TransMac
Help System Requirements: Any version of Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 or Vista.
Features:
Apple File System (APFS) volume read support. Open Mac APFS/HFS/HFS+ format disk drives, flash drives, CD/DVD/Blu-ray media. Open Mac APFS/HFS/HFS+ format disk image files (DMG, DMGpart, sparsebundle and sparseimage). Encrypted disk image support (full version only). Copy files to Mac HFS+ disks and DMG images. Format as HFS+ for Mac. Save images of disks and flash drives. Burn DMG and ISO files to disks and flash drives. Create, compress, expand and split DMG files. Built in burner functionality to burn ISO and DMG files directly to CD/DVD/Blu-Ray. Read Mac multisession and hybrid CDs. View partition layout of drives and disk images.
WARNING: After formatting or attaching a Mac disk, Windows may display
a popup dialog box offering to format it. DO NOT SELECT FORMAT OR DATA ON THE DRIVE WILL BE LOST!
Windows does this because it does not recognize Mac HFS/APFS format disks. Just cancel
that window without formatting and run TransMac.
Click the drive in the left pane of the TransMac window. You can then browse
the drive and copy files from within TransMac.
Below are instructions for performing some common operations in TransMac.
Navigation Tips:
Copying files from a Mac volume to the PC:TransMac works like File Explorer. Select disks, disk images and folders in the treeview pane on the left. Contents of the selected treeview item are displayed in the listview pane on the right. Most operations can be performed with the right-click context menus. Treeview navigation:
Listview navigation:
- Right click on treeview items or in an open area to display a pop-up menu of valid operations.
- Click or use up and down arrow keys to traverse the folder tree.
- If a drive has been added since TransMac was run, right-click in an open area and select "Refresh Drive List".
- Check the partition info and size of a disk by right-clicking and selecting "Properties".
- Check the size of a volume or container by right-clicking and selecting "Properties".
- Right click on listview items or in an open area to display a pop-up menu of valid operations.
- Press letter keys repeatedly to cycle through items starting with that letter.
- Press Ctrl-A to select all items in a list box.
- Select a group of items by clicking on the first item, scrolling to the last item, then holding down the "Shift" key while clicking on the last item.
- Select non-consecutive individual items by holding the "Ctrl" key while clicking on them.
Copying files from the PC to a Mac volume:Select a drive in the treeview pane and click on a Mac volume. Browse the Mac volume for the files to be copied. Drag them from the listview pane to a File Explorer window or other drop target. (An alternate way is to right-click the items in the listview pane and select "Copy to") NOTE: To copy large files it is best to use the "Copy to" method. Drag and drop has to copy to the boot disk first before moving files to the destination.
Creating a folder on a Mac volume:Select a drive in the treeview pane and click on a Mac volume. Browse to where files are to be copied. Drag files from a File Explorer window or other drag source to the listview pane. (An alternate way is to right-click an open area in the listview pane and select "Copy here")
Deleting files/folders on a Mac volume:Open a volume and browse to where the new folder is to be created. Right-click an open area in the listview pane and select "New Folder". (An alternate way is to press the button)
Enter the name of the folder and press OK.
Renaming files on a Mac volume:Open a volume and browse until files/folders to be deleted are shown in listview pane. Right-click and select "Delete". (An alternate way is to press the button)
CAUTION: Deleting a folder will delete all sub folders inside it as well.
Previewing files on a Mac volume:Open a volume and browse until files/folders to be renamed are shown in listview pane. Right-click and select "Rename". (An alternate way is to select the file/folder then click the name in the listview) Edit the name in place then press Enter or click outside the name. Press escape (Esc) to cancel and revert to the original name.
Opening a disk image:Open a volume and browse for the file to preview in the listview. Double-click the item to preview. (An alternate way is to right-click and select "Open") The file will be opened using the PC application associated with the file type or extension. To open a file in notepad, right-click and select "Open as Text". To open with a different application, right-click and select "Open with". You will be prompted to select an application. NOTE: When opening a file from a Mac disk, TransMac copies it to a temporary folder on the PC. Any changes to the file will NOT be written to the Mac disk.
Creating a disk image:By default the TransMac installation program associates Mac disk image files (DMG and .sparseimage extensions) with TransMac so double-clicking those files should open them in TransMac. To explicitly open disk images with other extensions select "Open Disk Image" from the file menu or right-click an open area of the treeview pane and select "Open Disk Image". The disk image file should now show up in the treeview pane. Clicking the file should open it if it contains a valid Mac volume.
Compressing an uncompressed DMG disk image:Select "New Disk Image" from the file menu or right-click an open area of the treeview pane and select "New Disk Image". Enter the desired volume label. Enter a volume size in megabytes. Press OK and you will be prompted to browse for the destination folder and file name.
Expanding a compressed DMG disk image (or convert to iso):Right-click the DMG file in the treeview pane and select "Compress". Enter the destination file name in the "Save As" dialog.
Splitting a compressed DMG disk image:Right-click the DMG file in the treeview pane and select "Expand". Enter the destination file name in the "Save As" dialog. NOTE: Some types of DMG compression like bzip may take a long time to expand.
Formatting a disk for the Mac:Right-click the DMG file in the treeview pane and select "Split". Note: Only compressed DMG files can be split. Enter the number of segments. You will be prompted for the destination file name. The first file has a DMG extension. The other files have the extension .NNNDMGpart where NNN is a sequence number (002, 003, 004, etc.).
Burning a DMG or ISO file to USB drive using restore:Right-click a drive in the treeview pane and select "Format Disk for Mac". (If this is missing from the menu, the disk is read only. See settings for fix.) You may be prompted to restart TransMac as administrator. Enter the desired volume label and press OK. CAUTION: Make sure you want to format the disk. Any existing data on the disk will be destroyed.
Saving an image of a disk:Right-click a drive in the treeview pane and select "Restore with Disk Image". (If this is missing from the menu, the disk is read only. See settings for fix.) Press the "..." button to browse for the disk image to be written. Valid compressed DMG files will automatically be uncompressed as they are written. New in version 15.0 is the option to enlarge the DMG volume to the drive size. This option will display after the DMG is selected only for GUID/GPT or Apple partition maps that have a single HFS+ partition at the end of the map. CAUTION: Make sure you really want to over write the disk. Any existing data on the disk will be destroyed. NOTE: Burning a large DMG/ISO file to a flash drive may take a long time. Flash drives are optimized for reading. The write operation is usually much slower.
Burning a DMG file to CD or DVD:Right-click a drive in the treeview pane and select "Save Image of Disk". Select the location for the saved image file.
Burning an ISO image to CD or DVD:Select "Burn CD/DVD" from the "Tools" menu or right-click the DMG image in the treeview and select "Burn to CD/DVD". Select the burn drive. Press the "..." button to browse for the DMG file to be burned. Click OK to start the burn process. NOTE: Compressed DMG files will add time. You may be able to save time by expanding ahead of time (see Expanding DMG above).
Creating a Mac CD or DVD:Since TransMac has an internal burning functionality, it can burn any ISO or CD/DVD image file. Select "Burn CD/DVD" from the "Tools" menu. Select the burn drive. Press the "..." button to browse for the ISO file to be burned. Click OK to start the burn process.
Erasing a rewritable CD or DVD:Follow the directions for "Creating a disk image" above. Be sure to select DMG for the image type. You can save burn time by creating a smaller volume, but it can not be enlarged once it is created. The volume size should not be greater than the capacity of the target media. A CD-R has a limit of about 650-700 MB. A DVD-R has a limit around 4.7GB. To use the full capacity of the media select the drive in the "Get size from CD media" box to read the size from inserted media. Open the disk image and copy the files and folders you want on to be on the CD. Right-click the DMG in the treeview pane and select "Burn to CD/DVD". (An alternate way is to select "Burn CD/DVD" from the "Tools" menu) Select the burn drive. Press the "..." button to browse for the DMG file to be burned. Click OK to start the burn process. NOTE: If TransMac's CD burning capabilities are not working with your drive, try selecting Use alternate burning method in the Tools/Settings menu under the DVD/CD Burning tab.
