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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Unix executable file

Souljourn - Jul 30, 2006 - 7:12 pm

I'm understanding (if not mislead) that MAC OS X has adopted some Unix commands that do not totally understand older MAC file extensions, consequently stripping older files of their extensions and changing them into Unix Executable Files.

I've received a CD that I've been told is from a MAC (proof resides in the screen shot from a MAC desktop of the CDs contents) containing several different file types (QuarkXPress, Photoshop, Illustrator, PageMaker, etc.). While I can use the workaround of adding the extensions (QXD - QuarkXPress; AI - Adobe Illustrator; PSD - Photoshop, etc), is there any other (better?) way to do this? I have fonts included with these files that I don't have any clue how to make them work (which is critical that they do). I've also inherited some file which I have no clue as to their origin (but I know they're MAC). Any ideas? What is everyone else doing about this short coming?

FredB7 - Jul 30, 2006 - 9:10 pm

Hi, I'm Fred and I'll try to help you.

Some unix command (in the Terminal) can strip resource forks, but the main ones take care of the resource forks since Tiger (cp, mv, etc.).
I'll be short on this because I think it has nothing to do with your problem, except if you use some of those commands on the files in a pre Tiger OS.

OS X can recognize files associations (which apps is supposed to open them) by there file extension or their file type/creator (as in OS 9).

Try this:
After copying the files to your harddrive, get info on one of the file (cmd + I), then in the "Open With" section, select which application should open the file (you may need to scroll down the list and choose "other" if the app you're searching is not listed) and then clic on "Change All".
Now all the same files should open with the good app. You have to repeat this for each type of files.

Or, you can batch remane the files to include the proper extensions, e.g. with the free utility Renamer4Mac http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/10158

About the files you don't know what they are, I can't help you much on this, get info on them to see if the extension is not hidden, try to drag them on different apps, ...

For the fonts, did you try to double clic them? This should open Font Book where you can install them.

Souljourn - Aug 2, 2006 - 9:06 am

Hello Fred and thanks for responding.

I had worked out the process as you described by doing exactly as you explain by using "Open With" and selecting the application that should open the file. But what makes this process work is knowing what file it is supposed to be. I have clients whom I sometimes have no idea what the application is and I've also inherited a HD full of files that there is no one to call and ask what type they are. Is there any other suggestions for any workaround for files I can't identify?

The problem still remains with the fonts (and this is really the bigger issue). When I double-click the font files to open, I do get the normal dialog box (that would normally display the fonts in their particular shape and style) but without any text inside (it's simply an empty or white box). I've tried things like trying to drag my curser (as if selecting) over the area to see if anything would "grab" . . . but nothing. Thinking I could try installing the type anyway proved useless as nothing gets installed. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Bill

FredB7 - Aug 2, 2006 - 3:27 pm

Hi Bill,

You can try to check file Type and Creator codes (e.g. with something like this:http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7686) and then search for the app using this type/creator code. A quick google gave me this:

http://www.file-ext.com/ (Site with 10000 File Extensions/types for Windows/OS2/Apple/UNIX)

Or this: "Type/Creator Database 2003.10" (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/8219) but it's not free.

Other way: If the files are small you can open them in TextEdit to see if there is some clue in them that might help you. If the files are bigger, you can just take a look at the start of the file like this:

Open /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app then type 'head' without the quotes then a space then drag the file then hit Return. It will show you the first then lines of the files. Most files include some clues about their type or the app that created them. e.g .png files start with #PNG, etc.

About the fonts, I'm not a specialist. Are you sure those are mac fonts. Do they have extensions?

Souljourn - Aug 3, 2006 - 10:57 am

Hello Fred,

OK, I think I might be missing some information. I don't believe I've ever seen extensions on MAC fonts using OSX (have I)? Even on the TrueType and OpenType fonts (which should be both MAC and PC compatible), there doesn't seem to be any extension (at least not on the MAC side). Yes, upon selecting a particular font I see it under "Kind" (Preview). Or the icon expresses it's format, but not as an extension in the name.

Just for grins, I've taken these unidentifiable fonts and tried opening them on the PC but to no avail. YES, I believe that these fonts are indeed MAC fonts. There are too many clues (provided by the other supplementary files to suggest otherwise).

These unidentifiable fonts don't seem to have their names truncated either. I can obviously make the native files work given the information you've provided, but not the fonts.

As I've said previously, it's important to use the (client) provided fonts, because if I substitute with another vendor's font, it could promote text shifting or wrapping issues. (Helvetica from one company is not the same as another's. There can be significant differences in order to avoid copyright infringements.)

I find this odd that there's not more material about this subject. I can't be the only one (or even in a pool of very few) that has this problem. What's everyone else doing?

FredB7 - Aug 4, 2006 - 8:42 pm

Hello Bill,

At least TrueType fonts have a .ttf extension on my system, I don't think I have any OpenType. Be aware that extension can be hidden in OS X, in the Get Info window, you can see the extensions and choose to show them in the Finder.

Maybe you can try to see the fonts Type/Creator codes as for the files, but if Font Book can't install them... I don't know, as I told you, I'm not a font specialist.

I can put this thread back in the list, maybe someone else can help you on this. Or you can open a new question with a title that better describes your problem now (probably the best solution). It's like you want.

Sorry that I can't help you more than that.