Creating a database isn't so easy. The LISTSERV database functions require an index for every database, as well as a driver (to reformat the output for document parts, etc). You can read LSVDBBN to get an idea. You will also have to decide what goes into the index and what doesn't (the parts which go into the index can be searched much more efficiently, but, depending on the size of the database, you can't put everything on the index). The driver should do all access control (e.g. probably you won't want everybody on the network to access your data, but only some local peopla), check when the master file(s) have been changed and rebuild the index if needed, etc. To get started, edit DATABASE FILE (on LISTSERV's A-disk) and add a line containing the name of your database and its associated driver. Without that LISTSERV wouldn't know about the database. You should also create (and maintain thru your driver) a 'database_name DBNAMES' file to associate the database with the files (look at the DBNAMES files already present on your disk) and build a DBINDEX file out of the master files (look at BITEARN DBINDEX for example). All of this is, of course, undocumented, so it may or may not work on the next release... Jose Maria