Re: SEAs?

[SAB121@psuvm.psu.edu]

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Date:    16 November 1992, 17:27:17 EST
From:    SAB121   at PSUVM
To:      TS8RBOTW at MIAMIU
Subject: Re: SEAs?

In article <92321.123328TS8RBOTW@MIAMIU.BITNET>, you say:
>
>Why are Sefl-Extracting Archives (particularly GSHK) called self-
>extracting when they don't?  That's annoying having to change the
>file type and aux type like we have to do with GSHK.  Is GSHK the
>only SEA like that, or do all have to be manipulated?  GSHK is the
>only SEA I've ever seen.
>
>Just curious...
>   ...Tim

Wrong! Normally a sea archive does NOT need things set.  This is just with down
loading from a network to your II, or downloading from AOL to a MAC to your II.
I personally downloaded it from a local BBS after a beta-tester had finally
gotten permission to upload it, and it unpacked fine.  All I did was transfer
it in prodos mode.  Bingo! :)

Furthermore, the problem with being unable to extract it is NOT GSHK's fault,
but rather GSCII+ and sscii, which are currently (I believe) being fixed to
avoid this problem.  Unpacking the .bsq file with the 8 bit version of BinSCII
set everything correctly, and all I had to do was double click.

The reason for this is very simple.  It's called drool proof paper, and is
necessary out here in the Real World, when you run a BBS or some other system
for fun/profit, and have people new to the telecom world running around on it!
This way all they have to do is point and click instead of having to:
EXEC GSHK.TXT, check to make sure that the file type is correct, or worse,
download it without the manuals, because you can't unshrinkit the whole archive
so all they get is the executable, THEN learn how to use it properly.  For

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