On my old and now defunct computer I had created a lot of ASC11 files
which I can not open on my new computer. Is there any programe that
exists to read or convert these. Although my help on my computer tells
me how to access them it won't.

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Request for Question Clarification by joey-ga on 16 Jan 2005 10:42 PST

Do the files have an "extension" of .TXT?

I.e., what are the filenames?  Are they like "filename.txt" or is
there a different set of letters after the period?

--Joey

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Clarification of Question by alphatraz-ga on 17 Jan 2005 20:20 PST

The ASCII files I have are on floppy discs, I have tried to open them 
on every type of programe that I have on my computer,
ie :- Notepad, Wordpad, Microsoft Works and Open Office to no avail. 
There are no extensions but I know that they are on the discs. When I access 
the disc it shows that so much of the disc is being used but no icons, so 
no files and no extentions.

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Request for Question Clarification by joey-ga on 17 Jan 2005 21:17 PST

Are you sure the files were created on a PC?  If they were created on
a Macintosh, the disk would be unreadable on your PC and my produce
results like you're indicating (though, normally, it wouldn't even
show an empty window -- it would just say the disk is unformatted).

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Clarification of Question by alphatraz-ga on 18 Jan 2005 07:35 PST

OK Joey now I think about it, there is a possability that these files
were produced on my Atari. I was led to believe that an ASCII file was
compatable with all computer operating systems

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Request for Question Clarification by joey-ga on 18 Jan 2005 08:08 PST

the ASCII format is compatible, but the operating system formatting is
not.  Try installing the following Atari emulator to see if it will
allow your Windows machine to read your Atari disks:

http://www.emulators.com/gemul8r.htm

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Clarification of Question by alphatraz-ga on 21 Jan 2005 10:41 PST

Well Joey I always new there was someone out there looking out for me
when I needed them. Thank you so much for your advise. The emulator
worked perfectly and I now have all my files in clear as a bell
language.

Alphatraz, I'm glad the suggestion worked for you.  I'm answering the
question now to close it out with the information consolidated.

The ASCII format of your files is compatible, but the operating system
formatting is not.  The following Atari emulator should allow your
Windows machine to read your Atari disks:

http://www.emulators.com/gemul8r.htm

--Joey

This was the best answer I have had from anyone. The files contain a
selection of Childrens books written at least 15 years ago and deemed
lost for ever. Thanks to Joey

The files are ACSII (that two "eyes" at the end, not an eleven).  It
is pronounced ass-key.

Using a text editor such as Notepad, you should be able to open
practically anything, if you know the filename. If the files are plain
ASCII text, Notepad should display them just fine.

On your new computer,
Please make sure you select for [File Type] to (All Files) when
opening your old ASCII files.

Hi alphatraz-ga,
It's possible that your old files are hidden.
Do you have access to the Command Prompt?

It can be accessed the following way:
[Click on Start Menu]-->
[Select (Run) Menu item]-->
[Type: cmd]

...If successful, try:
[Type: attrib]
In the file listing, check on the left side for any "H" which
indicates a Hidden file.

...forgot:

If any files are hidden,
[Type: attrib -h _insert_filename_]
to make a file visible to programs like notepad and wordpad.