unarchiving files

[umwieb80@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Alexander David Wiebe)]

I have been spending the last few weeks trying to successfully download,
unarchive and then hopefully execute programs from the net (news groups /
ftp sites).

I have managed to solve one problem, the net uses different EOL characters
then does apples
solution: compiled a small c prog. that acts as a filter, simply going
through the text file and changing ^j's to ^m's so that my apple is happy.

My next problem I thought was due to the fact that I have only one drive
and only 64k available for a RAM drive,  turns out that's not the problem
either - at least not yet...

Binscii (v. 1.0.3) seems to work fine - ie: it doesn't complain
Shrinkit (can't recall version) recognizes the file generated by Binscii
as a shrinkit archive, BUT when it shows me the contents of the archive,
there are NO FILE NAMES.  The file types, and sizes (may or may not be
accurate) are there.  If I try to unshrink a file anyways (even though I
can see it is un-named), it gives me the message 'File header damaged -
Continue (NO) yes?'

What's the deal?
- Are the original ascii files corrupt?
- Am I corrupting them with my filter? ie: need to rewrite filter
- Is Binscii corrupting them? ie: need new binscii prog
- Is Shrinkit being stupid and not reading things right? :ie need new
Shrinkit prog

If anyone can offer some help that would be appreciated.
Thanx.
-- 
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  __ /\_\_    | umwieb80@ccu.umanitoba.ca
 /\__\/ /_\   | (That's Alex Wiebe from
 \/_LIFE__/   |  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada