Looking for Text Conversion Software, Maybe

[dcr]

Hello,

I am trying to find an easier way of converting files created in old word processing applications from Mac OS Classic to Mac OS X.

The solution I've had is to save from the old word processors (WriteNow, FullWrite) to RTF which can then be (theoretically) opened in Pages under Mac OS X.  This works for most text, unless special characters are used.  In those cases, odd conversions can occur.  In one example, an extra space is added after the special character, so something like "jalapeño" would appear in Pages as "jalapeñ o".  Search and replace could be an option, unless a word ended in a special character in which case two words would then be run together.  I figure there must be a difference in character encoding that is resulting in the problem.

The workaround I've found is to take the RTF file and import it into a PageMaker 6.0 document.  Then, transfer that file to Mac OS X, open the PageMaker 6.0 document in InDesign CS6 and grab the text from there.  If I do that, the special characters appear as they should.

Seems to me there should be an easier way.  Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[ArmorAlley]

How about running a SheepSaver VM running Mac OS 8.1 and have Office 98 running on that. Convert all old files to .doc, copy them out of the SheepSaver volume and open them in word processor of choice?

 

[dcr]

Oooh.  I never thought about using Word as a go-between, primarily because I never think of using Word.  I do have a Mac OS 9.2.x machine that's infected with Office 2001.  I can give that a try.  Thanks!

 

[IPalindromeI]

MacLinkPlus allegedly handles everything you'll throw at it.

 

[Dog Cow]

I use ClarisWorks 2.1v3 with the XTND system, save as ClarisWorks format, then I use AppleWorks 6 on Mac OS X to open the ClarisWorks files and save in whatever format pleases me.

 

[ArmorAlley]

I had forgotten about the XTND system! It was so useful when I was in college 25 years' ago.

 

[register]

BBEdit (light) supports AppleScript and allows to combine custom search and replace patterns. I use it ever since I got hands on this efficient text processing application. It is available from versions running under 7.1 (if not earlier) up to the most recent Mac OS X.