File: Mac.GS.Xfer.Dox This file contains a three-part article I wrote for the newsletter of my user group, the Orange Apple Computer Club, 25422 Trabuco Road, Building 105, Suite 251, El Toro, CA 92630. I thought that it might be of use to other Applers and so I wrote a little note of its existence in inCider magazine. I've been swamped requests for copies of the article and for copies of the software needed for the translation. All of the software is online either on America Online (though I've not looked for it), GEnie, and CompuServe. Uploaded simultaenously with this file is my Macintosh application "Filetype Changer 1.1" which changes the "type" of graphics files so that they can be used as GIF files. Please copy this file and distribute it as far and as wide as you like! DOing this will take some of the pressure off of me and hopefully allow me more time to program. Enjoy! Bob L. Allen ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Transferring Graphics Between Apple II and Macintosh Computers. Part I. Discussion and Requirements. by Bob L. Allen (GEnie: B.Allen9; America Online: N2 Bugs) Eat-A-Bug Software, 22916 Via Pimiento, CA 92691 Have you ever seen a nice graphic image on an Apple //e, //c, or IIGS and wished you could transfer that image to your Macintosh? Or, have you seen a really sharp Macintosh graphic and wanted to transfer it to your Apple //e, //c, or IIGS? Well, relax because transfers in both directions are not only possible, but are inexpensive and simple too. Why transfer graphics between Apple computers? Many computer owners change computer models. Such is often the case with schools, which through the years have changed from Apple II or II+ to //e or //c, to IIGS, or to Macintosh systems. Unfortunately when changing computer models, any graphics painstakingly created on the previous machine are lost since they cannot be used by the new one. Or so we've often thought... In my quest to find a way to transport HyperCard (Macintosh) images (just images not the programs) to HyperStudio (Apple IIGS), I called the technical support number at Roger Wagner Publishing, Inc., for information. Along with producing many of the best available Apple utilities and programs, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff (call them at 619-442-0522 to receive a product catalog). They sent me a copy of directions for transferring graphics from IIGS to Macintosh written by Mary McAuliffe of Aurora, Colorado, whom I thank for the information. My discussion expands on those directions and includes graphic transfers in both directions. What are RLE and GIF files? Both file types are computer-independent graphics formats that allow graphics to be passed from one computer type to another. Images stored in these formats can be created on one computer type, then transferred to and displayed on another computer type with amazing clarity. For example, an image created on an Apple IIGS can be passed to a Macintosh and displayed virtually unchanged. Images can even be passed between Apples and oranges (e.g. the other guys like Amiga, Messy-DOS, etc.) as long as the machines involved have the software to convert and display the images. RLE stands for Run Length Encoding, an old black & white-only format. It comes in two sizes: high resolution (256 wide by 192 high) and medium resolution (128 by 96). GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format, a newer graphic standard developed by CompuServe. It allows the use of pictures of nearly any dimension with up to 256 colors (sometimes more). Since these images are very complex, converting time can be rather lengthy. Most files take just over a minute, complicated ones may take up to 15 minutes. Graphics files saved in either format can be downloaded from online services such as GEnie or CompuServe. If your ProDOS telecommunications program gives you a choice of filetypes for downloaded files, choose TXT, BIN, or $06. Also note that the telecommunications program called FreeTerm IIGS, version 1.0, cannot deal with GIF files at all. Must I use GIF files? In order to transfer an image from an Apple II series to a Macintosh, GIF files are required; this process will be discussed in Part II of this series. GIF files are also required to transfer an image from single or double hi-res format to super hi-res format, and also in the reverse direction. The use of GIF files and two other methods exist to transfer an image from Macintosh to ProDOS; they will be discussed in Part III. What software is required for GIF transfers? GIF conversion requires that each computer involved must have software that can perform GIF file loading and conversion. The software involved is outlined below. 1. Apple IIGS: a. GS/OS, version 3.1 or higher (preferably 5.x), by Apple Computer, Inc. b. Any IIGS-specific paint or draw program that can save images as filetype $C0 or $C1. Examples are Paintworks Plus, Paintworks Gold, 816/Paint, DeluxePaint II, BeagleDraw (=TopDraw), etc. c. Super Hires Convert ("SHR.Convert"), version 2.1 or higher, available on most online services (not available by mail). Send your shareware payment of $15.00 to the author, Jason Harper, 1480 Michelle Court #A, Colorado Springs, CO 80916. This IIGS-specific program is outstanding and the shareware fee is only a small fraction of its true worth. Be sure to send in your payment as soon as you receive the program; this will encourage him to write more good stuff at low prices. 