20 Dec
1999
20 Dec
'99
3:19 p.m.
I just had a kind of odd request.
This one's for the Apple gurus on the list: Is it at all possible, through
hardware, software, or 'other,' to read 5.25" floppies written on an Apple
IIe on a PC?
Taking that one step further: Has anyone heard of the word processing
program 'Zardax,' and if so, do you know if it's possible to convert its
files to a more common format?
Thanks in advance.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies
http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com
Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our
own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
20 Dec
20 Dec
3:09 p.m.
Bruce Lane asks:
This one's for the Apple gurus on the list: Is it
at all possible, through
hardware, software, or 'other,' to read 5.25" floppies written on an Apple
IIe on a PC?
Hardware.
The easiest-to-find hardware accessory for a PC to read Apple ][ diskettes
is an Apple ][ with a serial card. But there were special boards that could
do it.
3:28 p.m.
I beleive that you need a MatchPoint board from MicroSolutions to do that.
It was advertised to be able to read both NorthStar and Apple formatted
disks. I have never tried it with an Apple disk, though. I've never heard
of Zardax, but it's name is reminiscent of either a space invader-type game
or perhaps a laxative <g>.
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
Saver of Lost SOLs (and N*'s, too)
-----Original Message-----
From: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
[mailto:CLASSICCMP-owner@u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Bruce Lane
Sent: Monday, December 20, 1999 9:20 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: An odd request...
I just had a kind of odd request.
This one's for the Apple gurus on the list: Is it at all possible, through
hardware, software, or 'other,' to read 5.25" floppies written on an Apple
IIe on a PC?
Taking that one step further: Has anyone heard of the word processing
program 'Zardax,' and if so, do you know if it's possible to convert its
files to a more common format?
Thanks in advance.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies
http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com
Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our
own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
7:45 p.m.
On Mon, 20 Dec 1999, Bob Stek wrote:
I beleive that you need a MatchPoint board from
MicroSolutions to do that.
It was advertised to be able to read both NorthStar and Apple formatted
disks. I have never tried it with an Apple disk, though. I've never heard
of Zardax, but it's name is reminiscent of either a space invader-type game
or perhaps a laxative <g>.
Bob is correct about the MatchPoint card, which does a pretty good job
on both formats. It is unfortunate that they chose to discontinue
manufacture and development of that and other legacy computer support
products.
As to the Zardax word processor files, my top of the head estimate would
be that it is possible to convert them over to a more current WP format.
The question then becomes - is it practical?
- don
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
Saver of Lost SOLs (and N*'s, too)
-----Original Message-----
From: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
[mailto:CLASSICCMP-owner@u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Bruce Lane
Sent: Monday, December 20, 1999 9:20 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: An odd request...
I just had a kind of odd request.
This one's for the Apple gurus on the list: Is it at all possible, through
hardware, software, or 'other,' to read 5.25" floppies written on an Apple
IIe on a PC?
Taking that one step further: Has anyone heard of the word processing
program 'Zardax,' and if so, do you know if it's possible to convert its
files to a more common format?
Thanks in advance.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies
http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com
Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our
own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
5:11 p.m.
This one's for the Apple gurus on the list: Is it
at all possible,
through
hardware, software, or 'other,' to read 5.25" floppies written on an Apple
IIe on a PC?
This from our Teledisc contact person? (not like "I" know of course)
Did anyone ever find out if the Central Point Deluxe Option board works
with Teledisc software? (you know that software thing many of us grouped to
buy a share of the 25 user licenses).
7:24 p.m.
At 20:11 20-12-1999 -0800, you wrote:
This from our Teledisc contact person? (not like
"I" know of course)
I never claimed to be an expert in older disk formats. I still have a lot
to learn.
Did anyone ever find out if the Central Point Deluxe
Option board works
with Teledisc software? (you know that software thing many of us grouped to
buy a share of the 25 user licenses).
Teledisk would not help me in this case. I need to be able to read the
floppies' file structure, and extract the files that are on it for
translation to a more common format, not make an image of the floppies
involved for archiving.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies
http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com
Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our
own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
7:52 p.m.
