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- From: davido@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David L. Oppenheimer)
- Subject: comp.sys.mac.comm Frequently Asked Questions [1/4]
- Message-ID: <csmc-FAQ1_765398487@Princeton.EDU>
- Followup-To: poster
- Summary: This is the comp.sys.mac.comm Frequently Asked Questions list; its
- intent is to provide information specific to Macintosh computer
- communications, including modems, networks, and the like. You are
- encouraged to read this FAQ before posting to the newsgroup.
- Originator: news@nimaster
- Keywords: FAQ
- Sender: davido@phoenix.Princeton.EDU
- Supersedes: <csmc-FAQ1_762705652@Princeton.EDU>
- Nntp-Posting-Host: tucson.princeton.edu
- Reply-To: csmc-faq@phoenix.Princeton.EDU
- Organization: Princeton University
- Date: Sun, 3 Apr 1994 18:42:06 GMT
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
- Expires: Sun, 8 May 1994 18:41:27 GMT
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- Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu comp.sys.mac.comm:33766 news.answers:17566 comp.answers:4693
-
- Archive-name: macintosh/comm-faq/part1
- Last-modified: Wed Mar 09 1994
-
- This is the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for comp.sys.mac.comm
- =======================================================================
-
- This list of frequently asked questions and answers is intended to help
- reduce the number of "often asked questions" that make the rounds here
- in comp.sys.mac.comm. Since comp.sys.mac.comm is intended as a forum to
- discuss telecommunication (and related issues) that are specific to the
- Macintosh, most questions about modems, telecommunications in general,
- and other non-Macintosh specific communication questions are not listed
- here. The proper newsgroup for such questions is usually comp.dcom.modems.
-
- This list is posted periodically (about once a month) to the Usenet
- groups comp.sys.mac.comm, news.answers, and comp.answers. Latest versions
- of the FAQ can be retrieved via anonymous FTP from the following sites:
-
- mac.archive.umich.edu: mac/misc/documentation/compsysmaccommfaq.txt
-
- sumex-aim.stanford.edu: info-mac/comm/info/comp-sys-mac-comm-faq.txt
-
- rtfm.mit.edu: pub/usenet/comp.sys.mac.comm/c.s.m.c_FAQ_[1_4]
- c.s.m.c_FAQ_[2_4]
- c.s.m.c_FAQ_[3_4]
- c.s.m.c_FAQ_[4_4]
-
- It also available in the Macintosh SIG on Delphi for Delphi members.
-
- This FAQ is purely a volunteer effort. Although every effort has been
- made to insure that answers are as complete and accurate as possible,
- NO GUARANTEE IS IMPLIED OR INTENDED. The editor and contributors have
- developed this FAQ as a service to Usenet. We hope you find it useful.
- It has been formatted in setext format for your browsing convenience;
- use a setext browser, such as EasyView, to take advantage of setext.
-
- Please send your corrections and comments to the editor, David Oppenheimer,
- at csmc-faq@phoenix.Princeton.EDU.
-
- SHARE THIS INFORMATION FREELY AND IN GOOD FAITH.
- DO NOT DISTRIBUTE MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THIS FAQ.
- DO NOT REMOVE THIS NOTICE OR THE TEXT ABOVE.
- (INCLUDING THE 'LastModified' HEADER; THANKS.)
-
- ================================================================================
-
- **** TABLE OF CONTENTS: ****
-
- [1] Modems and Cables
-
- [1.1] What kind of modem will work with my Macintosh?
- [1.2] What kind of cable do I need to use my external modem with my
- Macintosh? (Includes cable pinouts)
- [1.3] What do V.32, V.42, bis, MNP, etc mean?
- [1.4] How fast can the Macintosh serial ports really go?
- [1.5] How can I disable call-waiting when using my modem?
-
- [2] File Formats and Conversion
-
- [2.1] What is a resource (or data) fork?
- [2.2] What is MacBinary?
- [2.3] What is BinHex? What is uuencode? What are atob/btoa ?
- [2.4] What is Apple-Single/Double ?
- [2.5] What do file suffixes like .hqx, .sit, .bin, etc ... mean
- and how can I convert such files back to normal Macintosh
- applications and documents?
