Xnews Help
This page has general help resources for Xnews. You will find more targeted information by clicking elsewhere on the navigation menu.
Installation
To install Xnews for the first time, you should first get the full zipfile from the download section of the Xnews site. Then you should get the latest "test" version from the test directory of the Xnews site. The first zip contains all the files you need to make Xnews work, and the second one contains the latest XNEWS.exe. After unzipping the first one, just unzip the latest XNEWS.exe over the older one. If you are worried about the "test" designation, don't be. If you are still worried about it, read Blinky's page about Xnews versions.
Primary Docs
Xnews comes with some important documentation; it's available in your Xnews directory, and some of it is also available on the web. I only link to what's on the web, natch.
The Fine Manual for Xnews
The manual is not structured the way you may expect manuals to be, but it contains tons of useful information. I recommend reading it every once in a while whether you have a question or not. Don't let it bug you if you don't understand everything you are reading; soon you will find that when a question does arise, you remember seeing something about it in the manual, and you may even recall where to look for it again. The manual is accessible via the Help menu in Xnews.
The Change Log for Xnews
Many features were added to Xnews without being documented in the manual. The change log has most of them. The log is changes.txt, in your Xnews directory, but somewhere along the way a bit of the log went missing. Thankfully, Guy maintained the unexpurgated log, so here it is.
Helpful Guides
David B's Xnews Help Pages (archive.org copy)
David B has written an excellent guide to all the options available in the Setup Xnews menu. He also has tips about .ini file options, and he has frequently-answered questions' answers. Reading all of his pages will work wonders for your ability to use Xnews. Archive.org also has an older version of David B's pages.
Ralf's Xnews Menu-Reference
Ralf presents a comprehensive guide to all you can do via the pull-down menus in Xnews. If you are confused about any menu item or just want to learn more about Xnews, his site is a must-see.
Slyck's Xnews Setup and Usage Guide
Slyck's guide has a couple of pages which can help you get Xnews up and running quickly.
Example Configuration Files
Xnews uses ini files to store its settings. Many of the options are available via the GUI, but many are not. It may help to look at some example settings files.
Sample xnews.ini Files at Blinkynet
Before Blinky the Shark swam away forever, he collected some xnews.ini files from people in news.software.readers. Blinky also had other good stuff at his site.
The Tech Zero's Usenet Dumping Ground (archive.org copy)
Tech Zero has an xnews.ini file as well as a groups.ini file for you to have a look at. He's also got other useful things, such as a score file.
My xnews.ini
If you use things from my xnews.ini, please read the comments I've added to the file.