Re: Ms-DOS file conversion

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

In article <CK5Gvv.1nz@eecs.nwu.edu> paulb@eecs.nwu.edu (Paul Brazis) writes:
> I want to transfer files from a Sun SparcStation to my //gs, but I have been
> unsuccessful in my attempts.
> 
> My plan was to copy the files onto an ms-dos formatted disk (which I have
> done), then to transfer them to a Macintosh (which I thought could read
> MS-DOS format), and then transfer the Mac disk to my //gs, which has a Mac
> FST installed on System 6.0.
> 
> For some reason I have yet to find any Macintosh at my university that will
> accept MS-DOS disks.

The standard Macintosh system software doesn't include an option to
read MS-DOS disks "transparently", i.e. by inserting a DOS disk and
have it appearing as an icon in Finder.

All Macintoshes since 1989 (IIx and later) are capable of
reading/writing MS-DOS disk formats, since they have a "SuperDrive"
built in.  The Mac SE and II can be upgraded to support a SuperDrive.

Macintosh System 6.0 and later has included a program called Apple
File Exchange, which can transfer files between Macintosh (HFS),
ProDOS and MS-DOS disks.

In Mac System 6.0.x, this program was on a disk called "Utilities".
It may not be installed as standard - try using the System 7 installer
program, click on the "Customize" button, and see if you can see any
option which mentions file exchange.  Install that, and you should be
able to transfer files by running Apple File Exchange.

The program is very similar to Font/DA Mover - it provides two file
selection windows showing files in the source and target file systems.
You can even transfer files directly from MS-DOS to ProDOS, if you
have two 3.5" drives.  Otherwise, you'll have to transfer the files to
the Mac's hard drive, then copy them off to a ProDOS floppy (using
Apple File Exchange) or an HFS floppy (using Finder).


Another option is to use one of the various extensions (INITs, etc.)
which allow you to mount MS-DOS disks on the desktop.  There are at
least two of these, but the only one I can remember the name of is
"DOS Mounter".  I think Apple's version is called "Apple PC Exchange".
I'm pretty sure they are all commercial programs.

These are not included with the Macintosh System Software, so you'll
have to get them elsewhere.  Apple File Exchange is certainly the
cheapest option, if you can locate it.

>    Direct me to an FTP site which has an MS-DOS FST for the //gs?

It is included with System 6.0.1, which is on ftp.apple.com.  6.0.1
also has a much improved version of the HFS (Macintosh) File System
Translator.  Its main advantage is that it is faster than the System
6.0 version.

There is a catch: the MS-DOS FST is no use unless you have a disk drive
which can read MS-DOS disks.  This boils down to the following options:

- An Apple SuperDrive (or third-party compatible drive) and Apple's
"SuperDrive Controller Card" (officially called the "Apple II 3.5 Disk
Controller Card"); or

- A SCSI "floptical" drive, connected to a SCSI card.  These drives
can read/write 720k and 1.44MB disks, as well as their own 21 MB
"optical floppy" format.  Note: they cannot read/write 800k disks (the
standard IIgs format).

- Some other types of SCSI drives such as SyQuests may work, given a
cartridge in MS-DOS format.  I haven't heard of anyone succeeding at
this (or even trying, for that matter).

- A PC Transporter with an MFM-compatible drive, such as Applied
Engineering's "TransDrive 5.25" or "TransDrive 3.5".  Even though you
can use an Apple 3.5 Drive on a PC Transporter to read/write MS-DOS
720k disks, it cannot be used to access MS-DOS disks unless the PC
Transporter is running in PC mode, i.e. it is no use with the MS-DOS
File System Translator.

- A third-party MFM-compatible disk controller and drive.  These are
very rare.
-- 
David Empson                                                               
dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz                                                
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand