tuceryan@mohawk.cps.msu.EDU (Mihran Tuceryan) (09/17/90)
I need some help with using Apple File Exchange application. My first problem is the following: I tried to use Apple File Exchange (AFE) program on my Mac/SE to initialize 3.5 inch floppies as MS-DOS disks and convert and copy some Mac text files to the MS-DOS disk (more about why I want to do this later). The problem is that on my Mac, the AFE does not let me initialize MS-DOS disks and does not recognize MS-DOS initialized disks. I copied the same program (thinking that the version may be wrong) on a more recently purchased Mac/SE and it works fine. I had bought my Mac/SE in 1988. When I start the AFE and insert an uninitialized floppy, I get the 400K and 800K buttons in the dialog box, but not the 720K which apparently lets one to initialize the MS-DOS disks. I get the 720K button on the newer Mac/SE. My first question is this: What can be the difference in the two Macs that will cause this different behaviour? Could there be a different disk drive in the two and if so could this hardware difference cause the problem? Otherwise, do I have something set up incorrectly? I tried to see if there were any set up files for AFE, but I did not see any. Now for the reason why I want to do this: I have a Sparcstation 1 in my office, and I have the Mac at home. I would like to be able to put some text files on a floppy, bring it home and work on it on the Mac at night. So far, the only way I could see making use of the floppy drive on the Sparcstation 1 is to use the mtools that allow you to read MS-DOS disks. This way, MS-DOS would be an intermediate format which I could use to carry text files back and forth between the SParc and the Mac without dependent on modem transfers. Now, my second question is: Is there software comparable to mtools that will let me read Mac formatted disks from the Sparcstation floppy drive? If such a software exists, I would not have to mess with MS-DOS disks. Any help with any of these two questions be appreciated. Mihran Tuceryan Michigan State University email: tuceryan@cps.msu.edu
roskar@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Veljko Roskar) (09/21/90)
Use the DOS mounter-demo package available at sumex. This is Dayna's init that enable you to mount DOS disks on the Mac without using AFE. Great init, but don't ask for conversions or formatting. The other minor catch is all of your DOS disks have to have a volume name of DEMO. -- Veljko Roskar | roskar@jhuvms.bitnet Department of Chemical Engineering | roskar@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore | uunet!mimsy!aplcen!jhunix!roskar