🚀 go-pugleaf

Beware, new reader here!

I know that uploading/downloading/mailing of Mac programs via the USENET is
pretty much old hat to those already familiar with the procedures, but 
a new reader like myself is unable to do much without the following:

1.  From the articles I've read, I know there is a mac program called BinHex
to convert a binary mac file to ASCII so it may be transferred using email.
Are there versions that run on a UNIX host?
    I have also concluded that there is a program called xbin which does
the reverse conversion.  I have a version which runs on a UNIX host -- are
there versions that run on the mac?

2.  How does PackIt/unpit(?) fit into the picture?  I have successfully 
downloaded one program from the net, but a couple other tries were
unsuccessful -- the application shows up as a generic document on the mac,
and can't be used.  I have seen "PackIt format" tossed around in some of
the postings, and sense that this is information I need to know.

3.  Are these programs marketed by any companies, or are they strictly
freeware/shareware?  (I don't mind freeware/shareware, but it usually 
doesn't come with the best documentation, does it?)


Is there a source of information (such as answers to the above) which a new
reader would automatically know to look at before diving into net activity?

Thanks for any help you can offer,

Andrew Fitzhugh
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
415-694-6282