I have to agree with Henry.  I thought the database was extremely useful for
us late comers to the list that needed to look to the archives for missed
info.  I was just getting the hang of it when the transition was made.  Onward.
Regards
Bill
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At 11:35 AM 4/15/96 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear John:
>I am one of those that will miss the listserv database. I also
>appreciate the fact that you have kept us so nicely informed.
>Are there any other databases re-PD which one can pull from.
>Sorry to loose the listserv service. I was shocked to see how
>few people used it.
>Thanks for your assistance,
>Henry Guttentag ([log in to unmask])
>
>
>You wrote:
>>
>>Since the 27th of March, when the Utoronto changed machines that the
>>Listserv ran on some changes have been noticed. While mailing to, and
>>receiving mail from the list has basically remained unchanged, some
>>traumatic changes have occurred also.
>>
>>Specifically, the index option for receiving a list of messages at the
>end
>>of the day, with an opportunity to order the ones you want to receive,
>is no
>>longer supported. This was an option that those receiving 'to much
>mail'
>>could use to pick and choose the topic of the day, of their choosing.
>This
>>option was also useful for those in countries that charge by the
>minute online.
>>
>>The author of the Listserv program has indicated that the index option
>will
>>return in future versions of the program....in the future.
>>
>>The database functions that we used the 'tools' for, are not present
>in the
>>flavors of Listserv that run on the various 'boxes', hosts
>institutions are
>>converting to. The newer, faster, cheaper machines use different
>operating
>>systems than the main frame and minis that Listserv was originally
>written
>>for. The old machines were on a common world-wide network called
>Bitnet.
>>This network will cease to exist after the end of this year. The
>Bitnet
>>world is changing to the internet style of addressing and traffic
>handling.
>>The old Listserv program expected the machine that was running
>Listserv to
>>be connected to the Bitnet network and sent all of the outgoing mail
>to a
>>'gateway' which was a Bitnet machine that was connected to not only
>Bitnet
>>but the internet. Internet mail then was sent directly to the
>recipient over
>>common carriers, from this 'gateway'. The new machines are connected
>>directly to the internet.
>>
>>WHAT WERE THE DATABASE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE?
>>
>>Previously every message sent to Parkinsn was indexed with a number
>and put
>>in the archives. Every message during a particular week was archived
>in log
>>file. The log files dated from the first message sent to the list to
>the
>>last. Each one of these log files was like a file cabinet.
>>
>>
>>HOW MANY MESSAGES DO THESE LOG FILES CONTAIN?
>>
>>Month       Messages/Month     AVG Message/Day
>>Feb 95           299                 10
>>Mar 95           432                 14
>>Apr 95           379                 13
>>May 95           486                 16
>>Jun 95           459                 15
>>Jul 95           592                 20
>>Aug 95           789                 26
>>Sep 95           776                 26
>>Oct 95           630                 21
>>Nov 95           778                 26
>>Dec 95           652                 22
>>Jan 96           727                 24
>>
>>The first six months in 1995 = 15
>>The last six months in 1995  = 25
>>
>>The length of these messages vary from 2 or 3 lines to 600 to 700
>lines.
>>Studies and articles in the archives average about the latter.
>>
>>Under the old Listserv program any thing and everything could be
>searched
>>using the 'tools'. Under the 'New' Listserv, you can only order
>individual
>>logfiles using the GET command sent to the listserv. Any searching
>will have
>>to be done once that file is on your machine. Special software will be
>>needed to index the words for specific searches. Ordering logfiles
>will
>>require longer times to download your mail which the logfiles are sent
>as.
>>
>>The reference works and studies in the archives will be on the most
>part
>>inaccessable to the bulk of the Parkinsn list subscribers.
>>
>>The gopher files which some searched online are not being maintained.
>The
>>machine on which these logfiles reside is due for retirement.
>>
>>Catching up on messages received while you had your subscription set
>to
>>nomail will be more difficult now. In order to see those messages you
>will
>>have to GET the applicable logfiles for that period.
>>
>>In short, things evolve. In terms of the heritage of the Parkinsn
>list, our
>>archives have been made inaccessable to many and more difficult to
>find the
>>proverbial 'needle in the haystack' for those who used to access them
>>regularly. The archives were accessed about 30 times a day by those
>who made
>>use of this resource.
>>
>>Statistically, only about 1% of the Parkinsn list members made use of
>the
>>archives and another 2 or 3% who ordered the studies and articles of
>the
>>"Current Topics...." message monthly. The author of Listserv and his
>>successor company, didn't consider the impact of eliminating the
>database
>>functions from Listserv ported to other machines would have on the
>research
>>community. Institutions license the software and therefore are the
>'end
>>user' rather than us, the 'real' end users. We had no voice, nor a
>seat at
>>the negotiating table. The author was real defensive when it was
>announced
>>by the researchers that 'the Emperor wore no clothes'.<grin>
>>
>>HOW WILL I GET BY WITHOUT THE ARCHIVES?
>>
>>Read your mail, save what interests you. Once you have deleted
>it....it will
>>be gone.
>>
>>Other avenues are being sought out.
>>
>>John Cottingham    "The parkinsn list brings Knowledge, Comfort, Hope,
>and
>>Homeboy             Friendship to the parkinsonian world."
>>LibraryH            Parkinson's Chat on the Undernet 8:30 PM CST -6
>Daily.
>>                    If you access the Internet through a provider with
>a
>>[log in to unmask]     PPP/SLIP account, free IRC chat software is
>available. WFD
>>
>
Best regards

Bill Bell
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