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Create your own pad

What is a PAD?

PAD is the Portable Application Description, and it helps authors provide product descriptions and specifications to online sources in a standard way, using a standard data format that will allow webmasters and program librarians to automate program listings. PAD saves time for both authors and webmasters.

Why do authors need a PAD?

Authors are constantly asked for information about their products, either in online forms or by email. The PAD dataset contains all the most frequently requested information and it is all in one spot! Many online download sites are already supporting this endeavor. More will follow in their footsteps!

What is the PAD repository?

The downloadtube has set up a free repository where anyone can post their PAD files for Webmasters and other folks to access. This allows others to easily build content for their online libraries or use as a search engine when looking for a program.

What does a PAD file look like?

PAD uses established web technology, XML! With XML, data can be easily extracted and parsed by any XML toolkit. We already have a complete set of tools available for vendors, authors and end users alike. If you have IE you can see a sample by clicking here. If you are using other browsers, your browser may ask you to save the file.

Where do I put this PAD file?

The PAD file should go in two places. The first is inside your ZIP file so that anyone distributing your software can quickly extract the file and retrieve any information that they need. Inside the ZIP, include the PAD files as PAD_FILE.XML. The second location for PAD files is on your website. Many download sites ask for only the URL to your PAD file, and they do the rest, importing all your file descriptions, sizes, and product information directly from your web site. It is important that you use an address on your site that won't change, so don't use a version number in the link. That's because some sites are automatically checking your PAD files for changes on a regular schedule, and when they find a new version of the PAD file, they update their lists immediately.