---
name: "unsingle"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "netatalk"
version: "2.2.5-2+deb9u1"
release: "Debian 9 (Stretch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/megatron"
---

# unsingle(1)

Macintosh file format transformer

Part of [megatron(1)](/megatron/1.md).

## NAME

megatron, unhex, unbin, unsingle, hqx2bin, single2bin, macbinary - Macintosh file format transformer

## SYNOPSIS

**megatron** \[*sourcefile*...\]\
 **unbin** \[*sourcefile*...\]\
 **unhex** \[*sourcefile*...\]\
 **unsingle** \[*sourcefile*...\]\
 **hqx2bin** \[*sourcefile*...\]\
 **single2bin** \[*sourcefile*...\]\
 **macbinary** \[*sourcefile*...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**megatron** is used to transform files from BinHex, MacBinary, AppleSingle, or **netatalk** style AppleDouble formats into MacBinary or **netatalk** style AppleDouble formats. The **netatalk** style AppleDouble format is the file format used by **afpd,** the **netatalk** Apple Filing Protocol (AppleShare) server. BinHex, MacBinary, and AppleSingle are commonly used formats for transferring Macintosh files between machines via email or file transfer protocols. **megatron** uses its name to determine what type of tranformation is being asked of it.

If **megatron** is called as **unhex** , **unbin** or **unsingle**, it tries to convert file(s) from BinHex, MacBinary, or AppleSingle into AppleDouble format. BinHex is the format most often used to send Macintosh files by e-mail. Usually these files have an extension of ".hqx". MacBinary is the format most often used by terminal emulators "on the fly" when transferring Macintosh files in binary mode. MacBinary files often have an extension of ".bin". Some Macintosh LAN-based email packages use uuencoded AppleSingle format to "attach" or "enclose" files in email. AppleSingle files don´t have a standard filename extension.

If **megatron** is called as **hqx2bin**, **single2bin**, or **macbinary**, it will try to convert the file(s) from BinHex, AppleSingle, or AppleDouble into MacBinary. This last translation may be useful in moving Macintosh files from your **afpd** server to some other machine when you can´t copy them from the server using a Macintosh for some reason.

If **megatron** is called with any other name, it uses the default translation, namely **unhex**.

If no source file is given, or if *sourcefile* is \`**-**´, and if the conversion is from a BinHex or MacBinary file, **megatron** will read from standard input.

The filename used to store any output file is the filename that is encoded in the source file. MacBinary files are created with a ".bin" extension. In the case of conflicts, the old file is overwritten!

## OPTIONS

- **-v, --version**

  Show version.

## SEE ALSO

[**afpd**(8)](/afpd/8.md)