UCSD CP/M Adaptable system

[Randy McLaughlin]

From: "Jules Richardson" <julesrichardsonuk at yahoo.co.uk>
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 3:38 PM
> On Fri, 2005-04-01 at 12:52 -0700, Ben Franchuk wrote:
>> Randy McLaughlin wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > I started using self-expanding archives because of complaints that
>> > people couldn't unzip straight Zip files.  Not everyone uses the same
>> > Zip format. I use Winzip v8.1, many people use a variety of programs.
>> >
>> > I have yet to find one archival format that everyone can use,
>> > self-extracting archives at least supports 99%.
>>
>> Umm I may want files for my LINUX box...  I favor raw files for TEXT
>> since anybody ( using ascii ) can read them.
>
> And tar for multi-file archives... more portable than zip I'd say, plus
> errors won't trash the archive (or at least not so much!).
>
> Of course if compression *has* to be used... hmm... I suppose zip *is*
> the best bet there, as at least it's more widely supported than some of
> the other compression methods.
>
> Self-extracting archives sound like a *very* bad idea when you have no
> idea what the target machine will be! :)

As stated in a different post the *.exe file can be renamed to *.zip and any 
zip program will handle it normally, that is if the algorithms are 
compatible.  I had too many complaints from people that didn't have a 
compatible program so a self extracting archive is the best way I've found 
so far.

If anyone can come up with a method that is truly better I'll jump on it. 
The problem is simple if it's not a self extracting file then everyone has 
to use a compatible extractor :-(

For DOS/Windoze there are many different incompatible zip programs.


Randy
www.s100-manuals.com