 *** 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
