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	Re:	Squashing


		I have heard a good deal of discussion and a lot of
	dissent about squashed files in an ARChive. There are SYSOPS
	that will not allow squashed files on their boards. These
	folks are behind the times. What would have happened if
	squeezed files and library files and ARC files would have
	been excluded when they first came out ?


		When a file is ARChived, the ARCing program must
	first decide which algorithm will yield the best compression
	ratio (and this is no tivial task if you are optomizing for
	speed). Each of the storage methods, packing, storing, squeezing
	and crunching becomes the best choice under the right circumstances.
	Squashing is no different. Why should we want to omit one of our
	compression tools ?? Squashing can offer significant savings on the
	right file and is a viable tool in our bag of compression tricks, not
	to mention that it is the easiest (and most logical) to code.


		Phil Katz has, in my opinion received undue criticism
	on this squashing matter (and admittedly from me too in the
	early stages, but that was not a well considered opinion).
	I am in favor of squashed files and urge others to accept them
	as well.


						Gary Conway