



                                                SDN INTERNATIONAL(sm)
                                       Shareware Distribution Network




                                  Shareware Author Kit - Revision #12
                                           Guide To The SDN.ID Format





                    Published from The SDN Project, January 28th 1996
                    (c)Copyright 1996 Ray L. Kaliss - The SDN Project



                         -= Copyright Notice =-

     This document is Copyright The SDN Project 1996 and the property
     of Ray  L.  Kaliss  as The  SDN Project.   This document  in not
     public domain.  It is intended  as an informational document for
     Shareware   authors   submitting  for   distribution   via   SDN
     International.  This document may be copied whole and unmodified
     for  that intent  only.  Official  Policy is  formulated by  SDN
     International and published at The SDN Project Bulletin Board in
     Meriden, CT, U.S.A.  203-634-0370. Policy and information posted
     online at The SDN Project 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   individually  are   copyrighted  by   SDN
     International.



THE SDN.ID FORMAT EXPLAINATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     To process  and distribute on such  a scale..  we  are partially
     automated.  What  assists us is an  ASCII text file we  call the
     SDN.ID file.   It also lets  downloaders know that  the software
     meets  SDN's crieria,  has been  virus scanned  and is  security
     sealed.  The format is copyright to SDN.  You create it yourself
     with any  ASCII editor,  it is  really quite  simple.  You  must
     include one for each program you submit to us.

     The SDN.ID is pure ASCII text (no hidden control codes) and is a
     format  of which  the first  three  lines serve  double duty  as
     readable description  and processing control  information.  Here
     is what the first few lines  look like and their explanations of
     purpose.  For further  example examine the SDN.ID  included with
     this kit.

        (Spacing may not be lined up if you print this example)

   Ŀ
   X-Word Editor 2.1 fast editor for the novice and experienced    
   WIN95 EDITOR WRITE PROCESSOR SPELL BLANCE                       
   FILES: xword21.zip                                              
                                                                   
   Author: Timothy Blance                                          
   Registration: $50.00                                            
   Category: Word Processing                                       
   E-mail: tblance@netthing.com                                    
                                                                   
      A superVGA editor system that uses icons you create.         
   Fantastic for the novice or the advanced power user. Spell      
   checker is included. Has a preview mode and will use five       
   etc.. etc..  etc..
   


     DESCRIPTION LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     The  first line,  begins  with the  name  of  your program,  the
     version number, and a few words of description.  Keep this to 80
     characters or less.  There is no  need to use the word "Version"
     or "v" (v.2.1), downloaders already know or learn very fast what
     a version number is, it simply wastes space.


     KEYWORD LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~
     The very first keyword, left  justified, is the operating system
     this program runs under.  Other appropriate keywords can follow.
     Keep in mind  one commercial service limits the  keyword line to
     less than  70 characters  and I  may truncate  to fit.   Use all
     capitals.   Do not  use the  keyword "SHAREWARE",  if it  wasn't
     shareware,  it  wouldn't  be here.   Standard  operating  system
     keywords are given  below.  Use only one,  the primary operating
     system your program  is coded to run under.   On online services
     your program will be delivered to this primary forum.

              DOS      WIN31     WIN95     WINNT      OS/2

     FILES LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~
     On  this line  give  the  file name  you  would  like the  final
     downloadable   compressed  archive   to  be   named.   SDN   has
     standardized on Zip compression for  archiving, so the extension
     will always  be ".zip".  Use all  lower case for this  name, the
     Internet   prefers   lower   case   named   files.    Use   only
     alpha-numerical characters, do not use a number or non-alpha for
     the first  letter of the  file name,  some sites can  not accept
     that.   Bulletin  board  convention  is   to  use  a  few  alpha
     characters  and then  the version  number for  the posting  file
     name.  This keeps it unique, which  is important.  It also helps
     the downloader recognize  your latest version from  your earlier
     versions.  (See  Appendices for  more information  on file  name
     conventions).

     SDN reserves the right to edit the final archive file name so it
     is compatible with online systems and to prevent conflicts which
     may hinder it from being distributed or posted.


     AUTHOR LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~~
     Put in  your proud name  as author, or  if you are  a publishing
     company given the  authority to distribute the  software for the
     author, change the line to "Publisher:" and then put the company
     name.


     REGISTRATION  LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Put your  registration fee here.   There is  no need to  get too
     detailes, users should read your  programs documentation for the
     full registration details.


     CATEGORY LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     There  are no  universal  category standards  in  common in  the
     online community,  so come up  with a  one or two  word category
     that simnply describes your software.   If you are familiar with
     the ASP categories you should use one.


     EMAIL LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~
     If you have an Internet address and do not mind email, then give
     it here.  This line  is optional, you can simply skip  it if you
     want to.   Many times  I have been  contacted by  companies that
     wish to offer the author a publishing deal, they can contact you
     directly  now.   On  the  other hand,  you  may  get  plenty  of
     chit-chat mail taking up your time.


     DESCRIPTION BODY
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Here is the main description of your program.  Keep it short and
     to the point of your main features.  Unlike the top header lines
     which must all be left justified, the body lines can be indented
     for better visual effect.  About two screens of description text
     is all  a user reading  it online can  absorb.


     REQUIREMENTS LINE
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     This line  is optional.  Many  authors put a  Requirements: line
     after the description  body.  This might tell users  they need a
     SVGA, modem  or other non-basic  hardware, or other  software to
     work with the program.





     MAILED IN DISK SUBMISSIONS
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Name and save the file as SDN.ID and copy it onto the first disk
     of your program you will be sending us.

     Example directory of your disk:

                   MENU    EXE    345266  12-10-93   1:03p
                   MENU    DOC     16354  12-10-93  10:10a
                   MENU    DAT      4562  10-12-93  11:01a
             ->    SDN     ID       1500  12-11-93   2:25p
                   SORT    EXE     34555  12-11-93   4:00p




     SDNMAKER SUBMISSIONS
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Copy the SDN.ID  to the SOURCE diretory with  your program files
     so SDNMaker can find it.



LAST WORDS
~~~~~~~~~~
     SDN  reserves  the  right  to edit  the  SDN.ID  to  better  fit
     processing needs before  your program is distributed.   Be aware
     SDN.ID is included in the final compressed package.











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