casa@charon.unm.edu (Jim Pittman) (11/24/87)
Re: Conversion to IBM format; how do I do it
dipto@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Dipto Chakravarty ) writes:
X I am trying to transfer some files from apple format to IBM format....
X The files on the Apple II+ have been written using a word-processor
X called "Word Handler"....
X From CATALOGing the disk one would understand that the files are all
X of type `applesoft' and the length for ALL the files are 0 (i.e. zero)
X sectors (except the HELLO file which is 002 sectors long).
X I even used the INSPECTOR disk scanning utility to verify these entries
X in the VTOC of the floppy disks.
I had a similar problem some months ago. Here's how I approached it:
1. Use Copy II Plus to make a copy of the target disk in case I goofed.
2. Use Copy II Plus sector editor to change the "APPLESOFT" file type to
"TEXT" file type. It isn't necessary to worry about zero file length.
3. Now I was able to edit the file with WRITE-AWAY (a weird but extremely
powerful word processor) to get rid of all the grotesque formatting
characters left from the original word processor. I saved the resulting
TEXT file on a blank DOS 3.3 diskette.
4. Now I was able to send the resulting TEXT file to a VAX (VMS, but UNIX
would work as well) from the Apple II using WRITE-AWAY in its terminal
mode as a file transfer program.
5. Next I used a Zenith MS-DOS machine to log on the VAX using KERMIT as a
terminal program, listed the file from VMS and captured it to a MS-DOS
diskette as a TEXT file.
Notes:
2. Changing an APPLESOFT file type to a TEXT file type involves changing a
$02 to $00 on Track $11 (catalog track). Page 131 of the DOS 3.3 manual:
VALUES FOR BYTE INDICATING FILE TYPE
File Value of Type byte (Hex)
Type File Unlocked File Locked
---- ------------- -----------
Text 00 80
Integer 01 81
Applesoft 02 82
Binary 04 84
Alternately, use the Copy II Plus sector editor to look at a standard
DOS 3.3 disk that has both an APPLESOFT file and a TEXT file on it.
Then look at the target disk and change its catalog entries so they look
like TEXT instead of APPLESOFT.
3. Editing out the formatting stuff was the most unpleasant part of the
process. You will have problems editing the newly changed TEXT file
with some word processors such as Apple Writer or Super-Text if there
happen to be any HEX 00 characters in the file. Several word processors
assume HEX 00 means End-Of-File. WRITE-AWAY does not have this problem.
You could use the Copy II Plus sector editor to change any 00s to another
value. Possibly you could send the newly changed TEXT file to VMS or
UNIX and edit out the formatting garbage there.
Good luck.
Jim Pittman University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131 (505) 277-8131
casa@charon (UNIX) or CASA@BOOTES (VMS)md1@pyuxz.UUCP (michael d lynch) (02/02/88)
This is my first attempt to post an article, so I hope this works. I have an Apple //e Professional System (enhanced? Who knows?) and an IBM PCXT. I have a modem for the XT, and SmartCom. I have files on the Apple that I would like to transfer to the XT, and I would like (on occasion) to move files from the XT back to the Apple. Is there a way to "hardwire" the two machines together? Is there an inexpensive modem for the Apple that will do the trick? Will AppleTalk allow the Apple and IBM to talk? Thanks, Mike Lynch
halp@TCGOULD.TN.CORNELL.EDU ("Bruce P. Halpern") (02/15/88)
If you have a serial card in the Apple, you can go directly from it to the XT's serial port (appropriate software needed at both ends). If your modem is an external modem, and you have a serial card in the Apple, you could upload files from the Apple to a mainframe, then down load to the XT. ****DISCLAMER: My comments, etc., are my own shakey opinions ******** | Bruce P. Halpern Psychology & Neurobiology & Behavior Cornell Ithaca | | INTERNET:halp@tcgould.tn.cornell. BITNET:D57J@CORNELLA D57J@CRNLVAX5| | UUCP:rochester!cornell!batcomputer!halp | | PHONE: 607-255-6433 Uris Hall, Cornell U., Ithaca, NY 14853-7601 |