Welcome to the Forte Agent v.99b release!

Agent .99b is a pre-release version of Forte's commercial newsreader, 
Agent.  Agent .99b includes all of the features and functionality of 
Free Agent 1.0 plus a multilingual spelling checker, basic email 
functionality, folders and sorting.

===============

If you are upgrading from a previous version of Free Agent or Agent:

-  You should backup your existing Agent databases.

-  You can then unzip the ZIP file directly into the directory where
   your previous copy of AGENT.EXE lives.


===============

Agent requires the following:

1. Windows 3.1 or greater, or Windows NT 3.5.

2. A TCP/IP driver that supports winsock 1.1 applications.
   Agent has been tested with the following drivers:

   - Trumpet Winsock 2.0B and 2.1B
   - NetManage Chameleon 3.11N
   - Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups 3.11
   - Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 TCP/IP
   - Microsoft Windows 95 with Microsoft TCP/IP
   - Spry dialer (Internet in a Box; CompuServe)
   - NetCruiser 1.6

3. Access to an NNTP news server.
   For posting email, access to an SMTP mail server.
   For receiving mail, access to a POP3 mail server or SMTP.

===============

Follow these steps to install Agent:

1. Create a directory on your hard disk for Agent and copy the
   contents of this ZIP file to the directory.

2. Make an icon for Agent in Program Manager.  To do this, choose New
   from the File menu and select the Program Item option.  Fill in
   the Program Item Properties dialog box as shown in the example
   below:

      Description:       Agent
      Command Line:      c:\agent\agent.exe
      Working Directory: c:\agent

3. The first time you run Agent, it will prompt you for the
   information it needs to operate.

4. Once you have supplied the necessary setup information and Agent
   is operational, press F1 to display the online help.

   You may want to start by reading the Getting Started topic.
   To view this topic, click on the phrase Getting Started on the
   Agent Contents page or search help for "Getting Started."

===============

To keep up to date on the latest information about Agent -- FAQ's, 
known bugs, etc. -- check our WWW page at 

   <URL:http://www.forteinc.com/forte/agent/support.htm>.


===============

WHAT'S COMING NEXT?

Due to our commitment to provide our customers with an upgrade to 
Agent .99 by the end of August, we were unable to include a few 
features that we consider to be important components of "basic email 
functionality".  However, you can expect to receive these features 
shortly in another interim release that includes the following:

-- Decoding of binary attachments from mail
-- Moving messages from Outbox to folders

Soon after that, we will release the more advanced email features 
(such as address book and MIME support) that you've seen described on 
our Web pages.  And finally, we will offer you many of the enhanced 
newsreading features that you've been waiting for!

Clearly, we still have a number of features to implement for the 
final version of Agent 1.0, which is now scheduled for release in the 
fall.  As in the past, we would like to continue to offer you 
incremental upgrades to Agent .99 so that we can incorporate your 
feedback and suggestions to ensure that the final product satisfies 
your needs and preferences.  We realize that by providing these 
incremental upgrades we may have delayed the final release of Agent 
1.0, but we believe that  your ongoing collaboration, input, and 
suggestions are helping us to make Agent 1.0 the most powerful mail 
and news navigation tool on the Net.

