From: B.J. Guillot To: Alto Speckhardt Thread: ZIP, ARJ (1/14) Date: 26-Jul-97, 11:49am (Ref# 5551) Sorry if this is a duplicate message. I usually try to check my messages to make sure they go out, and I did not see this message on the juge.com system. > May I ask why you changed your archiver from ARJ to ZIP? Personally I not onl > liked ARJ better then ZIP but also found the "verifiable" ARJ quite > advantageous. Now your archives can as well be repacked to another format, > files can be added or left out without anybody noticing. BGFAX, both beta and full release versions where usually released in ARJ format before September 1995. Why did I use ARJ? Because, like you, I find ARJ a superior program. When compared to newer versions of PKZIP, ARJ does not really have that much of a compression advantage, but then one thing ARJ offers is super flexibility. ARJ must have over 100 different possible command line switches. :-) ARJ has come in handy numerous times, and I liked it enough that I registered it and bought one of the authentication keys as well. That cost me $90, and I still use ARJ for all internal operations over here. Now, what's so special about September 1995? An article about BGFAX was published in the Fox Pro Advisor magazine. I had people calling like crazy wanting to get a copy of BGFAX. The problem was that not any one of these people had ever heard of "ARJ" and had no idea what to do with the BGFAX150 (or was it BGFAX160) ARJ file. Since then, I've been careful to make full releases of BGFAX available in ZIP form to cut back on the phone calls I get asking how to decompress the ARJ file. I don't mind people calling me about questions on BGFAX. I actually like to get calls about BGFAX, but I don't like to get calls on other things (like "Who do I uncompress this ARJ file", or "How do I install this door game for my BBS?). (Someone even called me once asking how to get PC Board setup, no, not PC Board set up with BGFAX, just PC Board. Since I don't even USE PC Board, I had no idea why I got this call.) Okay, but getting back to ARJ vs. ZIP. So, after that Fox Pro Advisor article, the full releases were always ZIP, and I stuck with using ARJ for the beta releases. I figured that if someone does not know what an ARJ file is, they have no business being a beta tester. Since I always run public betas (I always have considered private betas to be silly--it's just not worth the time coordinating a "top secret" operation), using ARJ for the beta makes sure that the people using the beta actually know a little bit about things. I suspect the reason you asked this message was because with the BGFAX 1.70h beta release, on my web site, was in ZIP format. On my BBS and via file request it is still available in ARJ format. So, why is it ZIP on the web site? My Internet provider recently upgraded his server and put a newer version of (whichever) Unix he uses on, and updated a whole bunch of other stuff at the same time. Since this was the machine that he runs the web server off of, the new version of software had some strange side effects that I guess he hasn't had the time to fix yet. One of the side effects of the upgrade was that some of my GIF's and html files on my web page were not accessible by the world. This was easily corrected by using the "chmod" command. Apparently the previous web server software was not as secure as the current version. On to the second problem... Every time I put a new release or beta on my web site, I do a test download using Netscape just to make sure I put the file on the server correctly (using BINary mode instead of ASCII mode when I FTP the files to the server). When I ran this test for 1.70h, Netscape was not seeing the file as a "downloadable" file (probably the wrong terminology), but it kept putting the actual ARJ file on the web browser screen as if it were a text file. I think there's just a little configuration glitch on my ISP's web server program, and as soon as he gets it corrected, the next beta will probably be back in the good old ARJ format. Sorry for the long message. :-) Regards, bgfax author
From: Kevin Berry To: B.J. Guillot Thread: ZIP, ARJ (2/14) Date: 28-Jul-97, 7:06am (Ref# 5559) Hello B.J.! On Saturday July 26 1997, B.J. Guillot spewed forth to Alto Speckhardt: BG> Every time I put a new release or beta on my web site, I do a test BG> download using Netscape just to make sure I put the file on the server BG> correctly (using BINary mode instead of ASCII mode when I FTP the BG> files to the server). When I ran this test for 1.70h, Netscape was BG> not seeing the BG> file as a "downloadable" file (probably the wrong terminology), but it BG> kept putting the actual ARJ file on the web browser screen as if it BG> were a text file. I think there's just a little configuration glitch BG> on my ISP's BG> web server program, and as soon as he gets it corrected, the next beta BG> will probably be back in the good old ARJ format. Tell your provider to define MIME type binary/arj for all files with .arj extension. That's the problem. Later Days, Kevin <spamite@iname.com> or <rberry@arlington.net> ... I am Chewbacca of Borg, You will be awrrrrooooooooommmmmmmmmmilated. --- GED/386-Squish1.11-BT/XE5 * Origin: The D.C.P. Point I, 'There isn't enough bloody mail!' (1:130/222.1)
