I downloaded BinHex and converted all of the files to .hqx on my 128k. Sure 
enough, some of the files had a 0 byte data fork, and a 40000 byte resource 
fork. Now, when I de-hexed them on my MacBook, when I try to open any with 
a text editor, it tells me that they're "in use by OS X and can't be 
opened." Anyone know a way to open them?

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 6:53:25 PM UTC-5, Koralatov wrote:
>
> On Sat, Mar 08, 2014 at 21:32, Ken Daggett wrote: 
> > Well, back in the "olden days" Mac files consisted of a "data fork" 
> > and a "resource fork." The "resource fork" contained such things as 
> > icons (usually a bunch in different sizes), creator codes and other 
> > things that either the OS or the application used in conjunction with 
> > the data fork to execute the program. I think the "data fork" 
> > contained the executable code and maybe data associated with what we 
> > might think of as "stored data" or information.  (Thinking of a 
> > picture, drawing or text file.) 
>
> Thank you.  I think I understand now.  I was working on the 
> understanding that the resource fork contained the file's actual data, 
> and that there was another which contained its metadata, but I'd 
> actually got it backwards.  I now, finally, understand why the Macs I 
> used in school would always open the file in the correct application 
> without a visible extension! 
>
> The current scheme used by OS X wins on portability but at the expense 
> of sophistication;  using a file extension files is a portable but 
> horribly inelegant means to ensure a document is opened in the correct 
> application. 
>
> -- 
>      Mike | <http://koralatov.com> 
>             15.4" `Penryn' MacBook Pro 2.66 | 20" iMac G4 
>                     `Key Lime' iBook G3 466 | G4 Cube 500 
>

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