Zterm, serial transfers, file types, System Six, pain. — #6

Post #6 by Gorgonops

Source Forum	68kMLA
Category	Networking
Post Date	Fri, 6 Sep 2013 - 19:43
Original URL	https://68kmla.org/bb/threads/zterm-serial-transfers-file-types-system-six-pain.28811/

Post

1.) Is your cable wired the same way I have drawn the diagram?

I think the problem lies in the somewhat skanky pile of adapters I cobbled together to go from the 25 pin end of the 8->25 pin apple cable I had to a nine pin PC serial port. (I tested the connections through with the multitester and pin 7->2 doesn't make it.) I may just cut the end off it and wire it up directly.

And yeah, speed *sucks* without hardware handshaking. The file does eventually make it but it hurts.

2.) You don't need ZTerm on OS X to make it work. minicom and HyperTerminal work fine.

I used it because it was there. The serial communications (other than the handshake) isn't really the problem. The reason I was wondering about using Zterm inside Basilisk as a possible solution is looking at the limited menu options there are for "what creator type to use for transferred files" inside the program there's a curious checkbox that says something like "Smart Macbinary", and I was wondering perhaps if you had the classic version talking to the classic version that "smart" setting did some magic to properly send the resource fork/type/creator information over when you did a transfer. (The OS X version has it as well, but resource forks have been officially broken on OS X as of 10.6 so maybe it doesn't work?) This link vaguely suggests that maybe it does?

3.) For the .sit hassle, just use an emulator or a newer Mac with something like Stuffit Expander 14. Use the emulator to repack the contents into a CompactPro archive. (I'm a big fan of CompactPro. Too bad I can't register it.) Then use BinHex 4.0 to binhex it. Shuffle it over the network with ASCII encoding (not binary), then fire up Finder Info 1.1.1 and change the type to TEXT and the creator to BNHQ. Decode it, pass it through CompactPro and rejoice greatly.

Since I officially despise Stuffit I'll definitely take a look at CompactPro, thank you. (Does it work okay without a key?) I still have the problem of getting CompactPro and the other tools onto the Plus. Classic chicken and the egg problem. :/

Wish I'd picked up one of those USB-SCSI adapters back when stores were practically giving them away.

4.) AFP bridge with Netatalk 2.1.6 under a Linux VM.

I would kill for an AFP bridge. (Also need a Localtalk dongle or other appropriate cabling for the Plus.) Well, "kill" is the wrong word; Asante's online store has supposedly has them new for $78, I'm not that desperate. But I definitely am keeping my eyes open for one.

5.) Use Pseudo-PPP dialup.

Another thing I've considered, but would have to get the MacPPP and the software bits onto the Plus first.

(Yet another thing that's high on my list to try is bbraun's serial disk driver. But I've got to get the INIT over...)

That is why I wrote the Guide. I had the same issues you had and decided to chronicle the experience.

And kudos, it is indeed full of useful information. I just seem to be stuck at a point where I have too few tools already on the Plus to process the files I get over serial. I guess my options (short of getting a bridge Mac) are probably:

0: Fix my stupid serial cable. (Non-negotiable prerequisite)

1: Try Zterm in BasiliskII and see if file typing works. (figure it's worth a shot. I have succeeded in getting Zterm+BasilikII to talk over a physical serial cable before under Linux in the past... I forget precisely *why* I did so, so it should be possible to try it.)

2: Suck it up and go the "wire up the SCSI disk to a PC" route to get some vital tools over, or

3: See if anyone nearby has a working beige box and could copy some files to a disk for me...

You should buy my last complete G3 AIO from me.ITs really the ultimate bridge mac.

Heh. Alas I think I have to pass on a Molar. (They're just too huge. I think these compact Macs have just about put me at the self-imposed "one closet's worth" limit on antique computer collecting.) I can't believe I'm saying this, but some really undesirable-yet-small doorstop like a Performa 6xx(x) series would be... about right. (I've been talking to CC_333 about possibly taking a beater Powerbook off his hands but there may be some kinks to that.)

lol doesn't mcdermd pack like a pro?

Heck, yeah. I think the stuff would have survived if he'd sent it via catapult.

I am afraid I'll have to be looking up how to do an analog board rejuvenation sooner than later. I've noticed the longer the Plus is on the *wider* the screen gets. (It starts off a bit off-center, and after being on for an hour or so the leftmost row of pixels are off the edge. There's also a bit of non-linearity on the left side.) I'm sure that's a symptom of some approaching doom.

In zterm, under Settings -> General Preferences, you can set the type/creator codes zterm uses when creating the documents. Type SITD, Creator: SIT! is what stuffit uses.

Aha! So you CAN hard-code something else. (I couldn't find it, guess I'm blind.) Is it possible to hard-set it to whatever it would take to expand a self-expanding executable? (I've read you can create ones that a Plus can expand with Stuffit 4.something?)

If you need a localtalk/ethertalk printer bridge, I've got a spare Farallon EtherMac iPrint Adapter that unfortunately lacks a PSU.

If it's just a wall wart I can probably roll with that...

Anyway, thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I have at least a few things to try. I'll also try to get my rear end over the Weirdstuff and see if I can find any bits (like a USB SCSI dongle) that could grease the wheels.