allen@aurora.UUCP (Allen Poirson) (11/21/86)
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