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From: rdd@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Robert Dorsett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Explanation of ".doc" format needed.
Message-ID: <19912@ut-emx.UUCP>
Date: 21 Oct 89 05:18:57 GMT
Sender: news@ut-emx.UUCP
Reply-To: rdd@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Robert Dorsett)
Distribution: usa
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
Lines: 26

Are files with .doc suffixes (a) equivalent to standard text files, or
(b) standardized in PC land?

If they are not equivalent to standard text files, do common tools exist to
convert them to text files?

I'm attempting to transfer large German-language files to the Macintosh for a 
friend (who will then attempt to adapt the data for use by a spelling-checker).
My attempts thus far have resulted in the data being transferred, but also 
substantial noise appearing at the beginning of the files and interspersed (in
discrete blocks) within the file data.  

I'm trying to determine whether I'm doing anything wrong in the file transfer 
process itself (as I don't have access to two machines conveniently linked, 
I'm forced to use a convoluted process of uploading and downloading), or 
whether the files (all in .doc format) need to be converted to text files 
before transfer.  Right now, I strongly suspect the latter.

Any insights would be appreciated.  Please email them.




Robert Dorsett                                   
Internet: rdd@rascal.ics.utexas.edu               
UUCP: ...cs.utexas.edu!rascal.ics.utexas.edu!rdd