X. Information inserts or spacers
=================================

The Type=i (A_INFO) gopher object is a client-dependent feature, which was
implemented in v2.010 of the UMN Unix/OpenVMS client, and has been used for
some time now by clients for other platforms.  It enables you to insert
spacers (blank lines) or purely informational lines of text into the directory
listings from your server, which will not generate any action by the client if
a user inadvertantly shoots at the line.  However, for pre-v2.010 clients,
Type=i objects are omitted from the client's menu. At present, Type=i should
not be used for critically important information because users with earlier
versions of the UMN client will not see that information.

To insert blank spacer lines, you can use tuples with the following format in
your .links files without a corresponding file, or you can use dummy files in
the directory together with such tuples in lookaside files or ACL-resident
lookaside entries for the dummy files:

	Name=
	Type=i
	Port=+
	Numb=5
	Path=i
	Host=+

The Numb= field indicates the position in the menu where the spacer should
appear.

The equivalent format can be used for information lines, but with the
information used as the Name= field.  For example:

	Name=The following files are very interesting
	Type=i
	Port=+
	Numb=7
	Path=i
	Host=+

If Type=i tuples are used without a Numb= field, they will be sorted on the
basis of their Name= field.  This can be useful in directories with files
which can be grouped alphanumerically.  Dummy files can be included with Name=
fields which will sort above each group of data files.  If the directory is
fluid (number of files in each group changes regularly), the positioning of
the Type=i tuples automatically will move up or down to appropriate positions
in the menu for that directory.

Yet another possible strategy is to use the same Numb= entry for a Type=i
tuple and a group of data files, so that they'll be tied during sorting, and
grouped together in alphanumeric order of their Name= fields.

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