I've been going through my copy of the files on the HIWG CD; I've
discovered the following:
In ADVENTUR:
The files GBV.1, GBV.2, GBV.RTE, and GUSHMEGE.SUB are word processor files.
The file signature ("magic number") appears in Notepad as "ÿWPC", which
suggests "WordPerfect Corp". Current versions of Word and LibreOffice
Writer open them without comment or complaint.
In ADVENTUR/SHADOWS:
Many of the graphics are misnamed; IrfanView thinks they are .ART files,
not .GIFs. The file signature ("magic number") appears to be "JG", which
matches for AOL (Johnson-Grace) .ART files (the extension was used by
several other graphics and publishing programs). IrfanView recognizes and
identifies the format, but does not support it; paint.net does not
recognize it. Web searches say that older versions of Internet Explorer
recognize it, but the support was removed several years ago; current
versions of browsers do not recognize it. CorelPhotoPAINT! X6 does not
recognize the format; neither does The Gimp. Extensive bingleducking seems
to turn up only one program that will presently handle the format, and that
requires downloading a (free) plug-in: the $49.99 Graphic WorkShop
Professional.
In ART:
Many of the JPG files in this folder are also misnamed AOL ART files. See
the comments above. There are several WPG files; these will open with
LibreOffice Draw. There is a file SUBSECTO.000; I cannot identify the type
of this file, nor find its file signature ("magic number") of ÇEÏS [C7 49
CF 53]. Word does not recognize it and will make a hash of the conversion;
LibreOffice also opens it as hash.
In ART/ADLER:
Some of the GIF files in this folder are also misnamed AOL ART files. See
the comments above. IrfanView will handle the WMF files, and if Ghostscript
is installed, the EPS files. CorelDRAW! will also handle both.
In ART/SYLEA:
I can't open any of the files; the JPG is a misnamed ART file, the WMF file
seems to have an invalid header, I don't have either CorelDRAW! or
Ghostscript on the computer I was using, and I don't have any information
on what will open a DSC file.
in BETAS:
The files with no extensions seem to be straight text files.
in CARDFILE:
The one file here appears to be a Windows Cardfile database containing
Ambrose Bierce's _Devil's Dictionary_. You can get a Windows-10 compatible
replacement for CardFile from http://geert.com/CardFile.htm
In DECKPLAN:
The five files with no extension appear to be Adobe Postscript files
(extension .PS). In the various subdirectories, the files with no
extensions appear to be MacDraw files (file signature "DRWGMD"); Paint.net,
The Gimp, CorelDRAW!, and CorelPhotoPAINT! all fail to recognize the
format.
in DESIGN:
The WB3 files are QUATTRO PRO spreadsheet files; LibreOffice Calc will open
them.
In ERRATA:
The WP files are probably WordPerfect files (same file signature as above).
The rest of the files are straight text (HTML is straight text for this
discussion).
In EXODUS:
The file EXODUS with no extension is a Word-for-DOS file; current versions
of Word will refuse to open it as an untrusted file type (but you can go to
the Trust Center and clear that setting). LibreOffice Writer will open it
with no problem. You probably don't need to worry, however, as there are
similarly named files for other word processors, including WordPerfect,
later versions of Word, and Rich Text Format. It is unclear what
APCINFO.DAT is; it is, however, apparently associated with the EXODUS42
Word doc.
In FANZINE:
Files beginning with AR are apparently WordPerfect editions of _Alien
Realms_; those beginning with SS&V are _Starships, Starports, and Vehicles_
In FORMS:
The FRM files are apparently WordPerfect fillable forms; they do not come
through as fillable in Word or LibreOffice Writer. CHARSHEE.JPG is yet
another misnamed ART file.
------
GAL23 and GAL24 are Jim Vassilakos's GALACTIC program for DOS; you can find
later versions elsewhere. (Jim, what's the current "official" location? My
link, to mypbem.com, is broken.)
------
In GDW-BETA:
The files in the subfolders are email archives, but I don't know what
program created them. Nevertheless, they're "clean" enough that you can
read them using _more_.
------
I didn't get past that point; it's getting late, and I'm getting tired.
More possibly tomorrow, or later this week.
®Traveller is a registered trademark of
Far Future Enterprises, 1977-2020. Use of
the trademark in this notice and in the
referenced materials is not intended to
infringe or devalue the trademark.
--
Jeff Zeitlin, Editor
Freelance Traveller
The Electronic Fan-Supported Traveller® Resource
xxxxxx@freelancetraveller.com
http://www.freelancetraveller.com
Freelance Traveller extends its thanks to the following
enterprises for hosting services:
onCloud/CyberWeb Enterprises (http://www.oncloud.io)
The Traveller Downport (http://www.downport.com)
