Dear All--

I know we've cried wolf before, but this time it's almost certain--we will be changing the Interchange to the new pHp-powered format this weekend. The switch is currently scheduled for Saturday night. A few notes about the change:

1. To post to the new Interchange, you must first create a profile by clicking the "Register" hyperlink at the top of the new Interchange home page.

You will need to choose a screenname that will appear to other users, you'll need to choose a password, and you will need to supply a valid e-mail address. The Interchange will e-mail a confirmation message to you, including a link you can click to activate your account.

PLEASE remember your password--this is encrypted in the database, and the Administrators cannot supply you with reminders.

After your account is active, you will need to log in each time you want to post. You do not need to log in to read posts.

2. Becuase we are installing the final software on a different server than the Beta-test site, we will have to ask everyone to re-register once the site goes live. I apologize for the inconvenience.

We expect to cut over to the new board Saturday night or Sunday. Many thanks for your patience.

eledbetter@rypn.org

What will happen to the old messages and threads? If they will not be moved over, will they still be accessible?

altoonaroundhouse@umich.edu

> What will happen to the old messages and
> threads? If they will not be moved over,
> will they still be accessible?

Our intention is to move nealy all the old messages over to the new server.

Making the back archives acessible for further back than the current rolling 4-month window was a prime reason for choosing the new software in the first place.

We are not sure we will be able to host all the old messages back to the beginning, circa 1999 or so, but we will certainly have a much deeper archive online than right now--all of it fully searchable.

eledbetter@rypn.org

> Our intention is to move nealy all the old
> messages over to the new server.

The loading of the archive won't happen immediately.

I messed up big time trying to switch servers for the RyPN home site before the switch to the new Interchange software was completed. None of the RyPN scripts, including the current version of the Interchange, and most notably, Flimises, work on the new server.

So, I have to straighten out the other scripts before I can go back to the issue of loading the archives. In the meantime, Erik wanted to go ahead and make the switch to the new software, and so did I.

So, over the new few weeks we will start loading the archives, as much as is possible. And, I'm still hoping we can load the whole thing. But, if not, there may be other options for those interested in scanning posts from the pasts.

Will keep you up to date as things develop.

Railway Preservation News
hkading@rypn.org

We said we we're going to post the archives and here it is.