20.001 How do I transfer files between my Apple and a PC or Mac?
Description
This article is from the Apple II Csa2 FAQ, by Jeff Hurlburt with numerous contributions by others.
20.001 How do I transfer files between my Apple and a PC or Mac?
By: Rubywand
The best, most flak-free way to move stuff between your Apple II and PC or
Mac is via a standard NULL modem transfer. (A NULL modem connection joins a
serial port of the Apple II to a serial port of a PC, Mac, etc. via a NULL
modem connector joining modem cables from each computer. Radio Shack and
ThinkStuff sell NULL modem connectors/cables.) The usual way to get the most
out of this connection is to have a telecom program on the Apple II talking to
a telecom program on the PC or Mac. For more infor
mation on standard NULL modem transfers see Q&A 004 below.
A variation of the standard NULL modem setup is a software package plus
cable specifically designed for transferring files between computers. For
information on such a package, see Q&A 002 below.
Other ways of doing a direct PC-Apple II transfer include ADT and Ap2222;
and, for Mac-Apple II transfers, there is MacADT. These software packages
include programs for both computers-- e.g. Apple II and PC-- which let the user
do transfers via serial ports (ADT) or game port and printer port (Ap2222).
They are, mainly, intended for moving whole A2 5.25" disks. For more
information, see Q&A 003 below.
Another option is to use a BBS-- perhaps your own company BBS-- or an
internet website, ftp site, etc.. You upload from one machine and download with
the other. For more information about uploading and downloading, see the
Telecom-2 FAQs.
A completely different approach is to move files on diskette. For PC
transfers, this normally requires that either the Apple II or the PC have a
plug-in card and disk drive which lets it read diskettes from the other
machine. For example, an Apple II could have a PC Transporter board with a PC
drive connected; or, the PC could have a TrackStar board with an Apple II drive
connected. For more about TrackStar, see relevant information in Csa21MAIN1.
Depending upon model, installed OS, and available utilities, Macs can
exchange files with Apple II computers via ProDOS and HFS 3.5" diskettes. Macs
with the A2 plug-in board can handle standard 5.25" A2 diskettes.
A modified version of the above approach is for PC users to employ a
utility which allows writing to HFS diskettes.
Files can also be exchanged with PC's and Mac's using Zip disks. (See
Csa2ZIPTF.)
----------------------------
By: SuperTimer and Rubywand
If your other computer is a Mac, you can format a Mac HFS (standard) DS/DD
3.5" disk and the GS can read and write it if you have the HFS FST installed.
That's how I exchange files with a Mac...
On a PC, you can install a program called MacDrive 98. This program allows
Windows 95 to read, write, and format HFS volumes.
To transfer files from HFS media to ProDOS disk on the IIe, IIc, or IIc+
you can use A2fx or HfsLink. The IIe, etc. must have an 800k 3.5" drive
connected to access 800k HFS diskettes. This method would also work for IIgs's
which can not run a version of System supporting the HFS FST.
----------------------------
By: Ruud
For Mac users, if the file arrives in a .zip or .sit form, it's easier to
work with because it's 'protected' from being altered by the Mac file system
(i.e having a resource fork added). An .shk file isn't protected since that is
a native A2 format.
Then it's a matter of getting the file onto a Mac with an old-style disk
drive, mostly the ones that 'suck your disk in' by themselves, but some later
ones - mainly in 68k machines, Powerbooks seem particularly good - work as
well. Powermac drives are not reliable, while a 68k Powerbook or SE/30 works
fine.
So, after getting it onto the 68k, I unzip/unstuff the file to obtain the
contained .shk, etc. files and let them be processed by ProType, which restores
A2 file types. Then I put them onto a ProDOS disk mounted on the 68k Mac (using
system 7.6.1) and restart ProType and let it change the types on the A2 ProDOS
diskette again just to be sure.
After booting the Prodos disk on the Apple II, it is just a matter of
starting Shrinkit v3.4 to unshrink any .shk files.
----------------------------
By: MDRipley37
For Mac users, there is a shareware utility named "][2Mac" for
transferring 5.25" diskettes from Apple II computers to Mac as IIe- and Bernie
][ the Rescue-compatible disk images. It works for transferring images from Mac
to Apple II diskettes, too. I have used it for over a hundred transfers with no
problems and Apple II disks that boot up just like the originals.
By: Rubywand
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