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42: .so version.rf
43: .tp
44: .(l C
45: \fIdiscard this page\fR
46: .sp 4
47: The Rand \fIMH\fR
48: Message Handling System:
49: User's Manual
50: .sp
51: UCI Version
52: .sp 2
53: \*(td
54: \*(MH
55: .)l
56: .++ C
57: .+c INTRODUCTION
58: .pp
59: Although people can travel cross-country in hours and can
60: reach others by telephone in seconds, communications still depend
61: heavily upon paper, most of which is distributed through the mails.
62: .pp
63: There are several major reasons for this continued dependence on
64: written documents.
65: First, a written document may be proofread
66: and corrected prior to its distribution, giving the author
67: complete control over his words.
68: Thus, a written document is
69: better than a telephone conversation in this respect.
70: Second,
71: a carefully written document is far less likely to be
72: misinterpreted or poorly translated than a phone conversation.
73: Third, a signature offers reasonable verification of authorship,
74: which cannot be provided with media such as telegrams.
75: .pp
76: However, the need for
77: .u fast ,
78: accurate, and reproducible document distribution is
79: obvious.
80: One solution in widespread use is the telefax.
81: Another
82: that is rapidly gaining popularity is electronic mail.
83: Electronic mail is similar to telefax in that the data to be sent
84: are digitized, transmitted via phone lines, and
85: turned back into a document at the receiver.
86: The advantage of
87: electronic mail is in its compression factor.
88: Whereas a telefax
89: must scan a page in very fine lines and send all of the black and
90: white information, electronic mail assigns characters fixed
91: codes which can be transmitted as a few bits of information.
92: Telefax presently has the advantage of being able to transmit an
93: arbitrary page, including pictures, but electronic mail is
94: beginning to deal with this problem.
95: Electronic mail also integrates well
96: with current directions in office automation, allowing documents
97: prepared with sophisticated equipment at one site to be quickly
98: transferred and printed at another site.
99: .pp
100: Currently, most electronic mail is intraorganizational,
101: with mail transfer remaining within one computer.
102: As computer
103: networking becomes more common, however, it is becoming more feasible to
104: communicate with anyone whose computer can be linked to your
105: own via a network.
106: .pp
107: The pioneering efforts on general-purpose electronic mail
108: were by organizations using the DoD ARPAnet[1].
109: The capability to send messages between computers existed before
110: the ARPAnet was developed, but it was used only in limited ways.
111: With the advent of the
112: ARPAnet, tools began to be developed which made it convenient for
113: individuals or organizations to distribute messages
114: over broad geographic areas, using
115: diverse computer facilities.
116: The interest and activity in
117: message systems has now reached such proportions that steps
118: have been taken within the DoD to coordinate and
119: unify the development of military message systems.
120: The use of electronic mail is expected to increase
121: dramatically in the next few years.
122: The utility of such systems
123: in the command and control and intelligence environments is
124: clear, and applications in these areas will probably lead the
125: way.
126: As the costs for sending and handling electronic messages
127: continue their rapid decrease, such uses can be
128: expected to spread rapidly into other areas and, of course, will
129: not be limited to the DoD.
130: .pp
131: A message system provides tools that help users (individuals
132: or organizations) deal with messages in various ways.
133: Messages
134: must be composed, sent, received, stored, retrieved,
135: forwarded, and replied to.
136: Today's best interactive computer
137: systems provide a variety of word-processing and information
138: handling capabilities.
139: The message handling facilities should be
140: well integrated with the rest of the system, so as to be a
141: graceful extension of overall system capability.
142: .pp
143: The message system described in this report, \fIMH\fR, provides most of the
144: features that can be found in other message systems and also
145: incorporates some new ones.
146: It has been built on the UNIX time-sharing
147: system[2], a popular operating system for the DEC PDP-11\**
148: and VAX-11 classes of computers.
149: .(f
150: \** PDP and VAX are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.
151: .)f
152: A \*(lqsecure\*(rq operating
153: system similar to UNIX is currently being developed[3],
154: and that system will also run \fIMH\fR.
155: .pp
156: This report provides a complete description of \fIMH\fR and
157: thus may serve as a user's manual, although parts of the report
158: will be of interest to non-users as well.
159: Sections 2 and 3, the
160: Overview and Tutorial, present the key
161: ideas of \fIMH\fR and will give those not familiar with message systems
162: an idea of what such systems are like.
163: .pp
164: \fIMH\fR consists of a set of commands which use some special
165: files and conventions.
166: The final section is divided into three parts.
167: The first part covers the information
168: a user needs to know in addition to the
169: commands.
170: Then, each of the \fIMH\fR commands is described in detail.
171: Finally, other obscure details are revealed.
172: A summary of the commands is given in Appendix A,
173: and the syntax of message sequences is given in Appendix B.
174: .pp
175: A novel approach has been taken in the design of \fIMH\fR.
176: Instead of creating a large subsystem that appears as a single
177: command to the user (such as MS[4]),
178: \fIMH\fR is a collection of separate commands
179: which are run as separate programs.
180: The file and directory
181: system of UNIX are used directly.
182: Messages are stored as
183: individual files (datasets), and collections of them are grouped
184: into directories.
185: In contrast, most other message systems store
186: messages in a complicated data structure within a monolithic
187: file.
188: With the \fIMH\fR approach, UNIX commands can be
189: interleaved with commands invoking the functions of the message
190: handler.
191: Conversely, existing UNIX commands
192: can be used in connection with messages.
193: For
194: example, all the usual UNIX editing, text-formatting, and printing
195: facilities can be applied directly to individual messages.
196: MH,
197: therefore, consists of a relatively small amount of new code; it
198: makes extensive use of other UNIX software to provide the
199: capabilities found in other message systems.
200: .+c OVERVIEW
201: .pp
202: There are three main aspects of \fIMH\fR\0: the way messages are
203: stored (the message database), the user's profile (which directs
204: how certain actions of the message handler take place), and the
205: commands for dealing with messages.
206: .pp
207: Under \fIMH\fR, each message is stored as a separate file.
208: A user
209: can take any action with a message that he could with an ordinary
210: file in UNIX.
211: A UNIX directory in which messages are stored is
212: called a folder.
213: Each folder contains some standard entries to support
214: the message-handling functions.
215: The messages in a folder have numerical
216: names.
217: These folders (directories)
218: are entries in a particular directory path, described in
219: the user profile, through which \fIMH\fR can find message folders.
220: Using the UNIX \*(lqlink\*(rq facility, it is possible for one copy of a
221: message to be \*(lqfiled\*(rq in more than one folder, providing a
222: message index facility.
223: Also, using the UNIX tree-structured
224: file system, it is possible to have a folder within a folder,
225: nested arbitrarily deep,
226: and have the full power of the \fIMH\fR commands available.
227: .pp
228: Each user of \fIMH\fR has a user profile, a file in
229: his \fB$HOME\fR (initial login) directory called \fI\&.mh\(ruprofile\fR.
230: This profile contains several
231: pieces of information used by the \fIMH\fR commands:
232: a path name to the directory that contains the message folders
233: and parameters that tailor \fIMH\fR commands
234: to the individual user's requirements.
235: There is also another file,
236: called the user context,
237: which contains information concerning which folder the user last referenced
238: (the \*(lqcurrent\*(rq folder).
239: It also contains
240: most of the necessary state information concerning how
241: the user is dealing with his messages, enabling \fIMH\fR to be
242: implemented as a set of individual UNIX commands, in contrast to the
243: usual approach of a monolithic subsystem.
244: .pp
245: In \fIMH\fR, incoming mail is appended
246: to the end of a file in a system spooling area for the user.
247: This area is called the mail drop directory,
248: and the file is called the user's mail drop.
249: Normally when the user logins in,
250: s/he is informed of new mail
251: (or the \fIMH\fR program \fImsgchk\fR may be run).
252: The user adds the new messages to his/her collection of \fIMH\fR messages
253: by invoking the command
254: \fIinc\fR.
255: The \fIinc\fR (incorporate) command adds the new
256: messages to a folder called \*(lqinbox\*(rq, assigning them names which
257: are consecutive integers starting with the next highest integer
258: available in inbox.
259: \fIinc\fR also produces a
260: \fIscan\fR summary of
261: the messages thus incorporated.
262: A folder can be compacted into a single file,
263: for easy storage,
264: by using the \fIpackf\fR command.
265: Also,
266: messages within a folder can be sorted by date and time with the \fIsortm\fR
267: command.
268:
269: .pp
270: There are four commands for examining the messages in a
271: folder:
272: \fIshow\fR,
273: \fIprev\fR,
274: \fInext\fR,
275: and
276: \fIscan\fR.
277: The \fIshow\fR command displays a message in a folder,
278: \fIprev\fR displays the message preceding the current message, and
279: \fInext\fR displays the message following the current message.
280: \fIMH\fR lets the user choose the program that displays individual messages.
281: A special program, \fImhl\fR, can be used to display messages according
282: to the user's preferences.
283: The \fIscan\fR command summarizes the messages in a folder,
284: normally producing one line per message, showing who the message is from,
285: the date, the subject, etc.
286: .pp
287: The user may move a message from one folder to another with
288: the command
289: \fIrefile\fR.
290: Messages may be removed from a folder
291: by means of the command
292: \fIrmm\fR.
293: In addition, a user may query
294: what the current folder is and may specify that a new folder
295: become the current folder, through the command
296: \fIfolder\fR.
