Where to put files

[peridot]

If one has created some content, here is obviously the place to post about it. But where does one put the actual files so that they can be downloaded? How about the wiki, which appears to allow uploading of files?

[Phil Munoz]

... the yahoo groups page still works...

[JohnnyDmonic]

I just use a free collector's account on rapidshare.  Although files get deleted off rapidshare once they've been inactive for a certain amount of time.  I suppose Google Docs could be used as well, think they allow people to store text.

[peridot]

I just use a free collector's account on rapidshare.  Although files get deleted off rapidshare once they've been inactive for a certain amount of time.  I suppose Google Docs could be used as well, think they allow people to store text.

Well, that's what I mean: putting them somewhere they're going to disappear is frustrating for people reading the forum after the fact. Far better if we had somewhere "official" to put files that are to appear here. I think of the choices so far my vote would be for the Wiki, which appears to be able to handle arbitrary files and for which registration is straightforward.

[SharkD]

Not sure if PNG uploads have been re-enabled on the wiki. They were disabled for a long while after a software upgrade. Plain text of course works.

[xpace]

peridot, I know what you mean. As a gamer who likes to download and install lots of mods for games, I find it very frustrating how frequently I find mods and game files that were deleted due to "inactivity." Most free file hosts (i.e., about 99% of them) have a stipulation in the fine print that if nobody downloads their files within a certain period (usually 60 days, but sometimes as short as 2 weeks), then they will most likely be removed. And even without such a stipulation, they all reserve the right to terminate your membership or remove your files at their whim.

I've looked at many dozens of file hosts, but the only exception I've found, the only free file host that promises not to delete your files, is this one:

host-a.net

They offer quote "40 MB of for life file hosting" and promise "Your files won't get deleted." I realize that 40 MB isn't much space. And there are some monthly bandwidth limits. However, I think the fact that your files are guaranteed some measure of "permanence" more that compensates these limitations.

I've been using them for several years now without a problem. And I've been careful on the size and types of files I upload as I have less than 1 MB of files there in total. But if that's just too limiting, for a very small one-time fee you can Upgrade this 40 MB limit to 125, 300, or 1000, for life. 

[Joseph Hewitt]

For simple text files and patches, simply sticking them in posts here with the code tag could work.

[Onisuzume]

Yes, but what about several dozens of mecha?
I can imagine that the casual topic reader won't be too thrilled to scroll past that many code tags.

[SharkD]

Some forums have a "spoiler" BB tag that hides a block of text until you click a "show spoiler" button.

[Onisuzume]

True, but this forum doesn't appear to have one.

[SharkD]

Might try contacting Kornel, though sometimes he's hard to reach...

Also, this forum software doesn't seem to be as common as vBulletin or phpBB, so there might not be any extensions for it.

[edit]
How about adding them as attachments? Then users can click on them and download instead of copy-pasting from the page itself.

[JohnnyDmonic]

Attachements should be fine, I assume the forum will hold onto them for as long as it keeps the messages around.

Alternatively, although it might be a bit excessive...couldn't we start up a Gearhead Mods sourceforge?  Or do they only want actively developed projects?

[Onisuzume]

Meh, anyway, I can always post it as attachments on my own forum, and post a link to it.

[SharkD]

One problem with attachments is that they may disappear in a forum upgrade. See here where images got broken the last time.