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SplitIt! is a great shareware program that allows you to split a large file into smaller files and to put them back together again. Many collectors face the problem of not being able to get files larger than a 1.4 MB disk (or 800 KB disk) into their 68K compact Macs. SplitIt! is one possible solution to this dilemma.

It is possible to use a Zip drive (not compatible with the Mac Plus without a hack), a CD drive, or a network connection to move larger files to your compact Mac. Each method has its pluses and minuses but one thing is common to all of them. They require you to have extra equipment. A network connection requires an Ethernet card or maybe an AppleTalk adaptor plug. Zip drives or CD ROMs require you to have the drives. Furthermore, CD ROMs require you to have a burner.

SplitIt! is relatively cheap and with a little patience, you can move files larger than 1.4 MB from your newer Mac to your compact Mac using a 1.4 MB or 800 KB disk. SplitIt! is shareware. You are free to use this product for a period of 30 days for free. If after 30 days you wish to continue using it, you should send in the shareware fee of $10 for a single-user license. For demonstration purposes, I will move Netscape 2.02 Installer from an iMac to a Classic II using a 1.4 MB floppy. The installer is about 2 MB in size.

The first step is to break the file up into smaller chunks. The program suggests that you break the file up into 1.4 MB chunks but I have found that even though your floppy is 1.4 MB in size, after it is Mac-formatted, you get around 1.3 MB of free space. It is best to break up the program into 1 MB chunks.



Split 1
Set each file to around 1 MB





Split 2
Split up in OS X



Before beginning the moving process, you'll need a copy of SplitIt! on your target Mac to recombine the file. This is not a problem since SplitIt! is only 160 KB in size.

SplitIt! broke down the Netscape Installer into three files. Two files were 980 KB and one was 100 KB. I put each file on a 1.4 MB floppy one at a time, moved them to the Classic II, and saved them to a folder on the hard drive. After successfully moving a file, I cleared the 1.4 MB floppy and repeated the moving process until all the files were moved to the Classic II.



Split 3
Ready to recombine





Split 4
Double click the highlighted files



Once all the file are moved to the same folder of the target Mac, in my case, a Classic II, it is a breeze to recombine them. Simply highlight all the files and double click. SplitIt! then puts all the files back together. The Netscape 2.02 Installer is none the worse for wear and ready to be used.



Split 5
Recombining the files





Split 6
Netscape Installer ready for use






Download SplitIt! for free at http://www.cs.utk.edu/~hedden/split.html.