ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) (02/25/91)
In article <5450@gara.une.oz.au> dcolman@gara.une.oz.au (Doug Colman) writes: >I have developed a tiered window system for Turbo Pascal : >that is OK. I am a new user of NEWS, and not aware of how >code is normally interchanged. THANKYOU !!! Here are some extracts from information files which should be of use in your question. The first is from /pc/pd2/pd2ans025.txt, and the last two from /pc/ts/tsfaq17.arc. They are related to what is called anonymous ftp, a system of downloading pograms within UseNet somewhat alike downloading from BBSes. Of course there is the alternative of entering into email contacts with other users, but there is no organized system for that. Finally, follow the comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d newsgroup for awhile to see a third distribution system called binary postings. If you want to know more about anonymous ftp, you are welcome to email me for the prerecorded instructions. 10. ***** Q: I have made some programs myself which I think might be of general interest. Or I have obtained this fabulous program which I think would be of general interest. Would it be possible to upload them to your system. A: Yes, we are certainly interested in all quality programs. (A proper documentation is one of the prerequisites. The program and the documentation must be in English). There are two alternatives in sending your package to us. You can send your (.arc, .lzh, .zip, or .zoo) package uuencoded to me, or to my fellow moderator Harri Valkama (hv@garbo.uwasa.fi). If it is a multi-part posting it would be convenient (but not absolutely necessary) to use the same begin-end system as comp.binaries.ibm.pc uses for binary postings. If you are sending an update, I would recommend that you make the version number a part of your package name. (In fact I'd like to insist). For example, I use the following format, tsutil30.arc and so on, in my own packages. The second method is using ftp to put your package directly to one of our incoming directories. The relevant ftp commands after connecting are eg cd /pc/incoming, binary (if not an ordinary ascii file), put YourFile. If you use this alternative, please contact Harri Valkama hv@garbo.uwasa.fi informing him about your upload. I don't poll the incoming directories on a regular basis. When you inform Harri of your upload, please let me have a carbon copy of your message for my information. Please note that if you are sending someone else's standard programs, the latter alternative is strongly preferred, since it causes less work. The use of the former alternative is more relevant if you are submitting your own program on my invitation for evaluation and potential inclusion, _and_ I have asked you to email (or you don't have ftp). You may pick your own choice. These are just the general suggestions and preferences. We have many categories of programs, but as you can see from our file lists, we are particularly interested in good MsDos utility programs of various kinds. We are also very interested in keeping the versions of the programs up to date. Your help and information in this respect would be very much appreciated. On the other hand, please note that some categories of material are outside the scope of our archives. For example games are accepted only in special cases. Educational games have been welcome, including good games of wit. A very limited number of recreational games of exceptional quality have been taken in as examples. Recreational Gif pictures will not be accepted. Religious, political and comparable material is not welcome at all. 6. ***** Q: Should I offer to email this utility I have at my disposal? A: As a general answer I would say that the results of this kind of an offer often come as a nasty surprise to the person offering the service. Several unsuspecting users have had the problem of being completely inundated with the subsequent email requests, and may even have to withdraw the offer. A much safer avenue is to tell where the utility is available. Or if it is not yet available anywhere on the net, first upload it to a suitable ftp site (don't forget to notify the moderator). Most often this means Simtel20 and/or garbo.uwasa.fi archives. But if you have gullibly made such an offer I suggest that you grit your teeth, and see things through. The least you should do is to make the information available where and how the utility can be obtained, if you have to go back on your word of emailing directly to the users. Now what to do in the case if you are a user who has seen some goodies offered, and the offer of emailing then withdrawn. Back to the old file lists. We have several at garbo.uwasa.fi archives. If you get the following files you have a good change of finding what you are looking for: /pc/INDEX, /pc/ts/0dir-ts, /pc/ts/tsarc114.txt (or whatever is the latest version number), /pc/pd2/0dir-pd2, /unix/ts/0dir-u, /pc/pd2/files-mm.zip, and Simtel20.arc. 12. ***** Q: May just go ahead and I post binaries in non-moderated groups? A: I would strongly advise against it. On top of that I seem to recall that the net rules don't like it (news.announce.newusers has more information), let's look at this from a purely practical point of view. If netters start posting binaries, several problems will soon occur: 1) The traffic will explode, since it is bound to be more or less haphazard. This is bound to invoke action sooner or later from the systems along the feed and/or net administration. 2) There are no guarantees against trojans and other nasties. (This does not mean that the other methods are absolutely safe, but the likelihood is smaller by far.) 3) The probability of commercial material being posted over the net increases, with all the consequent repercussions. 4) The idea is very wasteful of net resources. Remember that there are over 50000 readers in eg comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d. Much better to put/get stuff into/from the orderly moderated groups, or use anonymous ftp, mail servers, or good BBSes. ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi Moderating at garbo.uwasa.fi anonymous ftp archives 128.214.12.37 School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun