GRAVIS Top 100 #5/GRAVIS CD No5_Herbst_95.cdr/GRAVIS/Updates/Debabelizer 1.6.5 Update/Copy Contents to Custom Code ƒ/CODE misc decode macbinary/CODE misc decode macbinary.rsrc/TEXT_1000_Decode MacBinary File.txt

Text File | 1995-04-05 | 3KB | 27 lines

DECODE MACBINARY FILE
MacBinary files are unusable by most applications on a Macintosh. They are created when files are sent from computer to computer via telecommunications software and a modem. This function will fix a MacBinary file by converting it to a normal Macintosh file so that it can be used by Macintosh applications.

• What is a MacBinary file?
A Macintosh file consists of 3 separate parts: a data fork, a resource fork, and Finder information. The data fork or resource fork may be empty.
A MacBinary file consists of only 1 part. This function takes that 1 part and makes the 3 parts necessary for a normal Macintosh file.

• Where does a MacBinary file come from?
When a Macintosh file is transferred over a modem in MacBinary mode, all 3 parts are sent to the other modem.

- if you send a Macintosh file to a non-Macintosh computer, it may combine these 3 parts into the 1 part MacBinary file for use on the alien computer. If the file is then sent back to your Macintosh as a 1 piece MacBinary file, your communications program may not realize it is a MacBinary file and may save it as a 1 part MacBinary file.

- if you receive a file via modem from another Macintosh computer, but your communications software is (a) malfunctioning or (b) not capable of decoding the MacBinary file or (c) set up wrong, then the MacBinary file will be saved on your disk in MacBinary format. Normally, communications software should detect that the file it is receiving is a MacBinary file and decode it and save it as a 3 part Macintosh file.

• How does this relate to MacBinary and Binary mode in communications software?
- Sending Binary mode: just the data fork of your Macintosh file is sent to the other computer. This means that if you file has a resource fork, the other computer will not get it.
- Sending MacBinary mode: all 3 parts of your Macintosh file are sent to the other computer.
- Receiving Binary mode: whatever is sent to you is placed into the data fork of the file on your computer. If the other computer is sending to you in MacBinary mode and you're receiving in Binary mode, this will cause the creation of a MacBinary file that must be decoded to be used.
- Receiving MacBinary mode: your receiving communications program will be expecting the 3 parts of the file and will save them as a normal Macintosh file. If the other computer is sending to you in Binary mode and you're receiving in MacBinary mode, you could end up with garbage.
- The simple rule to follow is that the sender and receiver must both be using the same mode.

• Decoding a MacBinary file:
Select "Decode MacBinary File" from the menu.
An Open Dialog will appear: Select the MacBinary file to be decoded. Only MacBinary files will be displayed in the list of files.
A Save Dialog will appear with the name of the file already filled in. Select the destination for the resulting Macintosh file.
The Macintosh file will be saved with the File Type, File Creator, Creation Date and Last Modified Date from the original file, and the data fork and resource forks will be extracted and saved properly.