Transfer TIFF files from Macintosh IIsi to Windows PC

Hello Jim,

One way would be to copy the files to 1.44 MB Mac-(re)formatted HD floppy disks on the IIsi, and then move these to the PC. I assume that the PC either has a built-in floppy drive or that an external USB drive can be connected to it. You would also need a utility (such as TransMac) capable of handling Mac-formatted disks on a Windows PC. Please note that 800K Mac-formatted DD disks cannot be used.

Alternatively, it is possible to set up a direct null-modem link between the MiniDIN-8F modem port of the IIsi and the (typically) DB-9M serial port of a PC. A hardware handshake Mac modem cable (MiniDIN-8M to DB-25M) combined with a standard PC null-modem cable (DB-25F to DB-9F) would be required. Terminal emulation software with file transfer capabilities would be needed on both computers (this can be the communications section of ClarisWorks on the Mac and HyperTerminal on a PC).

Jan

Addendum/correction

>HyperTerminal on a PC

HyperTerminal was part of Windows before Vista. There are other communication programs that can be used for serial file transfers.

Hi Jim,

First of all, I assume that the MiniDIN-8M to DB-25M is a hardware handshake Mac modem cable and that the DB-25F to DB-9F is a PC-style null-modem cable.

Secondly, is ClarisWorks 4 compatible with the operating system on the Mac IIsi? I was under the impression that System 7 was required for later versions of ClarisWorks. Otherwise, do you have an earlier ClarisWorks version or another communications program (terminal emulator with file transfer capabilities, something like ZTerm or Kermit) compatible with System 6?

Jan

Jim,

1) Hopefully, that is a hardware handshake cable (most new ones are).

2) Does it say null-modem somewhere on the piece (or was it advertised as a null-modem adapter)?

3) OK, good. Would it be correct to assume that you have transferred all files to the PowerBook 180 already (or that you connect the Bernouilli and SyQuest drives to the SCSI port of the PowerBook)? The message earlier indicates that the needed Communications Toolbox tools are not available in the System Folder of the PB 180. You should be looking for things like Apple Modem Tool, Serial Tool, et cetera in the Extensions Folder. If not there, check whether they can be installed using the ClarisWorks or the 7.1 system software installer. Tools can also be downloaded from Apple.

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Networking-Communications/Comm_Toolbox/

If you need to download files from the Internet using a Windows PC, you can transfer files directly as they are (in MacBinary = .bin format) on PC-formatted 1.44 MB floppy disks to the PB 180, providing that the utility Apple File Exchange is used/installed on the latter (if not, look for it on the System 7.1 Tidbits floppy). Use an appropriate version of StuffIt Expander to decode the .bin on the PB 180.

Alternatively, the shareware program ZTerm 1.0.1 may be of interest.

Jan

Jim,

2) If necessary, a commonly available PC-style null-modem cable is often a multi-head variant with DB-9F and DB-25F both sides.

3) Apple File Exchange (can be manually installed from a folder on the Tidbits system disk) is a program that allows the handling of PC-formatted floppies on a System 7.1 Mac. Later system versions used a PC Exchange control panel, which made the PC disk appear directly on the Desktop instead.

Jan

Jim,

1) If you correctly transferred the files to the PowerBook 180 unaltered (.bin, .hqx or .sit), the next step would be to decode/decompress them. To do this, an appropriate version of StuffIt Expander is used. I suppose that you have a StuffIt Expander version (4?) suitable for the System 7.1 Mac somewhere (otherwise, please let me know for further instructions).

Do not double-click on any file originating from a PC. Instead, drag the file onto the StuffIt Expander program icon, or open the file from within this utility.

I think ZTerm 1.0.1 does not require the Communications Toolbox tools (but ClarisWorks does).

2) If you had some kind of Ethernet capability for the PB 180 (external SCSI-to-Ethernet adapter) or the IIsi (network card), we could possibly find a way. Unfortunately, both the PB 180 and the IIsi use SCSI hard drives that cannot easily be removed and connected to a modern computer (this can be done with IDE/ATA drives).

Jan

Addendum

The ideal situation would be if you had or could borrow a pre-1998 Macintosh computer (PowerBook or desktop) with Ethernet.

You could then connect the Bernoulli and SyQuest drives to the SCSI port.

File sharing between the PowerBook 180 or the IIsi and the intermediate computer would be possible through LocalTalk (or just a plain Mac printer cable MiniDIN-8M to MiniDIN-8M between the printer ports).

The Ethernet port of the intermediate computer could be connected to the built-in switch of a router. A suitable operating system (for example, the downloadable System 7.5.3) includes TCP/IP software, which would allow transfers to both the iMac and a Windows PC.

Jan

Hi again,

1) With access to a PC with a floppy drive:

If no appropriate version of StuffIt Expander for Macintosh is available, you may want to try this: Use a PC to download the MACDISK.EXE file mentioned in the web page below. Prepare an empty PC-formatted 1.44 MB diskette via FORMAT A: in DOS or the full formatting option under Windows (important). Do this even if the diskette is new. Run the downloaded MACDISK.EXE program on the PC. Follow the on-screen directions. The result will be a floppy that automatically has changed to Mac format. This floppy disk contains a StuffIt Expander 4.0.1 installer for Macintosh. Move the floppy to your PowerBook 180 and install StuffIt Expander.

http://rrzs42.uni-regensburg.de/Macintosh/files/macftp.html

(If you so wish, try a Google translation of the page).

Jan