PC & Mediji 1996 July/PCM_9607.iso/internet/netscout/fhelp.txt

Text File | 1996-01-02 | 8KB | 193 lines

This is an overview of NetScout. For more details, see the
accompanying documentation in the files SCOUT.TXT (a text file) or
SCOUT.DOC (a Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0 file).


Contents

- What Does NetScout Do?
- How to Use NetScout
- Where to Obtain The Library Lists that NetScout Can
  Search
- How to Obtain the Full-Feature Version of NetScout

1. What Does NetScout Do?

This program is an off-line Browser of some of the most powerful lists
that are available on the Internet. The lists make up a database of tens
of thousands of resources available for research, entertainment, or general
information. Topics can cover anything from television shows to particle
physics. By obtaining the lists, and then browsing them off-line with
NetScout, you can find information much more easily, and at much less
expense, than conducting a search "on-line".

Once you have located the desired resources using NetScout, you can then use
your Internet Service to go directly to the resource - be it subscribing to
a maillist, accessing a site, or one of many other resources.

The lists themselves are very long. Short versions are included along with
this program to allow you to evaluate NetScout. Instructions are
provided further on for how to obtain the full content versions of the files,
at no charge, directly off the Internet.

When you purchase NetScout, you will receive an updated version of the
program. You will also receive a courtesy copy of the latest version
of all the Internet lists it supports.


2. How To Use NetScout

Operation is straightforward. You select the resource
library lists you wish to scan, by clicking the button
(on/off) adjacent to each. The library lists are described
in the next chapter.

Then select from 1 to 3 keywords to search for. You may
select (via a button click) if you wish to capture entries
that contain all the keyword ("and" logic) or any of the
keywords ("or" logic).

You may set a maximum number of "finds" that the program
will limit itself to. This can be a timesaver to prevent
spending a lot of time on a poor choice of keyword that
results in many entries being selected.  (You can also click
the "STOP" button at any time to stop a lengthy search.) For
example, if you were to include the keyword "PC" with "or"
logic, you would probably find far too many irrelevant
entries being found.

All entries which  match the keyword criteria are stored in
an output text file. You can save the search crireia and the
results of the search in ouput files. One the menu bar,
select "FILE" and drop down to "SAVE AS" to save the current
search. The search results are stored as a plain text file
FILENAME.OUT which can be viewed or otherwise used by any
Word Processor program. The search conditrions themselves
are saved in a special format file FILENAME.DAT - don't try
to examine it.

All the normal word-processor-like functions of  OPEN, SAVE,
SAVE AS, CLOSE, NEW, and PRINT may be employed.

Clicking the "RUN" button starts a search. A window
indicates that the program is "BUSY" until the search is
over. The number of matching entries is also displayed.

Once you have conducted a search, you can scan the
individual entries by pressing the "VIEW" button. With the
"PRINT" button you can send the currently viewed entry to
your printer. The "NEXT" button steps you through more
entries. Clicking "STOP" ends the Viewing.

When viewing resource descriptions, the bar at the bottom of
the screen gives specific instructions for how to use your
Internet Service to access the listed resource.

You can enter choices for an additional search, or click
"NEW" to clear all selections


3.  Where to obtain the Library Lists

NetScout works with several library lists that are easily available
off the Internet. Due to space considerations, only a sampling of the
lists is supplied along with this evaluation copy of the program. However, you
can easily obtain the full lists themselves following the directions below.
In order for your downloaded  versions of the lists to work with
NetScout, each only needs to be combined into a single file (if
downloaded in multiple parts) and given the filename indicated below.


Name:   Publicly_Accessible_Mailing_Lists
Description:   List of Maillists on the Internet
        Lists contact procedure and gives a brief description of
        subject for each of 1000 maillists available on the Internet.
Size:     660 KBytes non-compressed
Location: anonymous FTP server rtfm.mit.edu path /pub/usenet-
          by-group/news.lists;  filename Publicly_Accessible_Mailing_Lists
          (14 or more parts). Also re-posted periodically in newsgroup
          news.announce.newusers.
Usage :   Combine all parts into one file and rename "maillist.txt"

Name:   LISTSERV.TXT
Description:   List of Bitnet Discussion Groups on the Internet/Bitnet
               Gives a brief description of subject for each of 500+
               maillists available on Bitnet, a network related to the
               Internet. This is a different list from MAILLIST.TXT
Size:   600K Bytes non-compressed
Location: Send a mail message to [e-mail]. In the body of
          the message, have the single entry "list global" (without the
          quotation marks). Leave the subject field blank .
Usage:  rename as "listserv.txt"


Name:   List_of_Active_Newsgroups
Description: List of all active news groups. Gives newsgroup
             name and one-line description.
Size:   Approx. 96 Kbytes non-compressed
Location : anonymous FTP server rtfm.mit.edu path
           /pub/usenet-by-group/news.lists
           filename List_of_Active_Newsgroups (2 parts)
Usage :   Combine all parts into one file and rename "newslist.txt"


Name:   ftp-sitelist.txt
Description:   Comprehensive list of all known FTP servers world-wide.
Size:   1 MB non-compressed
Location :     Anonymous FTP server rtfm.mit.edu path
        /pub/usenet/new.answers/ftp-list/sitelist/part**
        (17 parts at present and growing)
Usage :   Combine all parts into one file and rename "ftplist.txt"


Name:   List of Periodic Informational Postings
Description:   A list of FAQs archived at a key resource
Size:   630 KBytes non-compressed
Location :     Anonymous FTP server rtfm.mit.edu path
          /pub/usenet/news.answers/periodic-postings/.
Usage :   Combine all parts into one file and rename "faqlist.txt"


4. How to Order NetScout

This is an evaluation copy of NetScout. If you use it for more
than ten days, you must pay for your copy.  Upon payment, you will
receive a registration of the program and, if ordered, a complete
set of the most current versions of the library lists.

                            NetScout Order Form
                            -------------------
          Fill in the information below, and mail with a check or money
          order for

           ___ $ 9.95 for NetScout Program Registration alone.
       or
           ___ $19.95 for NetScout Program plus Complete Set Of List Files

       or
           ___ $39.95 for NetScout Program Plus One Year Subscription
               of List Files (Updated Quarterly)


          Send to ;
                           Minuteman Systems
                           P.O. Box 152
                           Belmont, MA. 02178


          Name __________________________________________
      Company:___________________________________________

      Land Mail:
        Street _______________________Apt\MailStop_______
        City/Town ________________ State__ ZipCode_______
        Tele - Business:____________  Home:______________

      Electronic Addresses:
      AOL :________________  Compuserve:_________________
      Internet: __________________Other:_________________



          Media :  ___ 5.25" floppy   ___  3.5" micro-floppy