On Mon, 20 Dec 1999, Mike Ford wrote:
I don't know that it would buy you much it TeleDisk can access the disk
via the DOB, as the accompanying soft ware to the SOB will make an image
file of the disk, which is what TeleDisk does. Neither will 'read' it.
- don
This one's
for the Apple gurus on the list: Is it at all possible,
through
hardware, software, or 'other,' to read 5.25" floppies written on an Apple
IIe on a PC?
This from our Teledisc contact person? (not like "I" know of course)
Did anyone ever find out if the Central Point Deluxe Option board works
with Teledisc software? (you know that software thing many of us grouped to
buy a share of the 25 user licenses). 
21 Dec
21 Dec
7:56 a.m.
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4:15 p.m.
New subject: Where to get an IBM-based Apple Card
On or about 06:56 PM 12/21/99 +0000, Tony Duell was caught in a dark alley
speaking these words:
There were also Apple ][ emulator
cards for the PC (basically a complete Apple ][ on an ISA card) that did
the same sort of thing. No idea where you'd find these (for sale --
people on this list have them but are hanging on to them) these days.
Try here:
www.ahhz.com and click on their computers link... but be warned -- when
they used to sell them for $20, now they want $79USD, IIRC. BTW, this
particular card is called a "Diamond Trackstar E" and works like an Apple //e.
Also, IIRC they do sell a lot of stuff (or at least they used to) on
www.haggle.com - kinda like an Ebay without the crowd, or as much stuff.
Sometimes you can get pretty good deals there, because it's a lot more off
the beaten path.
Hope this helps,
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
=====
Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- zmerch(a)30below.com
SysAdmin - Iceberg Computers
===== Merch's Wild Wisdom of the Moment: =====
Sometimes you know, you just don't know sometimes, you know?
23 Dec
23 Dec
3:15 a.m.
Taking that one step further: Has anyone heard of the
word processing
program 'Zardax,' and if so, do you know if it's possible to convert its
files to a more common format?
That is an easy one from here. Zardax was written by a company called
Computer Solutions, located in Mt Gravatt, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia -
about 15 minutes drive from where I live.
I have the full manual and disks if anyone needs a copy. I have checked
through the manual, and like most software of the time, there does not seem
to be an "export" or equivalent function. I could check out the disk format
over the Xmas break if you still need help on this.
Phil
(in Brisbane, Australia).
1:11 p.m.
That is an easy one from here. Zardax was written by a
company called
Computer Solutions, located in Mt Gravatt, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia -
about 15 minutes drive from where I live.
I have the full manual and disks if anyone needs a copy. I have checked
through the manual, and like most software of the time, there does not seem
to be an "export" or equivalent function. I could check out the disk format
over the Xmas break if you still need help on this.
A common feature in word processing programs in those days was "Print to a
file" (since printers were expensive, and not everybody had one). Use of
"Print to a file" permitted the user to go through the formatting
processes of printing, and produce a file that could be sneaker-net'd to
another machine for copying to a printer.
If you configure the program to think that it is going to print to a DUMB
printer (no f9onts, no graphics, etc.), then the resulting file is
typically very close to plain text.
Previous posts mentioned high bit being set on some characters. That is
the most obvious characteristic of a WordStar "document" file. Many word
processors that have the capability of importing a WordStar file can
handle that.
24 Dec
24 Dec
7:05 a.m.
This one's for the Apple gurus on the list: Is it
at all possible, through
hardware, software, or 'other,' to read 5.25" floppies written on an Apple
IIe on a PC?
The simpliest way would be just a vintage A2 with SSC and just transfer the files.
The best ways, especialy when you't may need it more than just once, or you're
missing time to setup, buy a Diamond Trackstar Emulator board. Thats a complete
A2e on a 8 Bit PC card. And an original drive, connected to the Trackstar.
Ahhz still has them at an acceptable price, especialy when you'd use it professional.
Together with a second CRT you're geting a real cute PC plus Apple System. Check
http://www.ahhz.com/docs/ecs039.htm
Gruss
H.
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Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
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11 comments
10 participants
participants (10)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
bobstek＠ix.netcom.com -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
donm＠cts.com -
eric＠brouhaha.com -
guerney＠uq.net.au -
Hans.Franke＠mch20.sbs.de -
kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com -
zmerch＠30below.com