NewsMonger 1.01 README.TXT 10 Dec 1996 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. WHAT IS NewsMonger? 1.1 Introducing NewsMonger 1.2 What does NewsMonger Do? 2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 3. SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3.1 Evaluation Package Contents 3.2 Installation Instructions 3.3 Uninstall Instructions 4. STARTING NewsMonger 5. GETTING HELP 5.1 Using On-line Help 5.2 NewsMonger Support 5.3 NewsMonger E-Mail Feedback Function 6. RELEASE HISTORY 7. KNOWN PROBLEMS OR LIMITATIONS 8. REGISTERING NewsMonger 8.1 Registration Instructions 8.2 Using CompuServe's SWREG Forum ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. WHAT IS NewsMonger? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.1 Introducing NewsMonger TechSmith Corporation’s NewsMonger agent for Microsoft Windows 95 & NT provides for complete monitoring of the Internet’s largest source of new information, the USENET news service. NewsMonger provides for multiple searches, scheduling and e-mail notification as postings matching your criteria are discovered. While dozens of programs are available to search and catalog web sites, TechSmith’s NewsMonger is the first full-featured commercial agent to focus on the Internet’s USENET news service. NewsMonger works with the AltaVista search engine to provide a complete audit of the contents of all newsgroups. Of course, your search criteria can limit matches to specified newsgroups or exclude postings to inappropriate newsgroups. After creating and scheduling your searches, you can continue with your other tasks -- NewsMonger will notify you or the appropriate person when a message meeting your criteria is discovered. 1.2 What does NewsMonger Do? o Constructs and refines the search query, or allows you to directly create the query. o Supports dozens of queries and thousands of matching postings. o Searches USENET newsgroups for each of your active queries, using Digital’s AltaVista engine, on demand, or as scheduled by you. o Removes duplicate postings and identifies new submissions. o Sends immediate notification via e-mail when new postings matching your criteria are discovered. o Provides direct viewing of the selected messages. You can also view them with your web browser or e-mail client. o Compose and send e-mail or post newsgroup replies directly from NewsMonger. Or use your web browser or e-mail client to reply. o Automatically reschedules queries that could not be executed because of an interruption in service or non-permanent (dial-up) connection. o Works with network firewall proxies and supports HTTP 1.1 proxy atuhentication. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. NewsMonger SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS --------------------------------------------------------------------- In order to run NewsMonger, you must have the following: o A PC compatible system that meets the minimum hardware requirements of Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 95 o Microsoft Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows NT 3.51 o A permanent or dial-up connection to the Internet o A mouse or other pointing device o For printed output, a Windows-supported printer ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SETUP AND CONFIGURATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1 Evaluation Package Contents Included in the NewsMonger archive file are the following files: readme.txt This file. setup.exe NewsMonger installation program. Included in electronic distributions (.ZIP): file_id.diz Describes the contents of the archive file vendinfo.diz Product information for distributors. 3.2 Installation Instructions The NewsMonger installation program SETUP.EXE is a Microsoft Windows application. You must have Windows NT or Windows 95 installed prior to installing NewsMonger. To install NewsMonger, perform the following steps: 1. Start Windows, if you haven't already done so. 2. Insert the NewsMonger diskette into a floppy drive. For Windows 95 users: 3. From the Start menu, select Run For Windows NT users: 3. From the Program Manager menu bar, choose File, and select Run from the drop down menu. For all users: 4. In the dialog box, enter: a:\setup (If you are installing NewsMonger from a diskette drive other than the A drive, you will need to change the drive letter in the command line above.) 5. Click on the OK button. 6. Follow the instructions given on the installation screens. 3.3 Uninstall Instructions If after installing NewsMonger, you find it necessary to remove the software from your computer, perform the following steps: Uninstall instructions for Windows 95 1. Run the Windows 95 Control Panel 2. Open the Add/Remove Programs applet from Control Panel. 3. Select NewsMonger from the list of applications that can uninstalled by Windows. 4. Click on the Add/Remove button to uninstall NewsMonger. Uninstall instructions for Windows NT 1. Open the NewsMonger program group from Program Manager. 2. Double-click on the Uninstall NewsMonger Icon 3. Follow the instructions on the screen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. STARTING NewsMonger ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Normally, NewsMonger should be run in the background to make use of its search scheduling capabilities. This is easily accomplished by selecting the option to "Start NewsMonger when Windows starts" at the end of NewsMonger installation. This will add NewsMonger to the Windows Startup group, causing it ot be executed when Windows is started. This option is of most value if you have a permanent Internet connection. To manually start NewsMonger: In Windows 95 or NT 4.0, select the Start Menu and navigate to Programs->NewsMonger. Highlight the NewsMonger item and release the mouse button. In Windows NT 3.51, double-click on the NewsMonger icon in the group you selected to put NewsMonger in during installation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. GETTING HELP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1 Using NewsMonger's On-line Help NewsMonger's on-line Help system is compatible with the Windows Help subsystems. The NewsMonger Help file contains all of the information you'll need to use NewsMonger. To access NewsMonger Help, select Help from the NewsMonger menu bar, then Help Index from the drop-down menu. When you register NewsMonger, you will receive a software key that will disable the evaluation time-limit and remove all registration reminder screens. 5.2 NewsMonger Support TechSmith is committed to providing a reliable, high-quality product that is easy to use. If you have any problem installing or using NewsMonger, we want to know about it. You can contact TechSmith by mail, phone, or fax. TechSmith also provides electronic support through CompuServe, the World Wide Web and e-mail. TechSmith Corporation PO Box 4758 East Lansing, MI 48826-4758 USA E-Mail : newsmonger@techsmith.com WWW : http://www.techsmith.com/ FAX : 517-333-1888 Voice : 517-333-8389 ( 8-5 Eastern Time ) In any communication with TechSmith regarding a problem with NewsMonger, please clearly state the following: o The product name and version number. o Your name, address, e-mail address and telephone number. o Your hardware and software configuration. o A description of the problem, and what you were trying to do when the problem occurred. 5.3 NewsMonger E-Mail Feedback Function NewsMonger offers an easy, automated way to communicate problems, comments and suggestions back to TechSmith. The FeedBack node in tree view allows you to include NewsMonger system and search configuration information in an e-mail to TechSmith to assist in any technical support issues. Inclusion of this information is optional, but will greatly assist in diagnosing any problem. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. RELEASE HISTORY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- v1.00 96/11/18 Initial release for Windows NT and Windows 95. v1.01 96/12/10 Maintenance release - added option to wrap long lines for sent messages - added port field to HTTP proxy configuration - improved support for AltaVista mirror sites ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. KNOWN PROBLEMS OR LIMITATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Under Windows 95 the article view cannot display or print more than 60K of an article. This limitation does not apply to saving the article to a file. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. REGISTERING NewsMonger ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This program and its associated files are part of an evaluation package copyrighted by TechSmith Corporation. NewsMonger is not in the public domain. This program must be registered if it is used beyond the 45 day evaluation period. Single-User NewsMonger ---------------------- The single-user license price is $39.95 (USD). When you register NewsMonger, you have the option of requesting a registered version of the software on diskette or of requesting a software key to register the version you have. The software key immediately removes all registration reminder screens and evaluation expiration dates. Multi-User NewsMonger --------------------- The 10-user license price is $200.00 (USD). Registration entitles the licensed organization to install 10 copies of NewsMonger. A single diskette is shipped along with the multi-user license. 8.1 Registration Instructions 1. Select the NewsMonger program's Help menu. 2. Select How to Register from the menu. 3. Click on the Registration Form button. Enter your registration information in the fields provided. NOTE: You must specify a name or company name when you register. Your software key will be personalized for that name ONLY. Your key will NOT work if you change this name after you have sent in your registration. 4. When you are finished, select OK. This will create a text file called REGISTER.TXT in the NewsMonger default directory. This is your registration and order form. It includes a price sheet and your Product ID number. 5. Windows Notepad will now open REGISTER.TXT automatically, allowing you to edit and or print the registration form. While you are editing, please complete any blank items, including quantities, totals, and payment information. DO NOT EDIT THE PRODUCT ID NUMBER. NOTE: shipping charges are only applicable to diskette orders. 6. Return the registration form, with payment, to TechSmith Corporation by any of the methods described on the form. Upon receipt of your order, TechSmith will generate your diskette or software key. It will then be sent to you by the method of your choice, either e-mail, fax, postal delivery or other. If you have elected to receive a software key, use the following steps to complete the registration process. 7. Select the Help menu. 8. Select Enter Software Key from the menu. 9. Enter your registration key, exactly as it is shown, in the field provided. 10. Press OK. Your software is now registered! All the registration reminder screens and software expiration dates will be removed. If you have any additional questions or comments, contact TechSmith by e-mail at NewsMonger@techsmith.com. 8.2 CompuServe SWREG Forum You may also register NewsMonger using the Shareware Registration Forum on CompuServe (GO SWREG). SWREG Single-User #xxxx SWREG Multi-User #xxxx ( Please check with TechSmith for SWREG activation date and codes) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TechSmith is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. If you have a concern with any shareware product which you not been able to resolve with an ASP member, please write to this address: ASP Ombudsman 545 Grover Road Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA TechSmith Corporation PO Box 4758 East Lansing, MI 48826-4758 USA 517-333-2100 x180 (tel) 517-333-1888 (fax) WWW URL: http://www.techsmith.com/ Thanks for your interest in NewsMonger. TechSmith Corporation