Apple File Exchange and Macintosh PC Exchange: A Comparison
This article provides an overview of Apple File Exchange and Macintosh PC
Exchange, and compares the two products.
Exchange, and compares the two products.
Apple File Exchange Overview
----------------------------
Apple File Exchange is a file translation utility that converts a file from
one format to another. For example, Apple File Exchange can take a DOS-
formatted file and translate it to a Macintosh format. The file can then
be opened by Macintosh applications designed to read the format into which
the file has been translated.
Macintosh PC Exchange Overview
------------------------------
Macintosh PC Exchange is a software product that lets Macintosh computers,
running System 7 and equipped with an Apple SuperDrive or a third-party
5.25-inch MS-DOS-compatible disk drive, easily read, write, and format DOS
disks. DOS files appear on the Macintosh desktop just like Macintosh
documents, and can be opened, saved, renamed, moved, copied, or deleted.
The DOS file format is in no way altered by Macintosh PC Exchange. The
application that you specify to open a DOS file must be able to read that
DOS file format.
Apple File Exchange and Macintosh PC Exchange: A Comparison
-----------------------------------------------------------
Macintosh PC Exchange is an easier and more intuitive method for opening
DOS-format disks. Macintosh PC Exchange also lets the Finder handle DOS
files in the same manner as Macintosh files. The main differences between
Macintosh PC Exchange and Apple File Exchange are:
* Macintosh PC Exchange is activated when you start up your Macintosh and
automatically recognizes a DOS-format disk when it's inserted in an
Apple SuperDrive. Apple File Exchange is a separate utility that must
be manually launched every time you want to read a DOS disk.
* Macintosh PC Exchange lets you manipulate DOS files in the Finder, just
like other Macintosh documents. It also lets you pre-assign the
application to open when you double-click a DOS file. Apple File
Exchange cannot automatically launch an application when a DOS file is
double-clicked.
* Apple File Exchange comes with three special translator files that let
you translate documents between Macintosh and DOS file formats.
Macintosh PC Exchange doesn't contain any document translation
capabilities.
----------------------------
Apple File Exchange is a file translation utility that converts a file from
one format to another. For example, Apple File Exchange can take a DOS-
formatted file and translate it to a Macintosh format. The file can then
be opened by Macintosh applications designed to read the format into which
the file has been translated.
Macintosh PC Exchange Overview
------------------------------
Macintosh PC Exchange is a software product that lets Macintosh computers,
running System 7 and equipped with an Apple SuperDrive or a third-party
5.25-inch MS-DOS-compatible disk drive, easily read, write, and format DOS
disks. DOS files appear on the Macintosh desktop just like Macintosh
documents, and can be opened, saved, renamed, moved, copied, or deleted.
The DOS file format is in no way altered by Macintosh PC Exchange. The
application that you specify to open a DOS file must be able to read that
DOS file format.
Apple File Exchange and Macintosh PC Exchange: A Comparison
-----------------------------------------------------------
Macintosh PC Exchange is an easier and more intuitive method for opening
DOS-format disks. Macintosh PC Exchange also lets the Finder handle DOS
files in the same manner as Macintosh files. The main differences between
Macintosh PC Exchange and Apple File Exchange are:
* Macintosh PC Exchange is activated when you start up your Macintosh and
automatically recognizes a DOS-format disk when it's inserted in an
Apple SuperDrive. Apple File Exchange is a separate utility that must
be manually launched every time you want to read a DOS disk.
* Macintosh PC Exchange lets you manipulate DOS files in the Finder, just
like other Macintosh documents. It also lets you pre-assign the
application to open when you double-click a DOS file. Apple File
Exchange cannot automatically launch an application when a DOS file is
double-clicked.
* Apple File Exchange comes with three special translator files that let
you translate documents between Macintosh and DOS file formats.
Macintosh PC Exchange doesn't contain any document translation
capabilities.