[Date of last change 04-01-93 Release 1.2] Guide to Submissions to comp.binaries.os2 Object ------ The object of this document is to establish the policies/procedures for submissions to comp.binaries.os2. Scope ----- The preferred and accepted methods of submitting to comp.binaries.os2 are described. General guidelines for content and handling are given. Where to Send Things -------------------- Please send submissions to os2bin@csd4.csd.uwm.edu. This address is only an alias, it forwards the mail to me. If there are any problems, requests, etc. please send mail to os2bin-request@csd4.csd.uwm.edu. The os2bin@csd4.csd.uwm.edu address is for executables ONLY. Submissions also can be uploaded via anonymous ftp to the pub/uploads directory at ftp-os2.nmsu.edu, this is the preferable method. Preferred Format ---------------- The best format for a submission is a ZIP archive compressed with the highest compression setting '-9', uuencoded and mailed mailed to os2bin@csd4.csd.uwm or ftped to ftp-os2.nmsu.edu with a clear description of what the program does AND COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION INCLUDED WITH THE BINARY. If the encoded file is >50k (or so), it will have to be broken into parts for mailing safety, if you choose to mail to os2bin. In that case please generate a subject line which looks like this: myprog (01/07) run Mac programs on OS/2 This means that when my mail reader shows me the first 40 characters of the subject I know what it is, and the reader will sort the parts back into order if they get shuffled by the mailers. Preferably, archives should be uploaded via anonymous ftp to ftp-os2.nmsu.edu to the pub/uploads directory. Please fill out an upload form and place it in pub/uploads with the same base name as your archive and the extention .txt. Details on the upload form are given in the file /pub/uploads/uploaders_read.me. Please limit program filename length(s) to the FAT-compatible 8.3 character length. HPFS-aware programs are greatly encouraged, but please limit the program's filename(s) to FAT-length so the FAT folks can use the binaries also. Other Formats ------------- I can handle ZOO, ARC, and LHarc, or self-unpacking archives with minimal pain. If the archive is in another format, please check with me by sending mail to os2bin-request@csd4.csd.uwm.edu before sending your archive to see if I will be able to un-archive it. In the end, everything submitted will be converted to the ZIP format. * I WILL reject archives with no documentation included * Executables are useless without documentation. A program's functions may be 'obvious' to you, but they may not be to others. Please be sure to include documentation (hopefully complete) with your binaries. What to Send ------------ Utilities and device drivers are tops in usefulness, followed by applications. Games are interesting, but not highly useful. However, due to the low volume of submissions, anything which has adquate documentation will normally be posted. Both OS/2 1.x and 2.0 binaries will be accepted, but due to the popularity of OS/2 2.0, preference is given towards 32-bit binaries. Please indicate what version(s) of OS/2 the binaries you submit may/may not run on. Please start every submission with a description of what the program is or does, and why it is freely distributable. What Not to Send ---------------- Don't send commercial software, old out of date versions, etc. If you wouldn't pay to download it from a BBS, most people will not want to pay to send it around the world. Order of Processing ------------------- In general first come first served. Submissions which require a lot of extra work (archives in other than ZOO or ZIP formats, for example) may be procesed slowly. Things like virus checkers and recovery programs have time value and may be posted as soon as I get them. If an update to a previous posting corrects an error which could cause damage to user files, that will go out right away. If I request someone send me a program, that program will go into the queue as if it arrived when I asked for it. This is courtesy to the people who package stuff for us. Questions --------- Mail to os2bin-request@csd4.csd.uwm.edu if you want to know if I have something, if you want to hold up something in the queue for an update, etc. Reposts ------- I can't mail copies of posting to everybody. However, if you need an article send mail to os2bin-request@csd4.csd.uwm.edu and if I have time I'll get back to you. If a posting has checksum errors at your site, please don't hesitate to notify me at os2bin-request@csd4.csd.uwm.edu. Indicate the volume and index number of the archive and I will either repost or mail you a corrected version of the post. NOTE: Thanks to Bill Davidson, moderator of comp.binaries.ibm.pc, for the original version of the Policy for Submissions. ================================================================ Submissions: os2bin@csd4.csd.uwm.edu Questions and comments: os2bin-request@csd4.csd.uwm.edu