Re: convert and transfer Mac files to a PC

["Paul Grammens" <grammens@svn.net>]

"Nikolaj Vibede" <Nikolaj@*NOSPAM*vibede.dk> wrote in message
news:b0ivlo$usk$1@news.net.uni-c.dk...
> Does anyone know of some software that allows a PC to read Mac files?
>
> My problem is that I need to transfer files from a Mac (an LC 475 i think)
> to a PC. One problem is that the Mac does only have a floppy drive, which
> puts a limit on the size of programs that can be installed on the Mac.
>
> Does anyone have some ideas ?
>

I'll assume you want to archive Apple II files from your Mac to a PC.  ;-)
This is a common problem.

The simple solution is to use a PC formatted floppy, which your Mac will
treat like a Mac formatted floppy, as long as you are running Mac OS 7.5X.
Stick your PC floppy in the Mac, copy the files to it, take it to your PC,
and the files will be there. This should work fine with documents and so on.

You can also use Stuffit or one of the zip programs to compress and encode
files before putting them on floppy.  That's what you'd have to do to
transfer programs via PC floppy, because Mac programs can't be properly
stored on a PC disk.

There are also utilities that will allow a PC to read Mac 1.44 meg disks. I
used one years ago called "Macette" which is probably available for download
on the net.

If you need to move a large number of files or a large file, you can use a
null-modem cable. This connects your Mac modem port to your PC's serial
port.  Run Hyperterminal (or similar) on the PC, and Zterm (or similar) on
the Mac. Set both programs so they are accessing the correct port at the
same bps rate, and then use Zmodem send on the sending end, and Zmodem
receive on the other end.  You can select a batch of files and have them
transfer while you do something else.  In fact a modern PC can be used
normally while this is running in the background.

There are other methods, such as PC formatted zip disks, or networking the
two machines, but those are more expensive and complicated than these simple
methods.
-Paul