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WordPerfect File Transfer Across Platforms (M
DocumentID: 633438
Revision Date: 29-Feb-96 3:03:16 PM

The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS

Problem

Solutions: First of all, it is important to understand that an IBM and a MAC use different operating systems. If a user takes a disk formatted for a Mac and put in an IBM, the IBM won't recognize the disk because the operating systems are different. This has nothing to do with WordPerfect. WordPerfect will recognize WordPerfect files from other platforms, but you need to "transfer" the file from one platform to the other for this to work. Once the file is in the correct operating system, WordPerfect will read it. Note: This is not a document conversion, because the file is not being converted to a different file format. Rather, it is a file transfer from one operating system to another.

What do you do to the file before transferring it?
On the IBM, just save the file normally. On the Mac there is a special way to save the file:
1.      With the document on the screen go into "Save As."
2.      Give the file a new name.
3.      Change the "Document Format" to WordPerfect 5.0 or WordPerfect 4.2.
4.      Save the document.

Once the file is in the correct format what do you do with it?
There are three main methods of transferring a file across platforms: modem, network, or disk. These methods of transfer do not translate or change the file, they simply move the file from one platform to another.

Modem
Send the file using the binary or xmodem option in the communication software being used.

Some Macintosh communication software has an option called Macbinary, but this is used only with a Mac to Mac transfer. This option should never be used when sending a file across platforms (it "garbages" the file).

      IBM to Mac
      1.      Start the communication software on both machines.
      2.      Send the file using the binary or the xmodem option.
      3.      Receive the file using the binary or xmodem option.
      4.      Quit the communication software.
      5.      Open WordPerfect and open the file.
      6.      Specify the format of the file (4.2 or 5.0).
      7.      Before editing the file, save it with a new name in Mac WP format, close it, and reopen it.

      Mac to IBM
      1.      Save the file in 4.2 WordPerfect or 5.0 WordPerfect format.
      2.      Quit WordPerfect and open the communication software on both machines.
      3.      Send the file using the binary or the xmodem option.
      4.      Receive the file using the binary or the xmodem option.
      5.      Exit the communication software.
      6.      Start WordPerfect and retrieve the file normally.

If the customer using Mac WordPerfect version 2.0, the following steps can be used to tranfer a WP Mac file into an IBM format:

1.      Enter Mac WP
2.      Save the file as a DOS WordPerfect 5.0/5.1 export.
3.      Select Binary Data (File|X-fer Convert) as the conversion type in the Mac communications software (i.e., Z-Term). The Xmodem transfer protocol has been used successfully; however, Ymodem or Zmodem should also work fine (as long as the user selects matching protocols on both computers).
4.      After the file is transferred to the IBM computer, simply retrieve the file into WP 5.0 or WP 5.1. The user will probably see several ^Zs (end of file markers) at the bottom of the document. This is normal and will not harm the document. They can delete be deleted.

Note: To transfer a file from a Macintosh to a Macintosh via modem, under the option File|X-fer Convert, select Smart MacBinary or MacBinary II.

Network
Move the file to an area that both the Mac and the IBM have access to, either computer will then be able to access the file.

      IBM to Mac
      1.      Save the file normally.
      2.      Move the file to a common area.
      3.      Go to the Mac and drag the file off the server to the Mac hard drive.
      4.      Open WordPerfect and go to File Management.
      5.      List all Files.
      6.      Find the file name and highlight it.
      7.      Open the file and specify the format of the file.
      8.      Before editing the file, save it with a new name in Mac WP format, close it, and reopen it.

      MAC to IBM
      1.      Save the file in 4.2 WordPerfect of 5.0 WordPerfect format with a new name.
      2.      Drag the file to the common area.
      3.      Go to the IBM and move the file off of the server to the IBM hard drive.
      4.      Start WordPerfect and retrieve the file normally.


Disk
Apple File Exchange
Apple File Exchange is the most common method of transferring files, it does a "disk to disk" transfer. A special disk drive, either a FDHD drive (Superdrive) or an Apple PC drive, is required for apple File Exchange to recognize and IBM disk. The FDHD drive is available with the newer Macintosh models: SE*, SE30, IIx, IIcx, IIci, and Portable.

*Only the newer machines have the FDHD drives. Older machines only have the 800K drive. If the person doesn't know if they have the FDHD, ask if the drive is 1.4 meg. If it is, they do have the FDHD.


      IBM to MAC
      1.      Save the file on an IBM formatted disk.
      2.      Open Apple File Exchange on the Mac.
      3.      Insert the IBM disk into the Mac.
      4.      Find the file and highlight it.
      5.      Using default translation, translate that file to the Mac. (Make sure DCA-RFT is not selected.)
      6.      Open WordPerfect and go to File Management.
      7.      List all files.
      8.      Find the file name and open it.
      9.      Specify the format of the file and the file will open.
      10.      Before editing the file, save it under a new name in Mac WP format, close it, and reopen it.

