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1998-01-31
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Short Lesson on using the FILE_ID.DIZ
─────────────────────────────────────
Revision 0.03 - Jan.31.98
To whom does this concern?
──────────────────────────
This information is being written to inform all those programers who are
writing shareware with the belief that a FILE_ID.DIZ is actually a README.DOC
or a README.TXT guide to their software. If you intend on using BBSs (Bulletin
Board Systems) to distribute your shareware software the FILE_ID.DIZ is a
method in which this small file is imported into the BBS file base for users
to view the short description of the software while they are online. Should
this software interest them, they would download the file and extract the
archive at home and further read what else the programer/author has to say
about their product. FILE_ID.DIZ is short form for "File Identification
Description" just as README.1ST is short for "Read Me First", and the list
goes on, this text will try to describe in short each of these later on. Over
the past few years and increasingly worse, the FILE_ID.DIZ is being used lately
as a History Document, a Short Story Book, an Install help File, a "What's New
History Document", and in many cases it is actually more informative than the
actual program/software "Installation Document" and over all "Program Help
Documents". Contained in this text file is basically some guidelines for
certain files and their meanings.
It is interesting to note now that many of these files can and are also
used with names using an extension ".TXT" which is short for Text.
FILE_ID.DIZ - File Identification Description - Short and to the point!
FILES.BBS - A text file containing a list of Files on a Bulletin Board
System and the Files with descriptions.
HISTORY.DOC - History of the version releases. Removed from the previous
WHATSNEW.DOC and thrown in here for history record keeping.
INSTALL.DOC - Many times this is used as a reference on how to install the
product.
README.1ST - This is a file which contains much of "What to do first!"
information. Like how to deal with the install files etc..
WHATSNEW.DOC - Usually this file contains updates since the last release.
The above files names are not written in stone and are only used to
help explain where to deal with excess bagage that should not be in the
FILE_ID.DIZ.
Abbreviated Terms Used.
───────────────────────
BBS(s) - Bulletin Board System(s)
SysOp - System Operator
The Shareware Philosophy!
─────────────────────────
Shareware is a distribution/marketing method which permits
potential buyers to thoroughly evaluate a computer program
prior to purchase. Usually through an evaluation period.
The shareware philosophy is to pay smaller amounts for
well-crafted and useful software from developers who can't
spend the millions of dollars on marketing necessary to
compete with the large software development companies. You
benefit by being able to try a wider variety of software
products to find the ones that suit your particular
purpose. And the trial is free. The shareware developer
benefits from being able to distribute his work to a wider
audience than would be possible through normal channels.
Your share of the responsibility for shareware is to
continue to support the development of further and better
products, to distribute the original released shareware
archived programs to others and to become a registered
user of those products you like and use.
Who cares?
──────────
In order to make some sense into the FILE_ID.DIZ one has to realize
that BBSs are still one of the leading distribution methods of Shareware. Even
though many use the Internet to get these files the FILE_ID.DIZ is still used
as the leading method to get the decription information across to the consumer.
Many SysOps who have run BBSs for years are now using the Internet to display
Shareware files online using that same BBS. Only now they are using the
Internet to attract the customer/user base because the Internet allows access
around the world using a very cost efficient medium.
Building HTML text files from a FILES.BBS is simple. What is not so
simple are those that deviate from the FILE_ID.DIZ standards and try to make a
clean looking HTML to please readers. SysOps are still the number one reason
why Shareware is being registered. Internet Service Providers are still telling
everyone that they have FREE software. Technically yes, it is FREE to download
and FREE access to their sites, but the Software 95% of the time is NOT FREE.
It is Shareware! If it was truly FREE it will say FREEWARE in the FILE_ID.DIZ
or someplace that is noticeable to the public. Just a side note here, FreeWare
does not always mean it is in the public domain. Make sure you read the
licensing agreement information!
FILE_ID.DIZ format!
───────────────────
The standard FILE_ID.DIZ format was developed years ago (By CDC makers of
PCBoard) and was used as a method to utilize the FILES.BBS even further. The
FILES.BBS is used to hold the information extracted from the FILE_ID.DIZ and
is then in turn used for the user to view and download the files (Software,
etc.). The standard format for the FILE_ID.DIZ is set to 10 lines down by 45
characters across. Many BBSs will extract this file and append the information
into the FILES.BBS list. If you have a story to tell while you are creating
your FILE_ID.DIZ the information will wrap the lines and crop the typed text
until what the reader sees is a anything but the information you had originally
planed your software product description.
in other words this paragraph would look like this:
The standard FILE_ID.DIZ format was deve
PCBoard) and was used as a method to utilize
FILES.BBS is used to hold the information ex
is then in turn used for the user to view an
etc.). The standard format for the FILE_ID.D
characters across. Many BBSs will extract th
into the FILES.BBS list. If you have a story
your FILE_ID.DIZ the information will wrap t
until what the reader sees is a anything but
planed your software product description.
Or maybe like this:
The standard FILE_ID.DIZ format was deve
loped years ago (By CDC makers of PCBoard) a
nd was used as a method to utilize the FILES
.BBS even further. The FILES.BBS is used to
hold the information extracted from the FILE
_ID.DIZ and is then in turn used for the use
r to view and download the files (Software,
etc.). The standard format for the FILE_ID.D
IZ is set to 10 lines down by 45 characters
across. Many BBSs will extract this file and
As you can see it is not that pretty, lacks luster and description.
