The local language version is something to be composed by the local NICs which explains how to fill in the form. This was agreed at the ir-registry BOF in Paris wasnt it?

Yup, I think it was. This is a good idea, so in the cases where it's more appropriate for another NIC to handle the allocation, it's simple for them to deal with the form.

a drag..) This form is actually designed so as to be difficult to fill in *without* reading the documentation - quite carefully - first.

This is the bit I don't like, I think this is a bad idea. I think the people that are reasonable enough to take the time out to read accompanying documentation will do that even if the form is apparently easy to fill in at first sight. There are always going to be people who `know better' and just do it.

BUT I do think you run the risk of getting information back to you in a format that will require quite a bit of massaging.. and is possibly incomplete.

I guess it is personal taste, but short field names and reams of documentation strike me as another good way of getting incomplete info back ...

The template is built around the idea of the RIPE database wich includes explanations on how to fill in each field and this seems to be understood

Yeah, but the RIPE database is largely used by folks acquainted with the networking field - Joe User who has just opened his Sun workstation manual which tells him to go get an IP number isn't. (We've had several people telling us they need at least 255 network numbers, when what in fact they do mean is they need 255 host addresses, for example). Sorry to sound so down on this, but I really would be loathe to start sending this style of form out. Most of the requests we deal with at ULCC are NIC of last resort queries (ie people who are not going to connect to the Internet at large). Many of them are not fully acquainted with the Internet, and I think we will just confuse them further. If we could design a form where the responses were in the same place, regardless of language, eg by using the database template idea, but supplying information along with it, I think it'd be better. Dunc