From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Have any of you who have used Kelvin's GoldenGate installed the ProFUSE
2.0 FUSE file system that he mentions is included with it:

ProFUSE 2.0, featuring read/write support for ProDOS and HFS, is
available as part of Golden Gate

<https://github.com/ksherlock/profuse>

I've been to the GoldenGate manual, and to the GoldenGate download page
on A2Central, and can't find a thing about it.

For example, does it automount read-write ProDOS images in the MacOS
Finder (after a double-click), or does it require one to access the
Terminal first?

Also, does it mount physical ProDOS-formatted devices?

Thanks, as this thing sounds great, but details are scarce, unless I've
missed something in my search.

The cost of GoldGate ($10) is not an issue, but I'm a Merlin32 guy, so probably wouldn't use it for that part. But, I would regularly use a functioning ProDOSE FUSE.

Thanks.




Hugh Hood
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

On 10/28/2023 2:33 PM, Hugh Hood wrote:

I've been to the GoldenGate manual, and to the GoldenGate download page
on A2Central, and can't find a thing about it.

Correction - Make that the Golden Gate download page on Juiced.GS.

<https://juiced.gs/store/golden-gate/>

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2


Usage is similar to the first version, but internally it uses the GS/OS
FSTs so there is read and write support.

Mounting is done in the terminal, then it's available in Finder or the terminal.

Physical disks should work, if you can access it as a /dev/ block
device (eg, /dev/disk8s16) without a partition table.

Kelvin

On 2023-10-28 19:33:08 +0000, Hugh Hood said:

Have any of you who have used Kelvin's GoldenGate installed the ProFUSE
2.0 FUSE file system that he mentions is included with it:

ProFUSE 2.0, featuring read/write support for ProDOS and HFS, is
available as part of Golden Gate

<https://github.com/ksherlock/profuse>

I've been to the GoldenGate manual, and to the GoldenGate download page
on A2Central, and can't find a thing about it.

For example, does it automount read-write ProDOS images in the MacOS
Finder (after a double-click), or does it require one to access the
Terminal first?

Also, does it mount physical ProDOS-formatted devices?

Thanks, as this thing sounds great, but details are scarce, unless I've missed something in my search.

The cost of GoldGate ($10) is not an issue, but I'm a Merlin32 guy, so probably wouldn't use it for that part. But, I would regularly use a functioning ProDOSE FUSE.

Thanks.

Hugh Hood

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Kelvin,

Thanks for the quick response. I'm going to try this out.

As far as mounting ProDOS-formatted disk images is concerned, can you
foresee any reason why an AppleScript droplet containing the 'do shell
script' command would not work quickly to mount a ProDOS image that is
dropped on it (and avoid having to go to the Terminal each time)?

And, do you have any caveats when using ProFUSE 2.0, or things to avoid?

Years ago I used your version 1.0 read only ProFUSE on an old PPC Mac
running Tiger, but it seems that MacFUSE was not bug-free at the time,
caused me a few 'issues', and I suppose I dropped MacFUSE after that.

I'm sure things are much better today.

One more thing about read-write HFS support -- I believe Mojave (MacOS 10.14.6) already has read-only support for HFS, and the Finder
auto-mounts HFS volumes. Will ProFUSE peacefully co-exist with that?

Thanks.




Hugh Hood



On 10/28/2023 8:02 PM, Kelvin Sherlock wrote:

Usage is similar to the first version, but internally it uses the
GS/OS FSTs so there is read and write support.

Mounting is done in the terminal, then it's available in Finder or
the terminal.

Physical disks should work, if you can access it as a /dev/ block
device (eg, /dev/disk8s16) without a partition table.

Kelvin

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

An AppleScript droplet should be fine. MacFUSE errors tend to require
a reboot but I haven't encountered any in a few years.

ProFUSE coexists with 10.14 (and earlier) native HFS support. If you
mount a disk image multiple times and start modifying files things
might get weird so don't do that :)


On 2023-10-29 02:46:22 +0000, Hugh Hood said:

Kelvin,

Thanks for the quick response. I'm going to try this out.

