CompuServe Messages

Tim, Sure, upload your file to DL7. I use the Mac Navigator to do that kind of thing, but I have done it from a PC, and with a little work/frustration, you can do it through the CIS menus. RTM (read the [CIS] manual)! The key is to plan a list of keywords and a file description in advance. Some people enter very broad keywords like "GARDEN" or "LANDSCAPE" which tell us all very little, while others use keywords so explicit that no-one would think of searching on them. Careful keyword-selection and description-composition ensure that people who might be interested in your file will find it, and that people who are not interested will not download it due to a misleading description. Describe the file format precisely: operating system (DOS 3.3, Mac Sys 6.0.5, etc.), name and version of the drawing program, and file format (if your drawing program supports TIFF export, use it; TIFF files are readable by most PC *and* Mac programs). If you have a compression utility, consider using it to give people a smaller file to download (uploading is free, downloading costs), but be sure to tell them which utility you used (or use one with an "auto-unstuff" capability) and remember that using a DOS stuffer will mean Mac users cannot unstuff, and vice-versa, which reduces the advantage of using TIFF files. Don't let people waste CI$ downloading a file that they cannot read on their own systems. I would enjoy looking at your design (and returning sketches of my suggestions, if any – include your time/effort/budget constraints). When you upload the file announce it and describe it (again) in the message area, which accepts longer text than the DL file-description. I have most PC and Mac unstuffing utilities, and can read TIFF (PC or Mac), Freelance .DRW (PC), and PICT (Mac). -Richard