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From: allen@aurora.UUCP (Allen Poirson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,net.sources.mac
Subject: uploading/downloading: getting all those great mac utilities posted
Message-ID: <549@aurora.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Nov-86 14:46:49 EST
Article-I.D.: aurora.549
Posted: Fri Nov 21 14:46:49 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Nov-86 20:39:06 EST
References: <644@ssc-bee.UUCP>
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Mt. View, Ca.
Lines: 32
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.mac:154 net.sources.mac:1276

Beware, new reader here!

I know that uploading/downloading/mailing of Mac programs via the USENET is
pretty much old hat to those already familiar with the procedures, but 
a new reader like myself is unable to do much without the following:

1.  From the articles I've read, I know there is a mac program called BinHex
to convert a binary mac file to ASCII so it may be transferred using email.
Are there versions that run on a UNIX host?
    I have also concluded that there is a program called xbin which does
the reverse conversion.  I have a version which runs on a UNIX host -- are
there versions that run on the mac?

2.  How does PackIt/unpit(?) fit into the picture?  I have successfully 
downloaded one program from the net, but a couple other tries were
unsuccessful -- the application shows up as a generic document on the mac,
and can't be used.  I have seen "PackIt format" tossed around in some of
the postings, and sense that this is information I need to know.

3.  Are these programs marketed by any companies, or are they strictly
freeware/shareware?  (I don't mind freeware/shareware, but it usually 
doesn't come with the best documentation, does it?)


Is there a source of information (such as answers to the above) which a new
reader would automatically know to look at before diving into net activity?

Thanks for any help you can offer,

Andrew Fitzhugh
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
415-694-6282