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by Michael Cox
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The MacBinary format was used to encode older, pre-Mac OS X files that used a file structure unique to Apple. Using this format, you could move and store Mac files on Windows computers or Web servers. If your business has been around for a while, you may have some of these legacy files on hand, perhaps with critical information such as tax data or photos. Depending on what type of files are encoded within your MacBinary files, with the appropriate application you may be able to open and even use them in Mountain Lion and beyond.
Download StuffIt Expander, the de facto standard application for file decompression and file extraction on the Mac.
Start StuffIt Expander and drag the MacBinary file onto the StuffIt Expander tile, set the destination location in the "Open" dialog box and click "OK."
Double-click the extracted file to open its associated application. If you receive an error when you double-click the file, open the appropriate application, such as Microsoft Word for a Word file or Font Book for a font file, and use the "Open" or "Import" function in that app to open the file. If you know the correct file extension for the extracted file, you may add it manually by selecting the file on the Desktop, clicking its name and adding the extension.
Not all files with a ".bin" extension are MacBinary files; the extension is used for other binary formats as well. If you receive an error when you try to open the file in StuffIt Expander, or the file becomes an archive with a ".gz" extension, it is likely not a MacBinary file.
Correctly extracted MacBinary files will normally have no extension, because prior to OS X, Mac files used a resource fork, not an extension, to identify the file. OS X, as well as Windows and Linux, identify file types using their extensions.
If the file is an application, it may not run on OS X or a Mac with an Intel processor. Usually such applications will appear with a circle-and-slash in their icons. Likewise, a file created in a very old version of an application may not open in a newer version without additional conversion. If you suspect this is the case, contact the application manufacturer.
If you're running Windows, you can use a utility such as Mac Binary Converter to open a MacBinary file, but the extracted file may not work on your computer.
Indiana University: What is MacBinary, and How Can I Decode It?
Apple: MacBinary - File Format Description
StuffIt: StuffIt Expander Mac
Sourceforge: Mac Binary Converter
Michael Cox writes about lifestyle issues, popular culture, sports and technology. In a career spanning more than 10 years, he has contributed to dozens of magazines, books and websites, including MSN.com and "Adobe Magazine." Cox holds a professional certificate in technical communications from the University of Washington.
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