-
- [3] Macintosh File-transfers
-
- [3.1] What program(s) do(es) Kermit, FTP (client), and/or
- X,Y,Z-MODEM and where can I get them?
- [3.2] What is the latest version of ZTerm?
- [3.3] What is the Communications Toolbox (CTB)?
- [3.4] Are there any public-domain or shareware Communication
- Toolbox tools that support Kermit, and/or X,Y,Z-MODEM?
- [3.5] How can I transfer Macintosh files to/from my Macintosh and
- other non-Macintosh computers (eg: mainframes, UNIX boxes,
- PCs)?
- [3.6] What's the best compression program to use when uploading
- files to an archive or BBS? Are there any other guidelines
- I should follow?
- [3.7] How can I use the programs that are posted to
- comp.binaries.mac?
-
- [4] Introduction to AppleTalk (and Remote AppleTalk)
-
- [4.1] What kind of hardware do I need to set up an LocalTalk
- network?
- [4.2] How can I change the Chooser "user" and name of my
- Macintosh? Also: Why can I no longer change the name of
- my hard-disk?
- [4.3] What is Apple Remote Access ?
- [4.4] Where can I get a Remote Access script for my modem?
-
- [5] Networking, MacTCP, Telnet, SL/IP, PPP
-
- [5.1] What is MacTCP and what kind of hardware and software do I
- need to use it?
- [5.2] What is the difference between AppleTalk, LocalTalk,
- EtherNet, EtherTalk, TCP/IP, etc?
- [5.3] What is Telnet, and is there a Telnet program for the
- Macintosh?
- [5.4] Is there a FTP (client/server) program for the Macintosh?
- [5.5] What are SL/IP, CSL/IP and PPP?
- [5.6] How does MacTCP resolve names into IP addresses?
-
- [6] MacX and Other Ways to Interface With UNIX
-
- [6.1] Can I run X-Windows on my Mac?
- [6.2] How can I run MacX over a modem? Is it feasible?
- [6.3] What is MacLayers and what do I need to use it?
- [6.4] What are UW and MultiSession? Are there other programs like
- MacLayers?
- [6.5] Is there a UNIX program that will convert between BinHex and
- MacBinary?
- [6.6] How can I create LaserWriter PostScript printer files and
- print them on a PostScript printer connected to a UNIX
- network?
- [6.7] What is the Columbia AppleTalk Package (CAP)?
-
- [7] Sending and receiving Mail and Usenet News with your Macintosh
-
- [7.1] How can I send/receive Internet mail with my Macintosh?
- [7.2] How can I read/post Usenet news with my Macintosh?
-
- [8] Miscellaneous
-
- [8.1] I don't have FTP --- How can I access the various archives
- through e-mail?
-
- Appendices:
-
- [A] List of Common File Suffixes and Abbreviations
- [B] List of Macintosh archive sites available through the Internet
- [C] Vendor Information
- [D] Contributors
-
- ================================================================================
-
- [1] Modems and Cables
- =====================
-
- [1.1] What kind of modem will work with my Macintosh?
- -----------------------------------------------------
-
- Any *external* Hayes compatible modem will work with your
- Macintosh. There are too many to list or review here. The
- USENET newsgroup comp.dcom.modems is a good place to ask questions
- about the many different external Hayes compatible modems. Such
- modems can be used with any computer (Macintosh, UNIX box,
- MS-DOS PC, Amiga, etc) with a serial port (e.g.: Macintosh modem
- port) interface. However, there *are* modems that are designed
- specifically for use with the Macintosh. Internal Powerbook
- modems, ADB modems, and internal NuBus modems are all examples.
-
- Assuming you wish to use an external modem, your only other
- hardware consideration is to find an appropriate cable to connect
- it to your Macintosh. Especially at higher baud rates (9600 baud
- and up), a hardware-handshaking cable is recommended (see [1.2]
- for details). There are many non-hardware-handshaking cables
- being sold at reputable computer accessory stores, so it's
- recommended that you ask before buying.
-
- Various special modems exist with unique features; the most
- notable type is the dual FAX/modem. For more information,
- visit comp.dcom.modems or your local dealer: there are simply
- too many products to describe here.