2. Apple II, II+, //e, //c: Note: The following programs also work on the Apple IIGS to create and transfer standard Apple graphics. However, only IIGS-specific software can be used to create and transfer IIGS-specific graphics. a. ProDOS 8 (any version), by Apple Computer, Inc. Included with system software. b. Any ProDOS single or double high resolution paint program such as MousePaint, 816/Paint (version for //e & //c), DazzleDraw, Grafix Pro, TimeOut Paint, etc. c. IIGIF, by Jason Harper, is available free on online services. This is a program to load and display GIF and RLE format graphics files on all Apple II series computers with at least 64K of memory. It can also save the converted picture in standard Apple graphics formats (single and double high resolution only) for use with paint programs. Unfortunately IIGIF cannot save a graphic as a GIF file. To do so you must use SHR.Convert on a IIGS to load a single or double hi-res image and save it as a GIF file. The creation of GIF files is therefore not possible without access to a IIGS. 2. Macintosh: a. System 6.x or higher (5.x not tried, but may work), by Apple Computer, Inc. b. Apple File Exchange ("AFE"), by Apple Computer, Inc. Included wth Macintosh System software. c. A program to change the "type" of a file. You only need one of these. The choices are: 1) Filetype Changer 1.0, available on online services. Available free to members of Orange Apple Computer Club. For non-members the shareware fee of $1.00 may be sent to the author, Bob L. Allen, Eat-A-Bug Software, 22916 Via Pimiento, Mission Viejo, CA 92691. 2) DiskTop 1.2, available on online services. Send shareware fee of $39.95 to Gil Beecher, CE Software, 801 - 73rd Street, Des Moines, IA 50312. Upon payment of the fee, you'll receive DiskTop 2.0 which is full of terrific additional features. 3) DeskZap, available on online services. Send shareware fee of $25.00 to Bruce Tomlin, 15801 Chase Hill Blvd, Apt. #109, San Antonio, TX 78256. 4) ResEdit, by Apple Computer, Inc. Available free on most online services. d. Vision Lab, available on online services. The demonstration version is being freely distributed by the author, John Raymonds, but when complete it will be shareware or commercially produced. In Part II, I'll give step-by-step directions on how to transfer images from an Apple IIGS to a Macintosh and in Part III how to transfer from a Macintosh to an Apple IIGS. Meanwhile, you have time to obtain the appropriate software so that you can follow along when those articles appear. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Transferring Graphics Between Apple II and Macintosh Computers. Part II. From Apple IIGS to Macintosh. by Bob L. Allen (GEnie: B.Allen9) Eat-A-Bug Software, 22916 Via Pimiento, CA 92691 In a previous article I discussed the information and software requirements for transferring graphics between Apple IIGS and Macintosh computers. In this installment I've outlined how to use that information and software to transfer an image from an Apple IIGS to a Macintosh. Part III will include information on how to transfer an image from a Macintosh to an Apple IIGS. Quick procedure: On an Apple IIGS, create a graphic, then use SHR.Convert 2.1 to open a graphic file and save it as a GIF file. Take the disk to a Macintosh, use AFE to convert the file to Macintosh format, use a filetype changer to change the filetype from "06 " to "TEXT", launch Vision Lab, open the graphic file as a GIF document, select Floyd-Steinberg from the Bitmap menu, and save the file in PICT or MacPaint format. Complete procedure: 1. Apple IIGS: a. Launch your super hi-res paint program from the Finder. Create a graphic, save it to disk, and return to the Finder. b. From the Finder, launch Super Hi Res Convert 2.1. Select the picture type to convert from the choices in the upper left window; in this case choose "Apple IIGS specific". Then select the type of graphic you wish to load from the list in the lower left window. The possible types are $C0, $C1 (from IIGS paint programs) and two Print Shop IIGS types. Next choose "Load & convert..." from the File menu, insert the disk that contains the file, and open the file. If you don't know which format the graphic was saved in, just select one format from the lower left window, then choose "Load & convert..." and try to open the file. If the graphic's file name is dimmed (which means it's not selectable), then the file is not of the type you selected. Cancel the load, select anther file type, and try to open the file again until the filename is not dimmed (which means it's selectable), then open the file. If you still can't select the graphic you want, then it's probably not a IIGS image. Change the convert format to "Apple II family" and try again. The graphic is now displayed on the screen. Click the mouse to get back to SHR.Convert's menu. Now you must save the graphic in GIF format. Select GIF file from the "Select format for saved pictures" window in the upper right. When asked to select the size of the saved picture, choose "Same as original" (you could choose any of the listed sizes, but you can try those later). Once the process begins it will take some time, so go get a snack while you're waiting. When the file is finished, quit from SHR.Convert and return to the Finder. Drag the icon of the disk that contains the GIF file to the trashcan to eject it. 2. Macintosh: a. Launch AFE from the Finder. Insert the ProDOS disk and click once on the name of the GIF file that you want to transfer. In the other window, select the Macintosh disk that you want to copy the file onto. Next click once on the Transfer