Msg: 6139 *Conference*
11-23-95 09:39:02
From: RICHARD HANSON
To : TOD FYTEN
Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6138 (MAC)
In response... > It is possible to transfer files from both the Mac and > Apple // line of computers via the modem port using > standard communication software. One may need a > null modem and will have to take some time to > match parameters, but it is possible. It is more than possible. Moving files by way of RS232 ports or anyother two similar ports (parallel, RS442, etc) is one of the basic functions of all digital computers; and there are six computer functions: input, process, output, control, storage and data communications. Note: There are only six system components to all digital computers but I will leave that one alone unless asked. Yes, for most folks, using standard communications software is the easiest way to do this but there are other ways, as well. These include: redirecting application output through the specified port, using some kind of specalized software, or personally programming something special. One of my favorite tricks, of days gone by, was developped in response to the old saw, "But our old computer isn't compatible with our new computer, and there's no serial port or communications software. We're going to have to rekey everything ... boo hoo hoo waaa! I thought, this is silly. The character set is the same. (When you know your fundamentals you can solve almost anything.) All we have to do is redirect the printer port output of the old computer into either the printer port input of the new, via a redirect from the operating system, or through the serial port via a parallel to serial conversion device. A major sub-set to this process is to make sure that we match the character set or data type, i.e. ASCII, HEX, OCTAL, BCD, EBCDIC. Then, just open a file on the new computer, looking for input from whatever device we choose, hit the <print> key on the old computer, and ... do lunch! So there you go ... bada-bing, bada-boom ... we-be computer geeks! All the best, and a big Thanksgiving to you and yours from me and mine. -Rick-