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Agent abandonware?
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p3dp...@anonaddy.me
Sep 12, 2023, 6:34:15 AM9/12/23
to
I've come back to Windows after years using Macs, started using Agent
again, and I like it as much as I used to.
But, I'm stuck with Agent 7.2, because it's impossible to buy an
upgrade via the Forteinc.com upgrade page - my name and serial number
have been returning an error for about the last two months.
Like others in the group, I've tried to contact support, and get no
response.
Is Agent dead?
If it is, does anyone know of shared keys that will let stranded users
like me use the last version?
again, and I like it as much as I used to.
But, I'm stuck with Agent 7.2, because it's impossible to buy an
upgrade via the Forteinc.com upgrade page - my name and serial number
have been returning an error for about the last two months.
Like others in the group, I've tried to contact support, and get no
response.
Is Agent dead?
If it is, does anyone know of shared keys that will let stranded users
like me use the last version?
Joerg Walther
Sep 12, 2023, 9:33:18 AM9/12/23
to
p3dp...@anonaddy.me wrote:
>Is Agent dead?
The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
there are no new features for text message usenet in it.
-jw-
--
And now for something completely different...
>Is Agent dead?
The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
there are no new features for text message usenet in it.
-jw-
--
And now for something completely different...
BenSometh...@wherever.com
Sep 12, 2023, 10:44:22 AM9/12/23
to
On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:33:02 +0200, Joerg Walther
<joerg....@gmail.com> wrote:
>p3dp...@anonaddy.me wrote:
>
>>Is Agent dead?
>
>The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
>messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
>version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
>sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
>there are no new features for text message usenet in it.
>
>-jw-
Awhile back I posted a registration for 1.93 version of Agent.
<joerg....@gmail.com> wrote:
>p3dp...@anonaddy.me wrote:
>
>>Is Agent dead?
>
>The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
>messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
>version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
>sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
>there are no new features for text message usenet in it.
>
>-jw-
It is beyond me why people need such "progress" as the later versions
for something as simple as Usenet. Agent ruined itself as far as I'm
concerned with the policy of trying to be all things to all people.
Jeez! It's *Usenet*. How much "progress" does one need to post a
binary of two and text to a group? If they want a database of every
breathe they take on Usenet, get a proggie with a database.
I just don't get all this "progress" stuff for simple usage like
Usenet.
Puffer Belly
Sep 12, 2023, 11:08:40 AM9/12/23
to
Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later. I subscribe
to Agent Usenet and they collect my money for that every month.
have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later. I subscribe
to Agent Usenet and they collect my money for that every month.
BenSometh...@wherever.com
Sep 12, 2023, 3:10:57 PM9/12/23
to
On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:04:31 +0000, Jim H <inv...@invalid.invalid>
wrote:
>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:08:37 -0500, in
><8iv0gid30adb1st7t...@4ax.com>, Puffer Belly
>doesn't work with the newer version. I was given a new key every time
>I upgraded.
>
>As far as features, I could do without anything releated to email
>since I use something else, but the Usenet related upgrades that
>included YENC (for binaries), plus handling larger folders, and some
>other things were valuable upgrades. When upgrading from 7.2 to 8.0
>you get... see link to decide for yourself.
>https://www.forteinc.com/agent/
My 1.93 version uses Yenc without a problem. It's an update they had
many years back for 1.93.
wrote:
>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:08:37 -0500, in
><8iv0gid30adb1st7t...@4ax.com>, Puffer Belly
><anon...@anonymous.org> wrote:
>
>>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later. I subscribe
>>to Agent Usenet and they collect my money for that every month.
>
>
>I wouldn't overwrite the installation you have, in case the old key
>
>>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later. I subscribe
>>to Agent Usenet and they collect my money for that every month.
>
>
>doesn't work with the newer version. I was given a new key every time
>I upgraded.
>
>As far as features, I could do without anything releated to email
>since I use something else, but the Usenet related upgrades that
>included YENC (for binaries), plus handling larger folders, and some
>other things were valuable upgrades. When upgrading from 7.2 to 8.0
>you get... see link to decide for yourself.
>https://www.forteinc.com/agent/
My 1.93 version uses Yenc without a problem. It's an update they had
many years back for 1.93.
p3dp...@anonaddy.me
Sep 12, 2023, 4:14:02 PM9/12/23
to
On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:08:37 -0500, Puffer Belly
<anon...@anonymous.org> wrote:
>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later.
Thanks for the idea - tried it, and does not register Agent 8.
<anon...@anonymous.org> wrote:
>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later.
The normal purchase form seems like it might work. I'm almost inclined
to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
appears to be deceased.
Ralph Fox
Sep 12, 2023, 4:37:21 PM9/12/23
to
On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:13:58 +0100, p3dp...@anonaddy.me wrote:
> I'm almost inclined
> to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
> feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
> appears to be deceased.
I entered (actually upated) my credit card details in
> I'm almost inclined
> to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
> feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
> appears to be deceased.
Agent Usenet (APN) last time I got a new credit card.
My APN subscription continued on the new credit card
and no other funny transactions appeared.
--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox
️HǷÆT ǷE GARDENA ın ᵹeaꞃ ꝺaᵹum þeoꝺ cẏnınᵹa þꞃẏm ᵹeꝼꞃunon hu ða æþelınᵹaꞅ ellen ꝼꞃemeꝺon.
p3dp...@anonaddy.me
Sep 12, 2023, 4:48:30 PM9/12/23
to
>With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
>sold, 8.
This is a good point. I'm on 7.2, it's as usable as ever, I like it.
>sold, 8.
I do use binaries, though, and I think the added features are pretty
good.
Plus, habit. I bought every upgrade since Agent 2, and it's niggling
at me that I didn't get the last one!
Arthur T.
Sep 12, 2023, 6:23:30 PM9/12/23
to
In Message-ID:<30h1gitqi7onjqiiq...@4ax.com>,
Leery is good. See thread starting with
Message-ID: <hfpl2ihk21qv8p4b0...@4ax.com>.
TL;DR version: Someone used the site to buy V8 license, got no
response. We were left hanging as to whether they charged his card or
not.
--
Arthur T. - ar23hur "at" pobox "dot" com
Message-ID: <hfpl2ihk21qv8p4b0...@4ax.com>.
TL;DR version: Someone used the site to buy V8 license, got no
response. We were left hanging as to whether they charged his card or
not.
--
Arthur T. - ar23hur "at" pobox "dot" com
gfre...@aol.com
Sep 13, 2023, 9:09:38 AM9/13/23
to
On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:44:23 -0500, BenSometh...@Wherever.com
wrote:
I used 8 for big binaries because my 1.91 didn't know what to do with
PAR files and the other innovations since the turn of the century. Now
most of those groups are dead anyway so I am just using the old one
for text groups. I did only pay once for 8 tho. I am not sure if I can
even find the key now.
wrote:
PAR files and the other innovations since the turn of the century. Now
most of those groups are dead anyway so I am just using the old one
for text groups. I did only pay once for 8 tho. I am not sure if I can
even find the key now.
KenW
Sep 13, 2023, 9:35:21 AM9/13/23
to
post. If you save the DATA folder and restore it that will put the
serial back.
KenW
KenW
Sep 13, 2023, 9:37:32 AM9/13/23
to
easier than I thought
If you search for the Licence Key:
In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
[Profile]
...
Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
KenW
If you search for the Licence Key:
In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
[Profile]
...
Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
KenW
Charlie Roberts
Sep 13, 2023, 1:02:03 PM9/13/23
to
On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:55:33 +0000, Jim H <inv...@invalid.invalid>
wrote:
>
>
>That said, as long as my copy works I'm sticking with it.
Amen! My feelings, too. As remarked by someone else,
I also have the habit of upgrading as new versions come
along *if* they do not overlly disrupt the way you are
used to doing things. So, I guess I will keep ver 8 going
as long as it will work.
As for binaries, it was in this group that I was pointed
to NZBGet and SABnbzd when I ran into a file a wee
bit larger than the 4 GB limit that Agent 8 has. Once
I discovered NZBGet (thanks a million, guys!), I have
stopped using Agent for an binary that has an NZB
file. It is way faster than Agent for one thing. (A
previous post asking why this is did not get a
response ... but I have ideas.)
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
wrote:
>
>
>That said, as long as my copy works I'm sticking with it.
Amen! My feelings, too. As remarked by someone else,
I also have the habit of upgrading as new versions come
along *if* they do not overlly disrupt the way you are
used to doing things. So, I guess I will keep ver 8 going
as long as it will work.
As for binaries, it was in this group that I was pointed
to NZBGet and SABnbzd when I ran into a file a wee
bit larger than the 4 GB limit that Agent 8 has. Once
I discovered NZBGet (thanks a million, guys!), I have
stopped using Agent for an binary that has an NZB
file. It is way faster than Agent for one thing. (A
previous post asking why this is did not get a
response ... but I have ideas.)
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
gfre...@aol.com
Sep 13, 2023, 10:55:46 PM9/13/23
to
Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"
Paul S Person
Sep 19, 2023, 11:49:07 AM9/19/23
to
On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <inv...@invalid.invalid>
wrote:
>That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.
My key for Agent 2 had 5 groups of 8. Agent 4 through Agent 8,
however, each had 15 groups of 8. Apparently, I skipped Agent 3.
Interestingly, mine all start with the same trigraph.
And, somewhere, I got the impression that the purchaser's name was
encoded somewhere in the key.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
wrote:
My key for Agent 2 had 5 groups of 8. Agent 4 through Agent 8,
however, each had 15 groups of 8. Apparently, I skipped Agent 3.
Interestingly, mine all start with the same trigraph.
And, somewhere, I got the impression that the purchaser's name was
encoded somewhere in the key.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
p3dp...@anonaddy.me
Sep 19, 2023, 2:38:39 PM9/19/23
to
On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 12:52:17 -0400, gfre...@aol.com wrote:
>On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <inv...@invalid.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
>><mft4gipa0jokfq1ar...@4ax.com>, gfre...@aol.com wrote:
>>
>On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <inv...@invalid.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
>><mft4gipa0jokfq1ar...@4ax.com>, gfre...@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.
>
>Try this
>
>T2BZ6L74-B42DPH7N-F7WHTN9D-6NSNSST3-19G6BN2S-XKUSDYKA
>3XFL14ZT-W2NYVJFB-LXLTPWV7-P8VNC8MV-661ENJUW-F56XSGY9
>TV4NN23M-LDLE3DVH-DNJ667EV
>
>Serial Number: 100400702
That works, thank you sir.
