How do you use alt.binaries groups?

[Alex Bowyer]

I am a newbie and would really appreciate answeres to these questions:
1. How do you use alt.binaries groups? ( I have a rough idea, but would
like it spelled out to me)?
2. Why do almost all of them appear as 0 (0)- i.e. empty?
3. If only part of a file appears in the postings list eg blabla.jpg (1/4)
how do you get the rest?
Thanks,
--
Alex Bowyer

[Mark McLeod]

In article <679556...@hexham.demon.co.uk>,
Alex Bowyer <Al...@hexham.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> I am a newbie and would really appreciate answeres to these
> questions: 1. How do you use alt.binaries groups? ( I have a rough
> idea, but would like it spelled out to me)?

See the FAQ entitled "HOW TO:uudecode/view binary usenet messages,"
which appears regularly in the "news.newusers.questions" newsgroup. If
you cannot find it, send an e-mail message to me. I keep the latest
copy of the document because it seems to disappear often.

> 2. Why do almost all of them appear as 0 (0)- i.e. empty?

Several things could be causing this. One obvious answer is that
your host does to carry them.

> 3. If only part of a file appears in the postings list eg blabla.jpg
> (1/4) how do you get the rest?

That is one of the problems with such multi-part files. One
solution is to save each piece until you get all of the pieces, and
then assemble and decode them.

--
><> Mark McLeod (mamc...@netcom.com) <><

[hb]

Alex Bowyer <Al...@hexham.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>1. How do you use alt.binaries groups?

You read the FAQs (frequently asked questions) documents on 'How to decode,
download and view binaries' - posted regularly to news.newusers.questions
and the alt.binaries.pictures.* groups, if you have access to them.

>2. Why do almost all of them appear as 0 (0)- i.e. empty?

Your provider may choose to *not* carry those groups. Many don't.

>3. If only part of a file appears in the postings list eg blabla.jpg (1/4)
>how do you get the rest?

Certain newsreader programs can tag, download and decode those multi-part
files. Another method is to d/l separately and then decode. So called
'smart' decoders handle multi-part postings with ease.

--
Advice given is worth every penny paid...and subject to instant revision.