

                                  ECHOLIST
                        The Echomail Conference List
                                 ELIST FAQ
10 Oct 98                                                    ELFAQ810.TXT


The Echobase Echolist Robot
echolist 1:1/21    elistin@fablotz.min.net
October 10, 1998

The Echolist Robot is now maintained by Thom LaCosta.

The Robot is now listed in the Fido Nodelist as Echolist 1:1/21

On July 15 and July 16, echo information that was NOT submitted by
moderators was imported into the echobase database from the previous
Zone 1 Echolist.  

The following information details changes to the echobase software and
other items of interest to Echolist users.

||ECHOTAG EXPIRATION
||Echo Tag Listings in the Echobase database will expire 6 months from
||the update date in the lastupdated field.  Upon expiration, the tags
||will be deleted from the database during periodic maintenance.

||MODERATOR UPDATE MESSAGES ON HOLD
||Moderators may elect to have their confirmation messages placed on
||hold at 1:1/21.  Due to space contraints, these messages may be
||deleted if not picked up within two weeks of generation.  It is
||STRONGLY suggested that moderators who have placed their confirmations
||on hold poll 1:1/21 no later than 3 days after making their submissions.

MESSAGE REJECTION
The reasons for rejection of update messages are listed below, with
the most common appearing first:

1. Incorrect Abbreviations - While most abbreviations used with the
   official Zone 1 Robot are accepted, the major difference is the
   TITLE of the echo.  The Echobase Robot expects an abbreviation of
   TITL, rather than TIT .

2. Insufficient information - TAG, TITLe, MODerator, PASSword and
                             DESC are the minimum requirements.

3. Incorrect address for Robot - ECHOLIST, ECHOBASE are the only
                                 "names" that the Echobase Robot
                                 recognizes at 1:1/21

NON FIDO(OTHERNETS SUBMISSIONS)
   The Echobase Robot accepts submissions from non-Fido addressed
   moderators.  The response messages are placed on hold at
   1:261/1352

SUBMISSIONS VIA EMAIL
   The Echobase Robot and a companion application authored by
   Thom LaCosta process incoming email messages sent to
   elistin@fablotz.min.net, a gateway system hosted by 1:261/1352

   The email messages should be in the form of a netmail submitted
   message, with the requirement that the first line of the
   email text body contains
   FROM the_email_address
   TAG  the echotag
   The remainder of the lines can be in any order.

   ||In certain instances the gateway in use at fablotz.min.net
   ||may split long rule files in such a way that the complete
   ||rule file is not included in the rule file area.  Moderators
   ||are encouraged to check their rule file in ELRULxxx.ZIP to
   ||insure their entry is correct.  Should there be a problem,
   ||please contact the Echolist Keeper at the addresses listed
   ||below.

   A sample submission message is included in ECHOBASE.HLP

ANNOUNCEMENTS
   Echo announcements from the Echobase Robot are presently posted
   in the ECHOLIST echo.  Discussions pertaining to the Echolist
   and the software in use may be made in ELIST.

SUBMISSION TOOL
   A companion application, designed to assist in automating moderator
   submissions to the robot at 1:261/1352 and the official Zone 1
   Echolist, and other robots using the same submission criteria is
   available for File Request at 1:261/1352 with the magic name of ECHOMOD
   and the file name of EMOD215.ZIP.  The file can also be acquired via
   the World Wide Web.

WORLD WIDE WEB
   A webpage specializing in the Robot and associated matters may be
   accessed at http://www.baltimoremd.com/elist/
   Visitors may download EMOD215.ZIP, ECHOHELP.ZIP and view sample 
   Echolists in HTML format, a sample .na file, and view a help file
   designed for moderators wishing to make submissions to the 
   Echobase Robot.

HELP FILES
   The moderator help file for the Echobase Robot can be File Requested
   from 1:261/1352 with the magic name of ECHOHELP and the file name
   of ECHOHELP.ZIP.  The file is identical to the documentation file
   contained in EMOD215.ZIP

Thom LaCosta 1:1/21
hon@baltimoremd.com
Home of The Other Robot