Now that it seems to be impossible even to buy a new Agent licence,
this is probably the only way for new users to get the software.
If the Forteinc site ever starts doing business again, I'll buy the
upgrade.
james moffat
Sep 20, 2023, 3:01:15 PM9/20/23
to
Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
never gonna happen.
me
never gonna happen.
me
Ralph Fox
Sep 20, 2023, 3:36:56 PM9/20/23
to
On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:01:12 -0600, james moffat wrote:
> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
> never gonna happen.
Pan is the open source community’s ‘clone’ of Agent. If you want
> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
> never gonna happen.
64-bits, you may want to try the 64-bit version of Pan for Windows.
* Pan: <https://pan.rebelbase.com/>
* Pan for Windows installer: <https://sites.google.com/site/paninstall/>
--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox
Ken Blake
Sep 20, 2023, 3:46:03 PM9/20/23
to
On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:36:50 +1200, Ralph Fox <-rf-nz-@-.invalid>
wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:01:12 -0600, james moffat wrote:
>
>> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
>> never gonna happen.
>
>
>Pan is the open source community’s ‘clone’ of Agent. If you want
>64-bits, you may want to try the 64-bit version of Pan for Windows.
>
>* Pan: <https://pan.rebelbase.com/>
>* Pan for Windows installer: <https://sites.google.com/site/paninstall/>
I had never heard of Pan before. You say ‘clone’ of Agent. Can you be
more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?
I don't care about it's being 64-bit, but if there are advantages to
it over Agent, I might want to try it. Do you recommend it?
wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:01:12 -0600, james moffat wrote:
>
>> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
>> never gonna happen.
>
>
>Pan is the open source community’s ‘clone’ of Agent. If you want
>64-bits, you may want to try the 64-bit version of Pan for Windows.
>
>* Pan: <https://pan.rebelbase.com/>
>* Pan for Windows installer: <https://sites.google.com/site/paninstall/>
more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?
I don't care about it's being 64-bit, but if there are advantages to
it over Agent, I might want to try it. Do you recommend it?
Puffer Belly
Sep 20, 2023, 8:39:01 PM9/20/23
to
The latest version is 0.150, but the newest installer for Windows is for
version 0.146. I guess the developers are expecting users to compile
the source code themselves.
version 0.146. I guess the developers are expecting users to compile
the source code themselves.
Opinicus
Sep 21, 2023, 12:06:26 AM9/21/23
to
On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:45:58 -0700, Ken Blake <K...@invalid.news.com>
instruction "Compare and contrast the Forte Agent and Pan
newsreader+email clients."
https://bard.google.com/chat/620f627ee66a2e8c
https://bit.ly/3PLsD49
https://sl.bing.net/jtrIfvyEJE
https://chat.openai.com/share/ec973fc2-6cba-466a-952a-3dbf911e8115
https://bit.ly/3rjjrKZ
--
Bob
Who is slightly disconcerted that this is possible
--
Bob
The people your parents warned you about
wrote:
> >> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
> >> never gonna happen.
> >
> >
> >Pan is the open source community’s ‘clone’ of Agent. If you want
> >64-bits, you may want to try the 64-bit version of Pan for Windows.
> >> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
> >> never gonna happen.
> >
> >
> >Pan is the open source community’s ‘clone’ of Agent. If you want
> >64-bits, you may want to try the 64-bit version of Pan for Windows.
> I had never heard of Pan before. You say ‘clone’ of Agent. Can you be
> more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
> it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?
FWIW, here are Bard's, Bing's, and ChatGPT's responses to the
> more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
> it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?
instruction "Compare and contrast the Forte Agent and Pan
newsreader+email clients."
https://bard.google.com/chat/620f627ee66a2e8c
https://bit.ly/3PLsD49
https://sl.bing.net/jtrIfvyEJE
https://chat.openai.com/share/ec973fc2-6cba-466a-952a-3dbf911e8115
https://bit.ly/3rjjrKZ
--
Bob
Who is slightly disconcerted that this is possible
--
Bob
The people your parents warned you about
Ralph Fox
Sep 21, 2023, 5:58:07 AM9/21/23
to
On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:33:48 -0500, Capt Rick wrote:
> The really big question is does it have getting only headers
Yes.
> and filters to mark for retrieval,
Filtering is one area where Pan is different to Agent. Pan uses
scoring, where your filters contribute to an article's total score.
You can automatically flag an article as something you want to read
or save by giving it a high enough score, but AFAICS the actual
retrieval is done by you.
See "Scoring Actions" at <https://pan.rebelbase.com/manual/html/pan-scoring.html>
> etc.
--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox
𝐿𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑓 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 - 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠𝑛'𝑡.
> The really big question is does it have getting only headers
Yes.
> and filters to mark for retrieval,
Filtering is one area where Pan is different to Agent. Pan uses
scoring, where your filters contribute to an article's total score.
You can automatically flag an article as something you want to read
or save by giving it a high enough score, but AFAICS the actual
retrieval is done by you.
See "Scoring Actions" at <https://pan.rebelbase.com/manual/html/pan-scoring.html>
> etc.