As far as mounting ProDOS-formatted disk images is concerned, can you foresee any reason why an AppleScript droplet containing the 'do shell script' command would not work quickly to mount a ProDOS image that is dropped on it (and avoid having to go to the Terminal each time)?

And, do you have any caveats when using ProFUSE 2.0, or things to avoid?

Years ago I used your version 1.0 read only ProFUSE on an old PPC Mac running Tiger, but it seems that MacFUSE was not bug-free at the time, caused me a few 'issues', and I suppose I dropped MacFUSE after that.

I'm sure things are much better today.

One more thing about read-write HFS support -- I believe Mojave (MacOS 10.14.6) already has read-only support for HFS, and the Finder
auto-mounts HFS volumes. Will ProFUSE peacefully co-exist with that?

Thanks.

Hugh Hood

On 10/28/2023 8:02 PM, Kelvin Sherlock wrote:

Usage is similar to the first version, but internally it uses the
GS/OS FSTs so there is read and write support.

Mounting is done in the terminal, then it's available in Finder or
the terminal.

Physical disks should work, if you can access it as a /dev/ block
device (eg, /dev/disk8s16) without a partition table.

Kelvin

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Kelvin,

Your ProFUSE 2.0 in read/write mode is too cool on MacOS. I'm tickled
with it.

Even QuickLook works on Apple II files it recognizes, and MacOS Finder
windows even display the custom icons I made for Apple II AppleWorks
files that were registered with LaunchServices (from AppleIIWorks Envoy).

In ways, it helps with things that I'd handle with Andy's CiderPress on Windows, like opening a couple of Finder windows and transferring files between images.

One quick question -- while I had no problems copying files to or from different windows, nor deleting files, trying to create a new folder
gives me this:

The operation can't be completed.
An unexpected error occurred (error code -43).

And, I'm certain the name I've selected is ProDOS-compliant.



In any case, maybe you should separate ProFUSE from GoldenGate. It's
great all by itself.

And thanks one more time for Lilan -- it's one of my most used GS/OS
Finder features.




Hugh Hood



On 10/29/23 3:31 PM, Kelvin Sherlock wrote:

An AppleScript droplet should be fine.   MacFUSE errors tend to require
a reboot but I haven't encountered any in a few years.

ProFUSE coexists with 10.14 (and earlier) native HFS support.  If you
mount a disk image multiple times and start modifying files things might
get weird so don't do that :)

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

On 2023-11-01 16:21:38 +0000, Hugh Hood said:

One quick question -- while I had no problems copying files to or from different windows, nor deleting files, trying to create a new folder
gives me this:

The operation can't be completed.
An unexpected error occurred (error code -43).

And, I'm certain the name I've selected is ProDOS-compliant.

MacOS Finder creates its new folders as "unititled folder",
unfortunately. Apple considered allowing spaces in ProDOS names
(mapping to lowercase '.') but that never made it in.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Kelvin,

Thanks for that explanation.

I apologize for stating (in error) that I was 'certain' that the name I selected for the folder I selected was ProDOS-compliant, as I now see
the MacOS Finder error occurs before I could possibly even make that selection. What was I thinking? Who knows.

The work-around, of course, is easy. Make a new folder outside of the
ProDOS volume, name it *there* with a ProDOS-compliant name, and then
move it to the ProDOS volume.





Hugh Hood



On 11/5/23 7:54 AM, Kelvin Sherlock wrote:

On 2023-11-01 16:21:38 +0000, Hugh Hood said:

One quick question -- while I had no problems copying files to or from
different windows, nor deleting files, trying to create a new folder
gives me this:

The operation can't be completed.
An unexpected error occurred (error code -43).

And, I'm certain the name I've selected is ProDOS-compliant.

MacOS Finder creates its new folders as "unititled folder",
unfortunately.  Apple considered allowing spaces in ProDOS names
(mapping to lowercase '.') but that never made it in.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

On 10/28/2023 8:02 PM, Kelvin Sherlock wrote:

Physical disks should work, if you can access it as a /dev/ block
device (eg, /dev/disk8s16) without a partition table.

I can confirm that ProFUSE will indeed mount ProDOS partitions on
physical media.

My test case was on a USB-connected Zip 100 drive on a Mac Mini with
MacOS 10.14.6 (Mojave) using a 100 mb Zip disk containing (3) ProDOS partitions.

This is the same Zip disk that I use on my IIgs with a SCSI Zip drive
and a RamFAST.

At least on MacOS, the Mac legacy Creator and Type attributes are
preserved, and comply with the AppleShare guidelines for ProDOS File
Type and Aux Type compatibility.

Thanks again, Kelvin. ProFUSE 2.0 is good stuff!




Hugh Hood

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

On 10/29/2023 3:31 PM, Kelvin Sherlock wrote:

An AppleScript droplet should be fine.

CiderPress isn't on MacOS, but Kelvin's ProFUSE 2.0 (in conjunction with MacFUSE) is a great way to work with files on Apple II disk images using
the familiar interface of the MacOS Finder.

So, here's a quick AppleScript Droplet/Application that allows one to
mount one or more Apple II disk images by either dragging and dropping
the images on the Droplet, or by opening the Droplet and using the
Finder to select the image(s) to mount. No access to the Terminal is
required.

I keep my Droplet in the Dock and it works very well.

------------------------------------------------------------

-- mount Apple II image files in the MacOS Finder with ProFUSE


-- A. if Droplet is opened rather than image file(s) dropped on it

set thisFileList to choose file with prompt "Select a file or files:"
with multiple selections allowed

repeat with a from 1 to number of thisFileList

set thisFile to item a of thisFileList
mainRoutine(thisFile)

end repeat

return


-- B. if files dropped on Droplet

on open thisFileList

repeat with thisFile in thisFileList

mainRoutine(thisFile)

end repeat

end open


-- main routine is here

on mainRoutine(thisFile)

set thePathFilename to the quoted form of POSIX path of (thisFile as string)
do shell script "/usr/local/bin/profuse -orw " & space & thePathFilename

end mainRoutine

------------------------------------------------------------

To see an icon for the mounted ProDOS drive(s) make sure that 'Connected Servers' is checked in the Finder Preferences for 'Show these items on
the Desktop'.

And, to unmount the ProDOS drives(s) just drag the Finder icon(s) for
the mounted ProDOS drive(s) to the trash.

This script, as written, mounts the images as Read/Write. For Read only,
just delete the '-orw' after the profuse command.

Feel free to improve my AppleScript. I claim no expertise in that field, although I will say the script works for its intended purpose.




Hugh Hood
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

CiderPress isn't on MacOS, but Kelvin's ProFUSE 2.0 (in conjunction with MacFUSE) is a great way to work with files on Apple II disk images using
the familiar interface of the MacOS Finder.

Mark Lim ported over a few utilities such as CiderXPress, based off of CiderPress, over tothe Mac. The utilities also include NuShrinkItX, SCIIBinX and QuickViewDHGR. They still work as of MacOSX 10.13. Don't know if he ever released them though.
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

On 11/15/23 12:43 AM, I am Rob wrote:

Mark Lim ported over a few utilities such as CiderXPress, based off
of CiderPress, over tothe Mac. The utilities also include
NuShrinkItX, SCIIBinX and QuickViewDHGR. They still work as of
MacOSX 10.13. Don't know if he ever released them though. >

Thanks for that reminder. I was particularly interested in the two
QuickLook plugins he wrote, one for shrinkit archives (QuickLook shows
file names and attributes), and also the one for displaying Apple II
graphics.

I haven't seen either of them mentioned online in several years, and
couldn't find anything else online about them other than they were in beta.

David Finnigan had mentioned that he had used these.

As far as extracting from shrinkit archives in MacOS, Kelvin's
ShrinkFitX does the job nicely. But, it's only an un-archiver.





Hugh Hood
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

On 11/15/2023 11:01 AM, Hugh Hood wrote:

Thanks for that reminder. I was particularly interested in the two
QuickLook plugins he [Mark Lim] wrote, one for shrinkit archives
(QuickLook shows file names and attributes), and also the one for
displaying Apple II graphics.

