ADMIN: Lifespan of For Sale/Want to Buy Ads

[Walt Bilofsky (Webmaster)]

Because all messages are now permanently saved in the archives - and For Sale/Want To Buy messages are relatively perishable - our policy, as of a few months ago, became that FS/WTB messages are deleted before they can be archived.

What happened a couple of months ago was that the archive was put into a packed file, turning 35 megabytes of old messages into about 6, and getting us below the ISP's limit of 50 MB for all my pages. The packed file format should keep us safe for another 1 to 2 years. But once a message is packed into the archive, it's with us forever. Because FS/WTB messages are not of permanent interest, I won't use the space up to archive them.

Usually I archive messages about once a month, and keep roughly a month's worth of messages. So that means FS/WTB posts are likely to have a life span of 30 to 60 days.

You can tell when an archive has been done - the 150-200k message index file suddenly becomes 60-90k. If your ad got pushed off the end of the main page, you're welcome to re-post it. Of course that will also give it fresh exposure. If your ad is still on the page, please refrain from posting another one.

Walt Bilofsky, Webmaster



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[Don Sargeant]

By the way, Walt, how many hits a day are you getting? Seems only a few months ago we were welcoming the 100,00th visitor and now the counter's way over 150,000. A tribute to you and the value of this board. Thanx for all the hard work.

Don Sargeant
~~COQUINA~~
CD25D #189
Greenwich Cove

Because all messages are now permanently saved in the archives - and For Sale/Want To Buy messages are relatively perishable - our policy, as of a few months ago, became that FS/WTB messages are deleted before they can be archived.

What happened a couple of months ago was that the archive was put into a packed file, turning 35 megabytes of old messages into about 6, and getting us below the ISP's limit of 50 MB for all my pages. The packed file format should keep us safe for another 1 to 2 years. But once a message is packed into the archive, it's with us forever. Because FS/WTB messages are not of permanent interest, I won't use the space up to archive them.

Usually I archive messages about once a month, and keep roughly a month's worth of messages. So that means FS/WTB posts are likely to have a life span of 30 to 60 days.

You can tell when an archive has been done - the 150-200k message index file suddenly becomes 60-90k. If your ad got pushed off the end of the main page, you're welcome to re-post it. Of course that will also give it fresh exposure. If your ad is still on the page, please refrain from posting another one.

Walt Bilofsky, Webmaster

don @cliggott.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

By the way, Walt, how many hits a day are you getting? Seems only a few months ago we were welcoming the 100,00th visitor and now the counter's way over 150,000.

Don -

We're running a bit over 300 hits per day on this page - about 110k per year. Also, the message numbering went over 10,000 about a week back - though during the early days, the counter bumped once for the preview and again for the message, so there's no telling when the 10,000th message was or will be.

- Walt



bilofsky@toolworks.com