Explain--:

• An XML description of how to interact with a database and why you should be interested in it
  
  
• Encompasses both F&N and Explain
  
  
• Five sections: serverInfo, databaseInfo, metaInfo, indexInfo and recordInfo
  
  
• Easy to create and implement using existing technology
  
  
• Learns from the past (Explain and Explain Lite)
  
  
• Built with searching and harvesting in mind
  
  

Some URLs:

• Website: http://explain.z3950.org/
  
  
• Mailing List: ex-plain@indexdata.dk
  
  
• List Archive: http://www.indexdata.dk/pipermail/ex-plain/
  
  
• This presentation: http://gondolin.hist.liv.ac.uk/~cheshire/presentations/explain--/