Re: Grind Archive.

[cdeschu@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chris Deschu)]

In article <1993Oct3.140733.1@vcp1.vcp.monash.edu.au> jcd@vcp1.vcp.monash.edu.au (Jeff Dyason) writes:
>
>A few ideas on the Archive to be set up at grind.
>
>(1).	It is probably a good idea to have the files stored as binscii'd,
>	shrinkit archives, even though they take up more room than just
>	the compressed files, as it seems that there are quite a few
>	people out in netland who have trouble transferring binary images
>	via ftp. Also, this should make it pretty easy to set up a system
>	where people without ftp access i.e. pro-line sites, etc. can get
>	the files e-mailed to them. Sumex-aim one of the big mac sites
>	has all their files as binhex archives.
>
>(2).	If possible it would be convenient for all file names to have only one
>	period as I and probably other people do all my downloading through
>	a VAX which only supports one period in file names. Once again
>	Sumex-aim also supports this which makes it easier to use mget
>	within ftp. The length is probably not too much of a problem but
>	should be less than 30 characters.
>
>(3).	Maybe people should go off and have a look at the big archives for
>	other machines and check out the pros and cons of the way they 
>	handle their own files. i.e. sumex-aim and umich for the mac,
>	Simtel-20 for Messy-Dos (if its still going now).
>
>(4).	This not so much on the archive itself but on the collection of 
>	money for it. I sent my credit card number to Steve Chien(?) but the
>	money hasn't been deducted from my card yet, does anyone know the
>	status of this section of the money collection ?
>
>
>Bye for now.	Jeff
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>| Jeff Dyason                          | Phone : (61 3) 389-9559            |
>| School of Pharmaceutical Chemistry   | Fax   : (61 3) 389-9582            |
>| Victorian College of Pharmacy        | E-Mail: jcd@vcp.monash.edu.au      |
>| Melbourne, Victoria, Australia       |                                    |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>To err is human, but to stuff it up properly, you need a computer.

I would say the solution is pretty obvious. Keep the files on the archive
as Binary II wrapped ShrinkIt files, to preserve the filetype information,
and conserve space. Then add an option to automagically binscii files as
they are being ftp'd. If ftp can automatically tar and compress files,
why not binscii as well? It's more work originally, but will have the 
most benifits to all in the long run. I have never set up an ftp site,
so I don't know exactly what is involved, but it seems doable. Comments?

--
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 |___                Chris Deschu                        cdeschu@nyx.cs.du.edu
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