--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox
Ralph Fox
Sep 21, 2023, 6:54:15 AM9/21/23
to
On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:45:58 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
> I had never heard of Pan before.
Just FYI Pan has been mentioned here in 6 other threads this decade.
> I had never heard of Pan before.
> You say ‘clone’ of Agent. Can you be
> more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
> it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?
A brief summary instead...
* Pan is designed primarily for Linux and similar operating systems
running X-Windows (or Wayland, I guess). I run Pan on Linux. I
have not tried the Windows builds.
* Pan does multiple news servers like Agent, where a single newsgroup
can pull headers from multiple servers.
* Pan is not an email client, unlike Agent.
* Subscribing to newsgroups seems closer to Agent 1 and 2 than to
later versions of Agent. The list of newsgroups you can subscribe
to is in the folders pane, not in a separate newsgroup directory
window.
* Pan does binaries. I don't know whether it does Agent's MegaJoin.
* Pan does full Unicode out of the box.
* Filtering is one area where Pan is quite different to Agent.
Pan uses scoring, where your filters contribute to a post's total
score. Headers can be tagged with colours or even ignored/hidden
based on the total score (positive = good, negative = bad).
> I don't care about it's being 64-bit, but if there are advantages to
> it over Agent, I might want to try it. Do you recommend it?
I have not tried the Windows builds, so I cannot give a recommendation
either way. In particular, I don't know whether a Windows build of Pan
feels like a native Windows program or not.
--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox
Ralph Fox
Sep 21, 2023, 7:07:08 AM9/21/23
to
On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 19:38:57 -0500, Puffer Belly wrote:
> The latest version is 0.150, but the newest installer for Windows is for
> version 0.146. I guess the developers are expecting users to compile
> the source code themselves.
> The latest version is 0.150, but the newest installer for Windows is for
> version 0.146. I guess the developers are expecting users to compile
> the source code themselves.
Pan is designed primarily for Linux and similar operating systems
running X-Windows. The normal way of getting a Pan build is to
download the Linux distro's build from your distro's repository.
The developers do not do Windows builds at all.
All Windows builds are done by third-party volunteers.
Consider yourself flamed.
I do not see you volunteering.
𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕”
Ken Blake
Sep 21, 2023, 9:48:31 AM9/21/23
to
On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 22:54:09 +1200, Ralph Fox <-rf-nz-@-.invalid>
wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:45:58 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> I had never heard of Pan before.
>
>Just FYI Pan has been mentioned here in 6 other threads this decade.
If you say so I'll believe you, but I didn't remember it.
>
>> You say ‘clone’ of Agent. Can you be
>> more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
>> it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?
>
>That could turn into a looooong list. :-(
>A brief summary instead...
That's fine. I didn't really want much more than that.
>
> * Pan is designed primarily for Linux and similar operating systems
> running X-Windows (or Wayland, I guess). I run Pan on Linux. I
> have not tried the Windows builds.
>
> * Pan does multiple news servers like Agent, where a single newsgroup
> can pull headers from multiple servers.
>
> * Pan is not an email client, unlike Agent.
OK. I don't use Agent for e-mail.
> * Subscribing to newsgroups seems closer to Agent 1 and 2 than to
> later versions of Agent. The list of newsgroups you can subscribe
> to is in the folders pane, not in a separate newsgroup directory
> window.
>
> * Pan does binaries. I don't know whether it does Agent's MegaJoin.
I don't do binaries.
> * Pan does full Unicode out of the box.
>
> * Filtering is one area where Pan is quite different to Agent.
> Pan uses scoring, where your filters contribute to a post's total
> score. Headers can be tagged with colours or even ignored/hidden
> based on the total score (positive = good, negative = bad).
>
>
>> I don't care about it's being 64-bit, but if there are advantages to
>> it over Agent, I might want to try it. Do you recommend it?
>
>If you run Linux, download Pan from your distro's repo and try it.
>
>I have not tried the Windows builds, so I cannot give a recommendation
>either way. In particular, I don't know whether a Windows build of Pan
>feels like a native Windows program or not.
OK, understood. I think I'll give it a try when I get the chance.
Thanks.
wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:45:58 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> I had never heard of Pan before.
>
>Just FYI Pan has been mentioned here in 6 other threads this decade.
>
>> You say ‘clone’ of Agent. Can you be
>> more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
>> it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?
>
>That could turn into a looooong list. :-(
>A brief summary instead...
>
> * Pan is designed primarily for Linux and similar operating systems
> running X-Windows (or Wayland, I guess). I run Pan on Linux. I
> have not tried the Windows builds.
>
> * Pan does multiple news servers like Agent, where a single newsgroup
> can pull headers from multiple servers.
>
> * Pan is not an email client, unlike Agent.
> * Subscribing to newsgroups seems closer to Agent 1 and 2 than to
> later versions of Agent. The list of newsgroups you can subscribe
> to is in the folders pane, not in a separate newsgroup directory
> window.
>
> * Pan does binaries. I don't know whether it does Agent's MegaJoin.
> * Pan does full Unicode out of the box.
>
> * Filtering is one area where Pan is quite different to Agent.
> Pan uses scoring, where your filters contribute to a post's total
> score. Headers can be tagged with colours or even ignored/hidden
> based on the total score (positive = good, negative = bad).
>
>
>> I don't care about it's being 64-bit, but if there are advantages to
>> it over Agent, I might want to try it. Do you recommend it?
>
>If you run Linux, download Pan from your distro's repo and try it.
>
>I have not tried the Windows builds, so I cannot give a recommendation
>either way. In particular, I don't know whether a Windows build of Pan
>feels like a native Windows program or not.
Thanks.
Ken Blake
Sep 21, 2023, 11:15:35 AM9/21/23
to
On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:48:28 -0700, Ken Blake <K...@invalid.news.com>
wrote:
>>I have not tried the Windows builds, so I cannot give a recommendation
>>either way. In particular, I don't know whether a Windows build of Pan
>>feels like a native Windows program or not.
>
>
>OK, understood. I think I'll give it a try when I get the chance.
>Thanks.
I tried it, but I was apparently unable to set up the server properly.
In Address, I put news.individual.net
In Port, I put 119
In Username, I put in my User-ID
In Password, I put in my password
In TLS (SSL) Settings, I chose Use Unsecure (Plaintext) Connections
(I also tried Use Secure SSL Connections).
It tries to connect, but says No connections.
Can you or someone else tell me what's wrong with what I've entered?
Or is there something else I need to do?
wrote:
>>I have not tried the Windows builds, so I cannot give a recommendation
>>either way. In particular, I don't know whether a Windows build of Pan
>>feels like a native Windows program or not.
>
>
>OK, understood. I think I'll give it a try when I get the chance.
>Thanks.
In Address, I put news.individual.net
In Port, I put 119
In Username, I put in my User-ID
In Password, I put in my password
In TLS (SSL) Settings, I chose Use Unsecure (Plaintext) Connections
(I also tried Use Secure SSL Connections).
It tries to connect, but says No connections.
Can you or someone else tell me what's wrong with what I've entered?
Or is there something else I need to do?
Ralph Fox
Sep 22, 2023, 2:50:52 AM9/22/23
to
On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 08:15:32 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
> I tried it, but I was apparently unable to set up the server properly.
> In Address, I put news.individual.net In Port, I put 119 In Username, I
> put in my User-ID In Password, I put in my password In TLS (SSL)
> Settings, I chose Use Unsecure (Plaintext) Connections
> (I also tried Use Secure SSL Connections).
>
>
> It tries to connect, but says No connections.
>
> Can you or someone else tell me what's wrong with what I've entered? Or
> is there something else I need to do?
I cannot see why Pan is not working for you.
> I tried it, but I was apparently unable to set up the server properly.
> In Address, I put news.individual.net In Port, I put 119 In Username, I
> put in my User-ID In Password, I put in my password In TLS (SSL)
> Settings, I chose Use Unsecure (Plaintext) Connections
> (I also tried Use Secure SSL Connections).
>
>
> It tries to connect, but says No connections.
>
> Can you or someone else tell me what's wrong with what I've entered? Or
> is there something else I need to do?
Pan connects here, as you can see by my headers. I am posting this with
Pan.
* Pan from my distro's repository.
* Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon 64-bit.
* Pan 0.149 "Bellevue".
A few things you might want to check:
1. The machine running Pan, is it connected to the Internet?
2. Can you ping news.individual.net from the _same_ machine?
3. Are you sure the build of Pan is compatible with the OS?
What OS and version, and where did you get Pan from?
Ken Blake
Sep 22, 2023, 10:19:44 AM9/22/23
to
On Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:50:50 GMT, Ralph Fox <-rf...@xn--kba.invalid>
wrote:
>On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 08:15:32 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> I tried it, but I was apparently unable to set up the server properly.
>> In Address, I put news.individual.net In Port, I put 119 In Username, I
>> put in my User-ID In Password, I put in my password In TLS (SSL)
>> Settings, I chose Use Unsecure (Plaintext) Connections
>> (I also tried Use Secure SSL Connections).
>>
>>
>> It tries to connect, but says No connections.
>>
>> Can you or someone else tell me what's wrong with what I've entered? Or
>> is there something else I need to do?
>
>I cannot see why Pan is not working for you.
>
>Pan connects here, as you can see by my headers. I am posting this with
>Pan.
> * Pan from my distro's repository.
> * Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon 64-bit.
> * Pan 0.149 "Bellevue".
>
>A few things you might want to check:
> 1. The machine running Pan, is it connected to the Internet?
Yes. It's the same machine I'm sending this message from.
Yes. news.individual.net is what I'm using Agent on right now.
> 3. Are you sure the build of Pan is compatible with the OS?
Sure? No, but that's what the web site said
> What OS and version,
Later version of 64-bit Windows 11 Professional
>and where did you get Pan from?
I don't remember, but I'll try downloading it again and make a note of
it.
wrote:
>On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 08:15:32 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> I tried it, but I was apparently unable to set up the server properly.
>> In Address, I put news.individual.net In Port, I put 119 In Username, I
>> put in my User-ID In Password, I put in my password In TLS (SSL)
>> Settings, I chose Use Unsecure (Plaintext) Connections
>> (I also tried Use Secure SSL Connections).
>>
>>
>> It tries to connect, but says No connections.
