JCSM Shareware Collection 1996 September

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SDN INTERNATIONAL(sm) The Shareware Distribution Network Shareware Author Kit - Revision #12 Guidelines for Shareware Author's Participation Published from The SDN Project, April 20th 1996 (c)Copyright 1996 Ray L. Kaliss - The SDN Project http://www.pcnet.com/~kaliss/sdn.html The SDN Project BBS 1-203-634-0370 Fidonet 1:141/840 kaliss@sdn.com Shareware Author Kit Revision 12 - April 20th 1996 -= Copyright Notice =- This document is Copyright The SDN Project 1996, and the property of Ray L. Kaliss as The SDN Project. It is intended as guidelines for Shareware authors submitting for distribution via SDN International. This document may be copied unmodified for that purpose only. Official Policy is formulated by SDN International and published at The SDN Project Bulletin Board in Meriden, CT, U.S.A. 1-203-634-0370. Policy and information at The SDN Project BBS supersedes policy in circulation or of earlier date. SDN, The SDN Project, and the service mark of SDN International are Copyright 1989-1996 by Ray L. Kaliss and can not be used with out express written permission. Files distributed by SDN are copyright by their respective authors. SDN's packaging format and SDN.ID format are copyrighted by Ray L. Kaliss. -= Distribution and Posting Notice =- SDN International offers distribution services, eventual posting for downloading at networks and sites are decisions of the respective site management. SDN reserves the right to refuse software of morally offense, questionable legality and poor quality. SDN is not responsible for technical problems existing at destination sites. Contents Chapter -------- ------- SDN International - Who We Are...................... 1 The BBS Sysop........................... 1.1 The Online Moderator.................... 1.2 The Internet Site....................... 1.3 The Shareware Author.................... 1.4 Increased Registrations............................. 2 Distribution Services............................... 3 Commercial Service...................... 3.1 Personal Service........................ 3.2 Demo Service............................ 3.3 Public Service.......................... 3.4 What You Can And Can Not Submit..................... 4 Submission Format....................................5 SDNMaker Utility........................ 5.1 Submitting By Postal Mail............... 5.2 Electronic Submissions.................. 5.3 Public Service Uploads.................. 5.4 Obtaining Current Information....................... 6 EMail To SDN........................................ 7 The SDNews! Letter.................................. 8 Appendices............................................ File Naming Conventions................... A CDROM Publishers.......................... B Other Services For Authors................ C ...................................................... Quotes... "SDN is the shareware author's best kept secret." - Author - 1. SDN INTERNATIONAL - WHO WE ARE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SDN, the Shareware Distribution Network, distributes shareware programs for the DOS, Windows(tm) and the OS/2(tm) operating systems, to amateur and commercial posting services. From it's hobby beginning in January 1989, with only a few hundred independent bulletin boards and less than 100 authors, SDN's distribution extent has grown yearly. Today, it's distribution is world wide and encompasses thousands of bulletin boards, two satellites, commercial online services, CDROM publishers, and Internet sites. SDN embodies a concept of author, sysop, and user cooperation in the shareware concept. SDN represents good people of cooperation that make it effective. It was the first electronic distribution network and remains the largest. Our distribution in Fidonet remains a free public service. Shareware programs distributed by SDN are the copyrighted works of their respective authors and are submitted by the author or publisher. Programs are compressed into downloadable zip format, security sealed for tamper-proofing and authentication, then distributed to cooperating sites. Our effectiveness has been proven. We are used by ASP, STAR, ESC, and ASAD members, and many independent shareware authors. SDN has received mention in past issues of PC Computing, BYTE, Computer Craft, Boardwatch magazine, and numerous newspaper articles. The SDN Project is entirely author supported. We do not sell disks, CDROMs or charge receiving sites for our services. 1.1 The BBS Sysop ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you were a sysop of a bulletin board and your choices were to stock your file areas with user's mystery uploads that need manual inspection, testing, virus scanning, and a guess at the integrity - or to stock your file areas by automation with the author-direct pipeline and security of SDN... which would you choose? In Fidonet, with utilities readily available, SDN distributions can be automatically received, tested, and posted. File listings are updated with descriptions and the enclosed SDN.ID can be posted as an arrival announcement. 