Transferring fonts on DOS formatted volumes

As documented here on MacFixIt previously, if you copy a font or suitcase from Mac OS 9.2.2, to a DOS formatted volume then take that volume disk to a Mac OS X system, the fonts/suitcases appear to Finder/Terminal as zero-size files. If you take the volume back to the Mac OS 9.x box, the suitcases and fonts are fine, but if you attempt to add an extension on the suitcase (i.e dfont, etc.) or to the fonts they appear as zero-length files under Mac OS 9, too.

MacFixIt reader Richard Glaser offers some more insight on the issue, and a potential workaround:

"We have users that use the PC and Macs and use DOS formatted zips and the only workaround I have currently found is using a Mac formatted zip (i.e HFS Standard/Extended).

"I have tried tools like ForkSwitcher, which s a simple utility that allows the conversion between resource fork suitcases and data fork suitcases. But continually crashes. I have contacted Apple and they recommend running the CLI:

"/Developer/Tools/ResMerger -srcIs RSRC -dstIs DF resourceforkfile -o dataforkfile

"If you have the Developer Tools CD installed, you can do this via the command line:

"This is useful for those running Mac OS X rather than Mac OS 9 and not using DOS formatted zips/floppies."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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