Msg: 6510 *Conference*

05-08-96 10:12:59

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : GARY WEBER

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6506 (UPLOADED FILES)

What I think happened was I saw some new uploads, took the BBS down, edited the
directory file, moving the new upload listings under the uploaders name to help
the cause (...see end of this message).  But, for some reason, didn't put 2 and
2 together and notice that two of you had uploaded new stuff.  I just went by
the first name in the group for files.

FYI: The listing you see is actually a separate directory control file.  When
you upload a file, the host asks for some info about that file.  All that info,
including the name of the file and your name gets entered into the directory
control file.

Example:

Let's say you upload a file called STUFF.DO, and you say its a nifty game
program.  You name it as STUFF.BA even though it's in ASCII (.DO) format ...
which is correct for our club.  Anyway, here's what the directory control file
entry will look like:

STUFF.BA STUFF.BA 'GARY WEBER' A nifty game program!

The first STUFF.BA is where the file resides on this host.  Since the directory
control file is physically located in the same subdirectory on this host
computer, the "path" to the file is "assumed" to be in the same subdirectory.
Frankly, you have no control over this.  However, I might move your file to a
subdirectory called C:\UPLOADS\WEBER in which case the entry would need to be
edited to reflect the files new location.

C:\UPLOADS\WEBER\STUFF.BA STUFF.BA 'GARY WEBER' A nifty game program!

The second STUFF.BA is the filename "shown" when one selects to download the
file.  I might want to change that name to something else up to 12 characters
(...which would not be appropriate for our club's Model "T" 6-character
filename restriction).  An example would be:

C:\UPLOADS\WEBER\STUFF.BA GOODGAME.WOW 'GARY WEBER' A nifty game program!

In the example above, when someone keyed in GOODGAME.WOW, the file STUFF.BA
would be sent by this host.  Hey ... it's just a computer ... it can be
programmed to do just about anything ... including rocket science! :)

The name field 'GARY WEBER' is there to identify those files you uploaded, and
thus, belonging to you.  In other words, you may delete any of the files
containing your name.  This gives you complete control over your files here
online, i.e. delete old versions, then upload new versions.

---

The grouping of the files was my idea to help everyone identify which files
were theirs.  It also offers a level of braggability ... which is good.

The list is getting long, so maybe I should think about other grouping ideas.
Or, I could just leave well enough alone ... it's less work that way ... but it
might be a fun project for the future.

All the best ... -Rick-