X-Envelope-to: biosph-l@UBVM.BITNET
X-VMS-To: IN%"biosph-l@ubvm"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.biosph-l
Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 1992 09:44:00 EST
Reply-To:     DannyK <DKALLIN@CLARKU.BITNET>
From:         DannyK <DKALLIN@CLARKU.BITNET>
Subject:      Searching the archives ATTN: BUCKNELL STUDENTS

Date sent:  6-NOV-1992 09:34:14
Regarding research techniques......
The discussion lists have an abundance of info available. I am sure thiis is
why many instructers are having their students use them as a resource. I wish
they would inform them a little better about some of the nettiquite
and tools available.
One of the key tools is the ability to search the archives. This will provide
some background info if the topic has evr been discussed and help you to form
pertinent questions.

You should also check the fileserver for any FAQs. Do this by sending the
command:    INDEX  Listname
to the LISTSERV  which hosts the list   e.g listserv@ubvm
      ^^^^^^^^^^

Tracy Logan put together this tutorial for searching listserv archives.

:  in the following, you would say e.g. "select PCB in BIOSPH-L"
             and mail/send the script to LISTSERV@UBVM
                                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


===================================================================
INSTANT DB:  Using the LISTSERV database software   -- Tracy Logan

The idea is to build little scripts, and send them to the server
you are interested in.  The script format is rigid, and I don't
know the rules, but here is one that worked.  I was looking for
any references to the computer language LOGO in the HUMANIST logs.

//      JOB   Echo=No
Database Search DD=Rules
//Rules DD    *
select logo in humanist
index
/*

Sent off to LISTSERV@BROWNVM, where humanist is parked, that found me
some 30 hits; Humanist sent back this (edited some):

> select logo in humanist
--> Database HUMANIST, 32 hits.
> index
Item #   Date   Time  Recs   Subject
------   ----   ----  ----   -------
001368 89/02/25 18:14  779   biographies, 17th supplement (778)
001379 89/02/27 19:48   36   missing person; cheer for the Rahtz (35)
001383 89/02/28 19:44   77   a logo for Humanists (76)
001402 89/03/07 19:15   36   logo, with subtext (35)
001637 89/05/01 22:20  516   schedule for the software fair (515)

I wanted to see if 1368, 1383 and 1402 were really about LOGO, the rest
seemed unlikely.  So I sent back this:

//      JOB   Echo=No
Database Search DD=Rules
//Rules DD    *
select logo in humanist
print all 1368 1383 1402
/*

Some of the databases allow you to work with fields, etc, this
one not, I guess.  Vast documentation is available, I try to not
print out on paper such vastness, tho the practice keeps me
ignorant.  To get the documentation, use the command SENDME
LISTDB MEMO, sent to I imagine any listserv (LEHIIBM1 has it).
From the documentation you'll learn that the database commands
are a full set of powerful information retrieval tools.

I have found  VMS MAIL and SEND/FILE both work for all these
interactions, and I presume the similar VM commands will do just
as nicely.

PS: there are interactive ways to do retrieves, using VM or VMS
programs.  I find one wastes a lot of time waiting, or a node is
down, so in THIS case the batch job seems a superior way.  If you
are at or near the listserv node you are interrogating and/or
have extremely complicated searching algorithms, etc.,



DannyK
DKALLIN@VAX.CLARKU.EDU
DKALLIN@CLARKU.BITNET

interactive might be superior for you.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU