Unix executable files out of nowhere

About 1.5 weeks ago, my Mac suddenly started telling me that files belonging to the Preps application (a prepress app) were Unix executables. This version of Preps runs in Classic. These files are generated from a Windows PC and saved to an XServe. It has been fine for months and months and then suddenly switched over. The files can only be opened through the File Menu. If the files are resaved with Preps on the local Mac directly to the XServe, all is well again. The file names all have the appropriate extensions. The Get Info method does not stick. Cocktail doesn't work. Clearing caches, repairing permissions, rebuilding the Desktop– none of it resolves the issue. Nothing was changed on the Mac, the server or the PC prior to the problem.

Harley:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. In the file export window have you selected jpg or "original format" and have the Add extension checkbox checked?
Do the exported files have a extension? If so and it's jpg, then select on and bring up the Info window for it (Command-I). Then under default application select Preview and click on the Apply to all.. button. If you prefer to use a 3rd party editor like Photoshop or PS Elements then select that and click on the Apply to all... button. But the files should have an extension.
Do you Twango?
G5 Dual Core 2GHz, 2G RAM, 250G HD; G4 Dual 1Ghz, 1.5G RAM, 80G HD, Mac OS X (10.4.6) 22 LCD Display, 200G & 160G FW HDs, Canon S400, i850 & LIDE 50, Epson R200

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..will this be possible to open up an FCP 2 sequence that many versions later?
Yes.
Do i need to go one by one and add .mov extension??
Use my [Automator Action|https://files.me.com/nikholmes/0ge9cr] which will rename them for you -Just choose the correct folder in the "Start At" section. Link is a direct download from my iDisk.
Can i attach a newer external that the clips are on to the old mac?
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LN

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Message was edited by: Karkula

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I cannot open AirPortDevices Unix Executable file it says cannot execute binary file

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One of the folders on my external hard drive has transformed into a unix executable file and I can no longer access my files. Is there any way to save the data?

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Wow, have seen Files do that, but a whole Folder as I recall!
Could be many things, we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
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3. Click the First Aid tab.
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
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1) Explain what happened.
2) Explain a quick and easy fix.
Thanks to anyone (from Apple or otherwise) who can do 1 and 2 above.

Jeffois,
The first command I gave to you will render the directory in question, and all nested directories, inaccessible. The second command will make the diretories accessible again.
There is a possibility that there are files in this directory structure which are not owned by you. Not likely, but I must make the assumption that these could be encountered when I give such commands "in the dark" as it were. In such a case, you would see an error regarding these files, thus the warning.
You can return your directories to accessibility using the second command, regardless of errors you might encounter. If you do encounter errors, I will post a different form of the same commands that will work.
Be prepared to deal with this problem any time you transfer files from a Windows-formatted volume. This is not a Windows problem, but rather one of differences between the two file systems. If you see a file show up with the executable icon, you might want to remove the execute bit right away. Unfortunately, there is no way to do this in the GUI, so you must resort to using Terminal.
This shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just open Terminal, type this text with a traling space:
<pre style="overflow:auto; font-family: 'Monaco'; font-size: 10px">chmod a-x</pre>
then select all of the new files and drag them all into the Terminal window. This will create a rather long command line that includes the full path to every file you dragged in. Just press <RETURN>, and "POOF," no more execute bit!
Scott

Unix executable files out of nowhere

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