297: All folders may be summarized with the \fIfolders\fR command.
298: A message folder (or subfolder) may be removed by means of
299: the command
300: \fIrmf\fR.
301: .pp
302: A set of messages based on content may be selected by
303: use of the command \fIpick\fR.
304: This command searches through
305: messages in a folder and selects those that match a given
306: set of criteria.
307: These messages are then bound to a \*(lqsequence\*(rq name for use with other
308: \fIMH\fR commands.
309: The \fImark\fR command manipulates these sequences.
310: .pp
311: There are five commands enabling the user to create new
312: messages and send them:
313: \fIcomp\fR,
314: \fIdist\fR,
315: \fIforw\fR,
316: \fIrepl\fR,
317: and
318: \fIsend\fR.
319: The \fIcomp\fR command
320: provides the facility for the user to compose a
321: new message;
322: \fIdist\fR redistributes mail to additional addressees;
323: \fIforw\fR enables the user to forward messages; and
324: \fIrepl\fR facilitates the generation of a reply to an incoming message.
325: The last three commands may optionally annotate the original message.
326: Messages may be arbitrarily annotated with the \fIanno\fR command.
327: Once a draft has been constructed by one of the four above composition
328: programs,
329: a user\-specifiable program is run to query the user as to the disposition of
330: the draft prior to sending.
331: \fIMH\fR provides the simple \fIwhatnow\fR program to start users off.
332: If
333: a message is not sent directly by one of these commands, it may
334: be sent at a later time using the command
335: \fIsend\fR.
336: \fIMH\fR allows the use of any UNIX editor when composing a message.
337: For rapid entry, a special editor, \fIprompter\fR, is provided.
338: For programs, a special mail-sending program, \fImhmail\fR, is provided.
339: .pp
340: \fIMH\fR supports a personal aliasing facility which gives users the
341: capability to considerably shorten address typein
342: and use meaningful names for addresses.
343: The \fIali\fR program can be used to query \fIMH\fR as to the expansion of a
344: list of aliases.
345: After composing a message, but prior to sending, the \fIwhom\fR command
346: can be used to determine exactly who a message would go to.
347: .pp
348: \fIMH\fR provides a natural interface for telling the user's shell the names
349: of \fIMH\fR messages and folders.
350: The \fImhpath\fR program achieves this capability.
351: .pp
352: The \fIburst\fR command can be used to \*(lqshred\*(rq digests of messages
353: into individual messages.
354: .pp
355: All of the elements summarized above
356: are described in more detail in the following sections.
357: Many of the
358: normal facilities of UNIX provide additional capabilities for
359: dealing with messages in various ways.
360: For example, it is
361: possible to print messages
362: on the line-printer without requiring any additional code within
363: \fIMH\fR\0.
364: Using standard UNIX facilities, any terminal output can be
365: redirected to a file for repeated or future viewing.
366: In general,
367: the flexibility and capabilities of the UNIX interface with the
368: user are preserved as a result of the integration of \fIMH\fR into the UNIX
369: structure.
370: .+c TUTORIAL
371: .pp
372: This tutorial provides a brief introduction to the \fIMH\fR commands.
373: It should be sufficient
374: to allow the user to read his mail, do some simple manipulations of
375: it, and create and send messages.
376: .pp
377: A message has two major pieces: the
378: header and the body.
379: The body consists of the text of the message
380: (whatever you care to type in).
381: It follows the header and is separated from
382: it by an empty line.
383: (When you compose a message, the form that appears
384: on your terminal shows a line of dashes after the header.
385: This is for
386: convenience and is replaced by an empty line when the message is
387: sent.) The header is composed of several components, including the
388: subject of the message and the person to whom it is addressed.
389: Each component starts with a name
390: and a colon; components must not start with a blank.
391: The text of the
392: component may take more than one line, but each continuation line must
393: start with a blank.
394: Messages typically have \*(lqTo:\*(rq, \*(lqcc:\*(rq, and
395: \*(lqSubject:\*(rq components.
396: When composing a message, you should include
397: the \*(lqTo:\*(rq and \*(lqSubject:\*(rq components;
398: the \*(lqcc:\*(rq (for people you want to send copies to) is not necessary.
399: .pp
400: The basic \fIMH\fR commands are
401: \fIinc\fR,
402: \fIscan\fR,
403: \fIshow\fR,
404: \fInext\fR,
405: \fIprev\fR,
406: \fIrmm\fR,
407: \fIcomp\fR,
408: and
409: \fIrepl\fR.
410: These are described below.
411:
412: \fIinc\fR
413: .pp
414: When you get the message \*(lqYou have mail\*(rq, type the command \fIinc\fR.
415: You will get a \*(lqscan listing\*(rq such as:
416:
417: .nf
418: .in +.5i
419: .ta \w'7+ 'u +\w'11/26 'u +\w'To:norm 'u
420: 7+ \07/13 Cas revival of measurement work
421: 8 10/\09 Norm NBS people and publications
422: 9 11/26 To:norm question \*(<<Are there any functions
423: .re
424: .in -.5i
425: .fi
426: .pp
427: This shows the messages you received since the last time you
428: executed this command (\fIinc\fR adds these new messages to your inbox folder).
429: You can see this list again, plus a list of any
430: other messages you have, by using the
431: \fIscan\fR command.
432:
433: \fIscan\fR
434: .pp
435: The scan listing shows the message number, followed by the
436: date and the sender.
437: (If you are the sender, the addressee in the \*(lqTo:\*(rq
438: component is displayed.
439: You may send yourself a message by including
440: your name among the \*(lqTo:\*(rq or \*(lqcc:\*(rq addressees.)
441: It also shows the message's subject; if
442: the subject is short, the first part of the body of the message is
443: included after the characters \*(<<.
444:
445: .ne 5
446: \fIshow\fR
447: .pp
448: This command shows the current message, that is,
449: the first one of the new messages after an
450: \fIinc\fR.
451: If the message is not
452: specified by name (number), it is
453: generally the last message referred to by an \fIMH\fR command.
454: For example,
455:
456:
457: .ta \w'\fIshow\fR\0|\0\fIlpr\fR 'u
458: .ti .5i
459: ^\fIshow\fP\05~^will show message 5.
460: .re
461:
462: .pp
463: You can use the show command to copy a message or print a
464: message.
465:
466: .(b L
467: .in .5i
468: .ta \w'\fIshow\fR\0|\0\fIlpr\fR 'u
469: ^\fIshow\fR\0>\0\fIx\fR~^will copy the message to file x.
470: .br
471: ^\fIshow\fR\0|\0\fIlpr\fR~^will print the message, using the \fIlpr\fR command.
472: .br
473: ^\fInext\fR~^will show the message that follows the current message.
474: .br
475: ^\fIprev\fR~^will show the message previous to the current message.
476: .br
477: ^\fIrmm\fR~^will remove the current message.
478: .br
479: ^\fIrmm\03\fR~^will remove message 3.
480: .)b
481:
482: .ne 5
483: \fIcomp\fR
484: .pp
485: The
486: \fIcomp\fR command puts you in the editor to write or edit a message.
487: Fill in or
488: delete the \*(lqTo:\*(rq, \*(lqcc:\*(rq, and \*(lqSubject:\*(rq fields,
489: as appropriate, and type the body of the message.
490: Then
491: exit normally from the editor.
492: You will be asked
493: \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq.
494: Type a carriage return to see the options.
495: Typing \fBsend\fR
496: will cause the message to be sent; typing \fBquit\fR will cause an exit
497: from
498: \fIcomp\fR,
499: with the message draft saved.
500: .pp
501: If you quit without sending the message, it will be saved in a file
502: called <name>/Mail/draft (where <name> is your \fB$HOME\fR directory).
503: You can resume editing the message later with \*(lqcomp\0\-use\*(rq;
504: or you can send the message later, using the \fIsend\fR command.
505:
506: .ne 4
507: \fIcomp\0\-editor\0prompter\fR
508: .pp
509: This command uses a different editor and is useful for preparing
510: \*(lqquick and dirty\*(rq messages.
511: It prompts you for each component of the
512: header.
513: Type the information for that component, or type a carriage
514: return to omit the component.
515: After that, type the body of the
516: message.
517: Backspacing is the only form of editing allowed with this editor.
518: When the body is complete, type a carriage return followed by <EOT>
519: (usually <CTRL-D>).
520: This completes the initial preparation of the message; from then on, use
521: the same procedures as with
522: \fIcomp\fR (above).
523:
524: .ne 5
525: \fIrepl\fR
526: .br
527: \fIrepl\fR\0n
528: .pp
529: This command makes up an initial message form with a header
530: that is appropriate for
531: replying to an existing message.
532: The message being answered is the
533: current message if no message number is mentioned, or n if a number
534: is specified.
535: After the header is completed, you can finish the message as in
536: \fIcomp\fR (above).
537: .pp
538: This is enough information to get you going using \fIMH\fR.
539: There are more commands,
540: and the commands described here have more features.
541: Subsequent sections
542: explain \fIMH\fR in complete detail.
543: The system is quite powerful if you
544: want to use its sophisticated features, but the foregoing commands
545: suffice for sending and receiving messages.
546: .pp
547: There are numerous additional capabilities you may wish to explore.
548: For example, the
549: \fIpick\fR command will select a subset of messages
550: based on specified criteria such as sender and/or subject.
551: Groups of
552: messages may be designated, as described in Sec. IV,
553: under \fBMessage Naming\fR.
554: The file \fI\&.mh\(ruprofile\fR can be used to tailor your use of
555: the message system to your needs and preferences, as described in Sec. IV,
556: under \fBThe User Profile\fR.
557: In general, you may
558: learn additional features of the system selectively, according to your
559: requirements,
560: by studying the relevant sections of this manual.
561: There is no need to
562: learn all the details of the system at once.
563: .+c "DETAILED DESCRIPTION"
564: .pp
565: This section describes the \fIMH\fR system in detail, including the components
566: of the user profile, the conventions for message naming, and some of
567: the other \fIMH\fR conventions.
568: Readers who are
569: generally familiar with computer systems will be able to follow
570: the principal ideas, although some details may be meaningful only to
571: those familiar with UNIX.
572: .uh "THE USER PROFILE"
573: .pp
574: The first time an \fIMH\fR command is issued by a new user, the system
575: prompts for a \*(lqPath\*(rq and creates an \fIMH\fR \*(lqprofile\*(rq.
576: .pp
577: Each \fIMH\fR user has a profile which contains tailoring
578: information for each individual program.
579: Other profile entries control the \fIMH\fR path (where folders and
580: special files are kept), folder and message protections, editor
581: selection, and default arguments for each \fIMH\fR program.
582: Each user of \fIMH\fR also has a context file which contains
583: current state information for the \fIMH\fR package
584: (the location of the context file is kept in the user's \fIMH\fR directory,
585: or may be named in the user profile).
586: When a folder becomes
587: the current folder, it is recorded in the user's context.
588: (Other state information is kept in the context file,
589: see the manual entry for \fImh\-profile\0\fR(5) for more details.)
590: In general,
591: the term \*(lqprofile entry\*(rq refer to entries in either the profile or
592: context file.
593: Users of \fIMH\fR needn't worry about the distinction,
594: \fIMH\fR handles these things automatically.
595: .pp
596: The \fIMH\fR profile is stored in the file \fI\&.mh\(ruprofile\fR in the
597: user's \fB$HOME\fR directory\**.
598: .(f
599: \** By defining the envariable \fB$MH\fR,
600: you can specify an alternate profile to be used by \fIMH\fR commands.
601: .)f
602: It has the format of a message without
603: any body.
604: That is, each profile entry is on one line, with a
605: keyword followed by a colon (:) followed by text particular to
606: the keyword.
607: .br
608: \(rh\ \ \&
609: \fIThis file must not have blank lines.\fR
610: .br
611: The keywords
612: may have any combination of upper and lower case.
613: (See the information of \fImh\-mail\fR later on in this manual
614: for a description of message formats.)
615: .pp
616: For the average \fIMH\fR user, the only profile entry of
617: importance is \*(lqPath\*(rq.
618: Path specifies a directory in which \fIMH\fR
619: folders and certain files such as \*(lqdraft\*(rq are found.
620: The
621: argument to this keyword must be a legal UNIX path that names an
622: existing directory.
623: If this path is not absolute
624: (i.e., does not begin with a \fB/\fR\0),
625: it will be presumed to start from the user's \fB$HOME\fR directory.
626: All folder and message references within
627: \fIMH\fR will relate to this path unless full path names are used.
628: .pp
629: Message protection defaults to 644, and folder protection to
630: 711.
631: These may be changed by profile entries \*(lqMsg-Protect\*(rq
632: and \*(lqFolder-Protect\*(rq, respectively.
633: The argument to these
634: keywords is an octal number which is used as the UNIX file mode\**.
635: .(f
636: \** See \fIchmod\fR\0(1) in the \fIUNIX Programmer's Manual\fR\0[5].
637: .)f
638: .pp
639: When an \fIMH\fR program starts running, it looks through the
640: user's profile for an entry with a keyword matching the program's
641: name.
642: For example, when
643: \fIcomp\fR is run, it looks for a \*(lqcomp\*(rq
644: profile entry.
645: If one is found, the text of the profile entry is
646: used as the default switch setting until all defaults are overridden
647: by explicit switches passed to the program as arguments.
648: Thus the profile
649: entry \*(lqcomp:\0\-form\0standard.list\*(rq would direct
650: \fIcomp\fR to use the
651: file \*(lqstandard.list\*(rq as the message skeleton.
652: If an explicit
653: form switch is given to the
654: \fIcomp\fR command, it will override the
655: switch obtained from the profile.
656: .pp
657: In UNIX, a program may exist under several names,
658: either by linking or aliasing.
659: The actual invocation name is used by an \fIMH\fR
660: program when scanning for its profile defaults\**.
661: .(f
662: \** Unfortunately,
663: the shell does not preserve aliasing information when calling a program,
664: hence if a program is invoked by an alias different than its name,
665: the program will examine the profile entry for it's name,
666: not the alias that the user invoked it as.
667: The correct solution is to create a (soft) link in your \fI$HOME/bin\fR
668: directory to the \fIMH\fR program of your choice.
669: By giving this link a different name,
670: you can use an alternate set of defaults for the command.
671: .)f
672: Thus, each \fIMH\fR program
673: may have several names by which it can be invoked, and each name
674: may have a different set of default switches.
675: For example, if
676: \fIcomp\fR is invoked by the name
677: \fIicomp\fR,
678: the profile entry
679: \*(lqicomp\*(rq will control the default switches for this invocation of
680: the
681: \fIcomp\fR program.
682: This provides a powerful
683: definitional facility for commonly used switch settings.
684: .pp
685: The default editor
686: for editing within
687: \fIcomp\fR,
688: \fIrepl\fR,
689: \fIforw\fR,
690: and
691: \fIdist\fR,
692: is usually \fIprompter\fR,
693: but might be something else at your site,
694: such as \fI/usr/ucb/ex\fR or \fI/bin/e\fR.
695: A different editor may be used by specifying
696: the profile entry
697: \*(lqEditor: \*(rq.
698: The argument to \*(lqEditor\*(rq is the name of an
699: executable program or shell command file which can be found via
700: the user's $PATH defined search path, excluding the current
701: directory.
702: The \*(lqEditor:\*(rq profile specification
703: may in turn be overridden by a `\-editor\0<editor>'
704: profile switch associated with
705: \fIcomp\fR,
706: \fIrepl\fR,
707: \fIforw\fR,
708: or
709: \fIdist\fR.
710: Finally, an explicit editor switch specified with any
711: of these four commands will have ultimate precedence.
712: .pp
713: During message composition, more than one editor may be
714: used.
715: For example, one editor (such as \fIprompter\fR\0)
716: may be used
717: initially, and a second editor may be invoked later to revise
718: the message being composed
719: (see the discussion of
720: \fIcomp\fR in Section 5 for details).
721: A profile entry \*(lq<lasteditor>\-next:\0<editor>\*(rq specifies the name of
722: the editor to be used after a particular editor.
723: Thus \*(lqcomp:\0\-e\0prompter\*(rq
724: causes the initial text to be collected by
725: \fIprompter\fR,
726: and the profile entry \*(lqprompter\-next:\0ed\*(rq names ed as the
727: editor to be invoked for the next round of editing.
728: .pp
729: Some of the \fIMH\fR commands, such as
730: \fIshow\fR,
731: can be used on
732: message folders owned by others, if those folders are readable.
733: However,
734: you cannot write in someone else's folder.
735: All the \fIMH\fR command
736: actions not requiring write permission may be used with
737: a \*(lqread-only\*(rq folder.
738: .pp
739: Table 1 lists examples of some of the currently defined profile
740: entries, typical arguments, and the programs that reference the
741: entries.
742: .bp
743: .in .9i
744: .ll -.9i
745: .ta \w'<program>:\0default switches 'u
746: .sp 30p
747: .ce
748: Table 1
749: .sp 8p
750: .ce
751: P\s-2ROFILE\s0 C\s-2OMPONENTS\s0
752: .hl \" ~12p preceding + 1v (12p) after
753: .nf
754: ^^\fIMH\fR Programs that
755: ^Keyword and Argument~^\ use Component\h'|\n(.lu-.9i'\v'4p'\l'|0'\v'-4p' \" \l'..' does underlining
756: .sp
757: ^Path:\0Mail~^All
758: ^Current-Folder:\0inbox~^Most
759: ^Editor:\0/usr/ucb/ex~^\fIcomp, dist, forw, repl\fR
760: ^Msg\-Protect:\0644~^\fIinc\fR
761: ^Folder\-Protect:\0711~^\fIinc, pick, refile\fR
762: ^<program>:\0default switches~^All
763: ^prompter\-next:\0ed~^\fIcomp, dist, forw, repl\fR
764: .hl
765: .ll +.9i
766: .in 0
767: .fi
768: .pp
769: Path
770: .u should
771: be present.
772: Current\-Folder is maintained
773: automatically by many \fIMH\fR commands (see the \fBContext\fR sections of
774: the individual commands in Sec. IV).
775: All other entries are optional,
776: defaulting to the values described above.
777: .uh "MESSAGE NAMING"
778: .pp
779: Messages may be referred to explicitly or implicitly when
780: using \fIMH\fR commands.
781: A formal syntax of message names is given in Appendix B, but the
782: following description should be sufficient for most \fIMH\fR users.
783: Some details of message naming that apply only to certain
784: commands are included in the description of those
785: commands.
786: .pp
787: Most of the \fIMH\fR commands accept arguments specifying one or
788: more folders, and one or more messages to operate on.
