How to Decode .hqx Files Downloaded from Online Services

• Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft Office for the Macintosh, versions 4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.1b

SUMMARY

The file extension .hqx designates a file as being BinHex encoded. The BinHex encoding is usually added as a shell around a self-extracting archive (.sea) file. If you download an .hqx file from an Internet site such as ftp.microsoft.com, you will have to strip the BinHex shell from the file. BinHex specification 4 is followed for the majority of the .hqx files posted on Internet sites.

This article lists steps to decode BinHex-encoded files using three Macintosh shareware utilities (BinHex4, Stuffit Expander, and Compact Pro). However, any utility that understands BinHex 4 specification should be able to decode these .hqx files.

MORE INFORMATION

BinHex (binary/hexadecimal) encoding is a technique that allows Macintosh files to be stored on file systems that either strip or ignore the resource fork. After BinHex encoding, the resulting .hqx file combines the data and resource forks into the data fork of the .hqx file. This preserves the resource fork for decoding on a Macintosh.

Method 1: Use Stuffit Expander, version 3.5.1

1. Start Stuffit Expander.

2. On the File menu, click Expand.

3. Open the folder that contains the .hqx file.

4. Click the .hqx file.

5. Click Expand.

Method 2: Use Compact Pro 1.5

1. Start Compact Pro.

2. On Misc menu, click Convert From BinHex4.

3. Open the folder that contains the .hqx file.

4. Click the .hqx file, and then click Open.

5. Select a location to save the converted file to and click Save.

Method 3: Use BinHex v4.0

1. Start BinHex v4.0.

2. On the File menu, click Application -> Upload.

3. Open the folder that contains the .hqx file.

4. Click on the .hqx file, then click Open.

5. Select a location to save the converted file to and click Save.

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