After spending quite some time unsuccessfully attempting to get the listserver to produce a data base search of the parkinsn data base [using the "job stream" format found in a recent post], I was about to give up, figuring that some sort of "system incompatibility" was thwarting my efforts. But rather than give in, I took the bull by the horns, and through tenacity [my 13 year old calls it "brute force"] and information gleaned from scanning hard copies of various listserver manuals strewn haphazardly at my side, I managed to stumble on a "job stream" that actually worked for me. Here it is, for any of you having a similar problem communicating with the machine: ======================SNIP================== // JOB Echo=Yes Database Search DD=Rules //Rules DD * SEARCH Q-10 in parkinsn INDEX SEARCH NADH in parkinsn since November INDEX /* ======================SNIP================== This is, in reality, a modification of the excellent example given by John Cottingham on 13 Nov 1995 [Subject: Finding information in Parkinson Archives by E-mail 11/1l/95]. The first three lines, as well as the last line, should be typed exactly as shown. [The "Echo=Yes" in the first line makes it easier for me to interpret the output by printing the commands in the output file - John uses an "Echo=No" to suppress such information - choose for yourself!] The line pairs beginning SEARCH and INDEX: (1) actually define what you're looking for [SEARCH], and (2) tell the listserver to show you a tabular INDEX of the "hits" [John C. uses the listserver synonym "SELECT", which does the same thing as "SEARCH" - either will work - and he puts SELECT and INDEX on one line]. Notice in my example that two different searches were conducted - one for items containing the string "Q-10" [no time limit], and one for items containing reference to "NADH",but only if posted since November 1 of this year. Two files are generated by this job. One contains a resource utilization report [computer time to do the job], and can be ignored [it's called 'Output from your job xxxxxxxx", where "xxxxxxxx" is your user id]. The second file, referred to in the "Subject field" of your mailbox as: File: "DATABASE OUTPUT" actually has the info that is desired. Using the above job stream, the following was produced: > SEARCH Q-10 in parkinsn --> Database PARKINSN, 6 hits. > INDEX Item # Date Time Recs Subject ------ ---- ---- ---- ------- 002023 95/03/01 12:13 1568 Enclosures - Alzheimer's research 002752 95/04/24 09:05 309 Newsletter 002785 95/04/27 22:41 525 PARKINSN Digest - 23 Apr 1995 to 24 Apr 1995 006532 95/11/06 11:30 109 NADH\SOMEWHAT TECHNICAL... 006553 95/11/07 06:54 103 CoEnzyme Q-10/Thanks Delana! 006555 95/11/07 07:32 45 NADH [Q-10] P.S. > SEARCH NADH in parkinsn since November --> Database PARKINSN, 58 hits. > INDEX Item # Date Time Recs Subject ------ ---- ---- ---- ------- 006446 95/11/02 11:06 38 Hello and Introduction 006451 95/11/02 13:29 49 Re: Hello out there... need advice for a new Parki+ ... ... most edited to keep this e-mail small. ... 007070 95/11/25 10:02 66 Re: NADH=Q10?? + MORE 007089 95/11/26 20:24 12 Re: NADH in N.Z.different? 007144 95/11/28 11:47 34 UPF Newsletter For info on the meaning of the various items in the output file, as well as a tutorial on how to get at the actual files listed in the output, see John's excellent post mentioned above. An important point of order - send the data base search job to the listserver at: [log in to unmask] Otherwise all 1000+ of us will get to see your query! Jim "So what if I can't do 2000 things anymore - just think of all the extra time I have to do the 1799 things I still can do!" jea [ INTERNET e-mail: ] [log in to unmask] -or- [log in to unmask] (for those of you who hate typing like me)