789: The use of
790: the word \*(lqmsg\*(rq as an argument to a command means that exactly one
791: message name may be specified.
792: A message name may be a number,
793: such as 1, 33, or 234, or it may be
794: one of the \*(lqreserved\*(rq message names:
795: first, last, prev, next, and cur.
796: (As a shorthand, a
797: period (\&.) is equivalent to cur.)
798: The meanings of these names are straightforward:
799: \*(lqfirst\*(rq is the first message in the folder;
800: \*(lqlast\*(rq is the last message in the folder;
801: \*(lqprev\*(rq is the message numerically previous to the current message;
802: \*(lqnext\*(rq is the message numerically following the current message;
803: \*(lqcur\*(rq (or \*(lq\&.\*(rq) is the current message in the folder.
804: In addition,
805: \fIMH\fR supports user\-defined\-sequences;
806: see the description of the \fImark\fR command for more information.
807: .pp
808: The default in commands that take a \*(lqmsg\*(rq argument is
809: always \*(lqcur\*(rq.
810: .pp
811: The word \*(lqmsgs\*(rq indicates that several messages may be
812: specified.
813: Such a specification consists of several message
814: designations separated by spaces.
815: A message designation is
816: either a message name or a message range.
817: A message range is a
818: specification of the form name1\-name2 or name1:n, where name1 and
819: name2 are message names and n is an integer.
820: The first form
821: designates all the messages from name1 to name2 inclusive; this
822: must be a non-empty range.
823: The second form specifies up to n
824: messages, starting with name1 if name1 is a number, or first,
825: cur, or next, and ending with name1 if name1 is last or
826: prev.
827: This interpretation of n is overridden if n is preceded
828: by a plus sign or a minus sign;
829: +n always means up to n messages starting with
830: name1, and \-n always means up to n messages ending with name1.
831: Repeated specifications of the same message have the same effect
832: as a single specification of
833: the message.
834: Examples of
835: specifications are:
836:
837: .(b
838: 1 5 7\-11 22
839: first 6 8 next
840: first\-10
841: last:5
842: .)b
843: .pp
844: The message name \*(lqall\*(rq is a shorthand for \*(lqfirst\-last\*(rq,
845: indicating all of the messages in the folder.
846: .pp
847: In commands that accept \*(lqmsgs\*(rq arguments, the default is
848: either cur or all, depending on which makes more sense.
849: .pp
850: In all of the \fIMH\fR commands, a plus sign preceding an argument
851: indicates a folder name.
852: Thus, \*(lq+inbox\*(rq is the name of the
853: user's standard inbox.
854: If an explicit folder argument is given
855: to an \fIMH\fR command, it will become the current folder (that is,
856: the \*(lqCurrent-Folder:\*(rq entry
857: in the user's profile will be changed to this folder).
858: In the case of the
859: \fIrefile\fR command, which
860: can have multiple output folders, a new source folder (other than
861: the default current folder) is specified by `\-src\0+folder'.
862: .uh "OTHER MH CONVENTIONS"
863: .pp
864: One very powerful feature of \fIMH\fR is that the \fIMH\fR commands may
865: be issued from any current directory, and the proper path to
866: the appropriate folder(s) will be taken from the user's profile.
867: If the \fIMH\fR path is not appropriate for a specific folder or file,
868: the automatic prepending of the \fIMH\fR path can be avoided by
869: beginning a folder or file name with \fB/\fR,
870: or with \fB\&./\fR or \fB\&.\&./\fR component.
871: Thus any specific absolute path may be specified along with any path
872: relative to the current working directory.
873: .pp
874: Arguments to the various programs may be given in any order,
875: with the exception of a few switches whose arguments must follow
876: immediately, such as `\-src\0+folder' for \fIrefile\fR.
877: .pp
878: Whenever an \fIMH\fR command prompts the user, the valid options
879: will be listed in response to a <RETURN>.
880: (The first of the
881: listed options is the default if end-of-file is encountered,
882: such as from a command file.)
883: A valid response is any \fIunique\fR abbreviation of one of the listed options.
884: .pp
885: Standard UNIX documentation conventions are used in this report
886: to describe \fIMH\fR command syntax.
887: Arguments enclosed in brackets
888: ([ ]) are optional; exactly one of the arguments enclosed
889: within braces ({ }) must be specified, and all other
890: arguments are required.
891: The use of ellipsis dots (...) indicates
892: zero or more repetitions of the previous item.
893: For example,
894: \*(lq+folder ...\*(rq would indicate that one or more \*(lq+folder\*(rq
895: arguments is required
896: and \*(lq[+folder ...]\*(rq indicates that 0 or more
897: \*(lq+folder\*(rq arguments may be given.
898: .pp
899: \fIMH\fR departs from UNIX standards by using switches that consist of
900: more than one character, e.g. `\-header'.
901: To minimize typing,
902: only a unique abbreviation of a switch need be typed; thus, for
903: `\-header', `\-hea' is probably sufficient, depending on the
904: other switches the command accepts.
905: Each \fIMH\fR program
906: accepts the switch `\-help' (which \fBmust\fR be spelled out fully)
907: and produces a syntax description and a list of switches.
908: In the
909: list of switches, parentheses indicate required characters.
910: For example, all `\-help' switches will appear as \*(lq\-(help)\*(rq,
911: indicating that no abbreviation is accepted.
912: Furthermore,
913: the `\-help' switch tells the version of the \fIMH\fR program you invoked.
914: .pp
915: Many \fIMH\fR switches have both on and off forms, such as
916: `\-format' and `\-noformat'.
917: In many of the descriptions which follow,
918: only one form is defined; the other form, often used to
919: nullify profile switch settings, is assumed to be the opposite.
920: .br
921: .bp
922: .uh "MH COMMANDS"
923: .pp
924: The \fIMH\fR package comprises several programs:
925: .\" I pity the fool who tampers with the next line...
926: .ds ZZ -me
927: .so mh.me
928: .pp
929: These programs are described below.
930: The form of the descriptions
931: conforms to the standard
932: form for the description of UNIX commands.
933: .if t \{
934: .ll 6.5i
935: .lt 6.5i
936: \}
937: .fo '[mh.6]'MH'UCI version'
938: .de SC
939: .he '\\$1(\\$2)'-%-'\\$1(\\$2)'
940: .bp
941: .(x
942: .ti .8i
943: \\$1
944: .)x
945: ..
946: .de NA
947: .b \\s-2NAME\\s0
948: .ti .5i
949: ..
950: .de SY
951: .sp
952: .b \\s-2SYNOPSIS\\s0
953: .in 1i
954: .ti .5i
955: .na
956: ..
957: .de DE
958: .ad
959: .sp
960: .in 0
961: .b \\s-2DESCRIPTION\\s0
962: .sp
963: .fi
964: .in .5i
965: ..
966: .de Hh
967: .ad
968: .sp
969: .in 0
970: .b "\\s-2Helpful Hints\\s0"
971: .sp
972: .fi
973: .in .5i
974: ..
975: .de Fi
976: .(b L
977: .ti 0
978: .b \\s-2Files\\s0
979: .ta \w'/usr/new/lib/mh/ExtraBigFileName 'u
980: ..
981: .de Pr
982: .)b
983: .(b L F
984: .ta \w'ExtraBigProfileName 'u
985: .ti 0
986: .b "\\s-2Profile Components\\s0"
987: .ti .5i
988: ..
989: .de Ps
990: .ti .5i
991: ..
992: .de Sa
993: .)b
994: .(b L F
995: .ti 0
996: .b "\\s-2See Also\\s0"
997: .br
998: ..
999: .de De
1000: .)b
1001: .(b L
1002: .in .5i
1003: .ti 0
1004: .b \\s-2Defaults\\s0
1005: ..
1006: .de Ds
1007: ..
1008: .de Co
1009: .)b
1010: .(b L F
1011: .ti 0
1012: .b \\s-2Context\\s0
1013: .br
1014: ..
1015: .de Hi
1016: .)b
1017: .(b L F
1018: .ti 0
1019: .b \\s-2History\\s0
1020: .br
1021: ..
1022: .de Bu
1023: .)b
1024: .(b L F
1025: .ti 0
1026: .b \\s-2Bugs\\s0
1027: .br
1028: ..
1029: .de En
1030: .)b
1031: .in 0
1032: ..
1033: .po -.50i
1034: .so ali.me
1035: .so anno.me
1036: .so burst.me
1037: .so comp.me
1038: .so dist.me
1039: .so folder.me
1040: .so forw.me
1041: .so inc.me
1042: .so mark.me
1043: .so mhl.me
1044: .so mhmail.me
1045: .so mhook.me
1046: .so mhpath.me
1047: .so msgchk.me
1048: .so msh.me
1049: .so next.me
1050: .so packf.me
1051: .so pick.me
1052: .so prev.me
1053: .so prompter.me
1054: .so rcvstore.me
1055: .so refile.me
1056: .so repl.me
1057: .so rmf.me
1058: .so rmm.me
1059: .so scan.me
1060: .so send.me
1061: .so show.me
1062: .so sortm.me
1063: .so vmh.me
1064: .so whatnow.me
1065: .so whom.me
1066: .po +.50i
1067: .he ''-%-''
1068: .fo ''''
1069: .br
1070: .if t \{
1071: .ll 32P
1072: .lt 32P
1073: \}
1074: .bp
1075: .uh "MORE DETAILS"
1076: .pp
1077: This section describes some of the more intense points of the \fIMH\fR system,
1078: by expanding on topics previously discussed.
