Refer or copy?
When you are setting up an information
system which refer to information
which is available elsewhere, be
very careful before taking a copy.
Here are some reasons for leaving
it where it is:
- When it is updated, you will either
have to have a way of finding out,
and make a fresh copy, or you will
end up with an out of date copy.
- If you feel that your copy will be
easier to access, remember that this
is relative. You will have readers
from other places who may find the
original is closer. If the original
has a serious access problem, you
could find another server (maybe
offer your own) as the definitive
storage point.
Here are reasons for copying it:
- If the information is transient,
like a news article, you will have
to take a copy.
- You may want to refer to a particular
version of something which will will
be changed and not saved in an archive.
You should be very wary before referring
to your own private collections of
the following, of which plenty of
established collections exist:
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© 1991-95 Tim BL