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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

3666.0. "Proposals for Reorganisation of TAPE::" by BBQ::GERAGHTY (Simon Geraghty, Sydney) Thu Apr 12 1990 00:54

Following from 3594.17-18:

This note is created to allow proposals for a reorg of TAPE:: to be posted, and
any discussions.

Since I'm creating it, here's my two cent's worth!

[UPLOAD] is good for allowing the latest stuff of the net to be posted, and for 
providing a place where software requested can be uploaded for multiple
readers. However, it should only be a transit area, from where the software is
moved into some permanent area within TAPE::.

[.AMIGA.FISH.FF%%%]*.ZOO is a great way of getting the Fish disks. In almost
all cases the zoo archives are in a standard format. This allows automatic 
procedures to be constructed. For example, I have the following procedures for 
getting Fish info:
	GET.COM - given a fish disk number, this procedure reads the zoo
		archive for that disk from TAPE:: and places it in a standard
		direcory within my personal account.
	FISH.COM - given a start and stop fish disk number, this procedure reads
		the zoo archives for that range of fish disks from TAPE::, 
		extracting the CONTENTS file from each disk. It understands the
		two or three different ways the CONTENTS file is stored in the
		archives.
	FISHUP.COM - does the same thing as FISH.COM, but reads the archives
		from the [UPLOAD] directory. So I'm impatient!
These procedures, and a couple of others, only work because the info is
organised on TAPE:: in standard way. I'm dead keen to see this type of
standard organisation preserved.

Time and time again we see newcomers to this conference asking about tools for
upload/download/terminal, graphic conversion, sound, etc. We end up going to
WJG::, NORSE:: (is that still alive), and others. I forget how many versions
of Zmodem stuff I've seen in various places. What everyone really needs is a 
tools area on TAPE:: complete with doco on how to use it, and maybe source in
the archive or a subdirectory. Whatever is decided, it ought to be stored in one
format - it seems crazy to have to have .ZOO, .ARC, .LZH, .SH, etc used to
store and distribute standard tools we all need to get started. Note carefully,
I'm only advocating this for the standard tools we all use to access info from 
the net; so long as they're available in an easy to get at manner, it really 
doesn't matter what format other software is posted in. Wherever these tools 
get stored, we need the .EXEs and .DOCs unpacked, ready to use, and a guide
on how to copy, install and use them. And a word of warning to linkers of .EXEs
on VMS: when linking, do it against the object library not the shareable image
library, so the EXE's don't depend on a particular version of the shareable 
image library. Although there are some 'tool' areas on TAPE::, they seem out 
of date and rarely used.

regards,

Simon
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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3666.1I like tape as isSALEM::LEIMBERGERThu Apr 12 1990 09:0540
    I often use "tape" as a source of information and have no problem's
    finding the data I am after.True many new members have a problem
    using,and finding some utilities,but this is not the function of
    tape as I see it. Someone has offered to supply disk space,AND time
    to hold the great amount of data that the amiga community generates.
    This data has been stored in subdirectories that give a good indication
    of what is in each.I have followed this note conference for a long
    time,and if I see a note asking about arc,zoo,upload,etc i don't
    bother to answer anymore.All thes issues have been beaten to death
    in this notes file.If the requester would take time to read the
    notes,and to learn how to use notes many of these redundent notes
    would not have been necessary.In regard to the different formats
    that are used to compress data for the amiga I can understand how
    some people feel it is inconvient.However I think it is easier to
    maintain zoo,arc,lharc on your operating system than to expect a
    person that spend their time,and money downloading a file from a
    BBS to have to convert the file before loading it on the net.I am
    not in a posistion to upload much to the net(don't have modem)
    but I feel I can contribute by using the different utilities if
    it saves the poster some time.My knowledge of the vax is nil so
    I can't comment on using the utilities on the vax except to once
    again say it should be the final users responsibility to see the
    utility runs on his system.The number of available revisions of
    operating systems(now including ultrix) seem to make this so.
    As for docs much of the stuff on the net never had any to speak
    of,and as PD it is not always author supported,if it is sharware
    then many times the complete docs are not released with the shareware
    package.I gusee you could sum it up by saying "you get what you
    pay for". I get on the most part quality PD software for free thru
    the efforts of others on the net,and at that price I am in no posistion
    to say anything but thanks,keep it coming,and I'll do my part if
    I need to use the software.
    
