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      A powerful echomail network information search and perusal engine
             written in Visual BASIC for DOS by William Padilla
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The ECHOmail DataBASE (EchoBase) is a highly flexible tool which can be used
to peruse echomail ConfList/NodeList information via a powerful cross-network
data management engine.  EchoBase is FREEWARE, and is (c) 1994 by William
Padilla.  You may use it free of charge, but distribution is prohibited.

               EXAMPLES OF ECHOBASE'S POWER AND USEFULNESS
               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EchoBase can answer any of the following example scenario questions, and will
present results based upon searches performed against either "all" or a
user-selectable subset of its supported echomail networks.  The following
echomail networks are supported: ILink, Intelec, U'ni-Net, and RIME.

1. "Which conferences have something to do with cars?"
2. "Which nodes are located in the 656 prefix of the 303 area code?"
3. "Which ILink nodes are located in cities starting with 'Glen'?"
4. "Which confs are hosted by someone (anyone) whose last name is 'Davis'?"
5. "Which nodes feature CD-ROMs?"
6. "Which nodes are run by a Sysop whose name contains the word 'John'?"
7. "Which conferences have a name which contains the string 'Admin'?"
8. "Which Intelec nodes are running Wildcat! software?"

               ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PULL-DOWN MENUING SYSTEM
               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    (File Menu)       (Networks)      ConfList Menu
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿   ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿  (Restriction Options)
³ Networks -------> ³³ ILink    ³   ³ Sort          ³ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ Context Switch    ³³ Intelec  ³   ³ Restrict ---> ³³ by Conference Name...  ³
³ Find...           ³³ U'ni-Net ³   ³ Go To         ³³ by Moderator's Name... ³
³ Exit              ³³ RIME     ³   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ³ by Moderator's BBS...  ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ                    ³ by Description...      ³
                                                     ³ by nothing (Show All)  ³
     NodeList Menu                                   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
   ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿    (Restriction Options)
   ³ Sort          ³ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
   ³ Restrict ---> ³³ by BBS Name...            ³
   ³ Go To         ³³ by State...               ³
   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ³ by City...                ³
                    ³ by Phone Number Prefix... ³
                    ³ by Sysop's Name...        ³
                    ³ by Software...            ³
                    ³ by Description...         ³
                    ³ by nothing (Show All)     ³
                    ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

                      HOW/WHERE TO DOWNLOAD ECHOBASE
                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By its very nature, the data which EchoBase manipulates is in an almost-
constant state of flux.  Each echomail network updates its conference list and
node list fairly frequently (usually monthly).  Also, an EchoBase database
containing ALL data for ALL networks can get rather huge, and would invariably
waste space on the typical user's hard drive by including data for networks
which they have no interest in.

For this reason, I have created the Interactive ECHOBASE Facility.  This
online menu-driven Panasia BBS option gives you, the EchoBase user, the power
to be SELECTIVE in what gets included in your own "personalized" EchoBase
database.  The downside to this approach is that it requires that you call
Panasia BBS to download EchoBase.  I consider this to be the wisest approach,
however, especially in light of the fact that, as mention earlier, the data
involved is updated so often that having EchoBase distributed across hundreds
of boards all over the country would invariably result in old and hopelessly
inaccurate copies of EchoBase sitting on BBS file areas for many years to
come.  The Echobase-represented networks would surely frown on THAT!  :-)

Instructions:

1. Call Panasia BBS at (818) 569-3740.  Supported baud rates: 2400-28800.
2. Log on to the system.  If you don't have an account there already, then
   register as a new user.  Don't worry; the registration process is quick.
3. Work your way to the "Full Command Menu", then type "ECHOBASE".
4. Select option 1 from the ECHOBASE menu to download the EchoBase program.
5. Select option 2 from the ECHOBASE menu.  You will be presented with a
   screen which allows you to toggle your network selections ON and OFF.  This
   menu allows YOU to choose which networks should be included in your
   "personal customized" EchoBase database.  Once you're satisfied with your
   selections, select "P" to Proceed.  The interactive ECHOBASE facility will
   custom-prepare your database and transmit it to you.
6. Select option 3 to return to Panasia BBS.  Use (G)oodbye to log off.

That's all there is to it!  If, after using EchoBase, you have any comments or
suggestions, please pass them along to me.  I hope you like and enjoy EchoBase!

                    William Padilla (EchoBase Author)