[net.misc] explain funny symbols please

bobr (08/11/82)

some articles are preceded with two lines of what looks like
garbage to me, namely something like (after the "from" line:)

#R:mi-cec:-13100:harpo:9400002:000:114
harpo!ber    Aug 9 18:23:00 1982

IF THESE FUNNY SYMBOLS DON'T SERVE A PURPOSE WHY GENERATE THEM 
IN THE FIRST PLACE ???

				Christoph Bobrowski
				 utzoo!utcsrgv!bobr

G:wing (08/12/82)

Along with those funny symbols, you should see in the subject header "- (nf)".
The "garbage" you see is actual stuff for the notesfile system to keep track
of the news on a particular subject.  Don't worry about them...

ks (08/12/82)

#R:utcsrgv:-51400:pur-ee:6900007:000:234
pur-ee!ks    Aug 12 11:16:00 1982

Ah..., those funny symbols are merely the article ID header for the
notesfile system (a 'new' screen driven news system).
Notes is a generally more pleasing interface than readnews,
and is available from decvax!pur-ee!uiucdcs!essick.