Re: Distribution of Apple II, IIGS system software & HCGS

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <4sk8da$kgl@news.wco.com>, "Charles T. 'Dr. Tom' Turley"
<gbmaidsf@wco.com> wrote:

>Apple Computer, Inc. has also given me premission to select the archived 
>format for these - when I make them available. I'd appreciate it if 
>those interested in making suggestions on which archive file format, 
>they would like to see used - woulrd reply.
>
>I personally think the Shrinkit (.sea) self-extracting archive format 
>would be best for all of the IIGS system and Hypercard IIGS disks.

Whatever you do, don't use self extracting archives encoded in BinSCII. 
Anyone using SSCII or GSCII+ will not be able to download them without
fixing the resulting files (both programs round the file size up to the
next multiple of 48 bytes, which prevents a IIgs SEA file from executing.)

In addition, it is a waste of space to include the self-extracting archive
code in every file.

I would suggest making the files available in two, possibly three formats:

1. Plain Shrinkit 800K disk archives (with Binary II header).
2. ShrinkIt 800K disk archives (no Binary II header), encoded using BinSCII.
3. Mac "DiskCopy" disk images, compressed using StuffIt, with a MacBinary
header.

The Apple II 8-bit system disk should be in the first two formats only
(140K disk archive, instead of 800K, of course).

There should also be easily obtainable (and decodable) copies of
IIPlus.Unshrink, ShrinkIt, ShrinkIt GS, BinSCII, and preferably Stuffit
Expander (there is no need to include a copy of DiskCopy, as it is
included with current Mac system software, and is readily available from
Apple's sites).

Ideally, BinSCII and IIPlus.Unshrink should be available in an EXEC-able
format (e.g. Executioner or the currently available BinSCII archive). 
These can then be used to extract BinSCII-encoded and shrunk copies of
ShrinkIt, ShrinkIt GS, etc.

If you want to get down to grass roots, include an EXEC-able copy of
"Binary.Dwn" and a Binary II-encoded copy of BinSCII and IIPlus.Unshrink.

(Of course, with this many options it is bound to confuse most people...)

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND