Brother WP330MDS - Manual (Page 95)

Using Your Brother Word Processing Files in a PC or Using a PC
File in Your Brother Word Processor
You can transfer the word processing data created on your Brother Word Processor
to a personal computer or vice versa. To do this, you must be sure that the files are
compatible. This means that the files must be in ASCII format and that the files must
be contained on a 720K or 1.44M DOS formatted diskette.
• 720K or 1.44M Formatted Diskettes
The first step in making the data compatible is the diskette format. The Brother Word
Processor recognizes the type of diskette {720K or 1.44M) and formats the diskette to
the corresponding DOS compatible format. So, taking files from your Brother Word
Processor to an IBM compatible PC is simple.
However, if you plan to move data from a PC to your Brother Word Processor, you
must be sure that the diskette containing the file is formatted to a 720K or 1.44M DOS
format. The file must also be stored in the root directory on the diskette.
You can format your diskettes on the PC or on your Brother Word Processor. Your PC
manual should list the steps necessary to complete this operation. However, many
PC
users find it difficult to format diskettes on a PC. In that case, format the diskette
on the Brother Word Processor, insert the diskette into the PC and save the ASCII file
to the diskette. (Be sure to save in the root directory.)
• Converting a File to ASCII Format
Word Processors and computers do not store data in the same format. In order to
transfer your text files from your word processor to a computer, or vice versa, the files
must be converted to a standard text format that both units can understand. This
standard format is called ASCII.
The CONVERT function transforms your text files from the word processing format to
an ASCII format. It can also transform ASCII file format files that were created on a
computer into the word processing format that your word processor uses,
• What is an ASCII File
An ASCII file, which contains text. Is stored In a format called ASCII (American
Standard Code for Information Interchange). It consists of printable data containing
no special formatting codes for underlining, boldface, etc. These special formatting
features, such as underlining, do not translate correctly between your word processor
and a computer. Therefore, when a file is converted to ASCII, ail special formats are
eliminated. Once the file is transferred, the file must be reformatted and any special
effects must be added.
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