>>
>> Can you or someone else tell me what's wrong with what I've entered? Or
>> is there something else I need to do?
>
>I cannot see why Pan is not working for you.
>
>Pan connects here, as you can see by my headers. I am posting this with
>Pan.
> * Pan from my distro's repository.
> * Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon 64-bit.
> * Pan 0.149 "Bellevue".
>
>A few things you might want to check:
> 1. The machine running Pan, is it connected to the Internet?
Yes. news.individual.net is what I'm using Agent on right now.
> 3. Are you sure the build of Pan is compatible with the OS?
> What OS and version,
Later version of 64-bit Windows 11 Professional
>and where did you get Pan from?
it.
Ken Blake
Sep 23, 2023, 12:44:06 PM9/23/23
to
On Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:19:40 -0700, Ken Blake <K...@invalid.news.com>
wrote:
I just uninstalled it, downloaded it from pan-0.146.306.msi and
reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
1. How can I display only unread messages?
2. When I'm displaying only unread messages, how can I temporarily
display all messages?
3. In the display message pane, I want the messages to be threaded,
but how can I display all messages in all the threads, without
clicking the + icon for each?
4. How can I customize the toolbar? I'd like to change the order of
the icons and I'd like to remove icons I never want to use.
5. On the right of the toolbar, there are six icons, all with
descriptions beginning with the word "match." What does "match" mean
here? Does it mean something like "display"? I tried clicking each of
those icons and now all the messages that used to be displayed are
gone.
6. On the right of the toolbar, there is an icon called "Wrap article
body." What does that mean? Article bodies seem to be wrapped whether
or not that is clicked.
7. How can I create filters/killfile entries?
Anything else I should know about Pan that's different from Agent?
wrote:
reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
1. How can I display only unread messages?
2. When I'm displaying only unread messages, how can I temporarily
display all messages?
3. In the display message pane, I want the messages to be threaded,
but how can I display all messages in all the threads, without
clicking the + icon for each?
4. How can I customize the toolbar? I'd like to change the order of
the icons and I'd like to remove icons I never want to use.
5. On the right of the toolbar, there are six icons, all with
descriptions beginning with the word "match." What does "match" mean
here? Does it mean something like "display"? I tried clicking each of
those icons and now all the messages that used to be displayed are
gone.
6. On the right of the toolbar, there is an icon called "Wrap article
body." What does that mean? Article bodies seem to be wrapped whether
or not that is clicked.
7. How can I create filters/killfile entries?
Anything else I should know about Pan that's different from Agent?
Ralph Fox
Sep 23, 2023, 3:32:48 PM9/23/23
to
On Sat, 23 Sep 2023 09:44:02 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
> I just uninstalled it, downloaded it from pan-0.146.306.msi and
> reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
>
> But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
> questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
>
> 1. How can I display only unread messages?
From the “View >> Header Pane” >> ... flyout menu.
> I just uninstalled it, downloaded it from pan-0.146.306.msi and
> reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
>
> But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
> questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
>
> 1. How can I display only unread messages?
> 2. When I'm displaying only unread messages, how can I temporarily
> display all messages?
> 3. In the display message pane, I want the messages to be threaded,
> but how can I display all messages in all the threads, without
> clicking the + icon for each?
<https://pan.rebelbase.com/manual/>
or the Pan FAQ
<https://pan.rebelbase.com/faq/>,
then you should join the “pan-users” mailing list and ask there.
<https://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/pan-users>
> 4. How can I customize the toolbar? I'd like to change the order of
> the icons and I'd like to remove icons I never want to use.
> 5. On the right of the toolbar, there are six icons, all with
> descriptions beginning with the word "match." What does "match" mean
> here? Does it mean something like "display"? I tried clicking each of
> those icons and now all the messages that used to be displayed are
> gone.
you set, similar to how Agent’s message list pane displays messages
which “match” the condition(s) set in your Agent “view filter”.
> 6. On the right of the toolbar, there is an icon called "Wrap article
> body." What does that mean?
> Article bodies seem to be wrapped whether
> or not that is clicked.
> 7. How can I create filters/killfile entries?
> Anything else I should know about Pan that's different from Agent?
That could turn into a looooong list. :-(
Heinz Schmitz
Sep 24, 2023, 3:41:22 AM9/24/23
to
Ralph Fox wrote:
>>...
is supposed to do. Equally important is, how easy it can be told
to do what it should.
Lotus 1-2-3 was an excellent example of a well made program. It
came with a fine instruction book, but I needed to only look up 2
pages once - everything else was made like it should have been.
The VBA that came with Excel-5 was simlilar. Wonderful.
Just now I struggle with Libre Office Macros. Arrrrrgh.
I installed PAN once, and gave up. Maybe I'd have fought more,
hadn't I had Agent. This is my one and only tool for usenet. I'd
probably give up usenet, would I loose Agent.
Regards,
H.
>>...
>> Anything else I should know about Pan that's different from Agent?
>That could turn into a looooong list. :-(
I found, that it is not only important, whether a program does what it
>That could turn into a looooong list. :-(
is supposed to do. Equally important is, how easy it can be told
to do what it should.
Lotus 1-2-3 was an excellent example of a well made program. It
came with a fine instruction book, but I needed to only look up 2
pages once - everything else was made like it should have been.
