Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!dalsqnt!rpp386!pigs!haugj
From: haugj@pigs.UUCP (Joe Bob Willie)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Sez, self-extracting zoo system 2.30
Summary: for more complicated archives ...
         ... use a two step process
Message-ID: <384@pigs.UUCP>
Date: 31 Aug 88 17:46:09 GMT
References: <3796@bsu-cs.UUCP> <20948@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <3806@bsu-cs.UUCP> <21048@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Reply-To: haugj@pigs.UUCP (Joe Bob Willie)
Organization: Big "D" Oil and Gas
Lines: 37

In article <21048@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> mdf@tut.cis.osu-state.edu (Mark D. Freeman) writes:
>We were looking into using self-extracting zoo archives as a means of
>software distribution, which would get around having to put a copy of
>zoo on every disk.
>
>Without the ability to extract the full pathnames, we might as well use
>self-extracting PKARCs.  I had hoped to switch everything we do over to
>zoo files.

you can place your distribution on the disk in two archives.  the first
contains all of the tools and scripts, which are all unarchived into
the current directory, and the second contains the distribution files.

>Exactly!  Not "run this program, then run this batch file which will
>create all the directories and copy the files where they belong and
>then delete the originals".

but what is wrong with "run this batch file", which extracts the tool
kit, and then extracts the archive?  this has the advantage of separating
the tools from the data.  if you only update data files, you don't have
to create a new tool kit archive.  same holds true for the tool kit,
update a file there and leave the data archive alone [ data in this case
could actually be a collection of programs.  the idea being to separate
the zoo tools from the distribution package ]

>                             We wouldn't have to put the zoo
>documentation on the distribution disks, and have to possibly explain
>"what the heck is zoo?" from end-users calling us for support.

doesn't looz handle all of the functions you need without going to full
blown zoo on each disk?  you are going to have to explain something to
your users.  as far as i know that curious cat is still quite dead ;-)
-- 
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