-
-
- [1.2] What kind of cable do I need to use my external modem with my Macintosh?
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Most modems have a female DB-25 (25 pin) connector labelled
- RS-232C on their backsides. All Macintoshes since the Mac Plus
- use a mini DIN-8 (8 pin) connector for the two serial ports
- (modem and printer). Earlier models use the larger DB-9 (9 pin)
- connector. Finding a generic cable for any configuration should
- not be very difficult at most computer accessory stores. They
- are typically sold for around $25.
-
- However, especially at the higher baud rates (9600 baud and up),
- a hardware handshaking cable is highly recommended. Attempting
- to transfer files at high baud rates using a non-hardware-
- handshaking cable will likely result in repeated transmission
- errors, a drop in the transfer rate, and possibly an aborted
- transmission. Since many non-hardware-handshaking cables are
- still being sold, it's a good idea to ask before buying.
-
- If you want to "roll-your-own" or are having problems getting
- your modem and your Macintosh to communicate, read on. The
- serial ports on the Macintosh are not actually RS-232C ports
- but are instead RS-422 compliant, a similar but better standard.
- This explains some of the difficulty in implementing hardware-
- handshaking.
-
- One way to wire your cable is as below:
-
- Macintosh (DTE) Modem (DCE)
- DIN-8 DB-25
-
- Pin Signal Signal Pin
- 1 HSKo --------------------------- RTS 4
- 2 HSKi --------------------------- CTS 5
- 3 TxD- --------------------------- TxD 2
- 4 GND --------------------------- GND 7
- 5 RxD- --------------------------- RxD 3
- 6 TxD+ (nc) .-- DSR 6
- 7 GPi (nc) '-- DTR 20
- 8 RxD+ --------------------------- GND 7
-
- shield --------------------------- shield
-
- Figure 1.2.1
-
- If your modem cannot be configured to ignore DTR, or if you
- are using an old 1200 baud or 2400 baud modem, the pinout in
- Figure 1.2.1 is probably best. However, if you are using a
- high-speed modem that can ignore DTR, and/or Remote AppleTalk,
- you should instead use the pinout in Figure 1.2.2, which is
- the pinout "recommended" by Apple:
-
- Macintosh (DTE) Modem (DCE)
- DIN-8 DB-25
-
- Pin Signal Signal Pin
- 1 HSKo ----------------------+---- RTS 4
- '---- DTR 20
-
- 2 HSKi --------------------------- CTS 5
- 3 TxD- --------------------------- TxD 2
-
- 4 GND ----+---------------------- GND 7
- 8 RxD+ ----'
-
- 5 RxD- --------------------------- RxD 3
- 6 TxD+ (nc)
- 7 GPi --------------------------- DCD 8
-
- shield --------------------------- shield
-
- Figure 1.2.2
-
- Note: You can find a pretty picture of this PICT by using
- ResEdit to open the Apple Modem Tool Extension CTB tool.
-
- Note: Be careful! Although technically, you should not be able
- to damage either your modem or computer by using an incorrectly
- wired cable, you should always perform a connectivity test to
- double-check your wiring before using your homemade cable.
- Some serial devices place auxiliary voltages on non-standard
- pins.
-
- Note: If you are having trouble finding or soldering a mini DIN-8
- connector (they can be expensive and are rather small), it is
- suggested you purchase a straight-through DIN-8 to DIN-8 cable
- (often sold for use with serial port switches), cut it in half,
- and wire each end to a DB-25 connector that can plug into your
- modem (resulting in *two* cables).
-
- Note: The GPi pin is unused on all but the AV Macs. The pinout
- diagrams are correct.
-
- Note: If you are running A/UX and are having difficulties
- controlling your modem from software, see the comp.unix.aux FAQ
- for the latest information on an A/UX specific cable.