From: JOHN WEISS To: B.J. Guillot Thread: ZIP, ARJ (3/14) Date: 27-Jul-97, 10:19am (Ref# 5560) BG> BGFAX150 (or was it BGFAX160) ARJ file. Since then, I've been BG> careful to make full releases of BGFAX available in ZIP form to cut BG> back on the phone calls I get asking how to decompress the ARJ file. BG> I don't mind people calling me about questions on BGFAX. I BG> actually like to get calls about BGFAX, but I don't like to get BG> calls on other things (like "Who do I uncompress this ARJ file", or BG> "How do I install this door game for my BBS?). Have you considered making the release files self-extractors? That way you can keep ARJ and cut down on the phone calls! :-) * RM 1.31 2116 * Bare Bones BBS * Seattle * 206-368-7672/V.34 * FREE * --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: Grey Matter * Seattle, WA * 1:343/210 * (206) 528-1941 (1:343/210)
From: Cameron Hall To: JOHN WEISS Thread: Re: ZIP, ARJ (4/14) Date: 29-Jul-97, 2:41pm (Ref# 5561) -=> Quoting JOHN WEISS to B.J. GUILLOT on 27 Jul 97 10:19 <=- -=> Subj: ZIP, ARJ <=- JW> Have you considered making the release files self-extractors? That way JW> you can keep ARJ and cut down on the phone calls! :-) Unlike an executable, a zip can't be virus infected without major tinkering with the files within. Cameron Hall (Registered BGFAX user) ad121@hwcn.org | cameron.hall@bluebeam.gryn.org Blue Beam MailServer | 905 662 5784 | Stoney Creek ON Canada | v34 FAX --- GEcho 1.00 * Origin: Blue Beam MailServer Stoney Creek Canada (1:2424/3120)
From: B.J. Guillot To: Kevin Berry Thread: ZIP, ARJ (5/14) Date: 30-Jul-97, 12:02pm (Ref# 5567) > Tell your provider to define MIME type binary/arj for all files with .arj > extension. That's the problem. Thanks. I'll check and see if the problem still exists, and if it does, I'll forward your suggestion to my ISP. Regards, bgfax author
From: B.J. Guillot To: JOHN WEISS Thread: ZIP, ARJ (6/14) Date: 30-Jul-97, 12:02pm (Ref# 5568) > Have you considered making the release files self-extractors? That way > you can keep ARJ and cut down on the phone calls! :-) I've always disliked self extracting programs that I download from BBS's or the internet. I just feel uneasy about running alien EXE files. Regards, bgfax author
From: T.J. Mcmillen, Jr. To: John Weiss Thread: Re: ZIP, ARJ (7/14) Date: 29-Jul-97, 9:56pm (Ref# 5569) JW> Have you considered making the release files self-extractors? That way JW> you can keep ARJ and cut down on the phone calls! :-) No. Then you couldn't get a FILE_ID.DIZ from them. It would be pointless to have. I don't like having the beta's not have a FILE_ID.DIZ in them, but they aren't meant for teh general public either. --- Renegade v5-11 Exp * Origin: The Titantic BBS . - FidoNet - . 1-412-694-9701 (1:2610/33)
From: John Piper To: B.J. Guillot Thread: ZIP, ARJ (8/14) Date: 29-Jul-97, 0:07am (Ref# 5570) Hello BJ. Replying to a message from B.J. Guillot to Alto Speckhardt ... [ARJ files on the Web] BJG> Every time I put a new release or beta on my web site, I do a test BJG> download using Netscape just to make sure I put the file on the server BJG> correctly (using BINary mode instead of ASCII mode when I FTP the BJG> files to the server). That's a common enough oversight. BJG> When I ran this test for 1.70h, Netscape was not seeing the file as a BJG> "downloadable" file (probably the wrong terminology), but it kept BJG> putting the actual ARJ file on the web browser screen as if it were a BJG> text file. I think there's just a little configuration glitch on my BJG> ISP's web server program, and as soon as he gets it corrected, the next BJG> beta will probably be back in the good old ARJ format. This is more likely to be a lack of configuration information in your browser. Depending on what version you use, Netscape might not know what ARJ files are, and as a result, it displays their contents on the browser's main screen. I'll bet that if you set up a correct MIME content type in Netscape's options, it will prompt you to download (et al.) the file, just as it does with ZIP/EXE files. Note that I don't use Netscape, and it has been a long time since I have used it, but I suspect that at the time, an ARJ MIME type was not included in the browser's configuration. I suppose that depends on how old your version is. BJG> Sorry for the long message. :-) Sorry for the short message. <grin> BTW, what does BJ stand for? John (japp@mpx.com.au) --- FMail/Win32 1.22+ * Origin: Lateline BBS: Nocturnal Paradise. +61-2-9579-6564 (3:712/841)