I saw that Gerard Putter's Virtual II 8-bit Apple Emulator includes a QuickLook plugin that handles both Apple II archives (shk / bxy / etc)
and Apple II disk images (po / dsk / hdv / etc). The plugin lists all
the files in a particular archive or disk image via MacOS' QuickLook
(i.e. - select file in Finder and press spacebar).

FWIW, if you open the package file for the Virtual II application and
drill down, you can find just the QuickLook plugin and install it
separately in the /Library/QuickLook folder if you are not a user of the Virtual II application.

I tried the plugin by itself and it works nicely.




Hugh Hood

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

As far as extracting from shrinkit archives in MacOS, Kelvin's
ShrinkFitX does the job nicely. But, it's only an un-archiver.

The one nice thing that ShrinkitX does is it can view the text within TXT, AWP, AWGS and forked text documents. Disappointingly, he did not include this ability in CiderXPress. The ability to copy from one CiderXPress disk image to another works goods, but have to drag the files out of a ShrinkItX window to a folder, then back to a CiderXPress window to copy files out of a ShrinkIt file.
If you still have my email Hugh, I can package them together and send them your way to try out.
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

On 11/21/2023 2:16 PM, I am Rob wrote:

If you still have my email Hugh, I can package them together and send
them your way to try out.

Thanks, Rob. Email sent.




Hugh Hood
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Rob,

I can't thank you enough for sending me copies Mark Lim's CiderXPress, NuShrinkItX, QuickViewDHGR, and SCIIBinX utilities. [Apple II
utilities for use on a Mac]

I've tried three of them with Mojave (10.14.6) and can tell that Mark
put a *bunch* of effort into them, although he credits Andy McFadden
with the heavy lifting.

The icons and user interface are top quality, and he even wrote both
SpotLight and QuickLook plugins for them.

The UnShrinkItX application seems to work particularly well, and
includes the ability to change the contents of archives, including
adding or deleting files, and changing file attributes. It also allows
one to make a new archive. These are things that Kelvin's ShrinkFitX
doesn't do, as it is primarily an unarchiver.

CiderXPress, although it looks great and works for many things, still
seems to need a little work. For example, it will create a new Apple II
ProDOS disk image, but seems not to format it, and thus won't allow one
to copy files to it. I had it crash on me several times in a row.

But, it does open existing disk images and allow a number of operations
on them, so it's close. Very close.

And, I think I prefer Mark's CiderXPress and NuShrinkItX Quick Look
plugins for quickly viewing the contents of Apple II disk images and
archives over the Quick Look plugin that Gerard Putter includes with
Virtual II. The Apple II graphics viewer Quick Look plugin is nice, too, although it's tough for a plugin to identify Apple II graphics because
so many of them were merely saved as BIN/$06 type files, without an
extension appended to the filename.

I haven't tried SCIIBinX since it's been a while since I've used any of
those type files.

When Mark was writing these several years ago, he asked me to be a beta
tester (like you) but at the time I didn't have a Mac that would run
them. I wish I had, though, as I certainly would have enjoyed testing
them and offering a few suggestions.

Have you corresponded with Mark since he wrote these? I'd like to see if perhaps he had worked any more on them or would release updated builds
of them publicly.

If not for your help as a result of this newsgroup, I still wouldn't
have seen them. Much obliged, sir.

The last email address I had for Mark had a yahoo Singapore domain.





Hugh Hood


On 11/21/2023 2:16 PM, I am Rob wrote:

As far as extracting from shrinkit archives in MacOS, Kelvin's
ShrinkFitX does the job nicely. But, it's only an un-archiver.

The one nice thing that ShrinkitX does is it can view the text within
TXT, AWP, AWGS and forked text documents. Disappointingly, he did
not include this ability in CiderXPress. The ability to copy from
one CiderXPress disk image to another works goods, but have to drag
the files out of a ShrinkItX window to a folder, then back to a
CiderXPress window to copy files out of a ShrinkIt file.