1079: The format presented conforms to the standard form for the description of UNIX
1080: documentation.
1081: .if t \{
1082: .ll 6.5i
1083: .lt 6.5i
1084: \}
1085: .fo '[mh.6]'MH'UCI version'
1086: .po -.50i
1087: .so mh-alias.me
1088: .so mh-format.me
1089: .so mh-mail.me
1090: .so mh-profile.me
1091: .so ap.me
1092: .so conflict.me
1093: .so dp.me
1094: .so install-mh.me
1095: .so post.me
1096: .po +.50i
1097: .he ''-%-''
1098: .fo ''''
1099: .br
1100: .if t \{
1101: .ll 32P
1102: .lt 32P
1103: \}
1104: .+c "REPORTING PROBLEMS"
1105: .pp
1106: If problems are encountered with an \fIMH\fR program,
1107: the problems should be reported to the local maintainers of \fIMH\fR.
1108: When doing this,
1109: the name of the program should be reported,
1110: along with the version information for the program.
1111: To find out what version of an \fIMH\fR program is being run,
1112: invoke the program with the `\-help' switch.
1113: In addition to listing the syntax of the command,
1114: the program will list information pertaining to its version.
1115: This information includes the version of \fIMH\fR,
1116: the host it was generated on,
1117: and the date the program was loaded.
1118: A second line of information,
1119: found on versions of \fIMH\fR after #5.380 include \fIMH\fR configuration
1120: options.
1121: For example,
1122:
1123: .in +.5i
1124: version: MH 6.1 #1[UCI] (nrtc-gremlin) of Wed Nov 6 01:13:53 PST 1985
1125: .br
1126: options: [BSD42] [MHE] [NETWORK] [SENDMTS] [MMDFII] [SMTP] [POP]
1127: .in -.5i
1128:
1129: The `6.1 #1[UCI]' indicates that the program is from the UCI \fImh.6\fR
1130: version of \fIMH\fR.
1131: The program was generated on the host `nrtc-gremlin' on
1132: `Wed Nov 6 01:13:53 PST 1985'.
1133: It's usually a good idea to send the output of the `\-help' switch along
1134: with your report.
1135:
1136: If there is no local \fIMH\fR maintainer,
1137: try the address \fBBug-MH\fR.
1138: If that fails, use the Internet mailbox \[email protected]\fR.
1139:
1140: .+c "ADVANCED FEATURES"
1141: .de UH
1142: .lp
1143: .b "\\$1"
1144: .pp
1145: .(x
1146: .ti .8i
1147: \\$1
1148: .)x
1149: ..
1150: .pp
1151: This section describes some features of \fIMH\fR that were included strictly
1152: for advanced \fIMH\fR users.
1153: These capabilities permit \fIMH\fR to exhibit more powerful behavior for the
1154: seasoned \fIMH\fR users.
1155: .uh "USER\-DEFINED SEQUENCES"
1156: .pp
1157: User\-defined sequences allow the \fIMH\fR user a tremendous amount of power
1158: in dealing with groups of messages in the same folder
1159: by allowing the user to bind a group of messages to a meaningful symbolic
1160: name.
1161: The user may choose any name for a message sequence,
1162: as long as it consists of alphanumeric characters and does not conflict with
1163: the standard \fIMH\fR reserved message names
1164: (e.g., \*(lqfirst\*(rq, etc).
1165: After defining a sequence,
1166: it can be used wherever an \fIMH\fR command expects a `msg' or `msgs'
1167: argument.
1168: Although all \fIMH\fR commands expand user\-defined sequences as appropriate,
1169: there are two commands that allow the user to define and manipulate them:
1170: \fIpick\fR and \fImark\fR.
1171: .UH "Pick and User\-Defined Sequences"
1172: .pp
1173: Most users of \fIMH\fR will use user\-defined sequences only with
1174: the \fIpick\fR command.
1175: By giving the `\-sequence\ name' switch to \fIpick\fR
1176: (which can occur more than once on the command line),
1177: each sequence named is defined as those messages which \fIpick\fR matched
1178: according the the selection criteria it was given.
1179: Hence,
1180:
1181: .ti +.5i
1182: pick\0\-from\0frated\0\-seq\0fred
1183:
1184: finds all those messages in the current folder which were from
1185: \*(lqfrated\*(rq,
1186: creates a sequence called \*(lqfred\*(rq,
1187: and then adds them to the sequence.
1188: The user could then invoke
1189:
1190: .ti +.5i
1191: scan\0fred
1192:
1193: to get a \fIscan\fR listing of those messages.
1194: Note that by default,
1195: \fIpick\fR creates the named sequences
1196: before it adds the selected messages to the sequence.
1197: Hence, if the named sequence already existed,
1198: the sequence is destroyed prior to being re\-defined
1199: (nothing happens to the messages that were a part of this sequence,
1200: they simply cease to be members of that sequence).
1201: By using the `\-nozero' switch, this behavior can be inhibited,
1202: as in
1203:
1204: .in +.5i
1205: pick\0\-from\0frated\0\-seq\0sgroup
1206: .br
1207: pick\0\-from\0fear\0\-seq\0sgroup\0\-nozero
1208: .br
1209: pick\0\-from\0freida\0\-seq\0sgroup\0\-nozero
1210: .in -.5i
1211:
1212: finds all those messages in the current folder which were from
1213: \*(lqfrated\*(rq, \*(lqfear\*(rq, or \*(lqfreida\*(rq,
1214: and defines the sequence called \*(lqsgroup\*(rq as exactly those messages.
1215: These operations amounted to an \*(lqinclusive\-or\*(rq of three selection
1216: criteria,
1217: using \fIpick\fR,
1218: one can also generate the \*(lqand\*(rq of some selection criteria as well:
1219:
1220: .in +.5i
1221: pick\0\-from\0frated\0\-seq\0fred
1222: .br
1223: pick\0\-before\0friday\0\-seq\0fred\0fred
1224: .in -.5i
1225:
1226: This example defines the sequence called \*(lqfred\*(rq as exactly those
1227: messages from \*(lqfrated\*(rq that were dated prior to \*(lqfriday\*(rq.\**
1228: .(f
1229: \** Of course,
1230: it is much easier to simply use the built\-in boolean operation of
1231: \fIpick\fR to get the desired results:
1232:
1233: .ti +.5i
1234: pick\0\-from\0frated\0\-or\0\-from\0fear\0\-or\0\-from\0freida\0\-seq\0sgroup
1235:
1236: and
1237:
1238: .ti +.5i
1239: pick\0\-from\0frated\0\-and\0\-before\0friday\0\-seq\0fred
1240:
1241: do exactly the same thing as the five commands listed above.
1242: Hence, the `\-nozero' option to \fIpick\fR is only useful to manipulate
1243: existing sequences.
1244: .)f
1245: .pp
1246: \fIPick\fR is normally used as a back\-quoted command,
1247: for example,
1248:
1249: .ti +.5i
1250: scan\0`pick\0\-from\0postmaster`
1251:
1252: Now suppose that the user decides that another command should be issued,
1253: using exactly those messages.
1254: Since,
1255: \fIpick\fR wasn't given a `\-sequence\ name' argument in this example,
1256: the user would end\-up typing the entire back\-quoted command again.
1257: A simpler way is to add a default sequence name to the \&.mh\(ruprofile.
1258: For example,
1259:
1260: .ti +.5i
1261: pick:\0\-seq\0select\0\-list
1262:
1263: will tell \fIpick\fR to always define the sequence \*(lqselect\*(rq whenever
1264: it's run.
1265: The `-list' is necessary since the `\-sequence\ name' switch sets `\-nolist'
1266: whenever the former is encountered.
1267: Hence, this profile entry makes \fIpick\fR define the \*(lqselect\*(rq
1268: sequence and otherwise behave exactly as if there was no profile entry at all.
1269: .UH "Mark and User\-Defined Sequences"
1270: .pp
1271: The \fImark\fR command lets the user perform low\-level manipulation of
1272: sequences,
1273: and also provides a well\-needed debug facility to the
1274: implementors/developers/maintainers of \fIMH\fR (the \fIMH\fR\-hacks).
1275: In the future, a user\-friendly \*(lqfront\-end\*(rq for \fImark\fR will
1276: probably be developed to give the \fIMH\fR user a way to take better
1277: advantage of the underlying facilities.
1278: .UH "Public and Private User\-Defined Sequences"
1279: .pp
1280: There are two kinds of sequences: \fIpublic\fR sequences,
1281: and \fIprivate\fR sequences.
1282: \fIPublic\fR sequences of a folder are accessible to any \fIMH\fR user that
1283: can read that folder and are kept in the \&.mh\(rusequences file in the folder.
1284: \fIPrivate\fR sequences are accessible only to the \fIMH\fR user that defined
1285: those sequences and are kept in the user's \fIMH\fR context file.
1286: By default,
1287: \fIpick\fR (and \fImark\fR\0) create \fIpublic\fR sequences
1288: if the folder for which the sequences are being defined is writable by the
1289: \fIMH\fR user.
1290: Otherwise, \fIprivate\fR sequences are created.
1291: This can be overridden with the `\-public' and `\-private' switches.
