Access to the World Wide Web ADS Services
-----------------------------------------

The Astrophysics Data System project has begun the restructuring
process that was described in a previous mailing dated August 30, 1994
from the ADS project scientist. As part of this restructuring process,
the Graphical User Interface (GUI) version of the ADS software will
now be referred to as the Classic ADS.  Many of the services available
from the Classic ADS have been made available on the World Wide Web.
Use the following URL to access these WWW based services:

     http://adswww.harvard.edu

There are also links to this page throughout the Classic ADS html
documentation. We strongly encourage our Classic ADS users to start
using the WWW based ADS which will continue to be updated and
supported.  In particular, the abstract service is available on the
World Wide Web and it now includes access to scanned images of the ApJ
letter articles since 1986. ApJ letter articles back to 1975 will be
added in about a week.  We plan to add ApJ and AJ articles back to
1975 in about 6 months.


Reduction in Classic ADS User and Node Support
----------------------------------------------

The Classic ADS will continue to exist but with limited user and node
support. However, it is expected that most of the Classic ADS data
providers or nodes will gradually discontinue offering their services
to the Classic ADS.  Most of the data currently accessible from the
Classic ADS will be available from other sources including the WWW.

Since the Classic ADS still requires a password and ID upon startup, the
following generic ADS ID and password have been created for this purpose. 

     ADS ID:       ads 
     ADS Password: ads

Users who have forgotten their Classic ADS ID and/or password should
now use this generic login rather than contacting ADS user support for
a new password.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is up-to-date for the Classic ADS
and can be accessed from the following URL:

     http://adswww.colorado.edu/FAQ/FAQ.html

Please refer to this page for answers to your Classic ADS questions before
contacting the ADS User Support offices at:

     ads@cfa.harvard.edu 
            - or - 
     ads@cuads.colorado.edu.

Final Release of the Classic ADS, ADS Version 4.1
-------------------------------------------------

 _______ ADS Classic is already installed on boira2.bo.cnr.it _____

A final release of the Classic ADS, ADS Version 4.1, is now available
and includes all of the previously released updates and patches as
well as an update to the ADS Abstract service and the addition of the
AGRA Skymapping Utility.  AGRA is a general X-Windows / PostScript
program that can be used to make maps of the sky in a number of
different coordinate systems.  Data, coordinate overlay grids, labels
and the map projection itself can each be done in different coordinate
systems. This greatly facilitates the intercomparison of data from
various sources. 

ADS v4.1 is available from anonymous ftp for Sun SPARC, DEC, and HP
workstations.  Follow these instructions to access the Classic ADS
v4.1: (PLEASE NOTE: The Classic ADS v4.1 release is available from
ANONYMOUS ftp and no longer requires your ADS ID and password to
obtain.)

        % cd /usr/local/xads       (or whatever directory you install ADS)
        % ftp adsftp.harvard.edu

        [connection information ... 
             login:    anonymous
             password: [your-email-address] ]

        ftp> binary
        ftp> cd ads-classic
        ftp> cd [MACHINE]
        ftp> get README
        ftp> get INSTALL
        ftp> get adscore4.1.[MACHINE].tar.Z ads.core.tar.Z
        ftp> get adsservices4.1.[MACHINE].tar.Z ads.services.tar.Z
        ftp> quit

Follow the instructions in the INSTALL file to complete the installation.
The ReleaseNotes.ADS contains the latest release information.



Contact point:     A.Zanichelli