-
-
- Many people routinely ask for a pinout diagram for the mini DIN-8
- connector; Figure 1.2.3 shows the pinout as if you were looking at
- the (female) connector on your Macintosh; the (male) cable connector
- will be a mirror image. (Figure artwork by Ben Cranston)
-
- Mini DIN-8 Macintosh Serial Connector Pinout
-
- /------###------\ 1 HSKo Output Handshake
- / ### \ (Zilog 8530 DTR pin)
- / \ 2 HSKi/CLK Input Handshake *OR*
- / [|] [|] [|] \ External Clock
- / 8 7 6 \ 3 TxD- Transmit data (-)
- | |
- | | 4 Ground Signal ground
- | === === === |
- | 5 4 3 | 5 RxD- Receive data (-)
- | |
- | | 6 TxD+ Transmit data (+)
- \----+ === === +----/
- \###| 2 1 |###/ 7 N/C (no connection)
- \##| |##/
- \| |/ 8 RxD+ Receive data (+)
- \------###------/
- ###
-
- Figure 1.2.3
-
- Finally, it should be noted that there is no *best* RS-422 to
- RS-232 cable. You'll see many different wiring diagrams posted
- to Usenet. Each usually has its own purpose and champion; the
- two given in this FAQ, however, are fairly generic and one or
- the other should work with most modems being sold today.
-
-
- [1.3] What do V.32, V.42, bis, MNP, etc mean?
- ---------------------------------------------
-
- Because these topics are universal telecommunications issues,
- they are more fully discussed in comp.dcom.modems. However, a
- short description of some of the more common abbreviations and
- buzzwords is given below.
-
- An excellent article on the subject of modems, including
- a guide to buying high-speed modems, is available from
- InfoMac (sumex-aim) and its mirror sites as the file
- info-mac/comm/info/modem-guide-11.hqx.
-
- Buzzword What it typically means
- --------------- ----------------------------------------------
- bit : binary digit; amount of information necessary
- to distinguish between two equally likely
- events (such as the value of a binary digit)
- byte : eight bits; size of a single ASCII character
- bps : bits per second
- baud : one analog signal state change; people usually
- use baud and bps interchangeable although most
- modern modems can encode multiple bits per baud
- Bell 103 : 300 bps U.S. Standard
- Bell 212A : 1200 bps U.S. Standard
- LAP/M : Link Access Protocol/Modem.
- MNP : Microcom Networking Protocol (Proprietary)
- MNP5 : MNP extension; 2 to 1 data compression.
- V.32 : 9600bps, 4800bps
- V.32bis : 14.4Kbps, 12Kbps, 9600bps, 7200bps, 4800bps
- V.32terbo : psuedo-standard extending V.32bis to 16.8, 19.2 kbs
- V.42 : MNP 4 and LAP/M modem to modem error correction
- V.42bis : LAP/M and 4-to-1 data compression.
-
- Table 1.3.1
-
-
- [1.4] How fast can the Macintosh serial ports really go?
- --------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Macintosh operating system supports data rates up to 57600 baud,
- but the Macintosh serial hardware can support transfer rates that
- are much higher if they are externally clocked. Serial port
- sound-input-devices such as the Cedar Technologies SID and
- Farallon's MacRecorder, as well as AppleTalk boxes, use this trick
- to achieve transfer rates greater than 100 Kbps.
-
- Note: Powerbooks are known to have problems at extremely high
- data rates. These problems are caused by Power Manager overhead.
- System 7.1 is supposed to solve or alleviate these problems.
-
- Note: AppleTalk being active can degrade serial port performance,
- as can ethernet-network traffic. Turning of AppleTalk via
- the Chooser, or disconnecting the ethernet transceiver, are
- work-arounds.
-
-
- [1.5] How can I disable call-waiting when using my modem?
- ---------------------------------------------------------
-
- This varies depending on your local phone company, but often,
- if you preced the phone number you wish to tone dial
- with "*70," (omit the quotes but not the comma), you can
- disable call-waiting FOR THAT CALL ONLY.
-
- If you have a strictly rotary dial line, try preceding the
- phone number with "1170".
-
- In the United Kingdon, the code to use #43#.
-
- ================================================================================
- [2] File Formats and Conversion
- ===============================
-
- [2.1] What is a resource (or data) fork?
- ----------------------------------------
-
- A Macintosh file has two parts: a data fork and a resource fork.
- Text files and GIF image files are examples of Macintosh files
- that are usually stored completely in the data fork, and have
- an empty (or nonexistent) resource fork. Applications, as a
- a counter-example, store most if not all of their information
- in 'resources' in the resource fork and usually have an empty
- data fork.