If you still have my email Hugh, I can package them together and send
them your way to try out.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Hi Hugh,

Identifying a picture in a binary file is easy:
- its loading address: $2000 or $4000
- its length: $1FF8 or $2000 for HGR, $3FF8 or $4000 for DHGR

...but the file may not contain any picture data :-)

Antoine
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Antoine,

You are certainly correct.

I suppose I was thinking in terms of the MacOS 'QuickLook' plugin method
of file discrimination, which uses an info.plist xml file to choose
which files it will attempt to 'view'.

Basically, it can look at file extensions (e.g. .dhr), uti's (e.g. com.apple.pict) and/or legacy MacOS file types (e.g. jpeg or in the
instance of ProDOS files p+xxx, with x = ProDOS file type and xx =
ProDOS aux type). It may also look at MIME types.

Now, I suppose an industrious MacOS programmer (which I am not) could
have his plug-in process all files with a legacy OS type of 'p' plus the MacOSRoman equivalent of $0600 (BIN), examine the aux types and file
lengths as you suggest, and then attempt render the image. I know I have
done that sort of thing with some 6502 assembly.

While I haven't written a MacOS Quick Look plugin, I wrote (about 10
years ago) a SpotLight plugin (for AppleWorks AWP files), which required
a crash course in C and Objective C and several hours of reading posts
on stackoverflow.

I look at that code now and I have very little idea what it means, much
like the Spanish that I studied for 4 years in high school. ;-)

But, you've given a mentally lazy man an idea. I think I could take
Mark's existing Quick Look plugin and modify the info.plist file to add recognition of files with the p+'bin' file type and $2000 or $4000 aux
type and have something that wouldn't just rely on appending a .dhr file extension. Of course, the legacy MacOS file type would need to be set accordingly for it to work.

BTW, thanks for remaining active in the Apple II community. I really appreciate your contributions.





Hugh Hood



On 11/23/2023 8:15 AM, Antoine Vignau wrote:

Hi Hugh,

Identifying a picture in a binary file is easy:
- its loading address: $2000 or $4000
- its length: $1FF8 or $2000 for HGR, $3FF8 or $4000 for DHGR

...but the file may not contain any picture data :-)

Antoine

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

BTW, thanks for remaining active in the Apple II community. I really appreciate your contributions.

Thanks, and yours as well!
Antoine
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

I can't thank you enough for sending me copies Mark Lim's CiderXPress, NuShrinkItX, QuickViewDHGR, and SCIIBinX utilities. [Apple II
utilities for use on a Mac]

No problem. More than happy to return the favor after you sent me your Proterm upgrades

I've tried three of them with Mojave (10.14.6) and can tell that Mark
put a *bunch* of effort into them, although he credits Andy McFadden
with the heavy lifting.

Amazing how they work on the newer OSes considering he developed these on MacOS 10.5

The icons and user interface are top quality, and he even wrote both SpotLight and QuickLook plugins for them.

The UnShrinkItX application seems to work particularly well, and
includes the ability to change the contents of archives, including
adding or deleting files, and changing file attributes. It also allows
one to make a new archive. These are things that Kelvin's ShrinkFitX
doesn't do, as it is primarily an unarchiver.
CiderXPress, although it looks great and works for many things, still
seems to need a little work. For example, it will create a new Apple II ProDOS disk image, but seems not to format it, and thus won't allow one
to copy files to it. I had it crash on me several times in a row.

For most things I have pretty good work-arounds. The disk images I already have pre-made empty formatted 800 kb and 32 Mb disk images. On the Mac, I just right-click on the disk image and duplicate it. Rename the copy, then dbl-click on the copy for immediate use in CiderXPress. Which I think is faster than having to navigate the menus in CiderXPress to create the images.

But, it does open existing disk images and allow a number of operations
on them, so it's close. Very close.

Yeah, I didn't know enough yet to know what extras to ask for.

And, I think I prefer Mark's CiderXPress and NuShrinkItX Quick Look
plugins for quickly viewing the contents of Apple II disk images and archives over the Quick Look plugin that Gerard Putter includes with
Virtual II. The Apple II graphics viewer Quick Look plugin is nice, too, although it's tough for a plugin to identify Apple II graphics because
so many of them were merely saved as BIN/$06 type files, without an extension appended to the filename.

