Macintosh communication programs generally use a format called MacBinary to transfer binary (non-text) files. This format is not compatible with non-Macintosh computers. Because the GIF and TIFF file formats are not Macintosh-specific, you will want to send them around without using MacBinary.
This section tells you how to set your communication program for transferring programs without MacBinary. See the communication program’s user manual for complete information on transferring files.
One of the best options is to install Internet Config (see above for how to obtain it; it’s even included in MacOS 8.5).
Internet Config keeps a listing of file types on the web, with the proper instructions on how to download them. Some other programs, including modern versions of web browsers, obtain this information from Internet Config when downloading.
Anarchie and Anarchie Pro, available at http://www.stairways.com/anarchie/, both use Internet Config.
In Fetch 3.0 ( ftp://ftp.dartmouth.edu/pub/software/mac/Fetch.sit.hqx), the Suffix Mapping... item on the Customize menu indicates the way to download files. Fetch uses Internet Config.
NetFinder, http://www.ozemail.com.au/~pli/netfinder/, uses Internet Config.
In Navigator, http://www.netscape.com/computing/download/index.html, file mappings are entered into the Navigator/Applications panel of the Preferences... item of the Edit menu.
Internet Explorer, http://www.microsoft.com/mac/ie/, uses Internet Config.
America Online handles GIF files correctly most of the time due to its internal settings.
CompuServe’s Navigator and Information Manager always transfer GIF files properly. There is no need to take any special action.
These programs will upload TIFF files as MacBinary. They may download non-MacBinary TIFF files without the proper file type. To fix these downloads so you can open the files, use the features described in Opening Documents, above.
Choose the File Transfer... command from the Settings menu. Click on the Straight XModem button.
Choose Protocol Transfer... from the Settings menu. Click on the Binary button. For downloads, you can enter the type and creator (the program that the files belong to, and the Macintosh will use to open them). Enter GIFf or TIFF for the type (upper and lower case is significant). If you enter GCon for the creator, the files will open GIFConverter when you double-click them.
Choose File Transfer... from the Options submenu of the Customize menu. Use the options that tell it to not use MacBinary for any downloads, and to take no action with non-MacBinary TEXT files.
The Communications Toolbox is a set of connection, terminal emulation, and file transfer tools. One of the programs that uses the Communications Toolbox is MacTerminal 3.0.
To download GIF or TIFF files, choose the File Transfer... command from the Settings menu. Make sure to choose XModem tool. Click on the Method pop-up menu, and choose Straight XModem .
If you don’t use one of the communication programs listed above, the best way to determine how to transfer files is to check your manual. When transferring GIF or TIFF files, make sure you make the following settings:
Turn off MacBinary if uploading. Most programs recognize that GIF and TIFF files are not MacBinary when downloading, so you won’t have to do anything if you’re only downloading.
Turn off all features that alter downloaded or uploaded TEXT files. These features may mention addition or removal of linefeeds or control characters. They may also be called filters.
If you have trouble accessing files, leave a message to the system operator, or sysop, telling what you are trying to do and what problems you are having. The documentation that comes with your subscription to a service like CompuServe, GEnie, or America Online will tell you how to do this.
Copyright ©1998 by Kevin A. Mitchell. All rights reserved.