-
- Because this two-forked organization of files isn't very common,
- transferring Macintosh files that have non-empty resource forks
- to non-Macintosh machines (such as UNIX boxes, or MS-DOS machines)
- requires special encoding, described below.
-
-
- [2.2] What is MacBinary?
- ------------------------
-
- MacBinary is a standard way of taking a Macintosh file (both
- resource and data forks) and creating a new file with just
- a data fork. This new file can then be transferred through
- machines which know nothing about the native Macintosh file
- system, without losing the information stored in the resource
- fork.
-
- MacBinary also stores other information (such as the filename,
- creation and modification dates, file type and creator) about
- the original file.
-
- If you want to store some Macintosh files on a non-Macintosh
- computer, one way is to convert them to a MacBinary format file
- before transferring. Note that MacBinary files are useless to
- people who are not using Macintosh computers. MacBinary's
- purpose is to encapsulate *all* information contained in a
- Macintosh file for transport over a non-Macintosh medium. For
- this reason, you should not use MacBinary and/or BinHex to
- post GIF images, for example, to Usenet because (1) GIF images
- contain no Macintosh specific information and (2) doing so will
- make it impossible for most non-Macintosh users to display your
- image.
-
- Although a Macintosh program (called MacBinary) does exist
- to do the converting to and from MacBinary, almost all modern
- Macintosh telecommunications programs have the capability of
- converting and unconverting MacBinary files for you. ZTerm,
- for example, can be configured to automatically detect when
- a MacBinary file is being received and to convert this file
- to its original representation; or, if you are uploading,
- ZTerm can optionally encode the file into MacBinary before
- sending. Fetch, White Knight, and most other commercial and
- shareware products have equivalent or similar capabilities.
-
- Dennis Brothers designed the original MacBinary standard many
- years ago. Yves Lempereur incorporated this standard into
- his Binhex 4.0 program (see [2.3]), solving a major problem
- on Compuserve. About a year later, around the time the Mac Plus
- came out, group discussions on Compuserve led to an enhancement
- of the original MacBinary standard. Since then, BinHex 4.0 and
- the new MacBinary have become the standard way of encapsulating
- Macintosh files for transferring over foreign systems throughout
- the Internet, Usenet, and elsewhere.
-
- MacBinary I is the name given to the old MacBinary standard.
- MacBinary II is the name given to the new MacBinary standard
- which everybody uses today; in common usage, MacBinary means
- MacBinary II.
-
-
- [2.3] (a) What is BinHex? (b) What is uuencode? (c) What are atob/btoa ?
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- (a) A "binary" file is usually intended to describe a file which
- does not always have the high bit in each byte set to zero.
- Text and BinHex files are the most common examples of non-binary
- data. Programs and images are common examples of binary data.
- MacBinary files are specially encoded binary files (see 2.2]).
-
- Unfortunately, many network e-mail and Usenet gateways are only
- receptive to non-binary files. To make it possible to send
- binary files such as Macintosh MacBinary files through e-mail
- or Usenet, it is necessary to convert these files to a text-
- compatible form. BinHex and uuencode are two different ways
- of doing this. Both BinHex and uuencode result in files that
- are larger than the original binary version.
-
- BinHex 4.0, by Yves Lempereur, is a binary to text translator
- that can directly encode any Macintosh document (ie: it knows
- how to convert information in both the resource and data forks).
- BinHex files can be easily recognized since they begin with the
- line:
-
- (This file must be converted with BinHex 4.0)
-
- and are followed by a line starting with a colon, ':'. The
- BinHex encoding of the file follows, and is ended with another
- colon.
-
- There is in fact a program called "BinHex 4.0" in various
- archives, but you don't have to use it to convert files to and
- from BinHex. In fact, due to some bugs, it's best to use some
- of the other more powerful utilities, such as HQXer, DeHqx,
- StuffIt Expander and other StuffIt programs, and Compact Pro,
- to name only a few. UNIX utilities (see [6.5]) that manipulate
- BinHex, MacBinary, and other types of Macintosh files are also
- available. StuffIt Expander has the advantage of also being able
- to automatically expand StuffIt, Compact Pro, and Applelink
- archives.
