How are datasofts used in-game, and what do their ratings represent?

Example: Datasoft (Encyclopedia) rating 6 - would the character be able to instantly pull up any information known to man since the datasoft is at max level and is constantly updated (per RAW)?

Well, he would have a Dicepool based upon the Rating (Possibly added to a relevant Stat)... It may or may not have the relevant data being searched based upon the number of net hits resulting from the roll... *shrug*

Also just because he can be told information by the datasoft doesn't mean he understands any of it.

For an encyclopedia to have information, it has to get added to it. So there probably isn't any knowledge about top secret stuff in a datasoft like that. And any data in it is probably edited by a corporation that has interests in what gets included or not, and there might be pressure from other corps and such to keep some data out and so on.

Why, exactly, would an Encyclopedia have Classified Knowledge in it?

It won't have a Corp Secrets section, and it won't have a Local Seattle gangs section, but it very well might have an Elven Wines or Comic Books section.

Or, you know, just get an Elven Wines (or whatever) Datasoft. It will be MUCH more specific, and provide a lot mroe specialized information, than a generic Encyclopedia.

It might have a comic books section, but it won't have, say, a section on 2030's-2040's Superman.

it's similar to a PDF or other source of readable data in today's time. Surprisingly, the book does not list any specific dice pool, but we do indeed apply it as a dicepool modifier for data searches, as well as allow datasearches without matrix access if the appropriate datasoft is available.