Transferring Graphics Between Apple II and Macintosh Computers. Part I. Discussion and Requirements. by Bob L. Allen (GEnie: B.Allen9) 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.