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Europa Chat Message Database

Subject: Europa Chat Message Database
From: Peter.Thomas@burton.co.uk
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 10:53:26
     Thanks to Rowland and Tony for reminding me about the archived 
     messages. 
     
     It was obvious as soon as I posted the original dBase III file that it 
     would be immediately out of date. Also the task of refreshing it every 
     month would soon become a drag. There was also the assumption that 
     people had the tools and the skill to set up a database to make it 
     useful. 
     
     To overcome the problems described above I have written a simple stand 
     alone database that overcomes the problems described above. It's 
     called eurochat.zip and can be found at ftp.avnet.co.uk  (pub/europa).
     
     It runs on Windows 3.1/95/NT. (Sorry no Mac version Rowland, but then 
     I don't think you would need it <g>)
     
     Like the message archive before it it strips out all the e-mail header 
     info. However, it adds a sorting and searching facility that makes it 
     very easy to search for information. You can also edit the messages to 
     tidy them up or even delete them totally.
     
     I had given it to about 6 beta testers (real Europa builders) several 
     months ago and as they have not got back to me I can only assume it is 
     relatively bug free or they don't use it ! Remember, there is no such 
     thing as bug free software. 
     
     One word of warning it is big ! Approx. 2.2 meg so you will need a 
     fast connection or BT shares to download it. It is big because it 
     includes all messages to June. 
     
     That's all for now, please e-mail me, Peter Thomas at 
     100335.3566@compuserve.com if you have any problems to report or 
     requests for enhancements. 
     
     Good Luck
     
     Pete
     
     PS. The list was one year old last month. Happy Birthday and thanks 
     again Monu.
     
     PPS. Below are the readme instructions to give you a bit more 
     information before you decide to download it.....
     
     PPPS. After unzipping it just run setup.exe
     
     
     PLEASE READ ALL THESE INSTRUCTIONS !!!! 
     
     (1) How To Import
     
     In order to use this system you first need to IMPORT the archived 
     e-mail messages. There are well over 1000 included with this setup 
     disc. To import them you should click the Import button above. You 
     will then be presented with a file open dialogue. Open the RAWDATA 
     directory. You should then  see a list of the monthly archived 
     messages. Select the month you wish to import, one at a time and click 
     OK.
     
     The system will then import all the messages into the Europa Chat 
     database. When doing so, all the e-mail header information will be 
     removed just leaving relevant information.
     
     Each month you can request the AVnet computer to send you updates by 
     sending an e-mail to the request address. europa-request@avnet.co.uk). 
     The subject does not matter but the body of the message should 
     contain...
     
     get europa europa.YYMM     (where YY = the year and MM = month)
     
     For example to request messages for June 96, send....
     
     get europa europa.9606
     
     Save the returned file as euro9606.msg in the raw data directory and 
     then just import it as described above.
     
     
     (2) How To Sort
     
     Click the 'sort by' drop-down box and select the sequence you wish to 
     see the messages displayed in. Selecting this control will remove any  
     filters you have active.
     
     
     (3) How to Filter
     
     If you wish to search for a particular piece of text in ANY field 
     click the  filter button. Enter the text you wish to search for and in 
     which field then click OK. The system will then search every message 
     and display the subset of records that match the filter criteria.
     
     
     (4) How to Edit
     
     When no filters are active you can edit any message by double clicking 
     the row in the grid that contains the message you wish to edit. This 
     will allow you to tidy up messy e-mails and even delete them all 
     together. 
     
     
     (5) The splitter bar.
     
     Between the grid of message headers and the message text itself is a  
     splitter bar. By using the mouse it is possible to adjust how much of 
     each message you display. 
     
     
     (6) Nonsense license agreement.
     
     User Obligations.
     
     User assumes full responsibility that this program meets the 
     specifications, capacity, capabilities, and other requirements of said 
     user, and agrees  not to bother the author if the program does not 
     perform as expected, or  performs other than expected, or does not 
     perform at all. 
     
     User assumes full responsibility for any deaths or injuries that may 
     result from the normal or abnormal operation of this program. In the 
     event of  casualties exceeding 1000 persons or property damage in 
     excess of US$10 million, user agrees that he or she has stolen the 
     program and I didn't even know he or she had it.
     
     User agrees not to say bad things about the program or the author to 
     anyone claiming to be from "60 minutes".
     
     Limited Warranty.
     
     For a period of 90 seconds, commencing from the time you first thought 
     about getting this program, I warrant that this program may or may not 
      be free of any manufacturing defects. It will be replaced during the 
     warranty period upon payment of an amount equal to the original 
     purchase price plus  US$100 for handling. This warranty is void if the 
     program has been  examined or run by the user, or if the documentation 
     has been read.
     
     This program is distributed on an AS WAS basis. The author makes no 
     warranty that this is, in fact, what I say it is in my propaganda, or 
     that it will perform any useful function. I have no obligation 
     whatsoever other  than to provide you with this fine disclaimer. 
     
     Some countries do not allow limitations as to how long an implied  
     warranty lasts, so I refuse to imply anything.
     
     There is an extremely small but non-zero chance that, through a 
     process known as "tunnelling", this program may spontaneously  
     disappear from its present location and reappear at any random  place 
     in the universe, including your neighbours computer system.  The 
     author will not be responsible for any damages or inconvenience that 
     may result.
     
     Limitation of liability.
     
     I have no liability or responsibility to the user, the user's agents,  
     my creditors, your creditors, or anyone else.
     
     


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