How To Alter Your newsrc File

How To Alter Your newsrc File
What is a newsrc file: When you first set up your newsgroups, a file is created that keeps track of all newsgroups that you subscribe to. The ".newsrc" file stores a list of ALL these subscribed newsgroups, and also contains the status of each group, and if subscribed to, what messages (article numbers) you have read. The .newsrc file remains constant and writes an updated copy back every time you are finished reading news, always updating the news items in each newsgroup that have been read.
A .newsrc file is just a list of newsgroups (one per line). Immediately following the name of each newsgroup in this file will either be a colon (:) or an exclamation point (!). The colon signifies a subscribed newsgroup; the exclamation point signifies an unsubscribed newsgroup. Any trailing numbers on a line are used to keep track of your reading history in the respective newsgroup.

Netscape News 2.0x - 3.0x
Netscape Communicator 4.0
Microsoft Outlook Express
Forte’s Agent
Forte’s Free Agent
Macintosh Netscape News 2.0x-3.0x
Macintosh Netscape Communicator 4.0
YA- or MT-Newswatcher

Updating the newsrc file for the Pacific Bell Internet Version of Netscape News 2.0x - 3.0x

Warning: This will delete your current newsgroups file, and you will have to resubscribe to your favorite News groups. Unfortunately, there is no other way to resolve this so please make a note of the current newsgroups you subscribe to.

Using File Manager in Windows 3.x, or Windows Explorer in Windows 95, navigate to the Netscape News Directory. If you are using a Windows 3.x kit the directory will probably be C:\PBI\news or C:\Program Files\PBI\news

Delete the files news.rc and news.rcg.

If you have another news server (other than the Pacific Bell Internet's news servers) setup for your browser DO NOT delete these files. Go back to Netscape News and click Show All Groups under Options. This will download the news group list from the new server. Resubscribe to your news groups.

Updating the newsrc file for the Pacific Bell Internet Version of Netscape Communicator 4.0

Warning: This will delete your current newsgroups file, and you will have to resubscribe to your favorite News groups. Unfortunately, there is no other way to resolve this so please make a note of the current newsgroups you subscribe to.

In any Netscape window go to Edit | Preferences
Expand the Mail & Groups branch and highlight Groups Server
Copy the Discussion group (news) folder: location (i.e., C:\Program Files\PBI\Users\Profile\News)

(Where the "Profile" directory is actually your profile name given to your account)

Close Netscape and navigate to that directory using (Windows Explorer or File Manager).
Note that some of the below files names may vary if you are using Windows 3.1 (this was tested under Win 95).
Delete the file news.rc.
Navigate to the directory called host-news.sf.sbcglobal.net or host-news.la.sbcglobal.net.
Delete all files except hostinfo.dat (which stores the list of newsgroups).
Go back into Netscape Discussion Groups and resubscribe to your news groups.

Updating the Active News File for Microsoft Outlook Express

Warning: This will delete your current newsgroups file, and you will have to resubscribe to your favorite News groups. Unfortunately, there is no other way to resolve this so please make a note of the current newsgroups you subscribe to.

Open Microsoft Outlook Express.
Click on the "Tools" menu, and select the "Download All" option.

At this point, your Microsoft Outlook Express should update your files with the new numbering scheme from the server. If you find that you are unable to read new messages, follow the next set of directions otherwise, your files are updated and you are ready to browse newsgroups again.

Click on the "Tools" menu, and select the "Accounts..." option.
Select the "News" tab and highlight the "news.sf.sbcglobal.net" or "news.la.sbcglobal.net" account name.
Choose to Remove this account.
Then select to Add a new "News" account.
Follow the "Internet Connection Wizard" by inputting your name and e-mail address.
Next, type in "news.sf.sbcglobal.net" or "news.la.sbcglobal.net" for the News (NNTP) server.
Continue with the "Internet Connection Wizard" instructions until you are finished.
Highlight the New Account name in the "Tools | Accounts…" option and set it as the default.
Simply select "Close" and a new window will prompt you to download new newsgroups.

NOTE: Microsoft Outlook Express stores its configurations within a computer’s registry not an actual newsrc file.

Updating the Active News File for Forte’s Agent

Highlight all your subscribed groups by selecting a subscribed group and clicking on the "Edit" menu to "Select All".
Then click the "Online" menu, select "Sample Headers from Selected Groups".
Make sure the "Update record of headers that have been retrieved" box is checked and click OK.

NOTE: Agent stores the same information in its own databases using a proprietary format.

Updating the Active News File for Forte’s Free Agent

Highlight all your subscribed groups by selecting a subscribed group and clicking on the "Edit" menu to "Select All".
Then click the "Online" menu, select "Sample Headers from Selected Groups".
Check the option "Retrieve the most recent messages, up to the specified number" and click OK.

NOTE: Free Agent stores the same information in its own databases using a proprietary format.

Updating the newsrc file for the Pacific Bell Internet Macintosh Version of Netscape News 2.0x-3.0x

Open your version of Netscape.
Select the "Window" menu and choose the "Netscape News" selection.
Highlight the news.sf.sbcglobal.net or news.la.sbcglobal.net newshost.
Go to your "File" menu and select the "Remove News Host" selection.
Go back to the "File" menu and select the "Open News Host" selection.
Input news.sf.sbcglobal.net or news.la.sbcglobal.net as your server address, and 119 in the "Port" field; Click "Open" when finished.
Highlight your "news.sf.sbcglobal.net" or "news.la.sbcglobal.net" host once again and select "Show All Newsgroups" from your "Options" menu.
The server will then retrieve all of the newsgroups.

Updating the newsrc file for the Pacific Bell Internet Macintosh Version of Netscape Communicator 4.0

Close your Netscape Communicator software.
Open your "System Folder".
Find your "Preferences" folder and click open.
Select your "Netscape Users" file and then open your profile folder.
Locate the "News" folder and click it open.
Send the "news.sf.sbcglobal.net" or "news.la.sbcglobal.net" file to the trash.
Click open the "hosts-news.sf.sbcglobal.net or hosts-news.la.sbcglobal.net" folder and send the hostinfo.dat file to the trash also.
Open your Netscape Collabra Discussion Groups.
Select the "Join Groups" option and allow the server to populate your Netscape client with the full list of newsgroups.

Updating Your YA- or MT-Newswatcher Active File to Match Our New Server Configurations

Open your "System Folder".
Find your "Prefences" folder and click open.
Select your "Newswatcher Preferences" file and send it to your trash can.
Open your Newswatcher client and resubmit the server address (news.sf.sbcglobal.net or news.la.sbcglobal.net) and your mail server address (mail.pacbell.net).

| Home | Account Services | Technical Support | Site Index |
Copyright © 2001 SBC Pacific Bell Internet Services. All rights reserved.