[seqfan] Re: How do you edit a b-file or other submitted file?

[Richard Mathar]

in response to http://list.seqfan.eu/pipermail/seqfan/2012-February/016471.html

dw> Return-Path: <seqfan-bounces at list.seqfan.eu>
dw> Subject: [seqfan] How do you edit a b-file or other submitted file?
dw> 
dw> Or do you simply have to do a resubmission?

Yes, that is the standard.

dw> I ask this because when you upload a new b-file, the original b-file 
dw> remains and a new b-file with a nonstandard name is created.

Actually, the nonstandard name is only temporarily visible. If I recall
Russ' description correctly, the old file is moved and will be 
renamed in a nonstandard way; the new file will get the standard name.
We have discussed this in the SeqFan list before.

dw> On the one hand, this seems like a good idea because it preserves the 
dw> original b-file from subsequent accidental or purposeful corruption.

In addition, it is the obvious way of keeping the history, in accordance
with the policy on all the other content.

dw> On the other hand, if you submit a bad file, it stays on the server 
dw> forever. Specifically, if you resubmit a b-file with minor changes (I 
dw> want to remove the first line of b079277.txt) the old one, however 
dw> voluminous, stays around (I think).

Yes, that is what I also think. There are people with direct access to the
files and database, who could actually clean this up further, but this
requires human dedicated intervention.

RJM