

                                                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






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