I haven't tried SCIIBinX since it's been a while since I've used any of those type files.

This one is awesome and is hundreds of times faster than opening each .bsq file in GSOS. I dragged hundreds of files to the window and it unsqueezed them all in seconds.

When Mark was writing these several years ago, he asked me to be a beta tester (like you) but at the time I didn't have a Mac that would run
them. I wish I had, though, as I certainly would have enjoyed testing
them and offering a few suggestions.

I offered him some money so he would keep updating. But he refused. It is just something he wanted to do.

Have you corresponded with Mark since he wrote these? I'd like to see if perhaps he had worked any more on them or would release updated builds
of them publicly.

I got the jist at the time he just wanted to have something working, but after that he didn't have much interest in keeping up with it.

If not for your help as a result of this newsgroup, I still wouldn't
have seen them. Much obliged, sir.

For me, this is one of the more advanced newsgroups that I like to participate in with the smartest programmers hanging out here. I am probably at the bottom of the totem pole with anything to offer, so I am happy to help when I can. And I appreciate all the posts you have done about printing. Those are really good reads.

The last email address I had for Mark had a yahoo Singapore domain.

I lost his information when I had a computer crash back then. I backed up anything important including his software, but unfortunately not his emails.

The one nice thing that ShrinkitX does is it can view the text within
TXT, AWP, AWGS and forked text documents. Disappointingly, he did
not include this ability in CiderXPress. The ability to copy from
one CiderXPress disk image to another works goods, but have to drag
the files out of a ShrinkItX window to a folder, then back to a CiderXPress window to copy files out of a ShrinkIt file.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

I can't thank you enough for sending me copies Mark Lim's CiderXPress, NuShrinkItX, QuickViewDHGR, and SCIIBinX utilities. [Apple II
utilities for use on a Mac]

No problem. More than happy to return the favor after you sent me your Proterm upgrades

I've tried three of them with Mojave (10.14.6) and can tell that Mark
put a *bunch* of effort into them, although he credits Andy McFadden
with the heavy lifting.

Amazing how they work on the newer OSes considering he developed these on MacOS 10.5

The icons and user interface are top quality, and he even wrote both SpotLight and QuickLook plugins for them.

The UnShrinkItX application seems to work particularly well, and
includes the ability to change the contents of archives, including
adding or deleting files, and changing file attributes. It also allows
one to make a new archive. These are things that Kelvin's ShrinkFitX
doesn't do, as it is primarily an unarchiver.
CiderXPress, although it looks great and works for many things, still
seems to need a little work. For example, it will create a new Apple II ProDOS disk image, but seems not to format it, and thus won't allow one
to copy files to it. I had it crash on me several times in a row.

For most things I have pretty good work-arounds. The disk images I already have pre-made empty formatted 800 kb and 32 Mb disk images. On the Mac, I just right-click on the disk image and duplicate it. Rename the copy, then dbl-click on the copy for immediate use in CiderXPress. Which I think is faster than having to navigate the menus in CiderXPress to create the images.

But, it does open existing disk images and allow a number of operations
on them, so it's close. Very close.

Yeah, at the time I didn't know enough yet to know what extras to ask for.

And, I think I prefer Mark's CiderXPress and NuShrinkItX Quick Look
plugins for quickly viewing the contents of Apple II disk images and
archives over the Quick Look plugin that Gerard Putter includes with
Virtual II. The Apple II graphics viewer Quick Look plugin is nice, too, although it's tough for a plugin to identify Apple II graphics because
so many of them were merely saved as BIN/$06 type files, without an
extension appended to the filename.

I haven't tried SCIIBinX since it's been a while since I've used any of
those type files.

This one is awesome and is hundreds of times faster than opening each .bsq file in GSOS. I dragged hundreds of files to the window and it unsqueezed them all in seconds.

When Mark was writing these several years ago, he asked me to be a beta tester (like you) but at the time I didn't have a Mac that would run
them. I wish I had, though, as I certainly would have enjoyed testing
them and offering a few suggestions.

