archives are frequently smaller than @command{bzip2}-compressed archives.
@trindex dist-lzip
-@item @code{dist-shar}
-Generate a @samp{shar} archive of the distribution.
-@trindex dist-shar
-
@vindex XZ_OPT
@item @code{dist-xz}
Generate an @samp{xz} tar archive of the distribution. @command{xz}
@item @code{dist-tarZ}
Generate a tar archive of the distribution, compressed with the
-historical program @command{compress}.
+historical (obsolescent) program @command{compress}. Use of this
+option is discouraged.
@trindex dist-tarZ
+
+@item @code{dist-shar}
+Generate a @samp{shar} archive of the distribution. This format archive
+is obsolescent, and use of this option is discouraged.
+@trindex dist-shar
+
@end table
The rule @code{dist} (and its historical synonym @code{dist-all}) will
Hook @code{dist-xz} to @code{dist}.
@trindex dist-xz
-@item @option{dist-shar}
-@cindex Option, @option{dist-shar}
-@opindex dist-shar
-Hook @code{dist-shar} to @code{dist}.
-@trindex dist-shar
-
@item @option{dist-zip}
@cindex Option, @option{dist-zip}
@opindex dist-zip
Hook @code{dist-zip} to @code{dist}.
@trindex dist-zip
+@item @option{dist-shar}
+@cindex Option, @option{dist-shar}
+@opindex dist-shar
+Hook @code{dist-shar} to @code{dist}. Use of this option
+is discouraged, as the @samp{shar} format is obsolescent and
+problematic.
+@trindex dist-shar
+
@item @option{dist-tarZ}
@cindex Option, @option{dist-tarZ}
@opindex dist-tarZ
-Hook @code{dist-tarZ} to @code{dist}.
+Hook @code{dist-tarZ} to @code{dist}. Use of this option
+is discouraged, as the @samp{compress} program is obsolete.
@trindex dist-tarZ
@item @option{filename-length-max=99}