Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!portal!sv!news From: leonardr@svc.portal.com (Leonard Rosenthol) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps Subject: Re: I just downloaded StuffIt Classic and... Message-ID: <1990Nov7.173524.24785@svc.portal.com> Date: 7 Nov 90 17:35:24 GMT References: <2780@esquire.dpw.com> <2787@esquire.dpw.com> Sender: news@svc.portal.com Reply-To: leonardr@svc.portal.com (Leonard Rosenthol) Organization: Software Ventures Corporation. Lines: 55 In article <2787@esquire.dpw.com>, baumgart@esquire.dpw.com (Steve Baumgarten) writes: > In article , starta@tosh (John Starta) writes: > >Since Classic is distributed in the form of an installer, it would only > >make sense to give it to someone else in that form. It is distributed in > >that form to save space and to make sure you get the entire package each > >time. Why is that a negative in your book? > > > >John > > Because I don't want to keep the installer around after I've installed > it (it does take up another 400K or thereabouts). So a friend stops > by, says, "Gee, that looks like a useful utility. Can you make a copy > for me?" and I have to remember to copy the application, its > subfolder, the two folders it creates in the System folder, etc. > Ah, but like most publically distributable software, it comes with a redistribution notice stating that when redistributed it must include the following.....If someone were to ask for a copy of Compactor, for example, you include the docs, etc. like Bill asks for, don't you?? The Installer is nothing more than a special self-extractor (which is how Compactor is redistributed) - it just knows how to put files in other places. It is also useful as it is _ONE_ file that you can download, double-click on, and redistribute as is. No muss, no fuss, > I know it's not a big deal, but I prefer having the application and > all its support files together. After all, what's the point of > putting these things in the System folder? Most word processors and > DTP packages keep their myriad dictionaries and printer definition > files in subfolders within the application folder, and that seems to > work fine. And certainly on an Appleshare network, it makes little > sense to duplicate the Help and Optimizer files in everyone's System > folders, rather than just having them live in one place on the server. > There are a couple of reasons why the stuff is in the System Folder. One has to do with multiple uses - Since these files, obviously, have to be opened to use and if they were only one copy for many people, only one person could optimize or read help at a time. The System Folder is the where Apple has recommened putting files that might be used by more than one app at a time. Second is that these same files can be used by more than just Stuffit Classic - they are the same optimizers and such used by Stuffit Deluxe, Magic Menu and Shortcut and as such they need to be in a common location, which the System Folder definately is. If they were kept in the local folder, then you would have to keep lots of copies - and Shortcut couldn't find them easily. This way they are in one common location and everyone who wants them can find them! You will notice that most of the newer products which follow the Human Interface Guidelines, such as those from Claris, now put their dictionaries, etc. in the System Folder. If you don't like it, blame Apple it was all their idea ;-) -- Leonard Rosenthol Software Ventures Corp. MicroPhone II Development Team