Format Wars: Mac to PC and Back Again

Format Wars: Mac to PC and Back Again

Below are basic directions on how to get text and graphic documents transferred from Macintosh for use on an IBM or IBM-compatible and also from an IBM or IBM-compatible to Macintosh. If you have questions about these procedures, please call Karen Adsit, 423.755.4026, or e-mail her at Karen I. Adsit, EdD .

Graphics

Mac to PC
PC to Mac

Text-Mac to PC

If you are going from the same word processing application (for example, from Microsoft Word 6.0 on Mac to Microsoft Word 6.0 on PC/Windows), you can save the file on a PC-formatted disk and have few transfer problems.

If you are going from one word processing application to a different kind (for example, from Microsoft Word 6.0 on the Mac to Word Perfect on PC/Windows), it is best to save the word processing file to a PC-formatted disc as RTF (Rich Text Format) or TXT (Text).

When opening up the document on a PC, open the word processing application and then open the document inside of the application package. You may need to show all extensions or to change the extension (the three letters after the dot in the file name) before the software application will "see" it to open the document.

Text-PC to Mac

If you are going from the same word processing application (for example, from Microsoft Word 6.0 on PC/Windows to Microsoft Word 6.0 on Mac), you can save the file on any type of formatted disk and have few transfer problems.

If you are going from one word processing application to a different kind (for example, from Word Perfect on PC/Windows to Microsoft Word 6.0 on the Mac), it is best to save the word processing file as RTF (Rich Text Format) or TXT (Text).

When opening up the document on a Mac, open the word processing application and then open the document inside of the application package. If you have a PC-formatted disc, you also have to have PC Exchange or some other program on your Mac that allows you to read PC discs.

Graphics-Mac to PC

First, determine what you want to do with your graphics-do you want to put them into a word processing document, edit them in a graphics program, place them into a desktop published document, or use them in a web page? Once you've figured that out, determine what type of files the graphics or other programs you have on the PC will read. The most common graphic formats are TIF, PCX, PIC, EPS, GIF, JPG. (These are the extensions to a file-the three letters that follow the period in the document name.)

Scan or edit your document on the Mac. Then save the file as the type that you can read on the PC. (To find out what you can read on your PC, open your graphics package and look at the various formats offered through the save or import function.) Save onto a PC-formatted disc.

Open the application on the PC and import or open the file from the disc.

Graphics-PC to Mac

Determine what you want to do with your graphics-do you want to put them into a word processing document, edit them in a graphics program, or place them into a desktop published document? Once you've figured that out, determine what type of files the program you have on the Mac will read: the most common formats are TIFF, PICT, EPS, GIF, JPEG.

Scan or edit your document on the PC. Then save the file as the type that you can read on the Mac. (To find out what you can read on your Mac, open your graphics package and look at the various formats offered through the save or import function.) Save onto a disc.

Open the application on the Mac and import or open the file from the disc.

Grayson H. Walker Teaching Resource Center
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
401 Hunter Hall--Mail Code 4354
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
(423) 425-4188
(423) 425-4025 (fax)

Last updated: April 17, 2002
Comments to: Karen I. Adsit, EdD

URL:http://www.utc.edu/Format/format.html