                           NNTPlink Version 3.0.2
                           ----------------------

Please read this note thoroughly and then proceed to the INSTALL file
for installation instructions.


NNTPlink is a news transmission client designed to replace nntpxmit.
Instead of invoking nntpxmit every <n> minutes you can start up nntplink
once and it will run until killed.  It keeps the connection to the remote
NNTP server open, only closing it after a specified amount of idle time
or after a specified number of articles have been offered to the remote
server.  It has 3 methods of retrieving the article information:

 o logfile - It will retrieve the necessary information from the
             logfile.  This is the most efficient since news updates
             the logfile with the information on which systems got
             which articles automatically.  (Please see the note on
             supported logfile formats later on in this message).

 o batchfile - It will retrieve the necessary information from the
               batchfile.  This isn't quite as efficient as the logfile
               or stdin modes.  This is the method used by nntpxmit.

 o stdin - It will retrieve the necessary information from <stdin>.
           This requires an agent to start it up as a child and
           send articles to it (ie: innd).

This version is now compatible with both B and C news batching.  Please
see the file THEORY for an explanation of the problems that used to plague
nntplink (and other transmission clients).


This version is also capable of reading "virgin" logfiles - you do not
need to install the supplied news patches (see the LOOKUP_ARTICLE option
in conf.h).  Please see the file THEORY for more information.


I've written a program called "links" (in sup/links) which takes care of
starting/restarting/stopping the nntplink processes.  Please see the file
"sup/README.LINKS" for more information.


                                              David Alden
                                              December 15th, 1991
---
Please send bug fixes/enhancements/suggestions to:
        alden@shape.mps.ohio-state.edu

There is a mailing list for people who use nntplink.  Patches and discussion
are sent to this list.  If you wish to be added to the list, just drop a
note to:
	linkers-request@shape.mps.ohio-state.edu

This is an unmoderated mailing list.  Submissions should be addressed to:
	linkers@shape.mps.ohio-state.edu

Archives of the list are available:
	shape.mps.ohio-state.edu[128.146.7.200]:/pub/nntplink/Linkers.archive
