RFC 488

RFC 488: NLS Classes at Network Sites 🎀

okay bestie, title block tea ☕ this is RFC 488, also known as NIC # 15266, and it's titled "NLS Classes at Network Sites" ✨ Marilyn Auerbach from SRI-ARC wrote it, and it's dated March 23, 1973 📅 The header doesn't list a category, and it doesn't say what it obsoletes or updates, so there's nothing to report there 💅

Purpose of this RFC

okay so network users have been asking if they can hold NLS classes at sites on the Network instead of at SRI-ARC 🦋 this RFC is basically asking the Network community whether on-site classes would be a good idea 💖

the course outline and some logistics we think are needed for a useful class are at the end of this RFC 📝

please look it over and let us know if a class would be useful at or near your site 🫶 we're really excited about this because we know we'd get so much out of consulting with experienced Network users 🌸

we have to plan our people's time way in advance, so we're tentatively thinking about trips to Washington D.C. during the first week of May, and to Boston during the first week of June, to teach classes 🧚 if other arrangements would work better for you, we're totally open to those too ✨

please respond by April 15 to Marilyn Auerbach (MFA) at the NIC, (415)326-6200 extension 3722 📞

NLS Class Information

the class is a comprehensive intro to using NLS over the Network 💅 it usually runs two to three days, depending on who's in the room and what they're into 🌈

for planning, here's what helps:

1. we've found the optimum class size is six, with an upper limit of ten 👑
2. you'll need a room big enough for all the students, with a teletype-type terminal and proper connections for each student, plus a flip-chart stand and a large blackboard 🍓

Class Outline - TNLS Course

okay this part is the spicy tea 🔥 we've taught NLS classes about a dozen times, and nearly a hundred people have come through 😭 the training has been really helpful, but we also know that teaching at SRI-ARC can kinda skip over the special problems of working through the Network and the special interests of other sites 🙈

the people running the class are experienced at figuring out how to use NLS in real work environments, so please treat the outline below as flexible 🦋 it can be tailored to fit particular applications or needs ✨

Part I: Elementary Concepts

1. Introduction to NLS 🌸
2. Sending a Journal Message 💌
3. TENEX/NLS Interfaces 💻
4. Basic File Manipulation 📂
5. Basic Text Handling 📝
6. Addressing Data Within a Statement 🎯
7. Elementary Text-Editing ✏️

Part II: Entering and Using Information

1. NLS Data Structures 🧱
2. Structure Editing and Text Editing 🖊️
3. "Viewspecs": Controlling the Appearance of On-Line Output 👀
4. Submission and Retrieval of Journal Items 📬
5. "Partial Copies": File Updating 🔄
6. Use of the NIC On-Line: "LOCATOR" and "NIC/QUERY" 🔍
7. "Strucrels": Relative Data and Statement Addressing 🧭
8. "Directives": Controlling the Appearance of Off-Line Output 🖨️
9. Adjusting NLS Control Characters to Your Terminal 🎛️

Part III: Sorting and Searching

1. Sort and Merge 🗂️
2. Content analyses 📊

[ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry into the online RFC archives by Alex McKenzie with support from GTE, formerly BBN Corp. 9/99 ] 🦋