      MAC to IBM
      1.      Save the file in 4.2 WordPerfect or 5.0 WordPerfect format with a new name.
      2.      Quit WordPerfect.
      3.      Open Apple File Exchange.
      4.      Insert an IBM disk.
      5.      Find the file and highlight it.
      6.      Using default translation, translate that file to the IBM disk. (Make sure DCA-RFT is not selected.)
      7.      Quit Apple File Exchange.
      8.      Take the disk to an IBM and insert it.
      9.      Start WordPerfect and retrieve the file normally.


The following information is to help you become familiar with the apple File Exchange screens.

The Apple File Exchange icon appears on the desktop as two twisted arrows with a hand beside them.


File Edit
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Apple File Exchange |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |--------------| |
| | Macintosh | |
| |--------------| |
||---------------------------| |-----------------------||
|| 1.0.3 |-| | |-||
|| 1.0.4 |-| |--------------| | | ||
|| 1.0.5 | | | Translate | | | ||
|| 2.0 | | |--------------| | | ||
|| 2.0 screen dumps | | |--------------| | | ||
|| 4D Runtime | | | Remove | | | ||
|| AFE Icon | | |--------------| | | ||
|| Apple File Exchange F.| | | | ||
|| Apple Scanner Softw. | | | | ||
|| Desktop |-| | |-||
||---------------------------| |-----------------------||
| Macintosh |
| 50209.5K bytes available |
| |
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
| | Open | | Drive | | Open | | Drive ||
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
| |New Folder| | Eject | |New Folder| | Eject ||
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
This is what the Apple File Exchange dialogue looks like before an IBM disk is inserted.


File Edit Mac to MS-DOS MS-DOS to Mac
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Apple File Exchange |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |--------------| |----------------| |
| | Macintosh | | UNTITLED_MS | |
| |--------------| |----------------| |
||---------------------------| |-----------------------||
|| 1.0.3 |-| | CENTER.50 |-||
|| 1.0.4 |-| |--------------| | CENTER.TST | ||
|| 1.0.5 | | | Translate | | TEST123 | ||
|| 2.0 | | |--------------| | | ||
|| 2.0 screen dumps | | |--------------| | | ||
|| 4D Runtime | | | Remove | | | ||
|| AFE Icon | | |--------------| | | ||
|| Apple File Exchange F.| | | | ||
|| Apple Scanner Softw. | | | | ||
|| Desktop |-| | |-||
||---------------------------| |-----------------------||
| Macintosh UNTITLED_MS |
| 50209.5K bytes available 702K bytes available |
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
| | Open | | Drive | | Open | | Drive ||
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
| |New Folder| | Eject | |New Folder| | Eject ||
| |----------| |----------| |----------| |---------||
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
This is how the dialogue appears after an IBM disk is inserted. Notice the menus across the top have changed.


DOS Mounter
DOS Mounter does a "disk" transfer using the FDHD drive also. It is a more transparent method of disk transfer. DOS Mounter treats the IBM like any other Mac disk.

      IBM to Mac
      1.      Insert the IBM disk into the Mac FDHD drive.
      2.      Double-click the IBM disk.
      3.      Drag the IBM WordPerfect file on to the Mac hard drive.
      4.      Open WordPerfect and go to File Management.
      5.      List all files.
      6.      Find the filename and double-click it open.
      7.      Specify whether the file was a 4.2 or 5.0 file.

      Mac to IBM
      1.      Save the file with a new name in 4.2 WordPerfect or 5.0 WordPerfect format.
      2.      Quit WordPerfect
      3.      Insert an IBM disk into the Mac FDHD drive.
      4.      Drag the file to the IBM disk.
      5.      Eject the IBM disk.
      6.      Take the disk to an IBM and retrieve the file normally.


Dayna File
Dayna File is an external drive that will allow the Mac to recognize an IBM disk in the same way DOS Mounter does (the IBM disk will appear on the desktop).

The Dayna File drive is an alternative for those who do not have the FDHD drive in their Mac.

      IBM to Mac
      1.      Make sure the Dayna File is functioning.
      2.      Insert the IBM disk in the Dayna File; an icon will appear on the desktop.
      3.      Double-click the IBM disk.
      4.      Drag the IBM WordPerfect file on to the Mac hard drive.
      5.      Open WordPErfect and go to File Management.
      6.      List All Files.
      7.      Find the filename and double-click it.
      8.      Specify whether the file was a 4.2 or 5.0 file.

      MAC to IBM
      1.      Save the file with a new name in 4.2 WordPerfect of 5.0 WordPerfect format.
      2.      Quit WordPerfect
      3.      Insert an IBM disk into the Dayna File drive.
      4.      Drag the file to the IBM disk.
      5.      Trash the IBM disk icon and remove the disk from the Dayna File.
      6.      Take the disk to an IBM and retrieve the file normally.

Answer:

Details:


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