Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac.misc:7052 comp.sys.mac.apps:3202 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!apple!portal!sv!daven From: daven@svc.portal.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac.apps Subject: Re: Stuffit 1.5.1 or CHAOS! (Was: Don't post stuff using stuffit) Message-ID: <1990Dec29.043759.24299@svc.portal.com> Date: 29 Dec 90 04:37:59 GMT References: <1990Dec28.011656.7485@sics.se> <`NQ^73|@rpi.edu> Organization: Software Ventures Lines: 40 In article <`NQ^73|@rpi.edu> Garance_Drosehn@mts.rpi.edu (Garance Drosehn) writes: >I'm not quite sure what the current situation is on CIS, as I haven't been >on much recently. I did notice some threads there with people upset about >the increasing chaos of compaction methods. Anyone know what their current >uploading policy is? > >(CIS = CompuServe Information Services...) I believe CIS' policy is to make StuffIt Deluxe the preferred format, and StuffIt 1.5.1 and Compactor approved alternatives. Neil Shapiro, the head of the MAUG sections of CIS, posted a nice summary of their decision. The Aladdin people (publisher's of StuffIt Deluxe) are willing to place the StuffIt Deluxe file formats and compression alogrithms in escrow. Should Aladdin go out of business completely, then CIS can gain the necessary information on how to extract files from all the Deluxe archives in their libraries. Neil went on to state that StuffIt 1.5.1 file formats and compression techniques being public knowledge made it a more than acceptable format for use on CIS. He then went on to state that Compactor's author was unable to reach an agreement with CIS on placing his file formats and compression techniques into escrow. Therefore, MAUG could not in make Compator files the preffered format, but would continue to allow users to upload files compressed with Compator. Preferred format means that MAUG sysops will use this format when placing files themselves into CIS libraries, and that MAUG will encourage users to use the preferred format. If I've got any part of the above wrong, I'm sure I'll be corrected. I welcome it actually, since I'm writing this from memory, and am not sure I have all the details right. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Newman | daven@svc.portal.com | AppleLink: D0025 Sofware Ventures Corp. | AOL: MicroPhone | CIS: 76004,2161 Berkeley, CA 94705 | WELL: tinman@well.sf.ca.us | (415) 644-3232