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Exporting the messages
Sizing & Distribution
CD Furniture
Exporting the messages
In order to export group messages to a file you need to us the Export function.
To do so choose File --> Export to Folder
In the Destination Path field, enter the name of the folder in which to save the archive file (ygrpack.mdb)
You may select multiple groups by ticking their checkboxes.
They will all be exported to one archive file.
The attachments will automatically be stored in separate folders
named after the group they belong to.
Remember to check the 'Copy attachments' checkbox if you wish to export attachments.
Your destination folder should look like this
The folder 'blowthruturbo' contains the group attachments & the archive file 'ygrpack.mdb'
contains the groups messages.
If you had ticked more than one group to export there may be more than one
attachment folder (assuming the groups have attachments), but there would only ever be one
archive file containing all the exported groups messages.
If you double click on the currently selected group you will get a pop-up which will
allow you to choose a range of messages to export for that group.
If you do not choose a range, all messages will be exported.
The size of the archive & attachments folder will largely determine the method of distribution.
Try to reduce the size of your archive by zipping the files up if you intend to distribute
the archive as a download.
What if...
1) Your archive is under 50Mb... you may consider making the archive file available as a download
from a site which you own. If you want to split the archive to make smaller downloadable chunks,
use the export range pop-up when exporting the group. This will mean multiple exports to multiple folders.
2) Your archive is over 50Mb and under 600Mb... consider distributing the archive on CD.
Set up a tree distribution structure (sometimes called a 'fanout').
Offer group members a free CD archive on the condition that they must make a copy
& post it on to any member who requests a copy. This member is also obligated to do the same.
Send the first 6 members to make a request their CD plus the name & address of another member
they need to pass the CD on to. Using this method, everyone who wants a copy of the archive
gets it for the price of postage & a blank CD.
3) Your archive is over 600Mb... if you've zipped it up & it still won't fit on a CD then consider
splitting the groups over two archive files & sending two CDs. If you have access to a DVD burner
you could fit all the groups on a DVD without compression. Not everyone has a DVD reader though.
To give your CD (or DVD) a 'Pro' feel I have developed a zip file of CD 'furniture'.
On this zip file is a autoexec menu (with associated files) and a 'Getting started' guide
which can be customised to suit your group.
Download & unzip the contents to a temporary directory.
Edit the 'Getting Started' guide (HTML). At the start where it says:
On this CD you will find
The PG Offline 2.5.xxx installation file
An archive of "your group name"
This guide.
You will need to change "2.5.xxx" to the version number you intend to
bundle with the CD & "your group name" with... I'll let you guess.
Then copy the contents of the temporary directory into the root directory of your
CD along with the archive file & folder of attachments (if any). I recommend you do this
on a re-writable CD until you're happy with the results.
Download the zip file from here:
furniture.zip (1419k)
If your archive will fit unzipped on to the CD then use the 'No-zip' form of the
'Getting Started' guide. (Included in the zip file in a folder named 'No-zip').
Very important... don't forget to include a copy of the PG Offline installation
file in the root directory of the CD.
You should already have this file but if you don't you can
get it here
Any queries can be directed to 
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