UPLOADING INSTRUCTIONS ====================== To those who never fully read the README's: Upload foo.readme for foo.lha, where foo.readme contains they keyword Short: plus a 40 character description on the first line. All others please read below instructions carefully, or your upload is in danger of being deleted. Uploading to Aminet is a bit more complicated than to other places since it's a network of sites and provides more info about files. It's a bit of work for you, but it saves a lot of hassle to the downloaders. WHERE TO UPLOAD --------------- Aminet consists of some ten FTP sites that exchange their files. The center of the net is wuarchive.wustl.edu [128.252.135.4]. If possible, upload there. Most other sites (ftp.luth.se recommended for Europeans) forward the files to that site and delete them locally, they'll be mirrored back later. Do not upload to multiple Aminet sites. There are two upload directories on Aminet sites: /amiga/new for public uploads /amiga/priv for private uploads (local to this site) Uploads in new/ that have no .readme will normally be deleted since they could be commercial or otherwise suspect. If your upload appears in RECENT within 2 days, everything was fine (don't delete your copy before that is the case). If not, contact the administrator at ftp@amiga.icu.net.ch. Of course, DO NOT upload pirated software or you bring this site in danger of being shut down. Note that this site is being released on CD-ROM for $25, don't upload if you don't like that. Contributors get a free CD-ROM. PUBLIC UPLOADS -------------- The main difference between Aminet and most other ftp sites is that all uploads have a description. They're collected automatically and listed in RECENT and SHORT. These short (40 characters) descriptions come from the .readme files uploaded along with the binaries. Whenever you upload something, create .readme file for it. An example: Along with PictureView.lha you would upload PictureView.readme. That file could look about like this (no blank lines at the start!): --------------------------------CUT HERE------------------------------ Short: Shows JPEG/GIF/IFF pics. AGA supported Type: gfx/show Uploader: umueller@amiga.physik.unizh.ch Author: umueller@amiga.physik.unizh.ch This all new picture displayer is capable of showing almost any image type in any resolution. Main features include: - Scrolling screens - CLI and WB interface ...... --------------------------------CUT HERE------------------------------ Of all these entries, only the Short: field is mandatory. In the same line you add a 40 character description of your upload. It will be placed in the SHORT and the RECENT file so everyone can comfortably find out about your upload. Since 40 chars is quite limited, don't repeat the file name, but say what the file *does*. Note that this line has to be the first line. The optional Type: field lets you indicate where you'd like the upload to be moved. Check the file TREE for possible subdirs. In the Uploader: field lets you indicate your email address so we can contact you if something went wrong with the upload (and that happens more often than you think). The Author: field lets you indicate who created the file uploaded if you want. After a blank line, you may add a long description, that could for example be the README found inside the archive. Don't rely on people downloading the .readme file, the info found there should be in the archive, too, if it is needed. FILE NAME CONVENTIONS --------------------- The maximum file name length is 20 characters including the archiver suffix (.lha, .dms). Mixed case is OK, but it should be mainly lowercase. It often makes sense to add version number to your file. Also, please do not upload in any other file format than .lha or .lzh, with the exception of custom file format diskettes where you should use .dms. By adhering to this you can save a lot of beginners a lot of trouble. CHECK LIST ---------- - Are the archives okay? Use UNIX LhA or dmscheck to find out. - Is there a .readme for *every* file you are about to upload? - Are the base names of the .readme and the archive the same? Same case? - Are all archive names 20 characters or shorter? - Is there a Short: and if possible an Uploader: field in the .readme's? - Does none of the archives contain copyrighted material? Thanks for checking, you're saving us a lot of work. PRIVATE UPLOADS --------------- You may upload files that are not meant to be available to the public to /amiga/priv. Files in there can not be listed, so you have to tell your partner the precise file name. Files remain available at least one week, much longer in most cases. Note that we don't give any warranties about the privacy of the files in there, encrypt them if you like. YOUR COMMENTS ------------- If you have any comments about the policies given, or if you see suspicious, outdated, commercial or corrupt files, please immediately send mail to ftp@amiga.icu.net.ch