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File Transfer Problems

DIGITAL^TM Prepress Services can accept files in a number of ways. Electronic file transfers are typically carried out through FTP and DECnet. We can also accept files on several types of media including floppies, Iomega Zip and Jaz, Syquest (44, 88, or 200 megabyte) or CD-ROM. When sending hard media, please:

• Clearly label it.
• List the contents of the media. A separate document is OK.
• Note the platform on which it was created (Macintosh, Windows, etc.).

Most electronic file transfer problems can be avoided through proper packaging. This is like any other kind of shipping. If the package arrives damaged, we can assume that the contents are also in poor order.

Our version of a package is an archive file. You can use either of two industry standard archive formats to ship your files – ZIP and Stuffit. ZIP files can be created on either Apple Macintosh or Windows platforms. WinZip from Nico Mak Computing, Inc. is the most popular way to create Windows ZIP files. PKZIP from PKWARE, Inc. is also acceptable. Aladdin Systems’ Stuffit Deluxe can create Stuffit archives (.SIT files) on the Macintosh platform. Please do not create self-extracting archives (.SEA or .EXE files). They are platform-dependent. Stuffit Expander is free and can be obtained from Aladdin Systems.

A few tips for electronic file transfers:

• When copying archive files via FTP, use binary mode. This will allow clean transfer of files across differing operating systems.
• When using NetCopy on the Macintosh (DECnet), copy archive files in image format.
• Avoid drag-and-drop file transfers. The disk to which you are dragging files may be formatted for files from a different operating system.
• Avoid directly copying Unix, PC and Macintosh files to an OpenVMS system. OpenVMS file structure is radically different from other operating systems. Non-OpenVMS files must be archived in Zip or Stuffit format before being copied to OpenVMS systems.
• We prefer pulling files from an FTP server. Please contact us for details.
• Fetch from Dartmouth College is absolutely the best FTP client for the Macintosh. This application is shareware and can be downloaded from the Dartmouth Web site. A single user license will cost you $25.00. Please bear in mind that Fetch may not be able to move files through a firewall. It works fine within a firewall.