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macOS High Sierra APFS only support SSDs

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Guys - question about the new APFS - when 'High Sierra' is released, I plan to upgrade my Mac laptops w/ SSDs which will automatically convert their file systems to Apple's new one from my reading of this thread & the links. My wife's iMac has a fusion drive (and will await Apple's decision as to how they may handle these spinning drives - and I'm planning soon to replace that computer w/ a new one which will have a SSD) which I may not upgrade to 'High Sierra' unless that option exists and is considered a safe transition?

But my question is whether apps, such as updated Pages, Numbers, & Keynote writing to the new APFS can exchange their files w/ the older HFS+ if still on our iMac; of course, the issue may apply to other apps - my initial thought is that the files will be interchangeable, but if not then maybe yet another PITA? Just thinking about my old days w/ Windows and updates/upgrades to Word & Excel. Dave :)
 

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A new public beta just popped up for me. I'll try to test that specifically but I don't recall any previous issues.
 
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But my question is whether apps, such as updated Pages, Numbers, & Keynote writing to the new APFS can exchange their files w/ the older HFS+ if still on our iMac;


I don't have a super accurate gazing ball, but I'd expect Apple to have things working pretty correctly and compatible as they did with the GUID changeover from APF (Apple Partition Map)/ HFS+ etc. format stuff.

But my inner gut says it's not going to be quite so friendly accessing some older formats with backward compatibility and some users (support techs etc) having to rely on having at least two different OS X operating Macs. As an old retied fellow I know always just says — we shall see!!

How to format a drive, or disc for maximum portability?
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3003




- Patrick
======
 

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Dave, I have my main drive formatted with the new APFS formatting. I can open documents stored on HFS+ drives with no issues. One thing I have noticed is that if I boot from my external HFS+ drive running Sierra it doesn't see my APFS drive. As far as I can tell, nothing in Sierra "sees" the APFS formatted drive. I can't, for example, go into the Startup preference pane and select the APFS drive if I am in Sierra.

I've opened Apple and non Apple documents and programs with no issues so long as the versions are reasonably current. Even my QuickTime Pro 7 installation migrated over from Sierra and still works.
 

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But my question is whether apps, such as updated Pages, Numbers, & Keynote writing to the new APFS can exchange their files w/ the older HFS+ if still on our iMac; of course, the issue may apply to other apps - my initial thought is that the files will be interchangeable, but if not then maybe yet another PITA? Just thinking about my old days w/ Windows and updates/upgrades to Word & Excel. Dave

Dave:

Apple has already stated that APFS and HFS+ will be interoperable. In other words they can read and write to each other - in the same way back when Windows 2000 was deployed and FAT-32 and NTFS could be used. There may come a time when Apple changes things and only APFS will be available. Much in the same way as today with Windows and NTFS.
 
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You need to be running macOS Sierra 6 (10.12.6) to be able to read APFS drives.
 

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I don't think that is quite right. I haven't test this with the High Sierra beta that dropped today but that hasn't been true for some of the betas. In fact, the one I just replaced was listed in the store as a "developer beta". Under that beta Sierra did not recognize my APFS drive but the APFS beta would recognize Sierra and others.
 
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Thanks All for the comments - all of my computers are on macOS 10.12.6, so I suspect that if I upgrade my laptops to 'High Sierra' and even keep the iMac on Sierra 10.12.6, then I'll be fine w/ exchanging files, as needed - not that often as a 'retired ole fart' - :) Dave
 

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I am on my late 2011 MBP 13" with Sierra 10.12.6 and the APFS drive shows on the desktop and everywhere else.

Screen Shot 2017-09-02 at 12.39.31 AM.png
 
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Slydude

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That's good to know Dennis. Not sure why it isn't showing for me -- especially since holding down the option key works for me. I'll have to boot into Sierra in a bit and check the settings to see if something has been changed.
 
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Can someone translate all this into Mickey Mouse language and how it will affect me, please? Not the time travel, I'm right up there!

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IWT


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Can someone translate all this into Mickey Mouse language and how it will affect me, please? Not the time travel, I'm right up there!

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Hi Sue.

Your MacBook Pro has a SSD (= Flash storage) and is running macOS Sierra.

If you go back to Ashwin's original post, #1, there is a Link - and here it is again - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208018

This will explain, hopefully, what to expect when macOS High Sierra comes along. As you have an SSD/Flash drive, conversion to APFS is automatic - no choice. Look at the section on APFS compatibility and this explains all. You should have no difficulties as you are running Sierra currently.

It also tells you about Time Machine and lots else.

Hope this might help?

Ian
 
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Thanks, Ian. Clear as mud but you have reassured me. I did read that link initially but thought it applied to networks as it said 'If you’re a system administrator. Suppose I'm the system administrator.
 
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'If you’re a system administrator. Suppose I'm the system administrator.

Yup Sue. Just like a lot of Apple's "Help" topics do and say: "contact your system administrator for help and settings" etc. !!!

Yeah right, what a sick "help" support suggestion for home users I've always thought that is.


Suppose I'm the system administrator.

Yup, that's definitely you if you're the admin user and especially if you're a single home Mac user.


If so, next stop at some of your local pubs and maybe scrape up some Mac "system administrator" and hope they aren't completely smashed if and when you might need their "help". :D




- Patrick
======
 
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'If you’re a system administrator. Suppose I'm the system administrator.


And if you do go with High Sierra (HS) and are using a SSD and decide you want to go back, you'll probably need that privilege in order to do so which isn't an easy cake walk as things are recently standing it seems:

How to revert back to Apple's HFS+ from APFS
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-revert-back-to-apples-hfs-from-apfs/

That could hopefully change after the HS Public Release. Mmmmm…???




- Patrick
======
 

IWT


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I can see why folks are confused when I read Patrick's link (I don't mean you, Patrick, I mean the content of the link:) )

This is Patrick's link: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/...hfs-from-apfs/. ; wherein there are conflicting statements with respect to Apple's official release: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208018

For example, the tech republic's article says:
However, that doesn't mean APFS is everyone, especially considering some of its limitations, such as not being compatible with Time Machine for backups, FileVault 2 for drive encryption

whereas Apple says:
APFS and Time Machine

After you upgrade your institution's Mac and convert to APFS, you won't need to make any changes to Time Machine settings.

and
APFS and FileVault

FileVault volumes are converted from HFS+ to APFS, just like unencrypted volumes.

I'd be tempted to favour the Apple version. In any case, upgrading to macOS High Sierra is not compulsory and many might want to await till at least the first point update.

As the Chinese might say: "Interesting Times".

Ian
 
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@Ian
As the Chinese might say: "Interesting Times"


As you probably know, the full Chinese proverb is "May you live in interesting times."

And pretty appropriate these days I'd say with the nut case president of North Korea they have as a neighbor. :[




- Patrick
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Careful Patrick, people in glass (White) houses...:Mischievous:
 
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As you probably know, the full Chinese proverb is "May you live in interesting times."

And pretty appropriate these days I'd say with the nut case president of North Korea they have as a neighbor. :[

Careful Patrick, people in glass (White) houses...:Mischievous:

BOY! Where is Chuck when we need him? ;) :Cool: Dave
.
NorthKorenNorris.jpg
 
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