Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm
Path: utzoo!utgpu!topix
From: topix@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (R. Munroe)
Subject: Re: Pllleeeaasse help me (file transfer vie. network)
Message-ID: <1990Nov15.022708.6324@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Keywords: network
Organization: UTCS Public Access
References: <1990Nov14.194720.19950@ucselx.sdsu.edu>
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 02:27:08 GMT

In article <1990Nov14.194720.19950@ucselx.sdsu.edu> maxc0849@ucselx.sdsu.edu (Human1 ~InnerTangent~) writes:
>
>	Hello!
>
>	First, thanks for all those who mailed me about their best modem
>programs to the  "newcommer" -- me :-).   The overall people prefer the
>Zterm for it's protocols and vt100 emulation.  
>
>	Now the problem:
>
>		I need to transfer binary files (.hqx) between my UNIX
>	account and some school Macs that's hooked up with network.
>
>cond.	We have software on these Macs that let us loggin into the UNIX 
>BSD machine.  No problem.  But, when it comes to transfering files, it
>only support something called "MacBinary".  not Zmodem, Ymodem, or Xmodem.
>
>	Is there a solution to my problem?  I'm very ignorant about all these
>Mac things.  could someone suggest me a way to go?  Thank you.
>
>	(Please reply by net-mail.  I'll post a summary here later.)
>
>	I really appreciate any help/suggestions you can offer!!
>
>				Sincerely,
>				Bill.

Basically, what you need is a communications package that supports
kermit transfers.  Kermit is a public domain transfer protocol
from Columbia University (I think it's Columbia - imagine the flames
if I'm wrong).  Most Mac communications programs offer kermit transfers:
MacKermit (which is public domain - I'm using it on my Mac right now,
logged onto the University of Toronto's general-purpose unix machine),
MicroPhone II (you pay for this one), and VTPro (costs $, too) come
immediately to mind.

Since you seem to be able to log onto the unix system from the Mac,
I won't spend any time on that part.  Once you're in and you want to
send a binary file from the unix box to the Mac, try this procedure:

1.  On the Mac - find the menu choice that selects kermit transfer options
and set the transfer mode to Binary (as opposed to Text or ASCII).
This will be in a different place in different programs so I leave
it as a bit of detective work for the reader.

2.  On the unix side - type: kermit -s yourfile.xxx -i
The -i option tells the unix kermit to send in binary mode.

3.  On the Mac side - select Receive Kermit from the File menu (Note: the
File menu is where 'Receive Kermit' is in most programs but not all of them).
Some programs will receive the file and give it the same name as the unix
system; others will ask you to name the incoming file.

To send a file to a unix system:

1.  Same as above.

2.  On the unix side - type: kermit -r -i
You don't give it an incoming name, it will name the file whatever it's
called on the Mac

3.  On the Mac side - select Send Kermit (or Send File, or whatever your 
program calls it) from the File menu.

A couple of notes:

- If the file you are sending is ASCII don't select the Binary transfer
mode option on your Mac.  Instead, select Text (or sometimes ASCII) mode.
On the unix side use, for sending, kermit -s yourfile.xxx  for receiving,
kermit -r      Notice that the -i option is gone - that's only for binary.

- If you want to complicate things more, find MacCompress and Tar for your
Mac (Mac BBS or archive sites).  They are both either shareware or 
freeware programs that do exactly what compress and tar do on a unix system.  
A typical session might look like this:

1.  On the unix side:
           tar cvf mytarfile.tar file1 file2 file3 ... filen
           compress mytarfile.tar

2.  On the Mac side:
           Enter communications program - set mode switch to Binary

3.  On the Unix side:
           kermit -s mytarfile.tar.Z -i

4.  On the Mac side:
           Select 'Receive File' from the File menu.
           wait.  get a coffee.  wait some more.  watch 3 or 4 Twin Peaks
                      episodes.  wait some more. (modems and serial lines 
                      aren't the quickest way of transfering files - big 
                      files take lots of time)
           Exit comm program.  Enter MacCompress.  Decompress myfile.tar.Z
                      Note: if you compress files with MacCompress that are 
                      going to be sent to a unix system, choose Unix Format
                      in the Format menu and, if you are compressing a
                      binary file, deselect CR<<->>LF under the Options menu.
           Exit MacCompress.  Enter Tar.  Extract files from myfile.tar.

There you go. Easy ain't it.

Good Luck

Bob Munroe
topix@utcs.utoronto.ca