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From Newsbin
Quick Links: Version 5 Documentation | NewsBin Home (http://www.newsbin.com) | Latest NewsBin Release (http://www.newsbin.com/index.php?mode=files&task=viewfile&file=13&tab=rl) | User Guide | Reference Guide | Glossary
Usenet is not the Web. For boring details about Usenet, refer to the NewsBin Glossary.
There is also a good generic guide at Slyck's Guide to Newsgroups (http://www.slyck.com/ng.php)
A minimum list of terms you need to know for using Newsbin are:
News Server
A news server stores posts in newsgroups. You either pay for a quality news service (http://www.usenettools.net/news.htm) that carries more newsgroups and retains posts for a longer amount of time or you get free access from your internet service provider (http://www.usenettools.net/ISP.htm) (although not all ISP's provide News Servers). The pay services issue an account username and password when you sign up. This username and password is entered into NewsBin so you can access the news server and download posts.
Newsgroup
Or just Groups - categories that organize where certain content is posted. For example alt.binaries.pictures.autos should only have pictures of cars in it. Groups containing the word "binaries" typically contain posts with encoded attachments representing binary files such as images, music, movies, or programs.
Post
Can be used as a noun or a verb. It is either a specific representation of information available on the news server, or the act of putting information on the server. For example "I just downloaded a post that had a great picture of the new 'Vette" or "Can you please post a picture of a new 'vette?".
Messages have a size limit. If a large File is posted, it needs to be chopped up into smaller Parts and each part posted separately. Each part has a unique subject with special numbering to indicate it is part of a set. This is called a Multi-part post. NewsBin automatically combines these so you don't have to.
Posts and Messages may also be referred to as Headers which would not be entirely correct. A Header is just the top part of a post.
Header
This is the top portion of a message that includes the subject, date, poster email address, and other information to uniquely identify the post to NewsBin. You have to download headers to see what posts are available in the newsgroup. NewsBin combines related headers onto one line in the cases where they represent a Multi-part post.
What's Next?
Ready to install NewsBin? Go to NewsBin Installation next.
