SEC EDGAR Database "on-line"

["R. Anders Schneiderman" <anders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Pen-l'rs,

	Just in case you haven't heard, the SEC's EDGAR database--or at
least parts of it--are finally on-line!  It looks like a typical Internet
hack:  the files are in coded form, and it will probably take a bit of
work to figure out how to smoothly work the system.  Also, the files
aren't available via gopher or world-wide web yet; the only  interactive
service is "ftp", which is a royal pain in the butt.

	However, there is one good piece of news:  you can also get
EDGAR info via e-mail.  This means that non-profits, unions, and other
non-academic folks can get access to it even if they don't have access to
the Internet.  To get general instructions on how to do it, send e-mail to

		mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Leave the message header blank, and send the following message:

SEND edgar/general.txt

That will send you the general info on how to get stuff from them.



	Sometime over the next week to two weeks, I'll try to sort out how
it works, and I'll post a message explaining what's there and how to get
what you want without having to think too much.

				Anders Schneiderman
				Center for Community Economic Research
				U.C. Berkeley