Select "Erase CD/DVD" from the "Tools" menu. Select the burn drive. Click OK to start the erase process.
Visual Foxpro 90 Sp2 Portable Extra Quality Official
Visual FoxPro 9.0 is abandonware. Microsoft no longer sells or supports licenses. However, distributing full, pre-cracked copies is illegal. An extra quality portable build should require a valid product key (originally from MSDN or a retail CD). Some community builds are "trial unlock" – proceed with caution.
For enterprises, the safest approach is to create your own portable build from a licensed VFP 9.0 SP2 installation using tools like ThinApp, Cameyo, or VMware vCenter Converter.
The "Extra Quality" label usually means the packer pre-merged the infamous VFP 9.0 SP2 Hotfix fixes. Specifically, they fixed the SYS(3050) memory leak and the broken IMEMode for Chinese/Japanese characters. You don't need to hunt Microsoft’s dead FTP servers for these QFE patches.
Unlock true extra quality by tweaking your portable instance:
Standard installations of VFP 9.0 write to the Windows Registry, modify PATH variables, and register OCX files. This causes conflicts when:
A portable extra quality build circumvents all this. It runs entirely from a single folder. Registry entries are either virtualized or avoided using manifest-based redirection.
Verdict: A Legendary Tool in a Convenient, Yet Legally Gray, Package.
In the world of legacy database development, Visual FoxPro (VFP) holds a near-mythical status. Even though Microsoft ended mainstream support in 2007 and extended support in 2015, the "VFP community" remains vibrant. This is largely due to the sheer power of the engine and the Sedna add-ons released by Microsoft after the product was shelved.
When looking for a "Portable" version labeled "Extra Quality," developers are usually looking for a specific gold standard: a version that requires no installation, leaves no registry clutter, and—most importantly—includes the vital post-SP2 hotfixes. Here is a deep dive into this specific release archetype.
There is no official "portable" version of Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2
released by Microsoft. Visual FoxPro (VFP) was originally designed to be installed on a Windows system using a standard installer.
Files labeled as "extra quality portable" found on third-party sites or file-sharing platforms are unofficial modifications. These versions often use tools like WinRAR to create self-contained executables or rely on manually including all required
runtime files in the application folder to bypass a formal installation. Key Considerations
FoxPro Replacement and End of Life Migrations - InterSoft Associates
Visual FoxPro 9.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) represents the final official update of Microsoft’s data-centric, object-oriented programming environment
. While Microsoft ended mainstream development for VFP in 2007, the
version remains the standard for organizations maintaining legacy database-driven applications. Википедия Core Features and Updates
Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 focused on stability, security, and minor enhancements to its built-in relational database engine. TechTarget Security Updates:
Microsoft has released several security patches for SP2 as recently as 2024, addressing vulnerabilities in components like GDIPLUS.DLL and Windows Common Controls ( mscomctl.ocx Database Capacity: VFP 9.0 SP2 supports a maximum capacity of 2 GB per table due to its 32-bit architecture. Interoperability: visual foxpro 90 sp2 portable extra quality
This version was designed to work more effectively with XML web services and exchange data with Microsoft SQL Server TechTarget Portable Edition and "Extra Quality"
A "Portable" version of Visual FoxPro is not an official Microsoft product but is typically created by developers using tools like
or App-V to bundle the executable and its support libraries into a single, self-contained file. Functionality:
A portable version can run from a USB drive without requiring a full system installation, as long as the necessary support libraries are included. "Extra Quality":
In the context of software downloads, terms like "extra quality" are often used by third-party distribution sites to imply a complete, pre-configured, or bug-fixed package. However, users should be cautious and prioritize official security updates from the Microsoft Download Center to protect their systems. System Requirements and Compatibility
VFP 9.0 SP2 was originally designed for older Windows versions, but it can still run on modern systems with certain configurations. Experts Exchange
Visual FoxPro (VFP) 9.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is the final major update for Microsoft's data-centric development environment. While "extra quality" is not an official Microsoft designation, it often refers to third-party repackaged versions or fully patched builds that include community-driven enhancements from projects like VFPX. Key Characteristics of VFP 9.0 SP2
Data Centricity: Features a fast, file-based database engine and a powerful xBase programming language.
