Re: apple II gs to ms-dos

["Barry Rees" <Barry.Rees@prodigy.net>]

Michael Sean <msean@concentric.net> wrote in article
<32D99934.2E84@concentric.net>...
> Stephen Britton wrote:
> > 
> > How do you transfer text files from the apple II gs to an IBM comptible
> > computer
> 
> 	I use Cross-Works from SoftSpoken, Raleigh, NC. 919 870-5694
> It works like a charm but I've had it for a few years and I don't know
> if they are still in business.
> Mike
> 

Stephen,

I have started using Cross-Works recently. I literally bought the last one
in the warehouse at Scantron Quality Computers. Don't know about Softspoken
either, but Sequential Systems still sells Cross-Works. Comes with an 8 ft
cable with a variety of connectors to accomodate whatever setup you have
and software to run on each machine. Must be run in MS-DOS mode on the IBM
side. Doesn't like Windows or Windows 95 (because of interrupts - screen
saver, etc.). On the Apple side it doesn't like interrupts either, such as
Twilight II, even though it runs under ProDOS 8. It will run with no
problem launched from GS/OS, but only at 9600. 19,200 loses connection. For
full 19,200 transfer I have had to boot direcltly into ProDOS 8 on the
Apple side and drop down into MS-DOS mode on the IBM side. Cross-Works also
is not particularly user friendly IMO. Straight text files are a piece of
cake to transfer, but you cannot transfer AppleWorks v4 or v5 data bases
files directly. You must first print them as text files and then send them
over. The AW file transfer routines were never updated beyond AW v3.0
formats. Word processing files are no problem and spread sheets that do not
have any new v4 or v5 features are ok to transfer with conversion to any
one of several popular MS-DOS program formats with formulas intact.

Also, I did a test with a graphic transfer and was able to send over a GIF
of the Mark Twain version of the never released cover of The Apple II Guide
(1992). So, its not just AppleWorks and text files that can be sent over
with Cross-Works. 

Of course, this is my experience with it. As always, your mileage may vary.

Best of luck,

Barry Rees
Barry.Rees@prodigy.net