Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!ORION.CERFACS.FR!farestam From: farestam@ORION.CERFACS.FR (Stefan Farestam) Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi Subject: Re: FAQ Message-ID: <9103100338.AA28195@ultima.cerfacs.fr> Date: 10 Mar 91 03:38:14 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 98 >Too bad I can make a constructive contribution, but I will >use a FAQ directory if it has some kind of index ! Well, I have a primitive idea of how it could work, which is best illustrated by an imaginary listing: faq/unix: How_do_I_remove_a_file_whose_name_begins_with_a_-_? Removing_a_file_starting_with_funny_characters How_do_I_get_a_recursive_directory_listing_? How_do_I_get_the_current_directory_into_my_prompt_? . . . faq/sgi How_to_set_up_anonymous_ftp How_to_set_up_sendmail.cf Changing_the_name_of_an_icon_or_window . . . faq/install-tips gnu-emacs_ver18.55_on_4D20_3.2.1 gnu-emacs_ver18.55_on_4D20_3.3.2 tex_ver3.0_4D220_3.2.1 patch_ver2.0.12_4D25TG_3.2.1 . . . The idea would be that people who had a contribution to make put it their themselves, this would be especially true for the install-tips directory. In fact one could imagine a fourth directory of the type install-tips-wanted, where people just put an empty file with the name of the file indicating the software they wanted. However this might be to overdo things as these questions are probably better handled by just posting a request on info-iris. Consider also that it is just as valuable to know that a piece of software is available from somewhere and compiles in one minute, as having the complete directions for a 5 hour installment session. Concerning the two first directories, I'm assuming that they need some kind of responsible person that is (hopefully) very knowledgeable about both unix and sgi-issues, in order to avoid mistakes to spread around. The raw material of faq/sgi would be the outcome of the discussions held on info-iris. As to faq/unix, there probably exists a lot of material already available. I made a telnet to archie (quiche.cs.mcgill.ca, login archie, a great service !) and searched for 'requen'. This brought up: venera.isi.edu: images/frequently_needed_info.doc ucsd.edu: netinfo/frequently-asked-questions-about-internet.txt nic.cerf.net: cerfnet/cerfnet_info/frequently-asked-questions -about-internet.txt rascal.ics.utexas.edu: misc/unet/Frequently-asked_Q+A expo.lcs.mit.edu: contrib/FrequentlyAskedQuestions -> FAQ andy.bgsu.edu: pub/India/frequent.info e.ms.uky.edu: pub/unix/help/Frequently.asked.questions.Z f.ms.uky.edu: pub/unix/help/Frequently.asked.questions.Z dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov: pub/X11/Frequently-Asked-Questions monu6.cc.monash.edu.au: pub/Win3.0/misc/frequently.ask cica.cica.indiana.edu: pub/pc/win3/misc/frequently.ask mcsun.eu.net: windows/X/contrib/FrequentlyAskedQuestions van-bc.wimsey.bc.ca: misc/unix.frequent pprg.unm.edu: pub/info_on_Usenet/Frequently_Asked_Questions terminator.cc.umich.edu unix/frequently-asked-questions I didn't have the time to browse through all these files, for sure some of them will contain redundant information, but if edited and collected in some usable form (maybe as described above), they would be very useful ! /Stefan ................................................................. . Stefan Farestam . . __ __ __ _ _ _ . . / |_ )|_ /_\/ ( European Centre for Research and . . \_ |__\| / \__) Advanced Training in Scientific Computation . .................................................................