After some very frustrating days, I have a working version of the Pilot File Converter for Windows. On windows, it appears to correctly convert Escape Velocity, Override and Nova .rsrc files into .plt files. All previous functionality is maintained with the Mac version, in addition to being able to convert .rsrc files into .plt or Mac Nova formats (depending on the .rsrc file).

So, I'm looking for Mac and Windows testers to give both through goings over.

The download is available at (url="http://"http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~seant/EV/PilotConvert/")http://phair.csh.rit...V/PilotConvert/(/url)

Please download the latest build (named as yyyymmddBuild) if you are interested in helping.

Also, drop me an email at seant@hellskitchen.org if you choose to help me test things.

-STH

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Mac<-->PC pilot file Conversions: (url="http://"http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~seant/EV/PilotConvert/")http://phair.csh.rit...V/PilotConvert/(/url)
"Create enigmas, not explanations." -Robert Smithson

Well, I tried it to get mac pilot files to windows, but I cant even get the files that I download from the pilot file trade network to expand to .rsrc files. What am i doing wrong here (the files created say there arnt any resources if i try to convert them anyway, so the problem is either in how i am decompressing them or in your program, or in my source for mac pilots)
-Az

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Quote

Originally posted by Azratax2:
**Well, I tried it to get mac pilot files to windows, but I cant even get the files that I download from the pilot file trade network to expand to .rsrc files. What am i doing wrong here (the files created say there arnt any resources if i try to convert them anyway, so the problem is either in how i am decompressing them or in your program, or in my source for mac pilots)
-Az

**

Take a look at (url="http://"http://home.mindspring.com/~rabbit994/plugins.html")http://home.mindspri...94/plugins.html(/url) . I must admit that I have not tried using pilots downloaded from the PFTN directly onto a PC. All of my tests were done with things dowloaded onto my mac and then moved onto my PC.

If that link doesn't help you, let me know and I'll try and get it working on my end and write up a detailed description of what should be done.

-STH

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Mac<-->PC pilot file Conversions: (url="http://"http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~seant/EV/PilotConvert/")http://phair.csh.rit...V/PilotConvert/(/url)
"Create enigmas, not explanations." -Robert Smithson

Now when you say "move to a pc" do you mean through an emulator? Should we stuff the pilot with stuffit expander then move it?

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Quote

Originally posted by Icetray:
**Now when you say "move to a pc" do you mean through an emulator? Should we stuff the pilot with stuffit expander then move it?
**

By "move to a pc" I mean via my intranet. I have both Macs and PCs networked at home.

Short story: compress the pilot on the Mac before moving it the the PC.

Long story:

The assumption is that, if you have a Macintosh pilot (EVC, EVO or EVN) you want to play on your PC, you either were using an emulator or a Mac. Either way, you need to compress your Mac pilot using Aladdin's Stuffit software. Obviously, you cant do this on Windows, since copying your Mac pilot to Windows strips the resource fork (which is what you want). The files should be compressed as a .sit file.

Another possibility is to use (url="http://"http://www.resexcellence.com/archive_software/index7.shtml#QuickConvert")QuickConvert(/url). This is what I use when I need to move data between the resource and data forks; it also avoids the compression wankery.

Download QuickConvert. Run it on you Mac by either dragging the pilot onto it or choosing it from the file dialog. It will move the pilot's resource fork to the data fork. You need to add the .rsrc suffix, but once the info is in the data fork, you are all set to transfer the pilot .rsrc file to windows and convert it.

Hint: QuickConvert is also an easy way to make .rsrc files out of plugins without the compression step.

-STH

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Mac<-->PC pilot file Conversions: (url="http://"http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~seant/EV/PilotConvert/")http://phair.csh.rit...V/PilotConvert/(/url)
"Create enigmas, not explanations." -Robert Smithson

I am using Stuffit 7.5 and it is set up properly - it works just fine for plugins, but doesnt seem to work for pilot files. It is set to convery to mac binary whenever there is a resource fork, and works reliably on plugin files.
Does it work for you on pilots available at pilot file sites downloaded on pc?
-Az

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(This message has been edited by Azratax2 (edited 08-12-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by Azratax2:
**I am using Stuffit 7.5 and it is set up properly - it works just fine for plugins, but doesnt seem to work for pilot files. It is set to convery to mac binary whenever there is a resource fork, and works reliably on plugin files.
Does it work for you on pilots available at pilot file sites downloaded on pc?
**

I just tested it with the first Mac Nova file I saw on PFTN (corndog) and it seemed to work fine. A few cavats: On my home network, only my Mac G4 has direct access to the internet. Everything else relies on the Mac. Also, none of my PCs have monitors. Instead, I use VNC to control them from the Mac.

Having said that, corndog seems to have worked fine. After extraction I had a 0 byte file named "Corndog" and a 84.5Kb file named "Corndog.rsrc" which Pilot File Converter worked fine with.

Screen shots are at (url="http://"http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~seant/EV/PilotConvert/ExtractionImages/1.jpg")http://phair.csh.rit...tractionImages/(/url)

Please note that some screen captures show two mouse pointers due to screen redraw lags when using VNC.

I don't know why it doesn't work on your end.

-STH

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Mac<-->PC pilot file Conversions: (url="http://"http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~seant/EV/PilotConvert/")http://phair.csh.rit...V/PilotConvert/(/url)
"Create enigmas, not explanations." -Robert Smithson

(This message has been edited by seant (edited 08-13-2003).)

Good work so far.

OK: runnign build 20030811

Converted corndog well enough to load it.

I had the ship but: No dominated planet, no combat rating, money, ranks, government status and something like 16 shuttles for escort...lol

should i try 3.0b as well?

btw: lots of win users refuse to read manuals/readmes/etc. just look at the amount of people asking "how do i convert plugs" questions, when there's that nice readme that even has a link to the right version of stufflit.

Since the way we have to set stufflit up means files get bin-encoded as standard - and only get expanded into .rsrc if there is a single file in the archive - then if you can make the program read bin-files, you'll save yourself A LOT of hassle - read: repetitive e-mails etc. just my .02Ł

Note: I can only program in java, and I have no idea of hard the above would be.

good luck ad keep up the good work

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I am uploading a new build of the Pilot File Converter. From the log:
•Fixed Opil fighter/escort problem
•Fixed Opil misnbit prob
•FIxed Opil outfit count prob
•Fixed Opil spob dominated prob
•Fixed rating prob

I'll be addressing more of the problems testers mentioned either tonight or tomorrow. Keep the comments coming, and thanks.

-STH

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Mac<-->PC pilot file Conversions: (url="http://"http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~seant/EV/PilotConvert/")http://phair.csh.rit...V/PilotConvert/(/url)
"Create enigmas, not explanations." -Robert Smithson