1292: .UH "Sequence Negation"
1293: .pp
1294: In addition to telling an \fIMH\fR command to use the messages in the sequence
1295: \*(lqseen\*(rq, as in
1296:
1297: .ti +.5i
1298: refile\0seen\0+old
1299:
1300: it would be useful to be easily able to tell an \fIMH\fR command to use all
1301: messages \fIexcept\fR those in the sequence.
1302: One way of doing this would be to use \fImark\fR and define the sequence
1303: explicitly,
1304: as in
1305:
1306: .ti +.5i
1307: mark\0\-delete\0\-zero\0seen\0\-seq\0notseen
1308:
1309: which,
1310: owing to \fImark\fR\0's cryptic interpretation of `\-delete' and `\-zero',
1311: defines the sequence \*(lqnotseen\*(rq to be all messages not in the sequence
1312: \*(lqseen\*(rq.
1313: Naturally,
1314: anytime the sequence \*(lqseen\*(rq is changed,
1315: \*(lqnotseen\*(rq will have to be updated.
1316: Another way to achieve this is to define the entry
1317: \*(lqSequence\-Negation:\*(rq in the \&.mh\(ruprofile.
1318: If the entry was
1319:
1320: .ti +.5i
1321: Sequence\-Negation:\0not
1322:
1323: then anytime an \fIMH\fR command was given \*(lqnotseen\*(rq as a `msg' or
1324: `msgs' argument,
1325: it would substitute all messages that are not a member of the sequence
1326: \*(lqseen\*(rq.
1327: That is,
1328:
1329: .ti +.5i
1330: refile\0notseen\0+new
1331:
1332: does just that.
1333: The value of the \*(lqSequence\-Negation:\*(rq entry in the profile can be
1334: any string.
1335: Hence,
1336: experienced users of \fIMH\fR do not use a word,
1337: but rather a special character which their shell does not interpret
1338: (users of the \fICShell\fR use a single caret or circumflex (usually shift\-6),
1339: while users of the Bourne shell use an exclamation\-mark).
1340: This is because there is nothing to prevent a user of \fIMH\fR from defining a
1341: sequence with this string as its prefix,
1342: if the string is nothing by letters and digits.
1343: Obviously,
1344: this could lead to confusing behavior
1345: if the \*(lqSequence\-Negation:\*(rq entry leads \fIMH\fR to believe that two
1346: sequences are opposites by virtue of their names differing by the prefix
1347: string.
1348: .UH "The Previous Sequence"
1349: .pp
1350: Many times users find themselves issuing a series of commands on the same
1351: sequences of messages.
1352: If the user first defined these messages as a sequence,
1353: then considerable typing may be saved.
1354: If the user doesn't have this foresight,
1355: \fIMH\fR provides a handy way of having \fIMH\fR remember the `msgs' or
1356: `msg' argument last given to an \fIMH\fR command.
1357: If the entry \*(lqPrevious\-Sequence:\*(rq is defined in the
1358: \&.mh\(ruprofile,
1359: then when the command finishes,
1360: it will define the sequence(s) named in the value of this entry as being
1361: exactly those messages that were specified.
1362: Hence, a profile entry of
1363:
1364: .ti +.5i
1365: Previous\-Sequence:\0pseq
1366:
1367: directs any \fIMH\fR command that accepts a `msg' or `msgs' argument to
1368: define the sequence \*(lqpseq\*(rq as those messages when it finishes.
1369: More than one sequence name may be placed in this entry,
1370: separated with spaces.
1371: The one disadvantage of this approach
1372: is that the \fIMH\fR progams have to update the sequence information for
1373: the folder each time they run
1374: (although most programs read this information,
1375: usually only \fIpick\fR and \fImark\fR have to write this information out).
1376: .UH "The Unseen Sequence"
1377: .pp
1378: Finally, some users like to distinguish between messages which have been
1379: previously seen by them.
1380: Both \fIinc\fR and \fIshow\fR honorthe profile entry
1381: \*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq to support this activity.
1382: Whenever \fIinc\fR places new messages in a folder,
1383: if the entry \*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq is defined in the \&.mh\(ruprofile,
1384: then when the command finishes,
1385: \fIinc\fR will add the new messages to the sequence(s) named in the value of
1386: this entry.
1387: Hence, a profile entry of
1388:
1389: .ti +.5i
1390: Unseen\-Sequence:\0 unseen
1391:
1392: directs \fIinc\fR to add new messages to the sequence \*(lqunseen\*(rq.
1393: Unlike the behavior of the \*(lqPrevious\-Sequence\*(rq entry in the profile
1394: however,
1395: the sequence(s) will \fBnot\fR be zero'd.
1396: .pp
1397: Similarly,
1398: whenever \fIshow\fR (or \fInext\fR or \fIprev\fR\0) displays a message,
1399: they remove those messages from any sequences named by the
1400: \*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq entry in the profile.
1401: .uh "COMPOSITION OF MAIL"
1402: .pp
1403: There are a number of interesting advanced facilities for the composition of
1404: outgoing mail.
1405:
1406: .UH "The Draft Folder"
1407: .pp
1408: The \fIcomp\fR, \fIdist\fR, \fIforw\fR, and \fIrepl\fR commands have two
1409: switches, `\-draftfolder\0+folder' and `\-draftmessage\0msg'.
1410: If `\-draftfolder\0+folder' is used,
1411: these commands are directed to construct a draft message in the indicated
1412: folder.
1413: (The \*(lqDraft\-Folder:\*(rq profile entry may be used to declare a
1414: default draft folder for use with
1415: \fIcomp\fR, \fIdist\fR, \fIforw\fR, and \fIrepl\fR)
1416: If `\-draftmessage\0msg' is not used, it defaults to `new'
1417: (unless the user invokes \fIcomp\fR with `\-use',
1418: in which case the default is `cur').
1419: Hence, the user may have several message compositions in progress
1420: simultaneously.
1421: Now, all of the \fIMH\fR tools are available on each of the user's message
1422: drafts
1423: (e.g., \fIshow\fR, \fIscan\fR, \fIpick\fR, and so on).
1424: If the folder does not exist,
1425: the user is asked if it should be created (just like with \fIrefile\fR\0).
1426: Also,
1427: the last draft message the user was composing is known as `cur' in the
1428: draft folder.
1429: .pp
1430: Furthermore,
1431: the \fIsend\fR command has these switches as well.
1432: Hence, from the shell,
1433: the user can send off whatever drafts desired using the
1434: standard \fIMH\fR `msgs' convention with `\-draftmessage msgs'.
1435: If no `msgs' are given, it defaults to `cur'.
1436: .pp
1437: In addition,
1438: all five programs have a `\-nodraftfolder' switch,
1439: which undoes the last occurrence of `\-draftfolder\0folder'
1440: (useful if the latter occurs in the user's \fIMH\fR profile).
1441: .pp
1442: If the user does not give the `\-draftfolder\0+folder' switch,
1443: then all these commands act ``normally''.
1444: Note that the `\-draft' switch to \fIsend\fR and \fIshow\fR
1445: still refers to the file called `draft' in the user's \fIMH\fR
1446: directory.
1447: In the interests of economy of expression,
1448: when using \fIcomp\fR or \fIsend\fR,
1449: the user needn't prefix the draft `msg' or `msgs' with
1450: `\-draftmessage'.
1451: Both of these commands accept a `file' or `files' argument,
1452: and they will, if given `\-draftfolder\0+folder' treat these arguments
1453: as `msg' or `msgs'.\**
1454: .(f
1455: \** This may appear to be inconsistent, at first,
1456: but it saves a lot of typing.
1457: .)f
1458: Hence,
1459:
1460: .ti +.5i
1461: send -draftf +drafts first
1462:
1463: is the same as
1464:
1465: .ti +.5i
1466: send -draftf +drafts -draftm first
1467:
1468: .pp
1469: To make all this a bit more clear, here are some examples.
1470: Let's assume that the following entries are in the \fIMH\fR profile:
1471:
1472: .in +.5i
1473: .nf
1474: Draft\-Folder: +drafts
1475: sendf: -draftfolder +drafts
1476: .fi
1477: .in -.5i
1478:
1479: Furthermore,
1480: let's assume that the program \fIsendf\fR is a (symbolic) link in the user's
1481: \fB$HOME/bin/\fR directory to \fIsend\fR.
1482: Then, any of the commands
1483:
1484: .in +.5i
1485: .nf
1486: comp
1487: dist
1488: forw
1489: repl
1490: .fi
1491: .in -.5i
1492:
1493: constructs the message draft in the `draft' folder using the `new'
1494: message number.
1495: Furthermore,
1496: they each define `cur' in this folder to be that message draft.
1497: If the user were to use the \fIquit\fR option at `What now?' level,
1498: then later on,
1499: if no other draft composition was done,
1500: the draft could be sent with simply
1501:
1502: .ti +.5i
1503: sendf
1504:
1505: Or,
1506: if more editing was required,
1507: the draft could be edited with
1508:
1509: .ti +.5i
1510: comp -use
1511:
1512: Instead,
1513: if other drafts had been composed in the meantime,
1514: so that this message draft was no longer known as `cur' in the `draft'
1515: folder,
1516: then the user could \fIscan\fR the folder to see which message draft in the
1517: folder should be used for editing or sending.
1518: Clever users could even employ a back-quoted \fIpick\fR to do the work:
1519:
1520: .ti +.5i
1521: comp -use `pick +drafts -to bug-mh`
1522:
1523: or
1524:
1525: .ti +.5i
1526: sendf `pick +drafts -to bug-mh`
1527:
1528: Note that in the \fIcomp\fR example,
1529: the output from \fIpick\fR must resolve to a single message draft
1530: (it makes no sense to talk about composing two or more drafts with one
1531: invocation of \fIcomp\fR\0).
