converting DP3 MIDI files to DP7

[waterbearer]

I've been trying unsuccessfully to convert some elderly MIDI files created in DP3 on an old Mac running OS 9 to DP7 on a MacPro running OS 10.6.8. I changed the ext to .smf - didn't work, to .mid - didn't work, to .MID didn't work, and to .dpdoc and none of them would open in DP7. Any and all advice is welcome. Thanks.

[mikehalloran]

What was the extension before?

Run Get Info and see if you don't have two extensions now.

What is your OS and version of DP 7?

[cuttime]

Can you open them with QuickTime Player 7?
https://support.apple.com/downloads/quicktime
If so, you have an option to export them as a standard MIDI file.

[mikehalloran]

Can you open them with QuickTime Player 7?
https://support.apple.com/downloads/quicktime
If so, you have an option to export them as a standard MIDI file.

True but only if .mid. Since OS 8 and earlier didn't require visible extensions, I wonder if adding .mid doesn't turn them into .mid.mid.

Get Info will sort that out. Make extensions visible, fix them and then they should open in QuickTime if nowhere else.

Also curious about the OS and version of DP. 7.24 is the only version that authorizes in OS 7 or later but earlier versions run if authorized in an earlier OS that was upgraded. There are some file permission issues with certain builds of DP 7. Been there, fixed that.

[waterbearer]

The computer is OS 9.2.1 The version of DP is 3.1.1. Get Info didn't reveal any extensions. I tried a save as: standard MIDI format. It still doesn't open in DP 7. There may be a secret handshake or magical password that I can't discern. . . . It makes composing fugues seem a simple task in comparison.

[mikehalloran]

You're not making sense. DP 7 does not run in OS 9. Once again, what OS and what version of DP 7?

Many of us go back to DP 3 and earlier (2.x for me) and are able to open our old files in DP 7 and later. There are issues which is why I ask the questions I do.

OS 9 supported file type and create codes. Files may have an extension or not.
http://vintagemacmuseum.com/macintosh-t ... tor-codes/

[terrybritton]

Just checking - are you sure these were "DP" (Digital Performer) 3.11 files and not "Performer" 3.11 files? (Performer was my first sequencer on my souped-up Mac-Plus!)

I've wondered how to get my ancient Performer files to open, on my end. Glad I saved SMF versions!

Terry

[waterbearer]

Good news. Bad news. I got the files to convert (good), but I'm not sure what I did (bad). . . . Opened them in DP3.1.1 on my old Mac (OS 9.2.1), then saved each as a standard MIDI file, and typed in .mid at the end of the name. Now they open as smf's. I wish I knew why it worked today and not yesterday, A re-alignment of the stars? The MIDI monster took the day off? My ignorance (tho I've been using Performer and DP for nearly 25 years). Anyhow, all's well that ends well. Thanks for all your advice.

[philbrown]

I've been trying unsuccessfully to convert some elderly MIDI files created in DP3 on an old Mac running OS 9 to DP7 on a MacPro running OS 10.6.8. I changed the ext to .smf - didn't work, to .mid - didn't work, to .MID didn't work, and to .dpdoc and none of them would open in DP7. Any and all advice is welcome. Thanks.

I've never "opened" a MIDI file in DP, I always just dragged them to the left side of the Tracks Overview window. What method are you using to import them?

[stubbsonic]

Good news. Bad news. I got the files to convert (good), but I'm not sure what I did (bad). . . . Opened them in DP3.1.1 on my old Mac (OS 9.2.1), then saved each as a standard MIDI file, and typed in .mid at the end of the name. Now they open as smf's. I wish I knew why it worked today and not yesterday, A re-alignment of the stars? The MIDI monster took the day off? My ignorance (tho I've been using Performer and DP for nearly 25 years). Anyhow, all's well that ends well. Thanks for all your advice.

If you are certain that, way back when, you did a "save as..." and saved as an smf (.mid)-- as opposed to just saving as a DP file; then it's hard to say why it didn't work yesterday, but worked today.

A Standard MIDI File should open with either a .mid or .smf extension, and most software (in my experience) won't care which.

If yesterday you were trying to open DP files, then as Mike mentioned, the file type and file creator codes could be missing-- which will prevent them from opening. Those codes CAN be re-entered in with other utilities. But I've found that to be unreliable as a solution.

Fortunately, you have access to your old computer & software.

[mikehalloran]

Fortunately, you have access to your old computer & software.

As long a my G4 works, it's staying. Doesn't take up much space...

[stubbsonic]

Yea. Same here. Even though I've tried and tried to update all my files, I still have to go back and use Appleworks pretty often. And I've more than once been able to convert old files for myself and others.

Hopefully it'll keep booting up when I call upon it.

[mikehalloran]

I still have to go back and use Appleworks pretty often

This will open word processing and spreadsheet docs from many current and dead formats including AppleWorks, MacWrite, Word 5.1 etc. and it's freeware/donation.

https://www.libreoffice.org/

I don't use it to replace Office even though they claim that it can be done.

Unfortunately, it won't open graphics files from AppleWorks, ClarisDraw or MacPaint. In fact, I don't know anything that does.

[stubbsonic]

Yea, most of what I'm needing the old Appleworks for is graphics-- tons of reference materials I've made for music study. Most are all quite useful, and always need little tweaks.

I've tried a few programs that claim to be able to edit Appleworks graphics files, but none really work.

Appleworks was an amazingly powerful and flexible program. Pages was pretty terrible when it first came out, but now it's much worse. Similarly, the graphics capabilities that were built into Preview in Mavericks got ruined in Yosemite. It's now a huge pain in the ass to use. I have to boot from an external partition when I want to use Preview to edit.

[mikehalloran]

Yea, most of what I'm needing the old Appleworks for is graphics-- tons of reference materials I've made for music study. Most are all quite useful, and always need little tweaks.

I've tried a few programs that claim to be able to edit Appleworks graphics files, but none really work.

Appleworks was an amazingly powerful and flexible program. Pages was pretty terrible when it first came out, but now it's much worse. Similarly, the graphics capabilities that were built into Preview in Mavericks got ruined in Yosemite. It's now a huge pain in the ass to use. I have to boot from an external partition when I want to use Preview to edit.

I did album and cassette covers in CW and AW. I do feel your pain. LibreOffice plans to get to that someday now that they have added a graphics engine. Till then...