Downloading Image Pac Files to Macintosh Computers

Instructions for Setting Graphical Browsers to Support Photo CD Image Pac Files (and other workarounds)

Contents

Background

Because the Image Pac file is being delivered from a Unix server, the Macintosh "resource fork" information is not carried with the "data fork," i.e., the file itself. Macintosh OS uses resource fork information to identify files by "type" and "creator." For example, a file might carry the type "PICT," indicating the file format. The creator label indicates whether the PICT file had been made in MacDraw or Painter, and thus can direct the Mac finder to launch the proper application to open the file. When the resource fork info is missing, the Macintosh finder will not call the correct application to open the file, and some applications may not be able to recognize the file at all.

We recommend setting up KODAK Photo CD Access Plus software as a helper application to your graphical browser. This way, when you use the browser to download an Image Pac file via FTP, it will recognize the .pcd extension, and assign the proper file "type" label to the file (i.e., create the needed resource fork information). Generally browsers can be set to either launch the application upon receipt of the file, or save the file to be opened later.

Instructions for Setting Up the Netscape Browser to Receive KODAK Photo CD Image Pac Files with KODAK Photo CD Access Plus Software

  1. Under "Options" menu, select "Preferences"
  2. Under "Preferences" menu, select "Helper Applications"
  3. Click on the "New" button to create a new MIME type (A dialog box will appear)
  4. In the dialog box, enter Image for the MIME type, and x-pcdi for the Sub-type
  5. In the "Extensions" box, enter pcd,PCD
  6. Click on the "Browse" button to select the helper application (a directory box will appear)
  7. Locate the Access Plus application (or your preferred Photo CD application) in the directory window and double click on it to install it as the application for the Image/x-pcdi MIME type
  8. File types and icons will now be visible in the file type window. Select the "PCDI" file type
  9. From the "action" list of radio buttons, select either "Save" or "Launch Application."
    Note:
    Choosing "Launch Application" will open the file immediately with the helper application, but Netscape will only save the file to a temporary folder. When the helper application and Netscape are quit, the file will disappear. Choosing "Save" will instruct Netscape to permanently save the file, but Netscape will not launch the helper application to open the file.
  10. Click on the "OK" button. You will return to the main Netscape window.
  11. From the "Options" menu, select "Save Options." Bingo!

Another Way to Save Files With Netscape

Another way to easily save the Image Pac files with Netscape is to use the command "Save This Link As...," which can be activated by clicking and holding on the hyperlink. A pop-up menu appears that includes "Save This Link As..." Select the command. A dialog box will appear asking you where to save the file and what to name it.

Instructions for Setting Up the NCSA Mosaic Browser to Receive KODAK Photo CD Image Pac Files with KODAK Photo CD Access Plus Software

  1. Under "Options" menu, select "Preferences"
  2. Under "Preferences" menu, select "Apps" and then click on the button "Helper Applications" A dialog box entitled "Helper Configuration" appears.
  3. Click on the "Add document type..." button (under the right half of the Helper Configuration window). A window appears asking you to type in a MIME type for the new document type.
  4. Type Image/x-pcdi and click on the "OK" button.
  5. Click on the "Add Extension" button (under the left half of the Helper Configuration window). A dialog window appears asking for an extension and a MIME type.
  6. Type pcd in the Extension field.
  7. Select the newly created Image/x-pcdi MIME type and click on OK.
  8. In the "Document --> Type" window, click once on the newly created listing which should read "Image/x-pcdi-- teach text."
  9. With the new listing highlighted, click on the "Set Application" button (a directory box will appear).
  10. Locate the Access Plus application (or your preferred Photo CD enabled software) and double click on it. This will replace the default teachtext application with your selected Photo CD application. A new dialog box will appear asking you to select a file type.
  11. Click once on the file type that says "PCDI." You have the option to have Mosaic launch the application immediately or not. You have the option to have Mosaic prompt you to rename the file, or not. Click the checkboxes according to your wishes and then click on OK. A dialog box appears telling you changes will take place when you restart Mosaic. Click on OK.
    Note:
    Choosing "Launch Application" seems to be the best approach with NCSA Mosaic. Choosing simply to save the file does not appear to assign the needed resource fork information. Be sure to save the file out of the temporary directory before quitting the helper application and Mosaic.
  12. Click on the Helper Configuration window's OK button.

Also under preferences is a section for directories. This will enable you to indicate where you'd like to have files saved.

If You Can't Recognize the Image Pac File With Your Application

There are several options for the Mac user to get around this:

  1. Use an application like Norton Utilities or ResEdit to rebuild the resource fork labels
  2. Add the resource fork labels info before file transfer with the FTP application (I know this works with Fetch)
  3. Use a Photo CD enabled software that CAN recognize and open files that do not have resource fork labels (I know this works with ADOBE PHOTOSHOP software)

The Resource Fork Labels

    1. Type: PCDI

    2. Creator: PCDv

Examples

ResEdit and Norton Utilities (and other similar tools) allows you to display and modify resource fork information. If your Image Pac files display a generic file icon, that is a sign that you need to add the resource fork labels. With ResEdit, display the resource fork info, and simply type in the labels exactly as shown above. Once you've done that, the Image Pac file icon should display as a Photo CD Image Pac icon, and the file will be recognized by all Photo CD enabled software.

The Fetch FTP application, when "getting" a binary file, provides a dialog box for directory selection and file naming. At the bottom of that box there are input fields for "File" and "Creator" labels for the resource fork. In those boxes, type the labels exactly as they appear above. When the file is transferred, it will carry the resource fork labels, and should display the appropriate icon and be recognized by Photo CD enabled software.

To open an Image Pac file without the resource fork using Photoshop, simply use the open command from within the application, and set the file type to Photo CD. Photoshop will recognize the Image Pac files.