Report 3: Gopher Search by Cheryl Choe

Report 3

My experience using Gopher


[ DR. James Page| Cheryl's Homepage]


Gopher search using lynx

My assignment for this report was to search for my database using veronica through Gopher . In order to use lynx I had to connect to UNIX. I received instruction from my instructor through e-mail for lynx. The instruction explained the process I had to do to use the lynx. He instructed us to change the user mode to advanced to used lynx. The following is the procedure I underwent. I typed lynx at the uhunix prompt. I typed "o" to open options menu of lynx version and type "u" to change the user mode to advance by using up arrow keys and then hit return. Advance mode allowed the addresses of the links to be shown at the bottom of the screen. Then I typed "r" to return to the lynx menu.

The lynx menu appeared with a title Welcome to Uninfo! University of Hawaii. I used the arrow key to scroll down to Search and Explore the On-Line Universe and hit return. Then exploring and searching the web menu appeared. I highlighted Lycos and hit return. At the find prompt I typed "Veronica" and hit return. Then the veronica directory was on the screen. I highlighted the file How to Compose Veronica queries contents. Then I arrowed down to Simplified Veronica: find All gopher types in Gopher Menu and hit return. A phrase saying Enter a database query in highlighted bar appeared at the bottom left of the screen. I typed in my key words current concern and worries and hit return. After about thirty seconds, the result was zero. There was an annotation that said "wait for other server".

After viewing the file I went to search under Veronica-Index to All Gopher Menu by Keyword. I highlighted "Search Gopherspace by the word(s) (via University of Koeln). When I typed in confessions and worries and concerns at the database prompt I had no inquires. Then I typed "worries" and hit return. The message I was stated that the line was too busy, and asked me to try again. I tried again and received a message that said "waiting for response message" that retrieved no files. So I had to restart by returning to the beginning. I had to reset the user mode to advanced and start over again. I noticed that once I made a mistake I had to start all over again.

I did several inquires by typing different keywords such as anxiety, concerns, or social psychology. Thus, I frequently received a message stating the line was too busy or waiting for responses that took forever and froze the computer. At this point I became frustrated and tried my best not to patience with the computer but it was very discouraging not to get any results. Yet I tried the process again and this time I got some files under the keyword "worries." I viewed each files and clicked on the file called "some worries" however, the file could not be open due to DNA entry problem. I noticed that I could not open any file due to DNA entry problem or the line was too busy. Sometimes it would state that the data was transferring and I had to wait for responses and which would take about couple minutes and I saw zero results.

Searching through WS Gopher

In class Calvin showed me I could use WS gopher from the program manger instead of lynx. I initiated to take different methods because my search with lynx was unsuccessful. So I clicked WS Gopher and highlighted other Gopher and Information servers. I clicked Search Gopher Space Using Veronica and highlighted Search Gopher Space(veronica) via Psinet and typed the keyword "worries" and clicked the search button. I retrieved a lot of files under the keyword "worries." I found out that there were many unrelated files but I was able to find some relevant files. I clicked on the file called "student worries" but it could not be open due to DNS entry problem.

Other interesting files I clicked on had the same problem. At this point I was so discouraged that none of the files I found interesting could be open. Then when I clicked the file called Board Worries Over Tuition Hikes it worked. Then I learned that I had to find the address for the article. Calvin showed me the process by using bookmark. I click add bookmark and then click access providers. Then I had to edit bookmark and click access providers. After I was able to see the address for the article I clicked on. The address was long and if I made one mistake the document did not show on the netscape. Calvin wanted to show me how to copy the address instead of typing but it did not work, so I had the honor to type out the whole gopher address. I wanted to thank Calvin for helping me and showing the steps for gopher search through WS gopher. Without his help I would be totally confused and discouraged to complete my gopher search. I felt happy that I finally found one file relating to my database after so many trails and error that I continued to search for my topics.

Gopher search through netscape using Lycos

While searching for my database Conrad told me that it was easier to search through netscape using Lycos. I decided to follow his advice since I could not get the address using the bookmark. I remember all the direction Calvin told me and did what he taught me but I was unable to retrieve the address for the article I found. Therefore, I wanted to see if this search was easier to use. The process was similar to using the WS Gopher. Once I got into veronica through Lycos, I was able to typed in my database inquires. I typed in the keyword "anxiety" and found a lot of files. Although as I was looking through each files a lot of them I could not retrieve due to DNS entry and other problems. However, I was able to accessed a few of the files. The first one I acquired was called Study Habit and Test Anxiety. This document gave students advise taking the test without feeling high anxiety. It had list of advice students should follow before taking the exams. The purpose of this document was to help the students ease their anxiety and developed a strategy to overcome the obstacle. I thought it might be helpful for students to read about and learned few techniques to ease their nervousness and anxiety when their taking exams.

I explored and viewed other files that I had encountered called Motivation and Anxiety in Writers. I also retrieved a file called Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression. This article discussed the symptoms of children who are high in anxiety and suffered from depression.

I found out that once I understood and learned the basics of using the gopher search through veronica it became easier to use this search. I also learned not to give and be persistent to understand and learned for myself how the method works.



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