Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Viewing par files	yreal	03/07/05
How do I view par files on my emac, macos X?
Clarification/Follow-up by yreal on 03/09/05 3:26 am: Thanks for the information! Okay, so now I have a list of video files that I want to download from a newsgroup. Some are labeled par, some are mpeg, some are Asv(I think?), some are mwv (I think?). I've installed Microsoft Media Player, but the majority of the files appear as text files when I download them. Any suggestions? Ed Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 03/10/05 5:38 am: They are text files (although they look like gobbledegook). Newsgroup postings can only be text files. You need something that converts the text files to binary files. The real key is in the newsreader you are using. There should be a function that says something like "Extract Binaries." If you have a modern newsreader, it should automatically know how to take advantage of those .par files to restore missing segments of the file you are trying to extract. Open the first message in the series and use "Extract Binaries" -- see whether that work. Some news readers are easier than others -- I use "Newswatcher." Be very, very, very careful with downloaded files. It is extremely easy to download something with a nasty payload hidden in it. Use some form of virus/trojan scanning on any downloaded file before you open it.
Answered By		Answered On
voiceguy2000		03/08/05
PAR files are used to restore missing segments of multi-segment files, as are commonly found on newsgroups. You don't really view the PAR files; you use them, in connection with the other downloadable files, to put together intact downloads. Take a look at the MacPAR utility to see whether it will do what you need.

Additional Options and ratings are only visible when you login!