Portable Deployment: While not natively "portable" in a modern sense, VFP applications are highly portable; they can often be deployed via a simple XCOPY of the EXE and roughly 4MB of royalty-free runtime DLLs.
Final Version: SP2 was released in 2007, and official Microsoft support has ended.
Security Updates: Critical patches, such as those for GDIPLUS.DLL and ActiveX controls, were released as recently as 2024 to address system vulnerabilities. Core Technical Features
VFP 9.0 SP2 is valued for its stability in maintaining legacy systems. Its core features include: Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 ActiveX Controls Security Update
likely refers to a third-party, unofficial "repack" or standalone version of the software designed to run without a standard system installation.
While these portable versions are frequently shared in developer forums or on social media, they are not official Microsoft releases. Key Details about Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 Official Status
: Microsoft discontinued Visual FoxPro in 2007, with official support ending in January 2015. Functionality
: It remains a fast and reliable IDE for maintaining legacy desktop database applications. Unofficial Developments
: Because Microsoft stopped updates, the community created tools like VFP Advanced
(sometimes called "VFP 10") to extend the software's capabilities for modern systems. Security Risks Visual FoxPro 9
: Older versions and unofficial portables may contain security vulnerabilities. Microsoft has released specific security patches (like for GDIPLUS.DLL ) that users are encouraged to apply. Google Groups Licensing and Safety
Visual FoxPro 9.0 Service Pack 2 GDIPLUS.DLL Security Update
Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 Portable: The High-Performance Guide to "Extra Quality" Portability
In the pantheon of database management systems, Visual FoxPro 9.0 (VFP9) occupies a legendary status. Even years after Microsoft transitioned its focus, VFP9 remains a powerhouse for data-centric applications due to its blazing-fast local engine and flexible "Rushmore" query optimization.
However, modern developers often face a hurdle: the need for agility. Enter the Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 Portable "Extra Quality" build. This version is designed for developers who need the full strength of the SP2 (Service Pack 2) environment without the bloat of a traditional installation.
In this article, we’ll explore what makes a "portable" VFP9 build high quality, why SP2 is non-negotiable, and how to maintain the integrity of your development environment on the go. Why SP2 is the Gold Standard for VFP9
If you are looking for "Extra Quality," you are looking for Service Pack 2. SP2 was the final definitive update for Visual FoxPro 9.0, providing critical fixes and enhancements that the base version lacked:
Windows Compatibility: SP2 addressed numerous UI rendering issues, ensuring that forms and toolbars behave correctly on Windows 7, 10, and 11.
Reporting Engine Enhancements: It introduced better support for the Report Builder and improved output to PDF and XML.
Stability: SP2 patched memory leaks and C5 errors that plagued earlier builds, making it the only version suitable for production-level portable use. Defining "Extra Quality" in a Portable Build
Not all portable versions are created equal. A true "Extra Quality" build isn't just a zipped folder; it is a meticulously configured environment that ensures the following: 1. Zero-Footprint Registry Handling
Visual FoxPro traditionally relies on COM components and registry keys for ActiveX controls and OLE DB providers. A high-quality portable build uses Side-by-Side (SxS) assemblies or virtualization wrappers (like ThinApp or Enigma) to ensure these components register in a "virtual registry," leaving the host computer's system files untouched. 2. Full Feature Parity
Many stripped-down portable versions remove the Help files (DVLP.CHM), the Task Pane, or the Report Designer to save space. An "Extra Quality" version keeps these intact. You shouldn't lose the ability to use the Class Browser or Object Browser just because you’re running from a USB drive. 3. Pre-Configured Pathing
A major headache with portable apps is the SET DEFAULT and SET PATH commands. Quality builds include a config.fpw file that dynamically detects the startup directory, ensuring your resource files (foxuser.dbf) and temp files are stored within the portable folder rather than the host's C:\Temp. Benefits of Using VFP9 SP2 Portable
Conflict-Free Testing: Run multiple versions of VFP on the same machine without DLL hell.
