#Compressing for Macs???
11 messages in this thread
Is there a compression routine that works in Amiga mode whose result can be
de-compressed on a MAC? I have unstuffit, which will decompress stuffit
files on an Amiga. I want to compress postscript on the Amiga (not using a
Mac emulator) and modem the file over. Then I want a comparable program on
the mac to decompress it.
I found a Mac Lharc extractor, but it didn't work well with files made on
amiga with lharc, lz, etc. It DID extract the lharc-made files, but then
JoliWrite could not read them properly even though they were merely
postscript.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Jim
Jim,
If the files extracted properly the problem is in the Mac – most likely
the lack of the MacBinary resource fork. You'll need a program on the Mac
that you can use to create the resource fork. There's a commercial
program called CanOpener, and probably something freely distributable as
well.
David
Does that mean that something like SENDPS would actually be able to send
the file to the printer? Do you need a resource fork for a simple
postscript file? When I imported the file into JoliWrite, it got some of
the text and a bunch of little squares and some sort of error. So it isn't
a pure ascii file, as it should be. So either the Amiga lharc or the mac
lharc seems to be introducing something.
In any case, I should think there would be a lot of use for a small
utility to allow us to compress postscript files for shipping to a mac. I
am surprised there isn't one by now. (Surely the mighty amiga could fool a
mac?!)
I've moved postscript files from Amiga to MAC disks without a hitch. I
use the File transfer program supplied with AMAX and set the radio button
for Postscript. Works fine. Haven't used mac 2 DOS lately, but I should
see if it still works once in a while. Now where'd I put that drive port
dongle…
Chris
I know it can be done that way. I am thinking, though, of compressing on
the Amiga and using a modem to send the files and then having the same
de-compression program on the mac.
today I found a mac version of ARC. I Arc'ed a file on the amiga and it
de-arced on the mac. so that works. But arc is less efficient than lharc,
so that will be the next test.
It would be nice if there were a version of Stuffit for the Amiga in the
sense that some mac users only know that program.
I've used LHARC (v.9?) on the macintosh. It works for me. Much faster on
my AMAX setup then the MacII cx I used to use.
Chris
Jim,
LHarc has been around for the Amiga for quite a long time. If it did not
compress/decompress properly it would certainly be known by now. I have,
though, heard others complain about the Mac version of LHarc, so that could
be causing problems. If you decompress the file on the Amiga, is it an
exact copy of the original?
David
I haven't gone from mac to amiga with lharc. And today, I couldn't get the
lharc on the mac to work!
I hate intermittent problems.
The Mac P.D. 'lharc' isn't very good. I've had better success using 'tar'
archives compressed with 'compress', and there's Mac versions of those,
too.
I have been sending Postscript files to a MAC via modem compressing with
ZIP (which simulates PKZIP), the service had no problems.
Joe Maulucci >>> AP ENGAGED
Jim,
You mention that when you imported your PS file into JoliWrite that it "got
some of the text and a bunch of little squares…". I have had that same
problem when moving files between Macs, UNIX, and PC-DOS. It usually
relates to the CR / LF combo, since some of these machines want both (IBM,
I believe) and others want only a CR (or is it a LF?).
I would suggest that your file was decompressed successfully, but JoliWrite
is unable to interpret the end of line characters. With my QMS printer at
work I have been able to use SENDPS successfully, even with the extra
characters since it seems to be able to ignore the useless ones. Maybe you
can try one of the programs that will strip the unneeded line feeds (or
CRs) from the file. Or possibly the Mac's DOS builtin DOS transaltor would
work (??).
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#