-
- Just about every Macintosh program posted appears as a BinHex
- archive. Some Macintosh archives also store their files in BinHex
- to allow users who don't have (or forget to use) binary mode in
- FTP to succesfully transfer files.
-
- BinHex files are denoted by the suffix ".hqx". The specifications
- to BinHex, should you be an interested programmer, are available
- at the University of Michigan's Macintosh archive site as
- mac/misc/documentation/binhex4.0specs.txt, or at InfoMac sites
- as dev/info/binhex-40-specs.txt .
-
- There is also a program/format called "BinHex 5.0"; it is NOT
- a more advanced version of "BinHex 4.0" but rather a separate
- _binary_ format (it uses the entire eight-bit ASCII character
- set and is thus not suitable for news postings or e-mail)
- that was the precursor to MacBinary (see [2.2]). Converting
- a file with BinHex 5.0 and then using BinHex 4.0 is another way
- of converting a native Macintosh files with data and resource
- forks into a format that can be e-mailed or posted (and then
- reconstructed). MacBinary, however, is almost always used in
- preference to BinHex 5.0.
-
- (b) "uuencode" is a binary to text translator that serves the
- same purpose as BinHex, except that it knows nothing about the
- Macintosh resource/data fork structure. uuencode was designed to
- allow UNIX binary files to be easily transferred through text-
- only interfaces, such as e-mail. Every uuencoded file contains
- a line similar to:
-
- begin 644 usa-map.gif
-
- followed by a series of lines of ASCII text characters (which
- are normally 60 characters long and begin with the letter 'M').
- The file ends with a line containing the word 'end'. There may
- be other special keywords included. Usually, one won't find
- Macintosh files in uuencode format; however, most non-Macintosh
- specific binary data posted to Usenet is uuencoded, so if you
- wish to use any of this data (such as the images posted in
- alt.binaries.* and elsewhere), you will need to deal with
- uuencode. The programs 'uuencode' and 'uudecode' exist on most
- UNIX systems. If not, ask a local expert to find them. Several
- programs allow you to convert to and from uuencode using your
- Macintosh; among these are UUTool 2.3.2 and UULite 1.4.2.
- uencoded files are usually denoted by the suffix ".uu".
-
- There is a StuffIt translator to handle uuencode conversion.
-
- (c) atob and btoa are programs typically found on UNIX systems
- that also convert between binary and ASCII-printable character
- sets. Although not as popular as uuencode, btoa produces smaller
- text-compatible versions of binary files that can be e-mailed or
- posted on Usenet. Check your local man pages for details.
-
- There are StuffIt translators to handle atob/btoa conversion.
-
-
- [2.4] What is Apple-Single/Double ?
- -----------------------------------
-
- AppleDouble is another means of storing Macintosh files on
- non-Macintosh computers or filesystems, particularly on UNIX
- filesystems that also allow files to be mounted under the
- Macintosh operating system via AppleShare (or an equivalent
- product).
-
- AppleDouble files are actually two files. The data fork
- of the corresponding Macintosh file is stored in a single
- file just as it exists on the Macintosh using the original
- filename. The resource fork is stored in a second file whose
- name is obtained by prefixing the original filename with '%'.
- More extensive documentation is available at ftp.apple.com.
-
- A few Macintosh programs decode these files; one such utility
- is Tiger 1.11. The macutils UNIX utilities [see 6.5] may also
- be useful. Eudora 1.4 and later also handles this format.
-
- If you are trying to figure out how to access the files in
- the 'mac.bin' directory at ftp-archive maintained by the
- University of Michigan, don't bother; all those files exist
- in .hqx format in the 'mac' directory.
-
-
- [2.5] What do file suffixes like .hqx, .sit, .bin, etc ... mean and how
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- can I convert such files back to normal Macintosh applications
- and documents?
-
- Most files available by FTP or posted to Usenet are modified
- twice to allow them to more easily pass through foreign computer
- systems. Files may be compressed to make them smaller, and/or
- they are almost always translated to either BinHex (.hqx) or
- MacBinary (.bin) format (see [2.2] and [2.3] for an explanation
- of these formats).
