SUMMARY: DOS Program or Utility to read Apple II floppies

[cnorley@irus.rri.uwo.ca (Chris Norley)]

	A while back I requested some information regarding the reading of
Apple II floppies by an PC. There was a hugh response both in solutions and
requests for a summary of solutions.
	A number of folks said that it couldn't be done due to low level
hardware differences. These responses, unless they mention some solution,
have been omitted because others have offered some practical way around
the problem.
	Thanks to all who responded.

ORIGINAL POST:
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		We have some old data from a small NMR spectrometer that was
run from an Apple IIe. The same spectrometer is now run from a DOS machine
and we'd like to be able to access the old data from the PC.
	Does anyone know of or possess some utility to allow the data from
the 5 1/4" Apple II floppies to be read from the PC? Any hints as to program
names, ftp sites, etc. would be greatly appreciated.


SUMMARY OF RESPONSES:
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Neal Krawetz
nak7558@tamsun.tamu.edu Mon May 10 21:46:30 1993
Subject: Re: DOS Program or Utility to read Apple II floppies
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Disk to disk is not possible.  The Apple ][e computers use a computer timing
method, while the IBM computers use the "dot" for disk sync.  Since the
Apple disks don't use the "dot" sync (the small hole near the center of the
disk that is used for RPM timing), IBM drives can't read it.

Your best bet is to hook a serial cable between the Apple and IBM, have a
terminal program ready to receive ascii data on the IBM side, and have
the Apple print the files out the serial card (I assume you have a Super
serial card).  This is what we did.  I don't remember the baud/bits/etc.
necessary, but I do remember that all serial configurations must be done on
the IBM side -- the super-serial card is a very dumb serial card and demands
to be the "master".  The IBM "slave" must configure to the master.

You may be able to connect parallel ports and transfer that way, but I
wouldn't hold my breath.  To print files out the serial card, use Copy ][+
and set the printer the the serial card.  Then, just view and print the
files.
This isn't fast, but it's the only way I know of (we spent nearly 3 months
trying to transfer information, and this method was the fastest).

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unknown@apple.com Mon May 10 22:23:50 1993
Subject: Re: DOS Program or Utility to read Apple II floppies
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA


It is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE.  You need hardware to do it. (That is, apparently
there are cards that let you hook Apple drives up to IBMs). You should've
never downgraded to the IBM... heh

Best bet is probably to ShrinkIt the files and use a modem or null modem
to transfer the files.. then Nulib on the ibm to extract them.

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Paul Schlyter