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Date: Wednesday, September 02, 1998 2:00 AM
Subject: **IMPORTANT NOTICE** GenConnect Upgrade
>We're preparing for the latest upgrade to the GenConnect System.
There's a
>few things you need to know about this upgrade .....
>
>The entire GenConnect system will be upgraded starting at midnight on
>Saturday September 5, 1998. This will require that we shut the
system
>down. The reason is twofold ..... it's not just a patch .... it's a
>re-write of the program that runs the system. Also, the Global
Search
>engine has been revamped and mega-enhanced, which will require a
total
>rebuild. No new postings can be allowed during this rebuilding
period.
>Downtime is estimated to be 8 hours max (yep .... it's a huge system
now!).
>
>Anyone attempting to use the system during this downtime will be
given
>notice that it's being upgraded .... no-one will be left in the dark.
>However, you could help us make this a smoother transition if you
would
>spread the word on any and all of the major mailing lists that you
may be
>subbed to (ROOTS-l, xxROOTS-L, your county lists, surname lists,
etc.).
>Will you help us by doing this?
>
>Below are some of the new features that the latest version (1.10)
will
>contain. Please feel free to include those items listed as 'Visitor
Toys'
>in any announcement you make.
>
>Those items listed as 'Admin Toys' will be available only to you -
the
>admins. Please do not annouce these items. They're included here
for your
>information only.
>
>This is the most exciting version of genbbs yet, and we're thrilled
to be
>bringing it into production.
>
>I encourage anyone with questions about the conversion to sub to the
>GenConnect-L list, if you're not already. Simply send an email to
>GenConnect-L-request(a)rootsweb.com with the word subscribe
in
>both the subject and as the only word in the body. Turn off all
signature
>files, please.
>
>Once again ..... the upgrade will begin at midnight on Saturday, Sep
5, and
>should take no more than 8 hours. Please help us announce this.
There
>will be no official notice once the conversion is completed. The new
>version will be in effect for all to see, and will serve as notice.
>
>Thank you for selecting GenConnect as your Query Management System.
Our
>goal is to keep improving it to meet the needs of our visitors and
admins.
>This is just the latest improvement, and we've all anxiously awaited
this
>moment.
>
>Happy Hunting!!!!
>
>The GenConnect Team ..... Randy, Pam and Nancy
>
>
>List of new GenConnect Features:
>
>Visitor Toys:
>-------------------
>Separate entry fields for subject and surnames ..... allows more
>descriptive subjects (non-surname words won't matter)
>
>Main page of each board displays the list of surnames for each query,
in
>addition to the subject .... allows for more surnames to be entered
>
>'Print' option now expanded to include the entire thread (user's
option)
>
>Surname page will be auto-generated, and auto-updated weekly (more
>frequently with admin intervention), and will now be alphabetized and
>hotlinked to the query in which it appears.
>
>Cookie support expanded to include "date ranges".
>
>Faster, sleeker search engine.
>
>Multiple-word surnames supported - including the capability of
searching
>for them.
>
>New search options added to the Global Search ..... soundex (enhanced
over
>previous version), partial word match, whole word match, wildcard
searching.
>
>
>Admin Toys:
>------------------
>All of the above, plus .....
>
>New Cookie support now includes the admin page specifically
(especially
>helpful when trying to edit or delete a very old query .... it can
greatly
>reduce the number of queries listed on the admin page, making it
easier to
>find the one you want.)
>
>Surname field is case-insensitive ..... no need to edit for 'All
Caps',
>etc. (i.e. visitors can used mixed case or all lower case if desired
... it
>won't affect the search engines).
>
>if ?reconfigure page is entered from the admin page .... it now
returns you
>there (to the admin page) without having to go through the main page
first.
>
>With the addition of the new Surname field, non-surname words from
the
>Subject line will no longer make it to the search engine (nor to the
>Surname page)
>
>Case-insensitive subscribing/unsubscribing to/from the mailing lists
....
>will reduce the number of cries for help from your visitors.
>
>New admin function: List the email addresses of all submitters (not
just
>the mailing list) for your board.
>
>