The VBA that came with Excel-5 was simlilar. Wonderful.
Just now I struggle with Libre Office Macros. Arrrrrgh.
I installed PAN once, and gave up. Maybe I'd have fought more,
hadn't I had Agent. This is my one and only tool for usenet. I'd
probably give up usenet, would I loose Agent.
Regards,
H.
Ken Blake
Sep 24, 2023, 9:57:57 AM9/24/23
to
On Sun, 24 Sep 2023 08:32:41 +1300, Ralph Fox <-rf-nz-@-.invalid>
wrote:
>On Sat, 23 Sep 2023 09:44:02 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> I just uninstalled it, downloaded it from pan-0.146.306.msi and
>> reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
>>
>> But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
>> questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
>>
>> 1. How can I display only unread messages?
>
>From the “View >> Header Pane” >> ... flyout menu.
Thanks very much, for this and your other answers below--especially
for pointing me to the user manual and FAQ, which I didn't know how to
find or even existed.
wrote:
>On Sat, 23 Sep 2023 09:44:02 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> I just uninstalled it, downloaded it from pan-0.146.306.msi and
>> reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
>>
>> But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
>> questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
>>
>> 1. How can I display only unread messages?
>
>From the “View >> Header Pane” >> ... flyout menu.
for pointing me to the user manual and FAQ, which I didn't know how to
find or even existed.
Ken Blake
Sep 24, 2023, 11:20:58 AM9/24/23
to
On Sun, 24 Sep 2023 06:57:54 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
> On Sun, 24 Sep 2023 08:32:41 +1300, Ralph Fox <-rf-nz-@-.invalid> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 23 Sep 2023 09:44:02 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>>
>>> I just uninstalled it, downloaded it from pan-0.146.306.msi and
>>> reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
>>>
>>> But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
>>> questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
>>>
>>> 1. How can I display only unread messages?
>>
>>From the “View >> Header Pane” >> ... flyout menu.
>
>
> Thanks very much, for this and your other answers below--especially for
> pointing me to the user manual and FAQ, which I didn't know how to find
> or even existed.
OK, with a combination of the online manual and my own experimentatoion,
> On Sun, 24 Sep 2023 08:32:41 +1300, Ralph Fox <-rf-nz-@-.invalid> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 23 Sep 2023 09:44:02 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:
>>
>>> I just uninstalled it, downloaded it from pan-0.146.306.msi and
>>> reinstalled it. All seems well now; I can connect to the server.
>>>
>>> But before I decide whether to use it instead of Agent, I have several
>>> questions about how to use it the way I like a newsreader to be:
>>>
>>> 1. How can I display only unread messages?
>>
>>From the “View >> Header Pane” >> ... flyout menu.
>
>
> Thanks very much, for this and your other answers below--especially for
> pointing me to the user manual and FAQ, which I didn't know how to find
> or even existed.
I've found the answers to most of my questions. But I still haven't found
out how, or even whether it's possible, to customize the toolbar--not even
in the “pan-users” mailing list. I would like to add icons, remove icons,
and resequence the icons. Cam you tell me how to do this?
I generally like Pan; I'm sending this message with it now. But I still
haven't decided to use it instead of Agent. Can you tell me why you choose
to use Pan rather than Agent?
Ken Blake
Sep 24, 2023, 11:23:49 AM9/24/23
to
spell -checked?
Ralph Fox
Sep 24, 2023, 5:02:52 PM9/24/23
to
On 24 Sep 2023 15:20:56 GMT, Ken Blake wrote:
> OK, with a combination of the online manual and my own experimentatoion,
> I've found the answers to most of my questions. But I still haven't found
> out how, or even whether it's possible, to customize the toolbar--not even
> in the “pan-users” mailing list.
I have not yet seen any question from Ken Blake in the “pan-users”
> OK, with a combination of the online manual and my own experimentatoion,
> I've found the answers to most of my questions. But I still haven't found
> out how, or even whether it's possible, to customize the toolbar--not even
> in the “pan-users” mailing list.
mailing list. (The last post from anyone which I see in the mailing
list was 7 days ago.)
And even if you had done all of these things: (i) subscribed to the
“pan-users” mailing list, then (ii) completed the confirmation, and
then (iii) posted your question to the mailing list [all of this in
the last 24 hours], you would still need to allow more time for other
people to reply to your post in the mailing list.
> I would like to add icons, remove icons,
> and resequence the icons. Cam you tell me how to do this?
>
> I generally like Pan; I'm sending this message with it now. But I still
> haven't decided to use it instead of Agent. Can you tell me why you choose
> to use Pan rather than Agent?
--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox
Ken Blake
Sep 25, 2023, 10:22:08 AM9/25/23
to
On Mon, 25 Sep 2023 10:02:46 +1300, Ralph Fox <-rf-nz-@-.invalid>
wrote:
>On 24 Sep 2023 15:20:56 GMT, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> OK, with a combination of the online manual and my own experimentatoion,
>> I've found the answers to most of my questions. But I still haven't found
>> out how, or even whether it's possible, to customize the toolbar--not even
>> in the “pan-users” mailing list.
>
>I have not yet seen any question from Ken Blake in the “pan-users”
>mailing list. (The last post from anyone which I see in the mailing
>list was 7 days ago.)
