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HyTelnet (sometimes renderedHytelnet orHYTELNET) was an early attempt to create a universaldatabase[1] for the variousTelnet-based information resources available before theWorld Wide Web.[2] It was first developed in 1990 by Peter Scott, then at theUniversity of Saskatchewan inSaskatoon,Canada. Using aclient written by Earl Fogel,[2] HyTelnet offered its users a primitiveterminal-basedGUI that allowed them to browse a directory of Telnet-based resources and then access them in a relatively standardized manner. On-line help was available,[citation needed] and there were frequent updates made available to its database which sites could download.
HyTelnet's chief inadequacy was that it was not centralized, i.e., every HyTelnet installation used its own separate copy of the master directory.[citation needed] While beneficial early-on, as it ensured no dependence on a centralserver, HyTelnet'suser experience could vary widely as local installations might not have the same version of the client or might have obsolete information. This became a greater liability as more institutions had reliable, "always-on" Internet access. Finally, when the World Wide Web gained pre-eminence, many of the services that HyTelnet pointed to were gradually retired, increasingly limiting its relevance. HyTelnet's final database update was in 1997.[3]
This is a typical HyTelnet screen running much as a user would have experienced it, rendered innon-proportional font to simulate aterminal. This is from one of the last releases of the client, which was version 6.9.
Welcome to HYTELNET version 6.9Original version dated June 11, 1995 with updated database as of June 8, 1997 What is HYTELNET? <WHATIS> Library catalogs <SITES1> Other resources <SITES2> Help files for catalogs <OP000> Catalog interfaces <SYS000> Internet Glossary <GLOSSARY> Telnet tips <TELNET> Telnet/TN3270 escape keys <ESCAPE.KEY> Key-stroke commands <HELP> ............................................................. Up/Down arrows MOVE Left/Right arrows SELECT ? for HELP anytime m returns here i searches the index q quits ............................................................. HYTELNET 6.9 was written by Peter Scott (scott@lights.com) Northern Lights Internet Solutions, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada
Items in angle brackets < > are selectable, and can be highlighted by using the cursor motion keys. There is a prominent online help option. The right arrow/cursor key selects the highlighted option, or ENTER/RETURN. The left key allows users to back up to an earlier level.
The search option allows a simple search of a central INDEX file. This INDEX file is one-line-per-resource, and is aflat file that the Hytelnet client searches directly.[2] After entering a term, the client returns a new menu with the list of selectable items, for example this query "library":
<SITES1> On-Line Library Catalogs<PL008> National Library of Poland (Biblioteka Narodawa)<HU007> Hungarian National Library<BE004> Faculty of Agriculture Library - Gembloux<BE010> Royal Library Albert I (Belgium)<TW004> National Central Library<TW013> Taiwan Provincial Library at Taichung<DK001> Danish National Library of Science and Medicine<DK002> Royal Danish Library<DK007> Denmark's Technical Library<DK012> Danish Veterinary and Agricultural Library (AGROLINE)<IT009> Vatican Library (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana)<US200> Washington University in St. Louis Medical Library<US202> Waterways Online Library Facilities<US215> New York State Library<US227> University of Texas at Austin Tarlton Law Library (TALLONS)<US229> Boston Library Consortium Union List of Serials<US251> University of California Northern Regional Library Facility<US256> University of Miami Medical Library<US258> OhioLink: Ohio Library and Information Network<US266> University of Virginia Health Sciences Library<US268> Abilene Library Consortium (Texas)<US285> University of Alabama, Birmingham, Lister Hill Health Sciences Library—press space for more --
The user may then select one of these options, or go back with the left arrow. Search results will vary based on the locally installed database.
After drilling down to a specific resource, HyTelnet will display a connect page. Thehostname,IP address and contact address are for example purposes only, and may not necessarily connect to anything functional (although this is a real entry in HyTelnet's last released database).
University of California (MELVYL)telnet melvyl.ucop.edu or 192.35.222.222When asked for terminal type, enter VT100 or HELP for other optionsPress RETURN when prompted toTo exit, type ENDContact:preferred address: MELVYL System User Services melvyl@dla.ucop.edu
At this point, the user could select the "telnet" portion and attempt to connect to the remote host overTelnet. Instructions for using the resource are given. Additional instructions for general types of library and research systems were also given in HyTelnet, such as this one for INNOPAC, a common library electronic card cataloguing database:
Using INNOPACINNOPAC is very easy to use. Just press the letter or number next to theitem that you want. There is no need to press the ENTER or RETURN keywhen choosing one of the menu options. For example:Title searches: To search for a particular title, select T on the main menu.Author searches: To search for a particular author, select A on the main menu.Subject searches: To search for a particular subject, select S on the main menu.Keyword searches: Either "k" or "w" (varies from system to system) as listed on the menu.Other search options: Different INNOPAC libraries have added additional search options, such as Medical Subject Headings, Call Number, SuDocs numbers, Reserve Lists, etc.Popular options available when looking at any one record include: S > Show items with the SAME SUBJECT Z > Show items nearby on the shelf
The regular updates not only updated the list of resources, but also the help files in addition.
The HyTelnet client is no longer maintained, but there are several web-based re-creations available.
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