First, in addition to text files, graphics files-in .gif and .tiff formats that are further encoded hexadecimally and source codes in .zip format-may now be posted. Second, other biotechnology servers may be accessed directly from the BioGopher menu. Finally, several new features have been added to the ABRF folder: the ABRF Yellow Pages (sorted by alphabetical, geographical, and service listings), Help & FYI (questions and answers to technical questions, mainly those asked on the ABRF electronic mailing list), Notices (information about meetings, training courses, etc.), and Positions Open. All these folders are annotated according to their most recent update.
How well is BioGopher being used? During the first forty days (July 19-August 31) BioGopher was accessed 142 times by 103 different people. More recently, during the period December 15-January 18, 93 different people logged onto BioGopher 175 times, accessing the files a total of 1,200 times. Thus, BioGopher has a relatively steady user base.
These are good statistics, but the gopher service is not without problems. As the number of users on the Internet is increasing rapidly and computationally intensive programs like Mosaic are favored, it is becoming more difficult to access gophers. If you encounter such a problem, wait a few minutes, and then try again. Also, Macintosh computer users might have to quit the Turbogopher application before trying again. The Turbogopher application does not always clear its memory, and a second try to the same gopher only brings back the previous window.
The ABRF gopher service is an evolving process. The changes made over the past nine months are in response to your input. If you encounter problems, would like to see changes in format, or have access to other useful information, please send e-mail to †mit Yźksel at umit@aol.com or Clark Riley (Johns Hopkins University) at clark_riley@qmail.bs.jhu.edu.
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