Emergency Debugging: Keep a copy on a thumb drive to troubleshoot client databases on-site without installing the full IDE.
Legacy Maintenance: Easily maintain older projects on modern hardware where the original VFP installer might struggle with 64-bit registry redirection. Best Practices for "Extra Quality" Performance
To ensure your portable environment remains stable, follow these three rules: A portable extra quality build circumvents all this
Keep it Off the Cloud: Never run a portable VFP environment directly from a synced folder like OneDrive or Dropbox. The file-locking mechanism of VFP databases (.dbf) will conflict with the cloud sync, leading to index corruption.
Run as Administrator: Even though it’s portable, VFP9 often needs elevated permissions to hook into certain Windows APIs or to access protected data folders.
Include the Runtime: Ensure your portable folder includes the essential runtime files: VFP9R.dll, VFP9T.dll, and VFP9RENU.dll. Conclusion
The "Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 Portable Extra Quality" movement is a testament to the enduring power of the Fox. By combining the most stable version of the engine (SP2) with modern virtualization techniques, developers can enjoy a world-class data environment that fits in their pocket.
Whether you are a legacy developer maintaining mission-critical systems or a data enthusiast who appreciates the speed of a cursor-based language, a high-quality portable build is the ultimate tool in your arsenal. fpw file for a zero-installation setup?
Do not search for or download “Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 portable extra quality” from untrusted sources. Instead:
Would you like a step-by-step guide to creating a clean, legal runtime-only portable folder for VFP 9.0 SP2 applications?
Key Features of Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2:
What's in SP2 (Service Pack 2)?
Service Pack 2 for Visual FoxPro 9.0 includes updates and fixes that improve the stability, security, and performance of the software. Some key updates in SP2 include:
Portable Version:
A portable version of Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 would allow you to run the software from a portable device, such as a USB drive, without requiring installation on a specific machine. This can be useful for development, testing, or demonstration purposes.
Quality and Extra Features:
The term "extra quality" is subjective, but a portable version of Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 might include additional features or tools that enhance the overall user experience. These could include:
Keep in mind that the specifics of a portable version can vary depending on the creator and their goals. If you're looking for a portable version of Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2, ensure you obtain it from a reputable source to avoid any potential security risks.
Visual FoxPro (VFP) 9.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is the final, definitive version of Microsoft’s data-centric, object-oriented development environment. While Microsoft officially ended mainstream support in 2010, SP2 remains the "gold standard" for developers maintaining high-performance legacy desktop applications due to its speed and tight integration with its local data engine. Review of Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2
Portability & DeploymentThere is no official "Portable" edition, but the IDE is famously flexible.
Ease of Use: Developers often create their own "portable" versions by copying the HOME() directory to a thumb drive, which works for personal use under the EULA.
Runtime Distribution: VFP applications are known for being easy to deploy (often just requiring a few DLLs) compared to more modern, complex frameworks. Key Strengths
Visual FoxPro 9.0 Service Pack 2 Security Update - Microsoft
Disk Images
Mac disk image files are just file systems written to a file instead of to a raw disk. The Mac can mount them so they appear just like a disk drive. There are several different types each with different options. Below are descriptions of the types TransMac supports:
Troubleshooting Guide
Symptom: Drag/drop copying from Mac to PC is slow or seems to copy twice.
Symptom: When copying from Mac to PC, the destination disk runs out of space even if there is room.
Cause: Windows drag/drop interface copies files to a temporary folder on the boot drive before moving to the destination disk.
Solution: Instead of drag and drop, use the right-click context menu "Copy to". This will copy directly to the destination disk.
Symptom: The message "No Mac HFS volumes found" appears when selecting
a Mac disk or DMG.
Cause: The disk is not Mac APFS, HFS+ or Standard HFS formatted.
Solution: TransMac can
only open Mac APFS, HFSX, HFS+ and (Old) Standard HFS format disks and
DMG files. Right-click the drive and select "Properties"
to see the partition layout and type of volume.
Symptom: An error message appears while copying files.
Cause: Windows has a legacy file path size limit
of 255 characters.
