There have been many comments on chemweb and other discussion lists about the RSC's plans to make its primary journals available electronically in 1997. I hope that I can allay some of the fears expressed on those lists. There are two points I would like to address. Firstly, the available platforms for the service and, secondly, the choice of CatchWord as the host for RSC data. It is true that the test data presently available for user access can be examined only by use of the CatchWord software running on PCs. However, it is certainly not the RSC's policy to disenfranchise those who wish to access its primary journals electronically via Macintosh or UNIX. A Java implementation of the RealPage software is in beta test form now and should be released in January 1997. This will allow the software to run within Netscape making the journal data accessible to all computers running Netscape with internet access. The choice of host for the service was based on a number of criteria. Not least of these were the small size of RealPage files in comparison with analogous page-based files such as PDF, and the ease of implementation, bearing in mind our wish for the RSC to have its journals available in electronic form for the beginning of 1997. It is important to view this launch of the RSC journals electronically via CatchWord as an initial step towards providing users with some of the extra features and benefits that are expected in electronic journals. Those visiting our web site will already have seen other potential developments in the work of the CLIC project in enhancing articles from ChemComm. The RSC will be producing a number of these enhanced articles for users to access and to provide feedback on. Based on this feedback from authors, editorial boards and other users of the journal articles the future development of the RSC journals in the electronic arena will be formulated. Dr Mike Hannant Publisher The Royal Society of Chemistry Email: hannantm@rsc.org ----- chemweb: A list for Chemical Applications of the Internet. Archived as: http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/hypermail/chemweb/ To unsubscribe, send to listserver@ic.ac.uk the following message; unsubscribe chemweb List coordinator, Henry Rzepa (rzepa@ic.ac.uk)