------------------------------------- This file accompanies a2fx version .8 ------------------------------------- April 7, 1991 This version of a2fx should have all the transfer bugs worked out. No more complaints about unable to read the directory, or unable to find files, etc. However, I'm fairly certain there are a couple random bugs floating around. I haven't been able to duplicate them with any real success, so I haven't been able to fix them. I really hate those types of bugs. A filetype and aux filetype box have been added, due to a fair number of people saying that would be a neat and useful thing to have. I think it's pretty slick, myself. :) Apologies to those who have waited for a new version to come out. I had planned to have the next version of a2fx be able to transfer directories and their contents, but lack of time combined with realizations that I should rewrite the core of a2fx has derailed that idea. Finally, thanks to all those who have send donations in and have called and sent letters. It is this support that has made this version of a2fx possible. Give yourselves a pat on the back -- without the stack of letters I have sitting beside me, I would have stopped working on a2fx months ago. And one final word: To send bug reports, donations, comments, or what have you, use the following addresses. Email addresses tend to get more immediate response, especially my Internet address. Chan Wilson 3372 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94304 415/856-2532 Internet: cwilson@nisc.sri.com GEnie: cwilson6 AOL: cwilson ----------------------------------------------------------- A2fx Documentation Copyright 1990-1991 Chan Wilson 91/04 ----------------------------------------------------------- Greetings. This document is intended to assist the reader in using the program a2fx. It will also explain some of the background behind a2fx and what is and isn't possible with a2fx. First off, let me point out that all a2fx is capable of doing (at this point in time) is to read 800K HFS formatted disks (standard Macintosh 3.5" disks) and transfer selected files across. It cannot: oautomagically transform a Macintosh application into a Apple ][ application. oautomagically translate an Excel spreadsheet into an Appleworks spreadsheet, or any other translations that may or may not be possible using the Macintosh application Apple File Exchange. oautomagically transfer a Macintosh font file into a Apple //gs font file. owrite to Macintosh disks. oread or write IBM-pc format disks. In the future, some of the above abilities may be added. Please don't hold your breath, however.. Now, the bright side, what a2fx can be used for: otransferring text, DIF, and sound files from a Macintosh disk to an Apple //. oIn conjunction with an Apple //gs program called Resource Spy, it can transfer Macintosh font files into a format suitable for Resource Spy to translate into Apple //gs font files. otransferring any macintosh file onto a ProDOS disk for later dissection and perusal. Now that I've established what a2fx can and cannot do, let us move onto the more fundamental issue of actually using a2fx to transfer files. A2fx is an 8 bit ProDOS SYS file. It will run on any Apple //e and up with 80 column display capability and 64K. Using a2fx will appear very similar to Shrinkit, both in appearance and in action. Users familiar with Shrinkit should feel at ease using a2fx. ::::::::: Main Menu ::::::::: The main menu of a2fx is very simple. There are only 3 choices: Transfer files, About a2fx, and Quit. Transfer files starts you on the process of transferring Macintosh files to ProDOS files. About a2fx is a short blurb about a2fx. Quit will return you to the program that launched a2fx. ****** Note!! ****** Pressing OA-. at almost every dialog box will return you to the main menu. ******************** :::::::::::::: Transfer files :::::::::::::: Upon entering this option, a2fx will search all 3.5" drives for Macintosh disks. Failing to find any Macintosh disks, it will display a window of all devices and volumes online, similar to the one depicted below:  _________________________________  | Choose Path.. | | | | RAMS3,D2 | |S7,D1 | | ZOW S6,D1 | | S5,D1 | | RAM6 S5,D2 | | YARG S4,D1 | | S4,D2 | | | | | |_________________________________| Once you have inserted a Macintosh HFS disk, press OA (open apple) O to rescan the online disks. If a2fx recognizes the 3.5" disk as an HFS disk, it will display the volume name of the disk with a ">" in front of the name, like so:  _________________________________  | Choose Path.. | | | | RAMS3,D2 | |S7,D1 | | ZOW S6,D1 | | >Sounds 3 S5,D1 | | RAM6 S5,D2 | | YARG S4,D1 | | S4,D2 | | | | | |_________________________________| Move the highlight bar down to the Macintosh volume and hit return. Once you have selected a Macintosh volume, a2fx will read the root directory of the volume and display the contents. The layout of the filename display is such: Folder Check Filename Type Data Creator Rsrc Icon mark blks blks oChoose files by pressing the space bar to mark/unmark files, and hit return to begin transfer of the files. oTo enter a subdirectory (folder), move the cursor to the directory and hit return or CA-downarrow. oTo move up a level, press escape or CA-uparrow. oTo change disks, hit tab. oTo select/unselect all files in the directory, press OA-a. oTo move the cursor up by a screenfull, press OA-uparrow. oTo move the cursor down by a screenfull, press OA-downarrow. Once you have selected the files to transfer, and hit return, a2fx will ask you how you want the files stored on the ProDOS volume. oIf you have selected more than one file, a2fx will ask you if it should prompt for the storage method for each file. oA2fx prompts you for the storage method of the file. There are four options: oData Fork only. The most common option, this will transfer only the data fork of the Macintosh file.  o AppleSingle format. This stores the Macintosh file (both resource and data forks) as an AppleSingle file. Read the DTS technote for possible uses and more information. oAppleDouble format. This stores the Macintosh file (both resource and data forks) as an AppleDouble file. Read the DTS technote for possible uses and more information. oResource fork only. This will transfer only the resource fork of the Macintosh file. oNext, a2fx will prompt you for the filetype and auxiliary filetype of the file. Use the arrow keys to change the filetype. Left and right arrows add/subtract by one, up and down arrows add/subtract by 10. Enter the auxiliary filetype in hexadecimal. oFinally, a2fx will prompt for a location for the transferred files. Use the same commands as the previous file dialog box to select a volume and directory. A2fx will transfer the files, displaying a status bar for each file. To abort the transfer, press escape or OA-. :::::::::: About A2fx :::::::::: This will display a brief blurb about a2fx, a summary of the storage methods, and how to contact the author of a2fx. :::: Quit :::: Surprisingly enough, this quits a2fx and returns you to the launching application.