Solution1: Rename folders
with smaller names or copy inner folders separately so they fit within path
limit.
Solution2: Select the "Allow
long paths for Copy to PC" checkbox in the Settings dialog. This setting
may cause problems with legacy Windows programs that don't support long paths.
Cause: File is too large for the target
file system.
Solution: Make sure file is
less than 2GB for PC FAT16
file system and less than 4GB for PC
FAT32.
Cause: Disk has bad sectors.
Solution: Use a different
disk, reformat disk or fix disk by running a check for bad sectors on a Mac.
Symptom: Some treeview context menu items (Format, Restore, etc.) are missing.
Symptom: Some listview context menu items (Copy Here, Delete, New Folder, etc.) are grayed out.
Cause: The disk or DMG is read only.
Solution: Default in settings
is to treat fixed disks as read only. See settings to select read/write.
Solution: For hardware write
protect, turn protect switch off.
Solution: DMG files are read-only when compressed. Expand the DMG to write to it.
Cause: The volume type is APFS. Currently TransMac does not support writing APFS volumes.
Symptom: An error message appears when trying to write to a disk.
Cause: The volume format is APFS which is read only in TransMac.
Cause: The disk is write protected or read only.
Solution: For hardware write
protect, turn protect switch off.
Cause: Disk has bad sectors.
Solution: Use a different
disk, reformat disk or fix disk by running a check for bad sectors on a Mac.
Symptom: An error message appears when formatting a disk.
Cause: The disk is write protected
Solution: For hardware write
protect, turn protect switch off.
Cause: Disk has bad sectors.
Solution: Use a different
disk, reformat disk or fix disk by running a check for bad sectors on a Mac.
Symptom: A file copied from a PC is not recognized on the Mac.
Cause: The Mac does not have an application installed
that can open the file type.
Solution: Some file
types are the same on both machines (jpg, gif, mp3, etc). Some files can
be opened with the same application on the opposite platform. For example
a file created on a Mac with Quark can usually be opened on a PC if it
has the PC version of Quark installed. For some files there is no application
that will open them on the other machine.
Symptom: A file copied from a Mac is not recognized on the PC.
Cause: The PC does not have an application installed
that can open the file type.
Solution: Some file
types are the same on both machines (jpg, gif, mp3, etc). Some files can
be opened with the same application on the opposite platform. For example
a file created on a Mac with Quark can usually be opened on a PC if it
has the PC version of Quark installed. For some files there is no application
that will open them on the other machine.
Symptom: Files are corrupt after copy.
Cause: The file system on the disk is corrupt.
Solution: Use a disk checking
utility (on a Mac), or reformat the disk (if there is no needed data on it).
Symptom: After burning a DMG/iso image, the USB drive is not bootable or does not work properly.
Cause: The restore operation formats the drive with the contents of the DMG file.
The disk will only be bootable if the DMG is bootable.
Solution: Make sure the DMG file contains the exact contents
you want written to the disk. If you are having trouble creating a bootable MacOS USB installer, this PDF may help.
Symptom: Burning a DMG file to flash drive is slow.
Cause: USB flash drives are optimized for reading. Writing may be very slow especially
for older drives. Compressed DMG files are expanded on the fly which will also add to restore time.
Solution1: Use a newer/faster flash drive.
Solution2: Use a recent version of TransMac. Older versions may have a smaller buffer size.
Symptom: Get error message while or after burning disk image to DVD.
Cause: If image is a compressed DMG, it could be corrupt.
Solution: Try expanding DMG
to verify integrity.
Cause: DVD failed verification.
Solution1: Try selecting "Use
slowest burn speed" in Options/General Settings.
Solution2: Try different media
or drive.
Due to extra security (UAC) in Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, users may not be able to access disks without elevating privileges. TransMac will prompt to restart itself when this is necessary or it can be done ahead of time as shown below.
To run TransMac once as administrator, right-click on the TransMac shortcut
or icon and select "Run as administrator".
To always run TransMac as administrator, right-click on the TransMac shortcut
or icon and select "Properties".
Then tick "Run this program as an administrator" under the "Compatibility"
tab
