The Bitnet network connect almost exclusively academic sites, and its mailing lists are usually highly specialized. Searching inside of Bitnet is a little bit difficult, because you have to know the CJLI language. However, the CJLI language (Command Job Language Interpreter) is not too difficult to learn, and you have to know just a few of rules to use it. Bitnet's Mailing Lists, are controlled by computers called LISTSERV, who automate mailing send/receive process. The Bitnet network is not directly connected to the Internet. There are specific servers called GATEWAY, who connect the Internet's world to the Bitnet's world. These servers translate Bitnet's protocols to the Internet's protocols and vice versa. In order to get information, you have to build a TEMPLATE.
There are a lot of 'lists of lists' on the net. But you can avoid wasting time searching for the 'right' mailing list'. You can ask to BITNIC. BITNET Network Information Center (BITNIC) collects information you need. In order to ask to BITNIC these information, you have to:
WARNING! 'List Global' provide a list of ALL mailing lists. That's an HUGE list!
So you can write 'list global/History' for example, if you are interested in mailing lists where people discuss about history. Sometimes, sending to listserv@bitnic.bitnet, doesn't works. In this case you have to send the message to an Internet/Bitnet gateway. The right address for sending to a gateway is:
listserv%bitnic.bitnet@name_gateway
That's: you have to replace '@' with '%' in 'listserv@bitnic.bitnet' and add '@name_gateway'. These are some gateways:
Example:
If you send a message with 'list global/history' in the text, putting in the address field: 'listserv%bitnic.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu', you will receive an answer like this:
HPSST-L HPSST-L@ size="4">QCDN size="4"> History and Philosophy of science size="4">
HTECH-L HTECH-L@ size="4">SIVM size="4"> History of Technology Discussion group
IEAHCNETIEACHCNET@ color="#FF0000" size="4">UICVMsize="4">American Colonial History Discussion List
ISLAM-L ISLAM-L@ size="4">ULKYVM size="4"> History of Islam
KUHIST-LKUHIST-L@ size="4">UKANVM size="4"> History at KU
MEDIEV size="4">-LMEDIEV-L@ color="#FF0000" size="4">UKANVM size="4"> Medieval History
And so on...
Well, if you are interested in 'Medieval History', now you know listserver address who can answer to our questions. It is: 'UKANVM'. The name of list is: 'Mediev'.
Next step is sending a message to: listserv@ukanvm.bitnet. That's:
listserv@name_server.bitnet
If that's doesn't works, we know how we have to do:
listserv%name_server.bitnet@name_gateway
That's: listserv%ukanvm.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu
or, for example: listserv%ukanvm.bitnet@cornell.cit.cornell.edu
Ok, you know listserv address: well, and now? Well, you have to know if that server keep an archive of that list. You can know it asking for an 'index' of that list. That's, you have to send a message with nothing in the subject, and command 'index' in the text of message.
so, following the previous example: index mediev
Ok, next step is getting a specific file.
In the previous example, after command: index mediev, you will receive something like this:
From LISTSERV@UKANVM.CC.UKANS.EDU Fri Feb 11 08:26:16 1997
Date: thu, 10 Feb...
bla bla bla
.. .
.. .
reclast - change
filename filetype get-put-fm lrecl nrecs datetime remarks
-------- ------------------- ----- ----- -------- ----------------
MEDIEV-L LOG9301 ALL OWN V87 13166 93/12/29 08:15:44Started on...
MEDIEV-L LOG9302 ALL OWN V803391 93/02/28 01:13:20Started on...
MEDIEV-L LOG9303 ALL OWN V801730 93/03/31 23:52:22Started on...
And so on...
Now you can get the file: 'mediev-l' 'log9301' for example, by command:
get mediev-l log9301
If, after that command, you will receive a message like this:
'You are not authorized to get the file "mediev..." from filelist Mediev-l.'
Well, you have to subscribe to that list!
In order to search for something, you have to build a 'Template'. A template, is something like this:
//
Database Search DD=Rules
//Rules dd *
Search name_string in Mediev-l
Index
/*
You have to put these statements inside the body of message. 'Search' and 'Index' are commands.
In order to know Listserv commands, just send a message to listerv, without subject, and with:
help
in the body of message. Or:
info refcard
for a comprehensive reference card of commands. Or, of course, look at: wow listserv help
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