables and modems, so the other way to handle things may
> be to just unplug your modem from the Mac and plug it into your GS
> modem port and download the software directly to it.  You'll just
> need a terminal program if you want to do this.  Check out ProTERM
> at http://www.intrec.com/ which is a software that can do VT100
> and Zmodem.  If your GS machines have enough memory, you may also
> want to check out Spectrum at http://www.sevenhills.com/ which
> also doubles as a Netscape-like web browser with the Spectum Internet
> Suite (SIS) addon. You'll want a 14.4 or faster modem if you want to
> try the web browser.

Although it  would be wise, cool, etc. to get a terminal program for the
IIgs, it is definitely NOT necessary. It is stupid! (the exclamation point
is for extra stupidity) to use terminal transfers between a IIgs and Mac,
because AppleTalk is much easier and faster once it is set up.  Setting it
up takes some time, but this would be the way  go for Mac->IIGS transfers
sans disk (800k floppy is still the easiest, if somewhat more tedious,
route). Info at http://www.visi.com/~nathan/a2/faq/csa2g.html#networking
In terms of SIS (see above) that might be a neat idea for introducing kids
to the WWW, although there are no graphics with it. Still easier than
Unix-style internet for a 6 year old, though (Ok, Nathan, we know you did
it then, but you weren't' everybody ;).

One final note:  the best educational software made for the IIgs has to be
Apple II/+/e/c software. What, you say?  Yes, in terms of overall
selection and appropriateness for 6-7 year olds, buying used Apple II
software (or using software you probably already have at your school) is
probably the best way to go. About 99.999% of it is compatible with the
IIgs, requires only one (sometimes 2) 5.25" drives, and does not require
the purchase of any of the somewhat costly (especially on 0 computer
budget) upgrading to use true IIGS software.  In fact, this is definitely
the route I would take for a first grade class. Classics such as
Stickybear, Oregon Trail, other Mecc software are truly age appropriate to
this age group, and would probably represent a substantial savings. Once
again, you can look for old Apple II games/educational software in
comp.sys.apple2.marketplace.  There are a few commercial places which
still sell Apple II educational software, even some for the GS, but I'm
not sure of any titles (other than perhaps Scantron Quality Computers).
Once again, watch out--educational commercial seller will charge you an
arm and a leg.

Gina, if you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to write me or
post them here. Many of these processes may require steps which are
non-obvious or non-intuitive, so if anything goes wrong, its probably not
your fault. :)

Good luck with the 1st graders!

Toby Reiter