October, 1988

                         Electronic Bulletin Board Service


        The  Central  Computing  Facility  (CCF)  at  the  Naval   Research
        Laboratory  (NRL)  in Washington, D.C., is currently running a very
        easy to  use  electronic  Bulletin  Board  software.   The  current
        utility has the following features:

         o  Runs on VAX/VMS systems

         o  Written in VAX Pascal

         o  Uses SMG$ routines to produce very easy to read screens - VT100
            mode

         o  Data base files are indexed - uses RMS routines for  data  base
            management

         o  Menu driven - one key stroke selects options

         o  Help menus available at each level

         o  Easy to use - self explanatory

         o  Code,  installation  and  operation  very  well  documented   -
            including  a  users'  guide  for  those who insist on a written
            manual

         o  Allows topics to  be  grouped  logically  by  categories,  thus
            saving processing time and $$$

         o  Total/New message counts available at each  category  level  so
            users  can  see immediately if there is anything new to read in
            topics of interest.

         o  Allows users to respond to any posted message,  either  to  the
            poster or on the Bulletin Board - uses VMS MAIL utility

         o  Topics may be "owned" and therefore "protected"  so  that  only
            designated users can add and delete from these topics

         o  Uses the EDT editor to create messages to Add to  the  Bulletin
            Board  or  to  respond  to a posted message without leaving the
            utility

         o  Can run executable code on one machine and access the data base
            files   stored  on  another  machine  via  the  LAN  through  a
            NETNONPRIV account

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        If you would like to install this software on your  VAX/VMS  system
        the  next  step  is to carefully follow the directions given in the
        file called INSTALL.MANUAL included on the tape.

                     Need help or more information?  Contact:


                                  Carla Bazemore
                   User Services, Research Computation Division
                             Naval Research Laboratory
                             4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
                           Washington, D.C.  20375-5000
                                  (202) 767-3884
                                 bazemore@nrl.arpa