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From: jgd@uwmcsd1.UUCP
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: .signature line limit
Message-ID: <1893@uwmcsd1.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 22-Mar-87 03:26:46 EST
Article-I.D.: uwmcsd1.1893
Posted: Sun Mar 22 03:26:46 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Mar-87 23:49:20 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: U of Wis - Milwaukee, Computing Services
Lines: 34
Keywords: Grumble grumble grumble

The four line limit on .signature files just bit me, so I'm biting back.  Upon
reflection, I have concluded that this limit is incorrectly implemented, or at
least the *problem* has been incorrectly defined.

As I see it, the purpose of the .signature limit is to reduce the "size"
of the signature portion of a message.  Admittedly, some individuals have
gone a little overboard here, but limiting the signature to four *lines* misses
the point.  What we *really* want to do is limit the number of *characters*
allowed in a .signature file.  

With a limit of (I'll just pick an arbitrary number... let's see now...)
324 characters in a .signature file, the user can format it any way he/she
sees fit.  One line of 324 characters, four lines of 80 characters (does that
sound familiar?), eight lines (almost) of 40 characters, etc.  This gives the
poster the flexibility to produce readable signatures without imposing
excessively on net.bandwidth.

Consider this message to be a "Request for Change" to News 2.11.  Should this
be incorporated in the next set of updates to News?  Since I went to the
trouble of posting this, I obviously think so.

Comments?  Corrections?  Alternatives?  Flames?  

By the way, the following (manually included) .signature file is 277 characters
long, including the leading "-- ".  I *could* fit it on four lines, but it
wouldn't be readable.  :-)
-- 
John G Dobnick
Computing Services Division @ University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
UUCP: {ihnp4|uwvax|uwmacc}!uwmcsd1!jgd
INTERNET: jgd@csd1.milw.wisc.edu

"Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation,
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