BinHex File Format

Macintosh files have icons, creator and type codes that would be lost during upload or download were it not for the BinHex file format. The names of binhex files have an '.HQX' suffix and they are just encoded text that can be stored on any computer (our web sites are Windows machines). When a binhex file is restored back to a regular Macintosh file it gets its icon and double-clickable status back.

Adding a BinHex 'wrapper'
If you are uploading a file that has icons, creator and type codes that must be preserved, then you will need to BinHex your file before transferring it. Stuffit is one utility that can be used to perform this encoding. Once encoded, the file will have an HQX (or SIT) extention. This is the file that you should upload to WebFTP.

Removing the BinHex 'wrapper'
When you click the link on the web page to get the file your browser should present a file dialog asking you to specify where and under what name the file is to be saved. Save it to the desktop and leave the '.hqx' on the end of the name.

If your browser window fills with strange looking text and a progress indicator tells you there is much more to come then go back and hold-click the link to download the HQX file. A menu should pop up offering to either open or download the link; choose download. The browser will ask where and under what name to save it. Save it on the desktop to a file with an ".HQX" on the end of the name (e.g. INSIGHT5.HQX).

If the browser does not pop up a menu when you hold-click on the link then you will have to click and let the text come into the browser window. When done choose Save As in the file menu and save it to the desktop to a file with an ".HQX" on the end of the name.

Once the file is on your desktop drop it onto Stuffit Expander to convert it to a regular Mac file or folder (Expander is a universally used free utility in the Macintosh world and is available from Aladdin Systems, Inc.).