November 1994 CD-ROM - SYSOP News


Adding FILE_ID.DIZ Files:
========================

Our understanding has always been that sysops want FILE_ID.DIZ files in all
the ZIP files. Many of the files that we get, particularly things like clip
art, sound files, small utilities, programming routines, and other freeware
programs often do not have FILE_ID.DIZ files. In those cases, we create them
from our description files and insert them into the ZIP files.

Now we hear from some people that adding a FILE_ID.DIZ file to a ZIP file
may violate the author's copyright (even though, as mentioned above, many
of these are small public domain or freeware programs about which the author
clearly is not concerned about such rights).

So the question is whether sysops really need those FILE_ID.DIZ files or if
the FILES.BBS files are sufficient for your needs.

If we do not hear a significant response in favor of adding the FILE_ID.DIZ
files, we will take the more conservative approach and not add them anymore.


The Root Directory's FILES.BBS File:
===================================

The FILES.BBS file in the root directory is for all the directories on the
CD-ROM. If the CD should fill up, we may have to omit that FILES.BBS file,
which is a duplication of the files in the individual directories as well as
those in the FILESBBS directory.

If the FILES.BBS file should be missing from the root directory, you can
easily recreate it with the program COMBINE.EXE in the FILESBBS directory.

The batch file COMB_BBS.BAT has been set up to combine the *.BBS files that
are in the FILESBBS path on this CD, but you can use COMBINE.EXE to combine
any group of text files. It will combine the files into a single, specified
file name, separating them by a blank line and adding a header above each one
made of the file name and, optionally, additional specified text.



CREATE YOUR OWN FILES.BBS FILES:
===============================

The Windows version of the CD-ROM access program has a new menu option which
will let you generate customized FILES.BBS files.

You can specify the format of each entry, as well as how much information
should appear in the descriptions: full description, first line only, author's
name, ASP membership, and registration fee.

You can do one directory at a time or create FILES.BBS files for all
subdirectories in a directory. In the latter case, individual files are
created using the directory name as the FILES.BBS name (e.g.: DATABASE.BBS).

One of the filtering options when creating the FILES.BBS files is whether to
include all files regardless of permission required, or to include only those
files which do not require permission to distribute, or to include files which
give ASP BBSs advance permission to distribute.

By doing one directory at a time and clicking on the Select button, you will
see which files are being excluded by the permission option you choose. If you
see a program you want to distribute, you can write the author of that program
for permission.

Unfortunately, we only started recording the permission requirements for
programs a few months ago, so the section of the month, such as Utilities
on this CD, may have programs which require permission to distribute but which
will not be culled out by the software. It is the responsibility of the Sysop
to determine distribution requirements for the programs in the section of the
month each month.



REGISTER YOUR BBS WITH PSL:
==========================

To enable us to reach you when problems arise and for our own information
purposes, we now ask BBSs which use the PSL CD-ROM, our compilation of
files, or our file descriptions, to sign up with us. We may also use this
information in the future to produce a directory of BBSs.

The following is for your convenience in signing up with us:

BBS Name: ______________________________  BBS Phone #: ___________________

Your Name: _____________________________  Voice Phone: ___________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________

Or you may call 713-524-6394 and give us this info or FAX it to 713-524-6398
or email it to our CompuServe account #71355,470.