Re: "Pointer to" structure

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• Next message: Charles MacDonald: "Where to post the real one was Re: "Pointer to" structure"
• Previous message: era eriksson: "Re: "Pointer to" structure"

> I've been posting one of these "pointers to" which is actually not
> being posted to *.answers (at least not yet) because I haven't figured
> out a good way to alternate between the actual FAQ (which actually I
> have never posted to a newsgroup yet) and the pointer message (which
> goes out to news.admin.net-abuse.email and comp.mail.misc every 11
> days at present).

When a full FAQ is posted to *.answers, we suggest that the "pointer"
not be posted there. The intent is that *.answers have longer expire
times than most groups do, so a pointer is redundant because the FAQ
itself is likely to still be around. I realize that many ISPs aren't
granting *.answers long expiration times any more, but they should
be. :) We are willing to grant special exceptions in cases where there
is a demonstrated need. Regardless, we're happy to list both the
pointer and the FAQ in the LoPIP, which will get them archived at
rtfm.mit.edu.

> At one point, somebody suggested that I get the FAQ included at RTFM
> and list that as a distribution point, but +not+ post the actual FAQ
> to the newsgroups. This sort of appeals to me, but I can't find any
> instructions for how to do this.

Mainly because it's not possible. The archive only stores files which
are listed in the LoPIP, and the LoPIP only lists articles which are
in fact Periodicaly Posted *somewhere*. Furthermore, *.answers only
accept articles which are also cross-posted to at least one other
newsgroup. So you could post the full FAQ to only one group, perhaps
plus *.answers, and send the pointer to all the others if you like.
Then the FAQ would be listed in the LoPIP and stored at rtfm (even if
it isn't posted to *.answers, but why avoid that?) and the pointer
could reference it there.

-- 
- Pam Greene            Ferret Central <http://www.ferretcentral.org/>

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