1532: In contrast,
1533: in the \fIsend\fR example,
1534: as many message drafts as desired can appear,
1535: since \fIsend\fR doesn't mind sending more than one draft at a time.
1536: .pp
1537: Note that the argument `\-draftfolder\0+folder' is not
1538: included in the profile entry for \fIsend\fR,
1539: since when \fIcomp\fR, et. al., invoke \fIsend\fR directly,
1540: they supply \fIsend\fR with the UNIX pathname of the message draft,
1541: and \fBnot\fR a `draftmessage\0msg' argument.
1542: As far as \fIsend\fR is concerned,
1543: a \fIdraft folder\fR is not being used.
1544: .pp
1545: It is important to realize that \fIMH\fR treats the draft folder like a standard
1546: \fIMH\fR folder in nearly all respects.
1547: There are two exceptions:
1548: .u first ,
1549: under no circumstancs will the `\-draftfolder\0folder' switch cause the
1550: named folder to become the current folder.\**
1551: .(f
1552: \** Obviously,
1553: if the folder appeared in the context of a standard `+folder'
1554: argument to an \fIMH\fR program, as in
1555:
1556: .ti +.5i
1557: scan +drafts
1558:
1559: it might become the current folder, depending on the context changes of the
1560: \fIMH\fR program in question.
1561: .)f
1562: .u Second ,
1563: although conceptually \fIsend\fR deletes the `msgs' named in the draft
1564: folder,
1565: it does not call `delete-prog' to perform the deletion.
1566:
1567: .UH "What Happens if the Draft Exists"
1568: .pp
1569: When the \fIcomp\fR, \fIdist\fR, \fIforw\fR, and \fIrepl\fR commands are
1570: invoked and the draft you indicated already exists,
1571: these programs will prompt the user for a reponse directing the program's
1572: action.
1573: The prompt is
1574:
1575: .ti +.5i
1576: Draft ``/usr/src/uci/mh/mhbox/draft'' exists (xx bytes).
1577: .ti +.5i
1578: Disposition?
1579:
1580: The appropriate responses and their meanings are:
1581: .u replace :
1582: deletes the draft and starts afresh;
1583: .u list :
1584: lists the draft;
1585: .u refile :
1586: files the draft into a folder and starts afresh;
1587: and,
1588: .u quit :
1589: leaves the draft intact and exits.
1590: In addition, if you specified `\-draftfolder\0folder' to the command,
1591: then one other response will be accepted:
1592: .u new :
1593: finds a new draft,
1594: just as if `\-draftmessage\0new' had been given.
1595: Finally, the \fIcomp\fR command will accept one more response:
1596: .u use :
1597: re-uses the draft,
1598: just as if `\-use' had been given.
1599:
1600: .UH "The Push Option at What now? Level"
1601: .pp
1602: The \fIpush\fR option to the \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq query
1603: in the \fIcomp\fR, \fIdist\fR, \fIforw\fR, and \fIrepl\fR commands,
1604: directs the command to \fIsend\fR the draft
1605: in a special detached fashion,
1606: with all normal output discarded.
1607: If \fIpush\fR is used and the draft can not be sent,
1608: then \fIMH\fR will send the user a message,
1609: indicating the name of the draft file,
1610: and an explanation of the failure.
1611: .\" Although using \fIpush\fR calls \fIsend\fR\0(1),
1612: .\" the \fIsend\fR command will consult the profile entry for \fIpush\fR.
1613: .pp
1614: The user can also invoke \fIsend\fR from the shell with the `\-push'
1615: switch,
1616: which makes \fIsend\fR act like it had been \fIpush\fR\0'd by one of the
1617: composition commands.
1618: .\" composition commands.\**
1619: .\" .(f
1620: .\" \** Note that in this case,
1621: .\" \fIsend\fR consults the profile entry for whatever name it was invoked as,
1622: .\" such as \fIsendf\fR.
1623: .\" .)f
1624: .pp
1625: By using \fIpush\fR, the user can free the shell to do other things,
1626: because it appears to the shell that the \fIMH\fR command has finished.
1627: As a result the shell will immediately prompt for another command,
1628: despite the fact that the command is really still running.
1629: Note that if the user indicates that annotations are to be performed
1630: (with `\-annotate' to \fIdist\fR, \fIforw\fR, or \fIrepl\fR),
1631: the annotations will be performed after the message has been
1632: successfully sent.
1633: This action will appear to occur asynchronously.
1634: Obviously, if one of the messages that is to be annotated is
1635: removed before the draft has been successfully sent,
1636: then when \fIMH\fR tries to make the annotations,
1637: it won't be able to do so.
1638: In previous versions of \fIMH\fR,
1639: this resulted in an error message mysteriously appearing on the user's
1640: terminal.
1641: In \fImh.5\fR and later versions,
1642: in this special circumstance, no error will be generated.
1643: .pp
1644: If send is \fIpush\fR\0'd,
1645: then the `\-forward' switch is examined if a failure notice is generated.
1646: If given,
1647: then the draft is forwarded with the failure notice sent to the user.
1648: This allows rapid \fIburst\fR\0'ing of the failure notice to retrieve the
1649: unsent draft.
1650:
1651: .UH "Options at What now? Level"
1652: .pp
1653: By default,
1654: the message composition programs call a program called \fIwhatnow\fR before
1655: the initial draft composition.
1656: The \fIMH\fR user can specify any program for this.
1657: Following is some information about the default \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq level.
1658: More detailed information can be found in the \fIwhatnow\fR\0(1) manual entry.
1659: .pp
1660: When using the \fIcomp\fR, \fIdist\fR, \fIforw\fR, and \fIrepl\fR commands at
1661: \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq level,
1662: the \fIedit\fR, \fIlist\fR, \fIheaders\fR, \fIrefile\fR,
1663: and (for the \fIdist\fR and \fIrepl\fR commands) the \fIdisplay\fR options
1664: will pass on any additional arguments given them to whatever program they
1665: invoke.
1666: .pp
1667: In \fImh.1\fR (the original Rand \fIMH\fR\0)
1668: and \fImh.2\fR (the first UCI version of \fIMH\fR\0),
1669: \fIMH\fR used a complicated heuristic to determine if the draft should be
1670: deleted or preserved after an unsuccessful edit.
1671: In \fImh.3\fR,
1672: \fIMH\fR was changed to preserve the draft always,
1673: since \fIcomp\fR, et. al.,
1674: could usually look at a draft, apply another set of heuristics,
1675: and decide if it was important or not.
1676: With the notion of a \fIdraft folder\fR,
1677: in which one by default gets a `new' message draft,
1678: the edit deletion/preservation algorithm was re-implemented,
1679: to keep the draft folder from being cluttered with aborted edits.
1680: .pp
1681: Also,
1682: note that by default,
1683: if the draft cannot be successfully sent,
1684: these commands return to \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq level.
1685: But, when \fIpush\fR is used, this does not happen (obviously).
1686: Hence,
1687: if these commands were expected to annotate any messages,
1688: this will have to be done by hand, later on, with the \fIanno\fR command.
1689: .pp
1690: Finally, if the `\-delete' switch is not given to the \fIquit\fR option,
1691: then these commands will inform the user of the name of the unsent draft file.
1692:
1693: .UH "Digests"
1694: .pp
1695: The \fIforw\fR command has the beginnings of a digestifying facility,
1696: with the `\-digest\ list', `\-issue\ number', and `\-volume\ number' switches.
1697:
1698: If \fIforw\fR is given \*(lqlist\*(rq to the `\-digest' switch
1699: as the name of the discussion group,
1700: and the `\-issue\ number' switch is not given,
1701: then \fIforw\fR looks for an entry in the user's \fIMH\fR context called
1702: \*(lq\fIdigest\fR\-issue\-list\*(rq and increments its value to use as the
1703: issue number.
1704: Similarly,
1705: if the `\-volume\ number' switch is not given,
1706: then \fIforw\fR looks for \*(lq\fIdigest\fR\-volume\-list\*(rq
1707: (but does not increment its value) to use as the volume number.
1708:
1709: Having calculated the name of the digest and the volume and issue numbers,
1710: \fIforw\fR will now process the components file using the same format string
1711: mechanism used by \fIrepl\fR.
1712: The current `%'\-escapes are:
1713:
1714: .nf
1715: .ta \w'escape 'u +\w'integer 'u
1716: \fIescape\fR \fItype\fR \fIsubstitution\fR
1717: digest string digest name
1718: issue integer issue number
1719: volume integer volume number
1720: .re
1721: .fi
1722:
1723: In addition, to capture the current date,
1724: any of the escapes valid for \fIdp\fR\0(8) are also valid for \fIforw\fR.
1725:
1726: The default components file used by \fIforw\fR when in digest mode is:
1727:
1728: .nf
1729: .in +.5i
1730: .ne 10
1731: .eo
1732: .so /usr/new/lib/mh/digestcomps
1733: .ec
1734: .in -.5i
1735: .fi
1736:
1737: Hence, when the `\-digest' switch is present,
1738: the first step taken by \fIforw\fR is to expand the format strings in the
1739: component file.
1740: The next step is to compose the draft using
1741: the standard digest encapsulation algorithm
1742: (even putting an \*(lqEnd of list Digest\*(rq trailer in the draft).
