Re: SHRINKIT woes

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <4c1qng$7oj@news.ysu.edu>,
Adalbert Goertz <be404@yfn.ysu.edu> wrote:
> 
> shrinkit woes:
> I am trying to download .SHK-files and UNSHRINK them with SHRINKIT v3.4
> using Kermit ftp (Z-modem doesnt work with freenets).
> UNSHRINKIT doesnt do it and returns either error message
> "not a known archive" or "master header damaged".
> I had no problems when I used my //e. However, since I use
> the //GS I have all these problems.

The problem is almost certainly to do with the FTP transfer.  When you
are getting ShrinkIt files from an FTP site, you MUST get them in
"binary" mode, not "ascii" mode, which is the defaulfor the standard
UNIX FTP client software.  (NCFTP defaults to binary mode.)  To set
binary mode, enter the "bin" command (or "image", I think), before
using the "get" command.

I've never used Kermit, so I don't know if it distinguishes between
binary and ASCII transfers, but if so, the same rule applies - you must
download the file in binary mode.

> What is different in the ftp download with the //e and the //GS?

You can't do an FTP download on either the IIe or IIgs (yet - it will
be possible in the near future on the IIgs).  You can FTP a file to
your Internet Service Provider and then download it using some other
protocol such as Kermit, XModem, YModem or ZModem, but this is not the
same thing as an "FTP download".

> Is there a certain control panel setting which has to be a must?

Not really.  You should probably turn off "DCD handshake", as it
doesn't do anything useful, and leave most of the other settings at
their defaults (turn on buffering, if the program will operate with
it, and set the appropriate baud rate).

For most comms programs, the control panel settings are overridden
anyway, but this might not apply to Kermit.

> I am using Proterm 3.1.

In that case, all of the control panel settings are being overridden
anyway.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand