*** Internet Resources Database *** The ultimate guide to what's available on the Internet ___________________________________________ ===> Readme for IRD data files<====== __________________________________________ Content: ------------ 1. About this file 2. How to append the information in this file to your Internet Resources Database 3. Updating with compact fast loading "Update files" 4. IRD - Reader & Notebook program and the complete database with more than 19.000 sites now also available on disks. 5. Where to find other IRD Files in CompuServe 6. About the Internet Resources Database project 7. Disclaimer --------------------------------------- 1. About this file --------------------------------------- Datafiles for the Internet Resources Database are distributed either as files with the extension: IRD or as selfextracting archive files (extension .EXE). (Update files have the extension .UPD see under # 3) The selfextracting archive files contain one IRD datafile and this Readme document. ====>>> Note: <<<==== IRD datafiles can be o n l y used with the IRD - Reader & Notebook program. The "IRD - Reader & Notebook" is a powerful database information system and allows you to build your *customized* Internet database pertinent with your interests. You also get a easy to use Notebook which allows you to store all the information you want to keep, even complete WWWpages for a quick retrieval. If you do not have the "IRD -Reader & Notebook" please download this program. You find it most likely where you got this file or always at: ftp://ftp.mbmarktcons.com/pub/mbmarkt/ird/ird-r&nb.exe or via the IRD Webpage at: http://www.mbmarktcons.com/mbmarkt/irdhome.html ------------------------------------------ 2. How to append the information in this file to your Internet Resources Database ------------------------------------------ Copy the file with the extension IRD i.e. Maillist.ird to the "APPEND" directory in your IRD installation directory i.e. C:\IRD\APPEND. Start the IRD program and select "Data Im- / Export" and "Append a IRD database file". Follow the instructions. ===> IMPORTANT: The space needed for appending a IRD Database file is app.: Filesize of the exe or .ird file mulitplied by 10 !! I.e. if a File is 400 Kbytes you need temporary 4 Mbytes free space on your hard disk. After appending is completed app. half of this space will become available because the decompressed "append" database will be deleted. There are numerous other IRD datafiles available for your Internet Resources Database. Files are available by resource type and by subject. All datafiles are updated on a regular bases and new subject files are added constantly. Your database can be expanded or updated at any time by appending new datafiles. This file is Freeware and can be copied and distributed as long as the file remains unchanged and is always accompanied with this "Readme.txt" file. -------------------------------------- 3. Updating with compact fast loading "Update files" -------------------------------------- Once you have build your IRD database you can use compact, fast loading IRD "Update files" to add just information that is new or to update information that has changed. Update files (extension .upd) are available for all files by "type of resources" and for all files "by subjects" where the IRD database file is growing bigger as 125 Kbytes. (app. 1 min download with 14.4 bps) I. e.: To stay current on all Mailing Lists does not need to reload a new file 1.5 Mbytes big, but can be done with a very fast loading "update file". After updating with a update file all new entries added with this file are summarized for you. The names for the selfextracting archive files holding "Update files" beginn with "U" (i.e. unewsgrp.exe) --------------------------------------- 4. Ird - Reader & Notebook program and complete database with more than 19.000 sites now also available on disks. --------------------------------------- If you want to have the IRD - Reader & Notebook a n d the complete Internet Resources Database, but do not want to spend the time and money to download all the files (3.25 Mbytes) from Compuserve or the IRD ftp site, you can now order the complete package on three 3.5" floppy disks. (Registered version) The price is US$ 35 plus shipping & handling To order via CompuServe, GO SWREG and register ID# 8321 or point your browser to the IRD registration/order page on the WWW http://www.mbmarktcons.com/mbmarkt/register.htm -------------------------------------- 5. Where to find IRD in CompuServe. --------------------------------------- In CompuServe you can find the complete IRD database in form of six "by resource type" files. This files are: FTPsites.EXE Gophers.EXE Newsgrp.EXE Maillist.EXE Telnet.EXE WWWpages.EXE All this files can be found i.e. in the Internet Resources Forum GO INETRESOURCES in Library # 7 "Where to find..." The current version of the IRD - Reader & Notebook program is also available for downloading in this forum. ALL IRD files are updated every month or two and the new version will be available in this and some other CS forums. You can update your database any time by appending a new file. (Also you can use "Update files" see under # 3) IRD files are also available by subject. I.e. Music.EXE, Sport.EXE etc. Some of this files can be found in various Compuserve forums. We do not provide all "by subject" files via Compuserve. For access to all available files you can use the Compuserve FTP function. Go FTP, select "Access a specific site" and enter the site name: ftp.mbmarktcons.com and the directory: /pub/mbmarkt/ird Another very convenient way to access the IRD files is via the IRD World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: http://www.mbmarktcons.com/mbmarkt/irdhome.htm --------------------------------------- 6. About the Internet Resources Database project. --------------------------------------- THE GOAL: ---------------- The Internet is extremely vast and changes very fast. The goal of the Internet Resources Database is to give you detailed and up to date information on where to find the information you need, before you dial up and do costly and frustrating internet site hopping. THE CONCEPT: ---------------------- Become more efficient at searching for needed information off-line and update your database with the information you need online. Minimize overall bandwidth use and expensive on-line "connect" time. Benefit from - and participate in - an information system where you will profit from the inputs of fellow users, which serves to constantly increase the value of your Internet Resources Database. An offline Internet search tool does not mean getting your hard disk jammed with Megabytes of useless information. The Internet Resources Database structures the information into data files by subject, by resource type and into country or region specific data files. Every user can selectively download those files which are of interest to him or her and update the database on his PC with the most current information. THE SOFTWARE: ------------------------ The IRD software is an easy to use and easy to setup Windows application, that gives you powerful search and notebook functions. A comfortable appending feature lets you build a database according to your interests and allows easy updating with new files without losing any of the information you have stored in the Notebook or any of the notes you have made to entries in your database. THE ORGANIZATION: ------------------------------ The IRD project is built on its users. We encourage all of you to submit new site information and to report changes to be included in the database files for the advantage of all. Imagine what a powerful information tool you will have at your hand; one that allows you to benefit from the inputs of all the other users with similar interests than you and vice versa. We further count on a crew of voluntary moderators screening and organizing the information related to "their" database file, much like the responsibilities of a newsgroup moderator. To keep all IRD users up to date of changes and new file releases, we provide an infrastructure of World Wide Web site, FTP site, InfoServer and Mailing List information. We encourage everybody to distribute the software as well as the database files on disk, by uploading IRD to their local server or BBS, etc. THE CONTENT: --------------------- The Internet holds a lot of information. By dividing it into hundreds of different subject files this information becomes very manageable for IRD users. IRD users, the moderators and the IRD coordination team will see that the following principles shall be applied to all our information: 1) We want to give up to date information. This means we focus on sites that are stable and likely to stay for a while. We do not want to compete with sites portraying events of only a temporary nature. We will update all IRD files on a regular basis. 2) We value content more than numbers. Our focus is to provide high quality, subject oriented information. We do not aim to have the highest number of resources listed, but the quality and focused nature of our information is unparalleled. Furthermore, we do not compete with the popular web search engines. They provide information in a different way. 3) There are also unmoderated files for private homepages, business pages and misc. topics. They will be worth a look...often a hidden gemstone could be found among these web sites. Take a surf and enjoy! THE RULES: ----------------- 1) We set no limit on the number of people who want to open up and moderate a subject area or topic file within our database, as long as they are meeting our set of rules and it is not a commercial file. We do not censor or make decisions on content based on religious or ethical questions, leaving it up to our users to download or not. 2) Everybody can distribute the IRD files and the software for non profit purposes and if the content remains unchanged. We appreciate and support regional and national distribution. 3) All database files are copyrighted Freeware, but the IRD Reader & Notebook software is Shareware. After the initial evaluation period, we ask you to register the IRD - Reader & Notebook program if you like it and decide to continue using it. The registration fee makes up for the expenses to improve the software, to enhance the content of the Internet Resources Database files available for you and to maintain the organization. THE SPIRIT: ----------------- 1) Although this project is rather young, we have come a long way since its inception. As many thousand people from around the world are discovering, the current version of IRD is a very valuable tool for all users. But we are strongly committed to constantly improving the software, so we ask for any and all comments and suggestions from all users. 2) As with all software programs, some minor bugs or missing features that users desire may be discovered over the next few months. We ask for your cooperation and support in letting us know of any problems and desired futures so that we can rapidly improve the program and the Internet Resources Database. 3) IRD is a team effort. Please spread the word about this Internet information system. The quality of content increases with the number of users. We hope you enjoy using the Internet Resources Database. --------------------------------------- 7. Disclaimer --------------------------------------- Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet it is impossible to guarantee the accuracy of the information in this file. Internet Resources are coming and going all the time. (This is one reason why you will benefit from using the IRD - Reader and Notebook as your Internet Notebook and Guide ;-) ) The information given in this file is provided at no cost and without any warranty or liability from our side. The IRD database files are copyrighted to: Martin Bohnet Markt Consulting KG, Im Hirtenstein 17, D-65510 Huenstetten, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)6126 93100 Fax: +49 (0)6126 93107 E-mail: mbohnet@mbmarktcons.com, Compuserve: 100045,3651 WWW: http://www.mbmarktcons.com/mbmarkt/irdhome.html ® Copyright 1994-1996