From: "George D. Greenwade" <bed_gdg@SHSU.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.text.tex
Subject: ZIP files at SHSU
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 11:15:41 CST
Organization: Info-Tex<==>Comp.Text.Tex Gateway
X-Gateway-Source-Info: Mailing List

In a private posting from Mark Steinberger <mark@csc.albany.edu> on Tue, 15
Dec 92 19:26:48 -0500:
> Have you chosen zip as your standard commpressed archive utility?
> We don't have it here.
>
> I guess tar.Z won't fly there, but what about zoo? Isn't zoo more
> common on machines of varying architecture?

First, my apologies to Mark.  I rarely take private replies public, but
this is one which I have handled quite a few times in the past weeks.  His
statement of the question is so elegant that this is an excellent one to
use in this manner.

Yes, SHSU uses the public domain platform-independent version of ZIP which
is provided through the work of the Info-ZIP group.  The version in current
use is ZIP 5.0, which may be UNZIPped with Info-ZIP's UNZIP 1.9 (on quite a
variety of platforms, including MS-DOS) or with Phil Katz's shareware
PKUNZIP2 on MS-DOS (which I just came across *very* recently).  The files
will NOT UNZIP with PKUNZIP prior to PKUNZIP2 (i.e., the one included in
the emTeX distribution presently won't work with these).

We chose ZIP for a variety of reasons, which I would like to briefly
explain.  First, and foremost, the ZIP suite quite probably has the widest
variety of supported platforms under which is presently available (the only
glaring omission I see is VM/CMS, but I understand that a version for that
one is in the works).  Second, ZIP consistently outperforms all other
compression tools, with respect to final file size, which I am aware of
(yes, I am aware of certain instances where another approach gives a
smaller final file, but those are rare -- trust me).  Third, ZIP allows for
storage of filedates, recursed directory paths, casing of filenames (where
that might be an issue), retention of VMS file attributes (where that might
be an issue), and quite a few other features.  

Fourth, UNZIP now has a system-dependent algorithm for parsing filenames
properly -- for example, where long file names would cause indigestion
previously on MS-DOS, it now abends to 8+3; where multiple periods cause
problems on systems where they were disallowed due to the OS, it is now
consistently handled.  In other words, you should at least be able to get
the files back, but you might have to manually rename them later.  Fifth,
Info-ZIP has proven to be rather aggressive in supporting this pd software
-- it's almost like the people on each architecture want to outdo those on
other OS'es.  Sixth, ZIP provides a one-pass approach to creating the
archive and compressing it, as well as UNZIP providing a one-pass approach
to uncompressing and restoring the files in the archive.  There are other
reasons, but this list is long enough to illustrate the advantages of using
this archiving/compression software.

The authoritative anonymous ftp host for the ZIP suite provided by Info-ZIP
is quest.jpl.nasa.gov (128.149.75.43) in the directory /pub.  Alternately,
SHSU has most of the latest files available for ftp retrieval or FILESERV
retrieval, including the sources, makefile scripts/command files, or
precompiled versions for MS-DOS and the Macintosh (and I will add others
upon request).  To retrieve an overview of ZIP and UINZIP via e-mail,
include:
 LIST ZIP
 LIST UNZIP
in the body of a mail message to FILESERV@SHSU.BITNET (FILESERV@SHSU.edu);
the files [FILESERV]ZIP.DESCRIPTION and [FILESERV]UNZIP.DESCRIPTION on
Niord.SHSU.edu (192.92.115.8) are available for those with anonymous ftp
access.  Finally, the ZIP suite is available for anonymous ftp retrieval at
many of the larger TeX archive sites on the network.  You'll note that ZIP
is increasingly being used at the TeX archive sites, as well as being a
built in get option on ftp.tex.ac.uk's anonymous ftp daemon/server
interface (which we will soon be using here).

Bottom line, at least in my opinion, is if you don't have the ZIP suite,
get it!  Once you've used it -- especially across multiple platforms -- and
seen the performance associated with it, you'll wonder why you ever messed
with Unix tar, VMS backup, or any other archiving mechanism available.  In
other words, it's a "gotta have".

Regards,   George
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
George D. Greenwade, Ph.D.                            Bitnet:  BED_GDG@SHSU
Department of Economics and Business Analysis         THEnet: SHSU::BED_GDG
College of Business Administration                    Voice: (409) 294-1266
P. O. Box 2118                                        FAX:   (409) 294-3612
Sam Houston State University              Internet:        bed_gdg@SHSU.edu
Huntsville, TX 77341                      bed_gdg%SHSU.decnet@relay.the.net
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
p.s.  If you are interested in joining the Info-ZIP mailing list, include:
 SUBSCRIBE INFO-ZIP "Your name in quotes"
or
 SUBSCRIBE INFO-ZIP-DIGEST "Your name in quotes"
in the body of a mail message to LISTSERV@WKUVX1.BITNET (Hunter Goatley's
LISTSERV at Western Kentucky).  Both are mail distributions, with INFO-ZIP
being delivered as they arrive and INFO-ZIP-DIGEST being delivered once a
certain size of posts are met or once a certain length of time has elapsed.