1.2 The Online Moderator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On commercial services, moderators manage custom forums or special interest groups. They choose what files to include in the forum libraries from users uploads. Because they are part of a commercial enterprise, they and the service, can face legal liability for programs posted. Because of SDN's quality, security, and the author's agreement to criteria of content, SDN distributed files are often preferred and trusted over user uploads. SDN is a recognized distributor of quality shareware. 1.3 The Internet Site ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With the freedom and unaccountability of today's Internet connections, Internet sites appreciate the ability to verify SDN distributions. An SDN arranged upload to a cooperating Internet site is not a mystery file being submitted by an anonymous, it is a quality shareware program, traceable directly to the author, verifiable, and ready for posting. 1.4 The Shareware Author ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As a shareware author or publisher, which distribution method do you prefer to rely your registration opportunities on? Unsecured and chance users uploading (users osmosis), or organized and secured distribution designed for coverage? Hours of thought, programming and debugging went into each of your program version. Your distribution and marketing efforts should take the least time away from programming, yet be as effective as possible. Sending your programs off to SDN for distribution takes only a few minutes and allows you to minimize the time spent distributing while maximization your coverage. SDN is designed for the new shareware author that does not have the means for world wide distribution, and the experienced author that budgeting time more wisely. Distributed through SDN, your program gains the added benefit of being a preferred download. In the same way book buyers may prefer the books from a certain publishing house, many users prefer shareware distributed via SDN. 2. INCREASED REGISTRATIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SDN distribution should do it's part to increase your registrations. It's simple. Increase the number of people downloading your program and registrations should increase in proportion. Remove the risk that your program has been corrupted and repackaged by careless or mischief uploaders, and registrations should increase. Our double security and authenticity seal, SDNTest(c), has never been broken, your distribution is verifiable as whole and intact . No one can guarantee registrations but SDN can help you reach your potential. 3. DISTRIBUTION SERVICES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SDN services distribute to selected sites. A site is considered as any one uploading point. This may be a BBS which will in turn distribute to more BBSes, an online service with thousands of members, a CDROM publisher, a popular Internet site, or other network. These are selected for potential distribution coverage and cooperation. Most are gateways to addition distribution coverage. Many authors have told me they had spent a few hundred dollars uploading to major bulletin boards before they found SDN. They are surprised to learn most of these same major boards, are already receiveing SDN's distributions as a free public service through satellite or other network connection. Authors who rely on user osmosis or shotgun uploading for distribution, waste time and money compared to SDN distribution means. Experienced authors have written 'My registrations increased dramatically'. With the publishing of this document, we more than double our distribution coverage. SDN offers four types of distribution services: 3.1 Commercial Service ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Commercial distribution services are a flat fee. Programs must be submitted using our SDNMaker(c) utility. Subission can be made by postal mail or ftp/uploading. Distribution is automated, yet monitored. The current sites and fee is published in PRICE.LST posted at The SDN Project BBS and superceedes copies in circulation or of earlier date. When you submit to Comercial Services you agree to the sites and fee of the current PRICE.LST. 3.3 Personal Service ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With seven years of distributing shareware - SDN knows where to distribute what. Personal distribution services all the sites offered by our Commercial Services and manual uploading to addition services and sites based upon your type of program. CIS, web links, etc.. Personal help is given if problems arise and marketing suggestions and advise is offered. 3.3 Demo Service ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Companies wishing to distribute non-shareware demonstration software can pay a negotiated flat fee. Demostration leads can be increased with professional distribution, instead of drafting in-house employees. 3.4 Public Service ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SDN preforms limited public service distribution. Approved authors upload directly to our BBS where they process thier own programs right into Fidonet while online. Fidonet distribution is automatically included with the services mentioned above. 4. WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN NOT SUBMIT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Authors and publishers submitting programs to SDN for distribution must take into account international networks and the world wide distribution of your software. Shareware has a legal definition in the United States. We accept only productive shareware. Time lapsed is acceptable, drop dead on a preselected date is not. Functions that can be unlocked is acceptable, crippling to the point of frustration and demo-ware is not. Do not submit programs or material that is restricted by the United States Government (some encryption, etc..) or restricted in distribution by international copyright laws. By distributing your program through SDN you assume the responsibility and liability of content. ...SDN WILL NOT ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF SOFTWARE... Marketing schemes masquerading as shareware or reference programs. Items which are specifically religious or political in nature. Requires fees from vendors, distributors or CDROM publishers. Shareware that is retail in other countries. Programs or information intended for illegal uses. Government restricted material (encryption, etc.) Adult or pornographic material. Non-productive demos or "slideshows". (Refer to our Demo Services) Do not include another author's copyrighted works without written permission from the author. 5. SUBMISSION FORMAT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Because we process so much software and want to keep our fee low, all submission must be prepared using our SDNMaker utility. This automates verification, processing and distribution. Most of SDN's uploading automation revolves around a simple, plain ASCII text file named SDN.ID. You must include one with every submission. The format, contents, and purpose of SDN.ID is described in SDNID.TXT included with these guidelines and avalible from the SDN Project BBS or our www site. If you are using Ram's Island's VENDINFO.DIZ SDNMaker can create a quick and dirty SDN.ID that you can edit into shape. We strongly recommend that authors include a standard FILE_ID.DIZ and VENDINFO.DIZ. Must! -> SDN.ID - required for distribution Recommended -> VENDINFO.DIZ - required by some sites Recommended -> FILE_ID.DIZ - required by some sites 5.1 SDNMAKER UTILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The SDNMaker utility prepares programs for Comercial Service. With it, sites are chosen, verification and payment information are taken, and your programs zip file is packaged for submission. All information is security encrypted. All SDNmaker needs is your zip file and an SDN.ID (or VENDINFO.DIZ). The package it creates is a compressed and encrypted submission pakage of the same name as your program zip except with an .sdn extension. It is this file that is sent to SDN. SDNMaker needs an assigned or approved password for security and authentication. If you do not yet have an approved SDNMaker password or you are submitting to SDN for the first time, SDNMaker will allow you to pick your own password and print a submission and password application form. 5.2 SUBMITTING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Any author that does not yet have an approved password must submit the first time by postal mail. Simply put the file SDNMaker creates on a 1.44k disk, complete and sign the application form, include payment, put it all into a legal size envelope and mail it to us. Our preferred method payment for first submission is a postal money order or credit card. Personal checks can not be accepted unless drawn on United States based banks. Acceptable credit cards are VISA, MasterCard and American Express. Authors in Connecticut need to include Connecticut sales tax. Normal postal service is preferred. Mail that I need to sign for is not generally delivered but requires a special trip to retrieve. Normal post may take from two to three weeks to reach us. Our postal mailing address is... SDN International 13 Douglas Drive Meriden, CT. U.S.A. 06451-5015 5.3 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Authors who already have an SDNMaker password can submit electrically. SDNMaker uploads are accepted at The SDN Project BBS at 28.8k speeds into File Area three of the File Menu. Uploads should be (your-filename).SDN only, no zips. Internet users can ftp binary transfer to ftp.sdn.com /users/sdn/incoming. Internet file attach, MIME, is a bit unreliable, but you can try. 5.4 PUBLIC SERVICE UPLOADS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Public service uploads are directly to our BBS only, and must be processed online through our Fidonet Only Distribution Door of the Main Menu. Do not use SDNMaker. Uploads should be zipped with an SDN.ID inside. If you are not yet validated for Fidonet Only distribution, log in at the BBS and leave a message and information about yourself asking for Fidonet Only validation. Authors using Commercial Services automatically receive Fidonet distribution. 