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1994-11-02
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!News, version 1.03 (2nd November 1994)
© Timothy Kimber
This file holds the "Quick Startup" guide, full
instructions can be found in the Docs file.
Brief Description
=================
This program is an NNTP based offline newsreader
designed to allow easy, user friendly access to
the Usenet newsgroups. It is designed to be used
with !TCPIP, and a connection to a service provider
Features
========
• Doesn't require any programs to be run before
reading news, or after posting a message.
{ It accesses the files directly from !MailDir }
• Adds the signature file to the post
automatically
• Full quoting of messages being replied to.
• Has no limit on the number of articles in a
newsgroup.
• Uses the ExtEdit protocol to edit a posting,
allowing you to use your favorite editor.
• Correctly replies to posts with a Followup-To:
line.
• Can run from any filing system.
• Creates an Index so that newsfiles can be
reloaded fast.
Disadvantages
=============
• Requires as much memory as the size of the
DemNews file, plus 160K for the program, plus
2% of DemNews file for an index. (eg 500K
newsfile requires 500K+160K+10K = 670K)
Features (aka Bugs)
===================
• Sometimes, a few articles can be grouped into a
wierd group, this happens when there are
multiple entries on the Newsgroups: line, and
this article appears before the ones in the
"normal" group.
• After a mode change from a large mode to a small
mode, the windows can be separated. Clicking on
the title bar fixes this.
• No checking is done for disc space when copying
the news file into a subdirectory of !News, this
can cause problems if !TCPIPUser and !News are
on different filing systems.
Quick Instructions
==================
These instructions are designed to provide a quick
and easy guide to setting up and running the
program.
1. Start up the application
A "Load file" window will open, initially it
will display "folder.DemNews"
Options available:
Auto copy - automatically rename the DemNews file into
!News.news with a unique name (eg 150994)
Auto Index - automatically save the index generated with
the newsfile, so that the index does not have
to be calculated again (and read/unread articles
are stored).
2. Double click on the newsfile that you wish to load,
The main window will open, and an hourglass will be
displayed for a short while and then the list of groups
will be displayed in the top window.
3. Select {Iconbar menu} ⇨Create User and type in your alias
name and the location of your sig file. (Press RETURN on
the Sig file field)
4. Select {Iconbar menu} ⇨User ⇨{your user alias}
this selects you as the main user
5. Select {Window menu} ⇨Options ⇨Site name and check that
your site name is set up correctly.
6. Select {Window menu} ⇨Options ⇨Save options to save
config file.
7. Select the group and article to read by double clicking
on them.
8. In article mode use Ctrl-N for the next article and Ctrl-P
for the previous article.
9. To post a reply to an article, press the menu button, and
select "Post Reply".
When the window appears, cut out any quoted lines that you
do not wish to quote and type in your follow up text.
Then
A) If using a ExtEdit aware editor (it will say
(News).Post.Article at the top of the editor window)
then close the window and reply "Save" to the
Save,Discard,Cancel query.
Otherwise
B) If a "Drag here" window appears, then drag the
save icon into the "Drag here" window.
10. To post an entirely new article, then press the menu button
and select "Post", fill in the relevant fields in the header
(Newsgroups, Subject, and Organisation), the text and then
save as in step (4).
11. To view articles with/without headers then press the menu
button, and select {Window menu}⇨Options ⇨ Headers".
Copyright (Completely Public Domain)
=========
This program is copyright Timothy Kimber 1994
Permission is given to distribute this program in any form and
by any medium (ie ftp, public domain company, cover disk, etc).
Permission is given to use any algorithms or insights gained
by looking at the program (Not likely :-)
Permission is given to copy any code fragments for use in your
own programs, as long as the fragment is labeled as being
written by me.
Permission is given to modify this program in any way
*FOR YOUR OWN USE ONLY*
PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN TO RELEASE A NEW COPY IN ANY FORM
If you modify the program to fix bugs or to introduce useful
new features, then please send a copy to me, and I will
integrate it with any other improvements and release a new
version.
Unfortunately I cannot accept any responsibility for any
losses incurred by using this program. (although I haven't
suffered any losses (except hair, time and sleep) after using
it for 4 weeks :-)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy Kimber 2nd November 1994
Please contact me with any bug reports, suggestions for
improvements or ideas for new programs, or just to say how
useful you find this program :-)
I can be contacted at :-
Term time :
ceetnk@caledonia.hw.ac.uk
(mid September - mid December
mid January - beginning of April
beginning of May - end of June)
239 (2F1) Dalry Road
Edinburgh
EH11 2JG
All other times :
tim@mobius.demon.co.uk
2 Belvedere Close
Fleet
Hants
GU13 8JP
{end}