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From: tp@ndm20
Newsgroups: net.news.notes
Subject: Re: mod.computers.* vs. notes
Message-ID: <2500002@ndm20>
Date: Mon, 4-Nov-85 08:27:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ndm20.2500002
Posted: Mon Nov  4 08:27:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 08:04:53 EST
References: <395857@sneaky>
Lines: 33
Nf-ID: #R:sneaky:-39585727:ndm20:2500002:000:1720
Nf-From: ndm20!tp    Nov  4 07:27:00 1985


Are you sure that a shortname site must use the alias  feature on any
name  that  is  longer  than 14  characters?   I don't  use the alias
feature at all.  I am a shortname site connected to  a longname site.
As long as I pass all the  notes utilities  the long  name, all works
well.  I think that your proposal is correct except that  there is no
reason   to   avoid   mod.proto.kermit:mod.protocols.kermit   in  the
shortname  site's alias  file, and  no need  whatsoever to  put in an
alias for things like net.religion.christian.  

Your proposal  is good,  but such  hassles should  not be neccessary.
Since  all  non-4.2 notes  sites have  this problem,  ALL GROUP NAMES
SHOULD BE UNIQUE IN THE FIRST 14 CHARACTERS.  There is  no reason for
not doing this.  Mr.  Fair has unilateraly decided to  do it, despite
response before and after in net.news.group that the  names should be
shortened.  His only response so far  is upgrade  or tough  luck.  He
has decided that it is acceptable (to him) to force all non-4.2 notes
administrators to go through the hassles of  maintaining alias files,
a hassle that they have never had to worry about before.   This is an
ongoing concern.  It is a safe bet that future names  invented by him
will have a similar lack of concern for the rest of the net.  

The proper solution is to RENAME THE DAMNED GROUPS.  That is the only
solution  that  makes  sense.   Besides, if  a shortname  site with a
redundant feed  refuses to  hassle with  the alias  files, the groups
will cross-pollenate, so to speak.  

Terry Poot
Nathan D. Maier Consulting Engineers
(214)739-4741
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