6. OBTAINING CURRENT INFORMATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SDN policy, the SDNMaker utility and PRICE LIST, are revised periodically to reflect the changing online world. Please be sure you are up to date. SDN's Commercial Distribution fees and available distribution sites are updated in PRICE.LST. The fee and sites in the current PRICE LIST prevail. Below are easy means to obtain current information. DOWNLOAD ~~~~~~~~ The SDN Project BBS 1-203-634-0370 FTP ~~~ ftp.sdn.com /users/sdn WORLD WIDE WEB ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.pcnet.com/~kaliss/sdn.html INTERNET EMAIL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Information can be return reply requested through Internet email by entering key words in the Subject: line. No message body is needed. In all cases the "To:" address is the same... Example: To: kaliss@sdn.com Subject: Mailer! Current WHAT SUBJECT LINE TO USE WHAT IS RETURNED ------------------------ ---------------------------- "Mailer! Current" Current list of all items "Mailer! Price List" Current Price List "Mailer! SDNMaker" Current SDNMaker utility (MIME) "Mailer! Author Kit" Current SDN Author's Kit "Mailer! SDN.ID Format" Current SDN.ID Format "Mailer! SDNTest" SDN Security Seal test utility 7. EMAIL TO SDN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although I can obviously be contacted on just about any network and online service, the preferred means is via Internet email. My Internet email address is kaliss@sdn.com, an alternative is kaliss@pcnet.com. Be patient for a response, I have a real job, a full family, and only so much time to devote to SDN - with these fees I'm not getting wealthy! 8. THE SDNEWS! LETTER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Being successful at shareware is a little more than putting out a program and sitting back expecting registrations to flow in. Most successful authors, who make a respectable income from registrations - devote a lot of time to programming and improving their products. Releasing new versions about every six to eight months, they know it is important to keep their program fresh in the 'new arrival' areas. This is wise marketing. Users tend to pass over older files and download from the 'new' area. Releasing an update every month or two, is often, too often - users expect minor changes and form a habit of passing it over. Waiting a complete year to issue an update is too long.. after about three months your file is regulated to the 'old' areas and sees less downloading. It is only after exhausting the new files that users go back to browsing the old. These are simple marketing tips any author should know. SDN published an occasional SDNews! Letter with marketing tips and items gathered from shareware authors and my own distribution experience. It is an Internet email news letter open to any shareware author or publisher. Authors can subscribe by sending email with a subject line exactly as shown... To: kaliss@sdn.com Subject: Mailer! Subscribe SDNews! To remove yourself from the mailing list, do the same... To: kaliss@sdn.com Subject: Mailer! Unsubscribe SDNews! That's it.. Good Registrations! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ APPENDICES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. FILE NAMING CONVENTIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fidonet bulletin boards in particular and posting sites in general - do not accept the same file name twice in the same download directory. This means if you name your file "editor.zip" and a few months later you update it and name it "editor.zip" again, there already exists "editor.zip" in that area, the site's software will refuse to write over the first copy and your update will be turned to the byte bucket. Stick with the general BBS convention used worldwide of naming your archive file using a few alpha characters to represent the name, and one or two number characters to designate the version. EXAMPLE: X-Word Processor version 2.30 ==> xword23.zip or xwrd230.zip You next update version would be ==> xword231.zip If you save the SDN.ID for reuse with your next SDN update submission, be sure you change the FILES: name to reflect the new version number. This is a common mistake. B. CDROM PUBLISHERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many disk vendors and CDROM publishers obtain programs through SDN distribution channels. Some of them have policies you should understand before submitting to them through SDN. Essentially, do not submit to them through SDN if you expect or require any compensation through their CDROM activity beyond your normal shareware registrations from users. This is a copyright distribution restriction, and SDN does not accept these anyway. C. OTHER SERVICES FOR AUTHOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm often asked if SDN offers a registration service. It does not. My hands are full. REGISTRATION SERVICE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I recommend you contact Jeff Camino of NorthStar Solutions. Jeff offers a fine service that allows shareware to be registered by credit card and allows authors to advertise a toll-free 800 number, among other benefits. NorthStar Solutions P.O. Box 25262 Columbia, SC 29224 Phone: 1-800-699-6395 or 1-803-699-6395 (10am - 10pm Eastern Standard Time) EMail: STARMAIL@AOL.COM UNIQUE CDROM ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bud Jay at JCS Distribution offers a unique Author-to-Vendor CDROM series that authors should be involved with. The series is marketed to vendors at a inexpensive subscription. Bud CDROM series is a gateway to further distribution. Disk vendors, bulletin board sysops, and others obtain the series. Most CDROMs are marketed to individual end users, Bud's is marketed to people and companies which further distribute the programs. JCSM also maintains a popular ftp site at jcsm.com. JCS Distribution P.O. Box 1216 Lakeville, MN 55044 Phone and fax 1-612-469-5898 EMail: budjay@jcsm.com /eof