    	This note may seem hardline but It is time people realized that
    too those downloading it is free but that is because the poster
    has already paid the freight.I can understand a question asking
    help with VT100 for xyz modem,but not "how do u use arc".If users
    want to use Public domain software then they will have to adjust
    to the downside(documentation,and format).
    							bill
3666.2Tape is Great as is!AKOV11::SMITHReality, just a visible imagination?Thu Apr 12 1990 13:0917
3666.3ELWOOD::PETERSWed Apr 18 1990 22:2112
    
    
    	A clean-up of the AMIGA area has started. I have two people
    helping me. I hope to get everything out of the [upload] directory
    and into the [amiga...] structure. The Fish area is being worked on
    and we are looking into a better directory structure.
    
    	I'm interested in any suggestions.
    
    		Steve Peters
    		Tape System Manager
    
3666.4Changes to the Fish Tank on TAPE::BUZZER::GERBERFor more info, call: 800/555-1212Thu Apr 19 1990 19:3936
The first phase of the great Fish Tank (:-) reorganization has taken place.
Here's what happened:

TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH...] now contains all the fish disks from #1 thru #330,
except for the following:
	Disk 57		Replaced by Disk 97
	Disk 80		Replaced by Disk 90
	Disk 88		Disk 89 Claims its number 88 and there is no number 88.
			This is seen from a few sources for the disks.

The area is now set up as follows:
	Disks 001 thru 199 are in their own subdirectory as they have been.  That
			   is they are in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH.FF%%%].  Most
			   of these are in multiple .zoo files.
	Disks 200 thru 249 are in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH.Z200].
	Disks 250 thru 299 are in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH.Z250].
	Disks 300 thru 330 are in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH.Z300].
Disks 200 thru 330 are each in a single .zoo file.  They have been arranged in
groups of 50 for a couple of reasons:

	1) It is easier to copy multiple disks this way.
	2) It takes some of the strain off of TAPE:: and USER2: to have fewer
	   directories to scan thru.
	
TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISHDOC] has been renamed to TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH.DOC].
Also, it has been updated thru disk #340.  The FISHDOC.ZOO file in this
directory is a .zoo archive of all the contents files thru disk #340.

-----Robert

Note:
TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH_OLD...] Contains some of the fish disks in .arc format.
Information on unpacking these is in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH_OLD]FRED-FISH.HELP.
Is there any reason for keeping this version of the fish disks?  There are only
76 disks there and the .zoo versions unpack faster and are smaller.  Please
email me with any reasons to keep them at OLDJON::GERBER
3666.5Files need to be world readableBBQ::GERAGHTYSimon Geraghty, SydneyFri Apr 20 1990 00:2710
    Re: .4
    
    The contents files (CONTENTS.nnn) in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH.DOC] are
    not world readable.
    
    Can someone correct the file protection, please.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Simon.
3666.6ooooopppssssss...protection fixed.OLDJON::GERBERFor more info, call: 800/555-1212Fri Apr 20 1990 06:275
Re: .5
>>  The contents files (CONTENTS.nnn) in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.FISH.DOC] are
>>  not world readable.
    
   Fixed....
3666.7Suggestion - use default protection ACLBOMBE::MOOREEat or be eatenSat Apr 21 1990 01:2811
    An ACL applied to the directories would eliminate most protection
    problems...
    
    $ SET ACL USER2:[AMIGA...]*.DIR;1 -
        /ACL=(DEFAULT_PROTECTION,SYSTEM:RWED,OWNER:RWED,GROUP:RE,WORLD:RE)
    $ SET ACL USER2:[000000]AMIGA.DIR;1 -
        /ACL=(DEFAULT_PROTECTION,SYSTEM:RWED,OWNER:RWED,GROUP:RE,WORLD:RE)
    $!
    $!	You may want to set the UPLOAD directory as well....
    $ SET ACL USER2:[000000]UPLOAD.DIR;1 -
        /ACL=(DEFAULT_PROTECTION,SYSTEM:RWED,OWNER:RWED,GROUP:RE,WORLD:RE)