Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:23973 comp.sys.mac:25882 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!nic.MR.NET!shamash!com50!pai!erc From: erc@pai.UUCP (Eric Johnson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Mac to IBM File Transfers Summary: No problem, really... Message-ID: <378@pai.UUCP> Date: 30 Jan 89 14:44:28 GMT References: <962@novavax.UUCP> Distribution: usa Organization: Prime Automation, Inc., Burnsville, MN Lines: 99 In article <962@novavax.UUCP>, maddoxt@novavax.UUCP (Thomas Maddox) writes: > Though I have been an IBM-compatible user, I soon will have > routine access to a Mac+ and a Mac SE at work. I would very much like > to transfer files between the Mac(s) and my IBM-compatibles at home. > > Specifically, I use WordPerfect 5.0 at home on a Leading Edge > D and a Zenith SuperSport (someone else paid for it; I'm not that > flush), and I transfer files between them using Brooklyn Bridge. ^^ I haven't tried this... > I know I will have Microsoft Word for the Mac at school; maybe > WordPerfect for the Mac (though I'd bet not). > > So, is there any easy or relatively easy or moderately > difficult way to transfer files among these machines? Is there any > hope at all that I could create ASCII files on the Mac and read them > on the IBM-compatibles and vice-versa. The hope is there, the problem is the reading of the files, due to different disk formats. Using some form of communications package may be the easiest route. > In short, I want to be able to write in one environment, take > the files to the other, and continue working on them. My immediate > concern is most definitely word processing files; other kinds, later. > > Post or e-mail as you see fit. I have a feeling many people > are wrestling with this problem and similar ones these days. > Tom Maddox > UUCP: ...{ucf-cs|gatech!uflorida}!novavax!maddoxt I routinely transfer files between PCs at work and my Mac at home (and also between Unix boxes at work and my Mac at home). Most every word processor on the Mac can save a file in ASCII text format. Every Mac has two serial ports on it. If you can use a modem and transfer your files serially over a phone line, you should have no problems. I use FreeTerm and Kermit on the Mac side. Both will transfer text and binary files. (FreeTerm supports XModem transfers). Both are free. You may find, though, that using straight ASCII text files means you have to do formatting at both ends. I know Microsoft Word supports a text-encoding format called Rich Text Format (or RTF). You can save your Mac MS Word files in this format and then transfer the files across. Apple also provides the Apple File Transfer package, which you will find on one of the four System disks that came with the Mac (it is on one of the Utilities disks, I believe). Now, you may have a real problem if you cannot hook up the two machines on a net, or by their serial ports. The Mac disk format is rather weird, as I believe it stores more information on the outer tracks (most disks store the same amount of info on each track). Therefore, you usually need a hardware solution for reading Mac or IBM disks (reading Mac disks on the IBM that is, or IBM disks on the Mac). Central Point Software does sell a unit to aid this process. There is another product, on the Mac, called Dyna File. This is essentially a PC disk drive. Dyna can then read PC files and transfer them to the Mac, or write Mac files in PC format on a PC disk. Apple, too, sells a PC disk hardware package, last I heard. Another option is that new Macs, specifically the IIx and SE/030, have an Apple "Super" Drive, which can read and write IBM PC formatted 3.5" diskettes. Other possibilities include * AppleTalk Net -- Apple sells a PC AppleTalk card * Ethernet * Bringing in a PC and directly hooking it up to the Mac's serial port (since you stated you do not own the Macs, you may have trouble changing their configuration), and transfering the files this way. * If you cannot bring Mohammed to the Mountain...perhaps you can bring Mac home for an evening, and then transfer the files over. To summarize, the easiest way to transfer files from the Mac and the PC is to hook them up over a serial link, as most PCs and all Macs have serial ports. Free telecommunications software exists for both machines. Since the mac disk format is wildy different from the PC format, any means to read or write the disks directly will involve some special hardware. Along the same lines, any networking solution will involve some special hardware (unless, of course, the net is already set up). ASCII text files are the easiest files to transfer. regardless of the transfer medium, but you then lose any formatting information. Microsoft's RTF files are one option to preserve the formatting. Apple's File Transfer package is another. Word Perfect (which you state you have on the PC side) may be able to read other file formats (or RTF directly). Hope this helps and I wish you luck, -Eric -- Eric F. Johnson | Phone +1 612-894-0313 | Are we Prime Automation,Inc | UUCP: bungia!pai!erc | having 12201 Wood Lake Drive | UUCP: sun!tundra!pai!erc | fun Burnsville, MN 55337 USA | DOMAIN: erc@pai.mn.org | yet?