-
- How a Macintosh file has been translated and compressed for
- transmission is indicated by its suffix. Normally a file will
- have a name similar in form to: filename.xxx.yyy, where:
-
- .xxx indicates how it was compressed
- .yyy indicates how it was translated
-
- Usually, .xxx is one of: .cpt, .dd, .sea, .sit
- Usually, .yyy is one of: .bin, .hqx, .image
-
- To convert a file back to its native Macintosh format, you will
- typically need to go through one step per suffix. For example,
- the filename "Swatch.cpt.hqx" indicates that a Compact Pro
- archive (.cpt) "Swatch" has been translated to BinHex (.hqx).
- To recreate the file(s) in the original archive, you must
- first 'undo' the BinHex transformation, creating a Compact Pro
- archive, and then open the Compact Pro archive and extract
- the file(s) in the archive.
-
- You can use the following table to determine what Macintosh
- programs decode which formats. For a more complete description
- of the various Macintosh archival programs, see the excellent
- FAQ for comp.sys.mac.apps.
-
- Suffix: .sit .cpt .hqx .bin .pit .Z .image .dd .zip .uu .tar
- Extractors
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- StuffIt 3.0 | ! X X X X X X ! ! !
- $ Expander | X X X
- Compact Pro | * X X
- UULite 1.4.2 | X
- MacCompress | X
- SunTar | X X X X
- BinHex 5.0 | X
- BinHex 4.0 | X
- DiskDoubler | * X X
- ZipIt | X
- UnZip | X
- DiskCopy | X
- Packit | X
-
- Table 2.5.1
-
- ! Note: StuffIt Deluxe now includes translators for .tar, .uu,
- MacBinary, atob, btoa, AppleLink packages, AppleSingle, DiskDoubler,
- and UNIX compress. These translators can also be used with StuffIt
- Lite. .arc and .zip translators are also distributed with StuffIt
- Deluxe, but remain part of the commercial package. In order to
- expand DiskDoubler archives, StuffIt uses inter-application
- communication and hence requires DiskDoubler to be installed.
-
- $ 'Expander' refers to StuffIt Expander 3.0.7 which can decode BinHex,
- StuffIt, Compact Pro, and Applelink archives. It supports drag-
- and-drop under System 7. StuffIt Expander is distributed free by
- Aladdin Systems Inc.
-
- * StuffIt formats after 3.0 are recognized
-
-
- The following file suffixes indicate formats that are native
- to the Macintosh and which can be manipulated using the indicated
- programs:
-
- .bin MacBinary files; see [2.2]
- .cpt Compact Pro archive files; [see 3.6]
- .dd DiskDoubler archive files; [see 3.6]
- .hqx BinHex files; see [2.3], [3.7]
- .image Apple DiskCopy disk image file (typically used for
- distributing system software); latest version available
- via anonymous ftp from ftp.apple.com
- .pit Packit files; [see 3.6]
- .sea Self-extracting archive files; this usually denotes an
- application which can be double-clicked upon to create
- a decompressed version of the archive
- .sit StuffIt archive files; [see 3.6]
- .sitd mistakenly used to indicate files created by StuffIt
- Deluxe; *all* StuffIt files should be given the .sit
- extension (says the author!)
-
- Table 2.5.2
-
-
- The following file suffixes indicate formats that are not native
- to the Macintosh, but in most cases, files of these types can
- be manipulated on the Macintosh using the indicated programs.
-
- .arc MS-DOS PC archive file; ArcPop, MacArc
- .arj MS-DOS PC archive file; unArjMac
- .gif Compuserve Graphics Interchange File; many programs,
- free, shareware and commercial exist to display and/or
- modify these images; some of the popular shareware ones
- are: QuickGIF and GIFConverter.
- .lzh Amiga or old MS-DOS PC archive file; LHarc or MacLHa
- .shar UNIX shell archive file; Unshar 1.5
- .uu UNIX uuencoded files; see [2.3]
- .Z UNIX 'compress' archive file; MacCompress 3.2
- .z GNU ZIP file; typically created on UNIX
- .zip MS-DOS PC archive file; UnZip, ZipPop
-
- Table 2.5.3
-