NewsProxy

NewsProxy is a free utility which sits between your newsreader and your Net/Newsserver connection. When you ask your newsreader to collect posts, the request is routed via NewsProxy. The good thing is that NewsProxy can filter out messages based on more complex criteria than the average newsreader.

Users of FreeAgent, Agent, Netscape etc. can use NewsProxy to strip crossposts from aapc.

Getting NewsProxy
NewsProxy can be downloaded from

http://www.netaxs.com/home/h/nfilter/index.html

It's worth having a look at the FAQ whilst you are there.

The Basics
Once NewsProxy is installed, you need to configure it:

- Run NewsProxy

- Click on Edit | Configuration

- Select the 'network' tab

- Enter the name of your nnpt server

- [OK]

Next, create the 'dump all crossposts' rule:

- Click on Edit | Filters

- Delete everything in the sample file

- Type the following line at the top:

* drop Newsgroups:*,*

- Click on File | Save

- Close the editor.

Now open your newsreader.

You need to change your nnpt server to 'localhost' (without the inverted commas), rather than 'news.myisp.net', or whatever it is.

Once you have done that, you are ready to use the two programs together. Close them both for now.

Using NewsProxy
The procedure is:

1. Run NewsProxy. It starts 'listening'.

(2. Connect to the Internet in your usual way)

3. Run your newsreader. Request new headers.

4. Wait - NewsProxy slow the usual process down.

5. Messages are filtered and passed to your newsreader.

Further Information
The NewsProxy FAQ is at
http://www.nfilter.org/faq.html
There is some useful detail there.

If you are having problems creating a nfilter.dat file, you can download this one - it consists of a single line, and dumps all crossposts from all newsgroups: nfilter.dat

After downloading, replace the existing nfilter.dat in your NewsProxy directory with this one.