I understand what release means in terms of a group. It means they scanlated something and they're allowing the public/other manga readers to read it now. (That's the easy part to understand.) But how would the staff or updaters at Manga updates classify release if it's been done by an individual or someone unknown? Also, what if a chapter's been in circulation but hasn't been added as a release? Can someone add it as released date: ? group: ? and just have all the rest filled in? Also, if the group and the date is unknown, it's best to add a dl link to the release, right? Or is it okay for someone to add a release with the date and group fields missing and just fill in the volume, chapter and series and just let the people find the release themselves? Or would that release not pass because most people won't be able to find it? I hope someone can answer some of my questions. If someone would like me to clarify I'd be glad to.
I know that it's possible to have the group unknown because I've seen this page but I'm not quite sure how it works: http://www.mangaupdates.com/releases.html?search=%3F

Is this the right place to put this topic? Is there somewhere else I could've put this topic without it being called spam and still get noticed quicker?

Simplified: What exactly is a release and how does one add one for individuals or for unknown sources?
Releases that can be gotten from only certain places are still considered releases, right? Because Esthetique and other groups do something like that, right?

If you don't have a group, you NEED a download link, or else it won't go through except by accident. (With or without date, of well.) If the release was done by an individual, like a lot of the LQ stuff you see on mangahelpers, then for Group, you put that individual's name in there.

If the stuff came from a major download site or something, then you better link the release to that page and put ? as the group. I know that Esthétique is one of those download sites...

A just ruler amongst tyrants

Well, the Esthetique part was just to clarify something for myself.

I see. I didn't notice the dl part. Hmm...thanks for clarifying. Now to see if I'll actually do anything with this knowledge.
Now about the dl link. Are there any dl places that are banned from here, as in mangaupdates doesn't like to be posted on here? Oh, are savefile, 4shared, or mydatabus okay places to upload the files? Does it have to be a dl link? can it be an online reading link?

I don't quite understand this sentence, care to clarify? (i'm a bit slow.)

If the stuff came from a major download site or something, then you better link the release to that page and put ? as the group.

So, something looking like this:
Date: ?
Title: My Platinum Lady (had to put a filler title)
Vol: 11
Ch: 64
Groups: ?
DL: (a dl link here)

is fine, right? (maybe this is how I should have phrased my question earlier. This sure is a lot easier to understand.) 😐

We don't mind what download site you use... I'd prefer you use one that makes it very easy to get to the download though. No jumping through hoops to get to the file.

Correct, if you have "?" as a group, then you must have a direct link. So your format there would be right.

Actually, a while back, we didn't allow rapidshare/savefile for whatever reason, but that's not that case now.

EDIT:
Actually, I would also like to add something. For download links, if you DO add one, please don't let it be just the main page for that group. The download link feature is meant for direct download links or links that lead to weird places not easily found on the group's site.
(That's targeted to everyone and not just ippy)

A just ruler amongst tyrants

Oh, that's what you meant by link it to the group's page. Well the stuff I'm talking about came from "who knows where". So, it's going to be a direct link. (Which was why I was asking if there was any preferred place.)
So, 4shared or mydatabus would be better. 4shared doesn't really work for me so it'll probably be mydatabus if I add a release like the ones I've been talking about.

Thank you for answering. I understand (kinda) what a release is. Now that I think about it, the topic question hasn't really been answered. Oh well, at least the important questions have been answered.