Microsoft KB Archive/129809

How to Use PC Exchange

Article ID: Q129809
Creation Date: 04-MAY-1995
Revision Date: 08-APR-1996 kbenv

The information in this article applies to:

The Apple Macintosh Operating System version 7.5

SUMMARY

Apple Macintosh System 7.5 includes the PC Exchange program. This is the only file transfer utility that ships with System 7.5, and it is installed automatically if you choose the Easy Install option when you set up System 7.5.

What Is PC Exchange?

PC Exchange is a control panel item that allows you to open an MS-DOS- formatted file on a Macintosh. In addition, PC Exchange allows you to associate an MS-DOS filename extension with a particular application (similar to the association feature in Windows File Manager).

How Do You Start PC Exchange?

By default, PC Exchange is active whenever your Macintosh computer is on (to disable PC Exchange, use Extensions Manager or hold down the SHIFT key when you start your Macintosh). If PC Exchange is running when you insert an MS-DOS-formatted disk in the Macintosh disk drive, the disk icon will appear on the desktop and the letters "PC" will appear on the icon. If PC Exchange is not running, you will see the following error message:

   This is not a Macintosh disk: Do you want to initialize it?

If you receive this error message, make sure PC Exchange is installed on your computer and verify that is has been enabled (you can use Extensions Manager to verify this). How to Create a File Association

When PC Exchange is running, if you have created filename associations, you can start an MS-DOS-formatted file by double-clicking it. In order to create an association between a certain MS-DOS filename extension (such as XLS) and the appropriate application (such as Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh) follow these steps:

Double-click the PC Exchange icon (this icon should be located in the Control Panels folder in the System Folder).
In the PC Exchange dialog box, click the Add button.
In the MS-DOS Suffix box, type the appropriate MS-DOS filename extension.
In the bottom half of the window, scroll the folders, and select the application.
Click the drop-down arrow for Document Type, and select the appropriate icon for the filename extension you entered.

Use the table below to determine the appropriate type for a given Office application.

Application Version Kind Type
Click the OK button.
Close the PC Exchange window
Insert the MS-DOS disk in the Macintosh, and then double-click the file.

NOTE: If the MS-DOS disk is in the disk drive before you perform steps 1 through 7, the file may not be opened when you double-click it. In this case, close the window for the MS-DOS disk, and then reopen the window.

The icon for any files with the filename extension for which you made the association should now have that application's icon and should be opened when you double-click it. If the icon for the file on the MS-DOS disk still has a "PC" icon, the association has not been properly made for that filename extension. If you have not created filename extension associations, then when you double-click on a file from your floppy disk, the application may not be started, and you may receive the following message:

   The document "filename" could not be opened, because the application
   program that created it could not be found. Do you want to open it
   using "SimpleText"?

MORE INFORMATION

In Apple Macintosh System 7.1 and earlier, the only Apple-supported way to transfer a file from an MS-DOS-formatted disk to the Macintosh is to run the Apple File Exchange (AFE) program. Apple File Exchange allows the Macintosh to recognize an MS-DOS-formatted disk.

PC Exchange is manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

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KBCategory: kbenv
KBSubcategory: offmac xlmac

Additional reference words: Mac Office Word Excel Project Works PowerPoint