From: jcooper@utkvx1.utk.edu (Jonathan Cooper)
Subject: Re: Mac PC Exchange, AccessPC & DOSMounter
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.apps
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Tennessee Computing Center
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 08:10:00 GMT

In article <val-260892180058@kip-20.apple.com>, val@apple.com (Jack Valois) writes...
>In article <1992Aug17.203906.15711@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>,
>geoffb@coos.dartmouth.edu (Geoff Bronner) wrote:
>> 
>> In <3974@svin02.info.win.tue.nl> robg@wsinfo11.info.win.tue.nl (Rob Gerth) writes:
>I agree that this is a problem with some people.  The problem is that the
>Finder
>wants to create a desktop file on all disks.  You can lock the disk and
>still mount the disk, but that only works if you want to copy from the DOS
>disk to the Mac.  
> 
>Let Apple know how much this "feature" bothers you.  If enough of you are
>dissatisfied with this behavior, we will change it.  You have to realize
>that
>what you will give up is some Mac compatibility.  The folder it creates is
>for
>the resource fork of the files in the current directory.  If you don't care
>for this, Do you ever care about making aliases to a file on the disk or
>ever copying a Mac file to that disk?

maybe if the resource.frk directory is created only if those circumstances
occur?  PC exchange caused a system disk to refuse to boot on my multispeed,
simply by being "read" by the mac; i had to reformat it.

>> 
>> As far as I can tell, all three utilitys only provide Mac app
>> double-clickability on _disks_ and are no help on local hard disks or
>> NetWare volumes, that's really too bad.
>> 
>Your correct about this.  The reason is that the mapping is being done by
>the file system.  In the case of PC Exchange and ~AccessPC they are a
>foriegn file system and only manage PC disks.  When the file resides on a
>Mac disk or file server the PC foriegn file systems are not in the call
>chain and don't have a chance to map the file to another application.  What
>you want would require a much different approach to accomplish.
> 
>> So I'm going to try and get a look at the current DOS Mounter and then
>> choose between it and ~AccessPC.
>> 
>Don't dismiss PC Exchange!  It is significantly more stable and compatible
>with System 7.  TRUST me I know!!!  If you are using System 7 and don't
>have the need to transfer files via something like a Syquest cart, I would
>go with PC Exchange or wait until PC Exchange supports other type of media.
> Once again, Let Apple know that you NEED this type of media support.  You
>will be surprised how much you can effect changes...

i don't know if this is falling on the right ears, but what i would _really_
like to see is hard disk support in the prodos file system extension.  data
exchange would be significantly easier for me if i could just plug my GS's had
drive into my powerbook and read the prodos partitions rather than having to
copy stuff to floppies.  prodos already supports extended files, and there are
even defined methods of storing mac creator and file types, so these issues
aren't going to be a problem.

also, the extension should be made available more easily.  having to download
an entire 1.44mb floppy for one small extension is just a little silly
considering that it works on all macs, not just the lc with the II emulator
card. 

>Jack Valois
>Mac OS Group
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* Jonathan Cooper                       *  don't ya really wish people would *
* Internet:  jcooper@utkvx.utk.edu      *  stop including .signature files?  *
*            PA4487@utkvm1.utk.edu      *  no?  i didn't think so.           *
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