How to deliver files

Purpose

When you deliver a file it's always hard to know what to do. Is it needed to give a verion number? Is it needed to copy the old file somewhere as backup.

This procedure suppose that you don't use a versionning tool that will manage this situation automatically for you.

Step by step

1. You have a file to deliver. It can be on an ftp server or on a in house server. Or even on your own hard disk for your own use.
2. You know where to deliver the file. That should be in a folder somewhere.
3. In this folder there should be a subfolder named "history" if there is no you have to create it or ask somewone to do it.
4. If the file you have to deliver is not already present then you simply drop your file.
5. If there is already a file with the same name as yours, then you have to rename this file with a number and put it in the "history" folder. The number you have to add should have a padding and it should be equal to the number of versions + 1. (if your file is named MyFile.mb and in the history you have MyFile00.mb, MyFile01.mb, MyFile02.mb, the you have to name the file to backup MyFile03.mb and put it in the history folder.
6. Then you deliver your file named MyFile.mb.
   
   As the previous file was renamed with a number and move to the history folder you never loose anything. The new file dont't replace the old file.
   Instead the old file is moved to the history (with a number).
7. This way it's possible to keep a backup of all verions of the file.

Comment

This procedure is relevant only if there is no other systems available.

The last file is always the right one. There is never aby complicate names with dates and so on that can caus confusion.

It is possible also to create good script that can manage these operations.