button. When the transfer is completed, Quit from AFE and return to the Finder. b. The graphic image file is now in GIF format on the Macintosh, but has the wrong filetype designation. It is listed as type "06 " (that's zero-six-space-space, which means that it's a ProDOS Binary file), but it must be in "TEXT" format to be used as a GIF file. You need to use a filetype changing program to remedy this situation (see the discussion in Part I). I'll assume that you have Filetype Changer. To use it, launch it from the Finder. Click once on the button labeled "ProDOS ('06 ') to Macintosh ('TEXT')". You will see a dialog box asking you to select the file that needs to be changed. Select it and the filetype change is performed quickly. Quit from the application and return to the Finder. c. From the Finder, launch Vision Lab. Open the transferred graphic file as a GIF file. If the file included color information, and you don't have a color Macintosh, it will not display but will instead be replaced by the repeating error message "Color quickdraw is needed to display this image!" (To quote Douglas Adams, "Don't panic!"). Select Floyd-Steinberg from the Bitmap menu and the graphic will be processed and displayed. From this point, save the file in PICT or MacPaint format and use in Macintosh programs such as Pagemaker, MacPaint, SuperPaint, and HyperCard. In Part III I'll discuss how to transfer graphics from a Macintosh to an Apple IIGS. Happy converting! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Transferring Graphics Between Apple II and Macintosh Computers. Part III. From Macintosh to Apple IIGS. by Bob L. Allen (GEnie: B.Allen9) Eat-A-Bug Software, 22916 Via Pimiento, CA 92691 In two previous articles (The Scrumpy, February 1990, March 1990) I discussed the how to transfer graphics between Apple II series and Macintosh computers. In this third installment I've outlined how to transfer images from a Macintosh to an Apple IIGS. There are three methods you can use for this transfer: use The Graphic Exchange, use Super Hires Convert 2.1, or use GIF files. The Graphic Exchange, by Roger Wagner Publishing, Inc. (1050 Pioneer Way, Suite P, El Cajon, CA 92020) can read Macintosh disks directly and makes a clean & simple conversion of MacPaint files to Apple II format. Although images can be transferred to various Apple II formats, MacPaint images look best when converted to IIGS-specific screen modes. Consult the program's manual for directions. Super Hires Convert 2.1 also allows conversion of MacPaint files to Apple II format, however, it can only read ProDOS disks. To use it, save the MacPaint image (while on the Macintosh), launch Apple File Exchange, insert a ProDOS disk and transfer the graphic file onto the ProDOS disk. On the Apple IIGS, launch SHR.Convert from the Finder and use that ProDOS disk as the source for the image. Choose "Macintosh" as the picture type to convert, then load & convert the image. When finished, save it as a "$C0,2 Apple Preferred" graphic. The use of GIF files is a little more involved, but once you master the process you will be able to transfer files to and from virtually any computer system that uses them. Quick procedure: On a Macintosh, create a graphic image and save it in MacPaint format (or, if your paint program allows it, save it in GIF format). Launch Vision Lab, open the file as a MacPaint image, save it as a GIF file. Use a filetype converter to change its filetype to "06 ". Launch AFE and transfer the file onto a ProDOS disk. On an Apple IIGS, launch SHR.Convert 2.1, open the GIF file, then save it as a $C0 file for use with your paint programs or HyperStudio. 1. Macintosh: a. Start up the computer and launch your paint program. Create a graphic, save it to disk as a MacPaint file, and return to the Finder. b. From the Finder, launch Vision Lab. Open the file as a MacPaint file. Save the image as a GIF file. Return to the Finder. c. The file is saved as a GIF file with a filetype of "GIFf" but it needs to be filetype "06 " to be used on the Apple IIGS. To do this, launch Filetype Changer (or any other filetype changing utility) and select Macintosh ('GIFf') to ProDOS ('06 ')". Once completed, return to the Finder. d. Launch AFE. Select the location of the GIF file, then insert the ProDOS disk that will receive the file. Click on the file, then click on the Transfer button. When completed, return to the Finder. 1. Apple IIGS: a. Launch Super Hi Res Convert 2.1 from the Finder. Select the picture type to convert from the choices in the upper left window; in this case choose "Computer independent". Then select "GIF" from the list in the lower left window. Next choose "Load & convert..." from the File menu and open the desired file. If the image is larger than your computer's display, scroll the image to the position you want it, then click the mouse to get back to SHR.Convert's menu. Now you must save the graphic in an Apple IIGS format. Select "$C0, 2 Apple Preferred" from the "Select format for saved pictures" in the upper right window. When asked to select the size of the saved picture, choose "One screen wide, one screen high" (you could choose any of the listed sizes, but you can try those later). When the file is completely saved, quit from SHR.Convert and return to the Finder. The image can now be used by a IIGS-specific paint program or brought into HyperStudio. This concludes the three-part discussion of transferring graphics between Apples and Apples. Contact me at the monthly OACC meetings if you have any questions or comments.