From: B.J. Guillot To: Kevin Berry Thread: ZIP, ARJ (9/14) Date: 30-Jul-97, 10:13am (Ref# 5572) > Tell your provider to define MIME type binary/arj for all files with .arj > extension. That's the problem. Thanks. I'll check and see if the problem still exists, and if it does, I'll forward your suggestion to my ISP. (Sorry if this is a dup, let me know if it is.) Regards, bgfax author
From: B.J. Guillot To: John Piper Thread: ZIP, ARJ (10/14) Date: 30-Jul-97, 10:13am (Ref# 5573) > I'll bet that if you set up a correct MIME content type in Netscape's options > it will prompt you to download (et al.) the file, just as it does with ZIP/EX > files. > Note that I don't use Netscape, and it has been a long time since I have used > it, but I suspect that at the time, an ARJ MIME type was not included in the > browser's configuration. I suppose that depends on how old your version is. I use Netscape all the time and never had trouble with it before, but I'll need to do some more testing. It is possible something on my side changed, since I had to re-install OS/2, but I am pretty sure I re-installed OS/2 several days _after_ I released 1.70h, so it would have been using the same Netscape configuration I'd been using for months. Regards, bgfax author
From: Joe Delahaye To: John Weiss Thread: Zip, arj (11/14) Date: 30-Jul-97, 10:15am (Ref# 5575) -> Have you considered making the release files self-extractors? That way you -> can keep ARJ and cut down on the phone calls! :-) He would still get the calls, as somebody would wonder why the stupid EXE did not do anything or call out <g> Joe --- InterEcho 1.19 * Origin: Lion's Den, Trenton, On * (613)392-8896 (1:249/303)
From: Darrell Harder To: T.J. Mcmillen, Jr. Thread: Re: zip, arj (12/14) Date: 04-Aug-97, 10:11pm (Ref# 5594) Hello! -> No. Then you couldn't get a FILE_ID.DIZ from them. It would be -> pointless to have. I don't like having the beta's not have a -> FILE_ID.DIZ in them, but they What software are you using that does not know what to do with an EXE extention? Anything I get here knows what type of file it is and how to deal with it. Even get a FILE_ID.DIZ from it. RAR, ZIP, ARJ. LZH, etc. What ever you are using as software for your BBS it is time to get past 1990 and remind the author that it is almost 1998. :-) Later Buddy, ... Darrell BBS - bbs.gamequest.net _\\|//_ Pssst! Web - www.gamequest.net (` o-o ') / E-Mail - gremlin@gamequest.net -------------ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------- Warped with OS/2 Merlin 4.0 Western Canada's RAR Registration Site A totally OS/2 based ISP. -------FReq RARREG - 1:153/9117------- Hiroshima '45, Chernobyl '86, Windows '95, Greenpeace '97 --- InterEcho 1.19 * Origin: Game Quest BBS, x2 and Beyond! (1:153/9117)
From: Darrell Harder To: B.J. Guillot Thread: Zip, arj (13/14) Date: 04-Aug-97, 10:14pm (Ref# 5595) Hello! -> > Tell your provider to define MIME type binary/arj for all files -> with .arj > extension. That's the problem. -> Thanks. I'll check and see if the problem still exists, and if it -> does, I'll forward your suggestion to my ISP. -> (Sorry if this is a dup, let me know if it is.) The problem is not at the provider's end but in the Netscape configuration. Check the settings and add ARJ. Later Buddy, ... Darrell BBS - bbs.gamequest.net _\\|//_ Pssst! Web - www.gamequest.net (` o-o ') / E-Mail - gremlin@gamequest.net -------------ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------- Warped with OS/2 Merlin 4.0 Western Canada's RAR Registration Site A totally OS/2 based ISP. -------FReq RARREG - 1:153/9117------- Hiroshima '45, Chernobyl '86, Windows '95, Greenpeace '97 --- InterEcho 1.19 * Origin: Game Quest BBS, x2 and Beyond! (1:153/9117)
From: Darrell Harder To: B.J. Guillot Thread: Zip, arj (14/14) Date: 04-Aug-97, 10:25pm (Ref# 5596) Hello! -> I use Netscape all the time and never had trouble with it before, but -> I'll need to do some more testing. It is possible something on my -> side changed, since I had to re-install OS/2, but I am pretty sure I -> re-installed OS/2 several days _after_ I released 1.70h, so it would -> have been using the same Netscape configuration I'd been using for -> months. He is correct. Netscape by default has trouble with many file types. The only way to fix the trouble is to configure Netscape to recognize the file types. If you go under Netscape - options - general preferences - helpers, you will find the place to add these things. Later Buddy, ... Darrell BBS - bbs.gamequest.net _\\|//_ Pssst! Web - www.gamequest.net (` o-o ') / E-Mail - gremlin@gamequest.net -------------ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------- Warped with OS/2 Merlin 4.0 Western Canada's RAR Registration Site A totally OS/2 based ISP. -------FReq RARREG - 1:153/9117------- Hiroshima '45, Chernobyl '86, Windows '95, Greenpeace '97 --- InterEcho 1.19 * Origin: Game Quest BBS, x2 and Beyond! (1:153/9117)