No, I didn't ask there. I just searched for the info.
>>And even if you had done all of these things: (i) subscribed to the
>“pan-users” mailing list, then (ii) completed the confirmation, and
>then (iii) posted your question to the mailing list [all of this in
>the last 24 hours], you would still need to allow more time for other
>people to reply to your post in the mailing list.
>
>
>> I would like to add icons, remove icons,
>> and resequence the icons. Cam you tell me how to do this?
>>
>> I generally like Pan; I'm sending this message with it now. But I still
>> haven't decided to use it instead of Agent. Can you tell me why you choose
>> to use Pan rather than Agent?
>
>I said no such thing.
Then my apologies. I mistakenly assumed that your talking about Pan
meant that you preferred it to Agent.
wrote:
>On 24 Sep 2023 15:20:56 GMT, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> OK, with a combination of the online manual and my own experimentatoion,
>> I've found the answers to most of my questions. But I still haven't found
>> out how, or even whether it's possible, to customize the toolbar--not even
>> in the “pan-users” mailing list.
>
>I have not yet seen any question from Ken Blake in the “pan-users”
>mailing list. (The last post from anyone which I see in the mailing
>list was 7 days ago.)
>>And even if you had done all of these things: (i) subscribed to the
>“pan-users” mailing list, then (ii) completed the confirmation, and
>then (iii) posted your question to the mailing list [all of this in
>the last 24 hours], you would still need to allow more time for other
>people to reply to your post in the mailing list.
>
>
>> I would like to add icons, remove icons,
>> and resequence the icons. Cam you tell me how to do this?
>>
>> I generally like Pan; I'm sending this message with it now. But I still
>> haven't decided to use it instead of Agent. Can you tell me why you choose
>> to use Pan rather than Agent?
>
>I said no such thing.
meant that you preferred it to Agent.
micky
Sep 27, 2023, 11:42:33 PM9/27/23
to
In alt.usenet.offline-reader.forte-agent, on Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:55:33
><0ki1gih9th30djihj...@4ax.com>, Ralph Fox
><-rf-nz-@-.invalid> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:13:58 +0100, p3dp...@anonaddy.me wrote:
>>
>>> I'm almost inclined
>>> to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
>>> feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
>>> appears to be deceased.
>>
>>I entered (actually upated) my credit card details in
>>Agent Usenet (APN) last time I got a new credit card.
>>My APN subscription continued on the new credit card
>>and no other funny transactions appeared.
>
>I think it's fairly safe to assume that Forté is being handled
>separately from APN... and based on experience so far, being handled
>so separately that attempts to purchase Agent aren't being handled at
>all. Past tales here involving trying to purchase Agent and failing
>remain unresolved.
and downloaded 7.1 in the last week, and I upgraded from 1.93 to 4 and
in the other computer to 5 using the password I bought 20 years ago for
6.
And everything was fine. Someone posted in this thread a password for
version 7.2, i think it is. Normally that's bad but if the company is
inert, that's a different story.
I think they all went home for Covid and didn't come back.
+0000, Jim H <inv...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:37:15 +1200, in
><0ki1gih9th30djihj...@4ax.com>, Ralph Fox
><-rf-nz-@-.invalid> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:13:58 +0100, p3dp...@anonaddy.me wrote:
>>
>>> I'm almost inclined
>>> to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
>>> feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
>>> appears to be deceased.
>>
>>I entered (actually upated) my credit card details in
>>Agent Usenet (APN) last time I got a new credit card.
>>My APN subscription continued on the new credit card
>>and no other funny transactions appeared.
>
>I think it's fairly safe to assume that Forté is being handled
>separately from APN... and based on experience so far, being handled
>so separately that attempts to purchase Agent aren't being handled at
>all. Past tales here involving trying to purchase Agent and failing
>remain unresolved.
>
>That said, as long as my copy works I'm sticking with it.
I didnt' buy another license but fwliw, I re-downloaded vers 4, 5, 6,
>That said, as long as my copy works I'm sticking with it.
and downloaded 7.1 in the last week, and I upgraded from 1.93 to 4 and
in the other computer to 5 using the password I bought 20 years ago for
6.
And everything was fine. Someone posted in this thread a password for
version 7.2, i think it is. Normally that's bad but if the company is
inert, that's a different story.
I think they all went home for Covid and didn't come back.
wib...@bibble.com.invalid
Sep 29, 2023, 5:29:44 AM9/29/23
to
On Wed, 27 Sep 2023 23:42:31 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
wrote:
>I think they all went home for Covid and didn't come back.
Someone posted on here a while back that the registered office address
is a surburban house when the looked at it on Google Street View
--
NNNN
wrote:
>I think they all went home for Covid and didn't come back.
is a surburban house when the looked at it on Google Street View
--
NNNN
s|b
Oct 1, 2023, 8:50:04 AM10/1/23
to
On Wed, 27 Sep 2023 23:42:31 -0400, micky wrote:
> And everything was fine. Someone posted in this thread a password for
> version 7.2, i think it is. Normally that's bad but if the company is
> inert, that's a different story.
Is it?
> And everything was fine. Someone posted in this thread a password for
> version 7.2, i think it is. Normally that's bad but if the company is
> inert, that's a different story.
--
s|b
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