At the request of the GenConnect Administrators, I am forwarding this message to you.... 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!). This is the most exciting version of genbbs yet, and we're thrilled to be bringing it into production. Once again ..... the upgrade will begin at midnight on Saturday, Sep 5, and should take no more than 8 hours. 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. 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. Any questions should be directed to me and OFF the list. The links to the GenConnect query boards are found through various country genweb sites. Glenn G. Geisheimer: glenng@castle.net Owner: NJMiddle,NJEssex & Co-Sysop: Baden-Wuerttemberg Mailing Lists Essex County, NJ Genealogy: http://www.rootsweb.com/~njessex/ Middlesex County, NJ Genealogy: http://www.rootsweb.com/~njmiddle/ Personal Web Site: http://www.castle.net/~glenng/index.html Virtual Newark, NJ: http://www.castle.net/~glenng/newark/newark.htm