Help: Executable Mac files

Subject: Executable Mac files
From: Zebedee
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 05:15 PM

I'm going to see my Dad this weekend (for the first time in ages)

He's asked me to explain email attachments to him, and I want to sent a variety of file types before I get there.

He uses a Mac and I have no idea of the Mac equivalent to a .exe file.

If anyone can explain that or even better point me towards a nice small self-contained Mac program which I can send him, I'd be most grateful.

I will of course highlight the virus threat.

Many thanks

Ed

Subject: RE: Help: Executable Mac files
From: Zebedee
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 07:55 PM

Anyone?

I'd be most grateful

Ed

Subject: RE: Help: Executable Mac files
From: jeffp
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 08:24 PM

Zebedee, the .exe equivalent in Macs is just known as an application file. If you'd like me to send him a small one (they can get quite large), let me know. I'll check this thread in the AM, or you can PM me. I'll send a piece of shareware, so there won't be any copyright issues involved.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Help: Executable Mac files
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 01:52 AM

Also contact Mudcatter Amos by PM-- MacSmartie, that one.

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: Executable Mac files
From: Zebedee
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 09:26 AM

Jeffp,

I've found some stuff from a mac shareware site with .hqx extension. Is that the equivalent to .exe in windows?

Ed

Subject: RE: Help: Executable Mac files
From: jeffp
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 09:54 AM

The .hqx extension is used for files that are BinHex encoded for compression. They will automatically decompress when downloaded on a Mac. User-to-user transmission is usually done with uncompressed files or if the sender has Stuffit (the most common compression utility for Macs), a stuffed version is sent, usually with the .sit extension added. Macs, as a rule, do not use extensions to identify files, except where certain applications (such as Word, Excel, etc.) have standardized their use. File types are encoded in the file header along with a creater code which links a data file to the application that created it. This linkage allows you to double-click on a data file and have the appropriate application automatically open to work with it.

An application will generally not carry any extension at all. For example, Microsoft Word is named just that, no .exe or anything. The extension thing grew out of DOS naming conventions, where you were limited to an 8.3 format (8 characters, a period, then a 3-character extension). Of course, with the growth of the Internet, other extensions have proliferated, such as .gif, .jpg, .htm, etc. These are mostly to allow browsers to correctly interpret the different types of files.

You might send your Dad a .jpg (picture) file, a .doc (if he has MS Word), a .rtf (Rich Text Format, a sort of lingua franca for word processors), and/or maybe a .pdf (portable document format - Adobe Acrobat format, a great way to exchange documents between platforms) as examples of what is possible.

I hope this helps to clear some things up. Thinking this hard on a Friday morning isn't easy. Let me know if you have any more questions. It won't surprise me; I'm sure I haven't explained everything clearly.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Help: Executable Mac files
From: Zebedee
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 11:28 AM

Many thanks Jeff,

You've given me all I need to know

Most of my further questions will probably come next week after I've been baffled by the Mac

In passing, is there an equivalent of 'windows explorer' on the mac? The last time I visited my dad I got really frustrated at my inability to get 'under the hood' as it were

Ed

Subject: RE: Help: Executable Mac files
From: jeffp
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 11:44 AM

The Mac desktop works pretty much as Windows Explorer on its own. You can double-click on disk and folder icons to examine what's in them and move files around by dragging and dropping. If you drag and drop an icon to another folder on the same disk drive, it will move the file. If you drag it to another disk, it will copy the file. If you want to copy a file to another location on the same disk, you can hold down the Option key as you drag it. You can also duplicate a file by selecting it (click once) and choosing Duplicate under the File menu. The View menu allows you to change the way files are presented (as icons or lists ordered in different ways).

One thing that confuses many people is that to dismount a disk (floppy, zip, CD-ROM, etc.) you drag its icon to the trash can. If you do that with a file or folder, it's thrown away. If you do it with a disk, it just ejects it and removes its icon from the screen. Other than that it's pretty straightforward, IMO.

Play around with it for a while and you'll probably get comfortable with it fairly quickly. I've been using Macs for 15 years and love 'em. I'll be happy to address any questions you can come up with. Helps keep me on my toes trying to communicate things that have become second nature to me. Have fun!!

jeffp