I suggest, not specifically for LISTSERV, the following form of distributing
program systems (for initial installation) as well as updates.
 
1.  One and ONLY ONE file shall be sent, LOGICALLY, *BUT* it may be broken
    up into numerically sequenced pieces for transmission convenience.
 
2.  A file enveloping format be used that allows multiple files sent as one
    file (inside the one file mandated by 1. above).  Sorry, but this rules
    out NETDATA format until IBM corrects that deficiency.  DISK and CARD
    formats will work.
 
3.  The one file shall contain two to four files:
    A.  Instructions for the human to read.
    B.  ONE FILE containing inside all the files needed to install.
    C.  (Optional) a procedure (EXEC) to do the installation.
    D.  (Optional) a program to break up the file in B.
 
4.  The file described in 3B shall use the same file format as the main
    file, or the unformatting program (3D) shall be included along side the
    collection (3B).
 
Thus, there will be TWO layers for the actual files that are to be installed.
Using formats such as CARD DUMP will make sure that not too much overhead is
introduced into the distributions.
 
By having it organized logically as one single file, it can be handled very
easily by many commands that expect just one file.  All the levels can be
easily archived and retrieved as needed.
 
Here is a graphic example of this organization as it might be used for
LISTSERV:  ( symbol \ is a reverse slash in case it comes out otherwise )
 
 
                           /    READTHIS MEMO          /   various
                         /                           /     files
                       /        SYSTEM PACKAGE  --=<       to
LISTSERV V1$5N   ---=<                               \     be
                       \        ( INSTALL EXEC )       \   installed
                         \
                           \    ( CARD MODULE )
 
 
Note that if the outer packaging format is DISK DUMP, CARD MODULE should
be included if the inner packaging is CARD DUMP (suggested).
 
/phil