Bellow is a cut from a PCBoard DIR or FILES.BBS file that has imported the
FILE_ID.DIZ from the original Shareware Archive. Just a note for those using
Archive Formats: Many Archives are distributed in RAR, ZIP, LZH, ARJ and SFX
(Self Extracting which can also be RAR, ZIP etc...). Almost all of these can
be utilized on any BBS. So there is no worry about what Compressor you use
with your software releases.
File Name Size Date Description
============ ======== ======== ==========================================
SE172A.EXE 291076 11-29-97 ─────────────────────────────────────────
| │▌█▐│ SabreEDIT Version 1.72a │▌█▐│
| ─────────────────────────────────────────
| SabreTech Software's full screen on-
| line message editor, offering taglines,
| censoring, spellchecker, custom colors
| & screens, user setups & sigs, quoting,
| bad user handling, color setup, import,
| export, OLMR support, language support,
| quote fix, phrase expand, text filters,
| & more! Runs FAST! under OS/2 & Win95.
| Works w/any MSGTMP type BBS, with extra
| features available for Concord, EzyCom,
| QuickBBS, RA, and RA v2.50. [DH97]
| ─────────────────────────────────────────
|
SEDIC103.EXE 227297 11-29-97 ─────────────────────────────────────────
| │▌█▐│ SabreEDIT Dictionary v1.03a │▌█▐│
| ─────────────────────────────────────────
| SabreEDIT's 50,000+ word spellchecker
| dictionary file, for use with SabreEDIT
| versions 1.72a and up. Also includes
| dictionary editor and sort util. [DH97]
| ─────────────────────────────────────────
As you can see from the above, the format width of your FILE_ID.DIZ is more
critical then the length or row of lines. HOWEVER, is you go past 25 lines many
BBS software will crop anything past 10 lines and over! If one would deviate
to far from the standard FILES_ID.DIZ format you run the risk of your file
identification description looking sloppy and no one using a BBS looking for
Shareware Software will bother ever reading it.
Many SysOps just delete these file for noticing the lack of effort the
software programer put into his research to utilizing the correct FILE_ID.DIZ
format. Another and worse senario is software authors that do not even use the
FILE_ID.DIZ. I know of no SysOp that will go out of their way after running
their BBS for more than 3 months, go through that Software Archive and write
the short Diz for you! "Why not?", I hear many yell. For one thing, to the
majority of SysOps running a BBS, it is a hobby. They do not get paid for it
and in actual fact it cost many SysOps thousands of dollars a year to run these
BBSs. They use software to automate most of the work involved otherwise a
SysOp could spend 8 hours a day at their hobby. :-( They will just delete it
and not even blink while doing it! If these two later instances alone do get
your gray matter motivated into utilizing the FILE_ID.DIZ for what it was
originally intended for are a lost cause and at best will never see your
Shareware Software used past your best friends. If your best friend is your
dog... well, that takes us into another dimension. <g>
A note about CD-ROMS.
─────────────────────
Another method to distribute Shareware, also using a FILES.BBS with the
FILE_ID.DIZ extracted from archives, are Shareware CDs. The FILES.BBS is used
by BBS software all over the world and many of these BBSs have 10+ CDs online.
Again, many of those who create these CDs do not bother formating the DIZ for
the software because of many factors. Once on the CD you can not change things
as easily and you run the risk of others never bothering to look at your
software because of a poorly formated FILE_ID.DIZ.
Another should be added here is that although many BBS do not use the
FILES.BBS for their BBS software, the BBS software itself usually has utilities
to take the information from the FILES.BBS and format it to it's own data type.
Many times this is also not the case and the BBS utilities will directly access
the files and search for a FILE_ID.DIZ internally then extract it from each
archive.
Ending thoughts!
────────────────
Think of the FILE_ID.DIZ as a label. It does not go into detail about how
each ingredient is produced, manufactured, grown etc., but rather what the
finished product is about and take that selling point to the consumer.
Points to Consider:
a) Many times the looks and format of the FILE_ID.DIZ is why
the file is downloaded in the first place.
b) No one likes to visit when there is a mess. SysOps know
this and will delete your files if they make their BBS
look messy. Many SysOps take a great deal of pride in
their BBS. (Of course many don't either.)
c) Get your act together! If you can't say what you have to
in 75 words or less then use the correct files. Those who
want to read a novel will buy one. Even a Novel has less
words on the cover than a properly formated FILE_ID.DIZ.
Questions and Answers!
──────────────────────
If you have any questions regarding any of the above, I will be more than
happy to help answer them. You can contact me, Darrell Harder, at any of the
addresses below:
BBS/Fax - 604-535-1077
FidoNet - 1:153/9117
E-Mail - sabretech@sabretech.com
Web - http://www.sabretech.com
Copyright (c) 1998 SabreTech Software
by Darrell Harder
Changes?
────────
You are free to change anything in this file and post it on your BBS or
anywhere you think this information will help others to learn a bit about the
FILE_ID.DIZ format. If you want to update it with more information please send
me a copy. :-)
Guarantees?
───────────
HAHAHAHA! I guarantee you were not laughing as hard as I was while I
was typing this up thinking you were really expecting one.
Sources:
────────
SabreEDIT - Copyright (c) 1997-1998 SabreTech Software
PCBoard - Copyright (c) Clark Development Company
And many of the BBS softwares products that are too numerous to
mention here.