I offered him a donation so he would keep updating. But he refused. It is just something he wanted to do.

Have you corresponded with Mark since he wrote these? I'd like to see if perhaps he had worked any more on them or would release updated builds
of them publicly.

I got the jist at the time he just wanted to have something working, but after that he didn't have much interest in keeping up with it.

If not for your help as a result of this newsgroup, I still wouldn't
have seen them. Much obliged, sir.

For me, this is one of the more advanced newsgroups that I like to participate in with the smartest programmers hanging out here. I am probably at the bottom of the totem pole with anything to offer, so I am happy to help when I can. And I appreciate all the posts you have done about printing. Those are really good reads.

The last email address I had for Mark had a yahoo Singapore domain.

I lost his information when I had a computer crash back then. I backed up anything important including his software, but unfortunately not his emails.

The one nice thing that ShrinkitX does is it can view the text within
TXT, AWP, AWGS and forked text documents. Disappointingly, he did
not include this ability in CiderXPress. The ability to copy from
one CiderXPress disk image to another works goods, but have to drag
the files out of a ShrinkItX window to a folder, then back to a
CiderXPress window to copy files out of a ShrinkIt file.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Rob,

After having put Mark Lim's NuShrinkItX through its paces, I'm convinced
that it is ready for prime time. It's really, really good, and should be available for release.

So, I sent Mark an email at the last known address I had for him (circa
2016), but I still haven't heard back.

A quick internet search for 'Mark Lim' and 'Singapore' leads me to
several people with that name, so I really don't know what else to do,
which is too bad, unless somehow he gets wind of our posts.

And, as I mentioned, CiderXPress is really, really close, and is usable
AS-IS, even with its minor shortcomings.

Thanks again for not only making me aware of Mark's apps, but for
sending me copies of them.

BTW, I do think you would like Kelvin's ProFUSE 2.0. I've been using it
a lot. Plus, I figured I should bring the topic back on track. ;-)





Hugh Hood



On 11/23/2023 2:55 PM, I am Rob wrote:

The NuShrinkItX application seems to work particularly well, and
includes the ability to change the contents of archives, including
adding or deleting files, and changing file attributes. It also allows
one to make a new archive. These are things that Kelvin's ShrinkFitX
doesn't do, as it is primarily an unarchiver.

The last email address I had for Mark had a yahoo Singapore
domain.

I lost his information when I had a computer crash back then. I
backed up anything important including his software, but
unfortunately not his emails.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Rob,

Good news. I heard back from Mark Lim and he is allowing me to put up
for download his four MacOS <-> Apple II Utilites on my web site <www.apple2works.com>

They aren't there yet, but will be. They are: CiderXPress, NuShrinkItX, SCIIBinX and QuickViewDHGR.

Mark also said that he will eventually post source code to all four
utilities on his github site with the source to SCIIBinX already up:

<https://github.com/markpmlim/SCIIBinX>

Thanks to Mark, and thanks again to Rob. This group is a great resource.




Hugh Hood




On 11/27/2023 10:12 PM, Hugh Hood wrote:

So, I sent Mark an email at the last known address I had for him
(circa 2016), but I still haven't heard back.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Let me correct this so as not to misquote Mark -- he will put up source
to *some* of those programs.




Hugh Hood


On 11/29/2023 7:36 AM, Hugh Hood wrote:

Mark also said that he will eventually post source code to all four utilities on his github site with the source to SCIIBinX already up:

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.apple2

Permit me to retract this statement about CiderXPress having trouble
with the disk image creation process.

I'm thinking I probably should have restarted the Mac after installing
it, and failed to do that.

Today I created several ProDOS disk images in CiderXPress, and all
worked just fine. I was able to copy files to them as well as copy files
off of them.

And, it *never* crashed. Mea culpa, it seems.




Hugh Hood


On 11/22/2023 10:35 PM, Hugh Hood wrote:

CiderXPress, although it looks great and works for many things, still
seems to need a little work. For example, it will create a new Apple II ProDOS disk image, but seems not to format it, and thus won't allow one
to copy files to it. I had it crash on me several times in a row.

--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114