--- Re: Multiple TOPICS in SUBJECT / Eugenio Gatto. - Torino, 1998-03-10

"Since a distributed posting could have abbreviated TOPICS i.e.,
shortest unique string, searching the archives is iffy." [Pete Weiss]

Sure. And perhaps you remember I held, long time ago, that LISTSERV
could provide "topics standardization": in the sense of rewriting the
left part of subjects to show the "official" labels associated in the
list header to each (number of) recognized topic. Probably an easy task,
since the reverse is always done, from the word, even abbreviated, to
the number.

(To tantalize your memory, without digging LSTSRV-L archives: in the
same context you mentioned a good use in searching of 'Re:', which
instead I proposed to suppress altogether from archives, as it is done
in DIGESTS initial table of contents).

I must add that I am a librarian, and owner of a librarians' list: so
"keyword standardization" is quite a natural idea for me. Even without
LISTSERV intervention, probably my users could be willing to accept
self-discipline, and use topic labels without truncation (if short and
well chosen).

I miei saluti.

<-- Eugenio Gatto               (Politecnico di Torino)
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