1743: Once the draft is composed by \fIforw\fR,
1744: \fIforw\fR writes out the volume and issue profile entries for the digest,
1745: and then invokes the editor.
1746:
1747: Naturally, when composing the draft,
1748: \fIforw\fR will honor the `\-filter\ filterfile' switch,
1749: which is given to \fImhl\fR to filter each message being forwarded prior to
1750: encapsulation in the draft.
1751: A good filter file to use, which is called \fImhl.digest\fR, is:
1752:
1753: .nf
1754: .in +.5i
1755: .ne 10
1756: .eo
1757: .so /usr/new/lib/mh/mhl.digest
1758: .ec
1759: .in -.5i
1760: .fi
1761:
1762: .uh "FOLDER HANDLING"
1763: .pp
1764: There are two interesting facilities for manipulating folders:
1765: relative folder addressing,
1766: which allows a user to shorten the typing of long folder names;
1767: and
1768: the folder\-stack,
1769: which permits a user to keep a stack of current folders.
1770:
1771: .UH "Relative Folder Addressing"
1772: .pp
1773: By default, when `+folder' is given,
1774: and the folder name is not absolute
1775: (does not start with \fB/\fR, \fB\&./\fR, or \fB\&.\&./\fR),
1776: then the UNIX pathname of the folder is interpreted relative to the user's
1777: \fIMH\fR directory.
1778: Although this mechanism works fine for top\-level folders and their immediate
1779: sub\-folders,
1780: once the depth of the sub\-folder tree grows, it becomes rather unwieldly:
1781:
1782: .ti +.5i
1783: scan\0+mh/mh.4/draft/flames
1784:
1785: is a lot of typing.
1786: \fIMH\fR can't do anything if the current folder was \*(lq+inbox\*(rq,
1787: but if the current folder was, say, \*(lq+mh/mh.4/draft\*(rq,
1788: \fIMH\fR has a short\-hand notation to reference a sub\-folder of the
1789: current folder.
1790: Using the `@folder' notation,
1791: the \fIMH\fR user can direct any \fIMH\fR program which expects a `+folder'
1792: argument to look for the folder relative to the current folder instead of the
1793: user's \fIMH\fR directory.
1794: Hence, if the current folder \fIwas\fR \*(lq+mh/mh.4/draft\*(rq,
1795: then
1796:
1797: .ti +.5i
1798: scan\0@flames
1799:
1800: would do the trick handily.
1801: In addition, if the current folder \fIwas\fR \*(lq+mh/mh.4/draft\*(rq,
1802:
1803: .ti +.5i
1804: scan\0@../pick
1805:
1806: would scan the folder \*(lq+mh/mh.4/pick\*(rq,
1807: since, in the UNIX fashion,
1808: it references the folder \*(lqpick\*(rq which is a sub\-folder of
1809: the folder that is the parent of the current folder.
1810: Since most advanced \fIMH\fR users seem to exhibit a large degree of locality
1811: in referencing folders when they process mail,
1812: this convention should receive a wide range of uses.
1813:
1814: .UH "The Folder\-Stack"
1815: .pp
1816: The \fIfolder\-stack\fR mechanism in \fIMH\fR gives the \fIMH\fR user a
1817: facility similar to the \fICShell\fR\0's directory\-stack.
1818: Simply put,
1819:
1820: .ti +.5i
1821: folder\0\-push\0+foo
1822:
1823: makes \*(lqfoo\*(rq the current folder,
1824: saving the folder that was previously the current folder on the
1825: \fIfolder\-stack\fR.
1826: As expected,
1827:
1828: .ti +.5i
1829: folder\0\-pop
1830:
1831: takes the top of the \fIfolder\-stack\fR and makes it the current folder.
1832: Each of these switches lists the \fIfolder\-stack\fR when they execute.
1833: It is simple to write a \fIpushf\fR command as a shell script.
1834: It's one line:
1835:
1836: .ti +.5i
1837: exec\0folder\0\-push\0$@
1838:
1839: Probably a better way is to link \fIfolder\fR to the $HOME/bin/ directory under
1840: the name of \fIpushf\fR and then add the entry
1841:
1842: .ti +.5i
1843: pushf:\0\-push
1844:
1845: to the \&.mh\(ruprofile.
1846: .pp
1847: The manual page for \fIfolder\fR discusses the analogy between the
1848: \fICShell\fR directory stack commands and the switches in \fIfolder\fR which
1849: manipulate the \fIfolder\-stack\fR.
1850: The \fIfolder\fR command uses the context entry `Folder\-Stack:' to keep
1851: track of the folders in the user's stack of folders.
1852: \"
1853: \" On to the Appendices
1854: \"
1855: .fo ''-%-''
1856: .he ''''
1857: .(x
1858: .sp
1859: Appendix
1860: .)x _
1861: .de $c \" Major Heading printer
1862: .ce
1863: Appendix \\n+(ch
1864: .sp 2p
1865: .ce
1866: .b "\\s12\\$1\\s0" \" 12 Point Bold Header
1867: .(x
1868: \ \ \ \\n(ch.\\ \\ \\$2
1869: .)x
1870: .sp 45p \" 45 points or about 1/2 inch
1871: ..
1872: .++ A
1873: .bp
1874: .$c "COMMAND SUMMARY" "Command Summary"
1875: .po -.50i
1876: .so mh-chart.me
1877: .po +.50i
1878: .if t \{
1879: .ll 32P
1880: .lt 32P
1881: \}
1882: .bp
1883: .$c "MESSAGE NAME BNF" "Message Name BNF"
1884:
1885: .nf
1886: .in 1i
1887: .ta \w'signed-number 'u +\w':= 'u +\w'user-defined-sequence 'u
1888: msgs := msgspec |
1889: msgs msgspec
1890:
1891: msgspec := msg |
1892: msg-range |
1893: msg-sequence |
1894: user-defined-sequence
1895:
1896: msg := msg-name |
1897: <number>
1898:
1899: msg-name := \*(lqfirst\*(rq |
1900: \*(lqlast\*(rq |
1901: \*(lqcur\*(rq |
1902: \*(lq\&.\*(rq |
1903: \*(lqnext\*(rq |
1904: \*(lqprev\*(rq
1905:
1906: msg-range := msg\*(lq-\*(rqmsg |
1907: \*(lqall\*(rq
1908:
1909: msg-sequence := msg\*(lq:\*(rqsigned-number
1910:
1911: signed-number := \*(lq+\*(rq<number> |
1912: \*(lq-\*(rq<number> |
1913: <number>
1914: .re
1915: .fi
1916: .sp
1917: .lp
1918: Where <number> is a decimal number greater than zero.
1919: .lp
1920: Msg-range specifies all of the messages in the given range
1921: and must not be empty.
1922: .lp
1923: Msg-sequence specifies up to <number> of messages, beginning
1924: with \*(lqmsg\*(rq (in the case of first, cur, next, or <number>),
1925: or ending with \*(lqmsg\*(rq (in the case of prev or last).
1926: +<number> forces \*(lqstarting with msg\*(rq, and \-<number> forces
1927: \*(lqending with number\*(rq.
1928: In all cases, \*(lqmsg\*(rq must exist.
1929: .lp
1930: User\-defined sequences are defined and manipulated with the \fIpick\fR
1931: and \fImark\fR commands.
1932: .in 0
1933: .bp
1934: .ce
1935: .b \\s12REFERENCES\\s0
1936: .(x
1937: .sp
1938: REFERENCES
1939: .)x
1940: .sp 3
1941: .in .4i
1942: .ti 0
1943: 1. Crocker, D. H., J. J. Vittal, K. T. Pogran, and D. A. Henderson, Jr.,
1944: \*(lqStandard for the Format of ARPA Network Text Messages,\*(rq
1945: \fIRFC733\fR,
1946: November 1977.
1947:
1948: .ti 0
1949: 2. Thompson, K., and D. M. Ritchie, \*(lqThe UNIX Time-sharing System,\*(rq
1950: \fICommunications of the ACM\fR, Vol. 17, July 1974, pp. 365-375.
1951:
1952: .ti 0
1953: 3. McCauley, E. J., and P. J. Drongowski, \*(lqKSOS\-The Design of a Secure
1954: Operating System,\*(rq \fIAFIPS Conference Proceedings\fR,
1955: National Computer Conference,
1956: Vol. 48, 1979, pp. 345-353.
1957:
1958: .ti 0
1959: 4. Crocker, David H., \fIFramework and Functions of the \*(lqMS\*(rq Personal
1960: Message System\fR, The Rand Corporation, R-2134-ARPA, December 1977.
1961:
1962: .ti 0
1963: 5. Thompson, K., and D. M. Ritchie, \fIUNIX Programmer's Manual\fR, 6th ed.,
1964: Western Electric Company, May 1975 (available only to UNIX licensees).
1965:
1966: .ti 0
1967: 6. Crocker, D. H.,
1968: \*(lqStandard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text Messages,\*(rq
1969: \fIRFC822\fR,
1970: August 1982.
1971: .de $c
1972: .ce
1973: .b "\\s12\\$1\\s0" \" 12 Point Bold Header
1974: .(x y
1975: .sp
1976: \\$1
1977: .)x
1978: .sp 3
1979: ..
1980: .++ P
1981: .bp 1
1982: .fo ''''
1983: .he ''-%-''
1984: .+c "READ THIS"
1985: .pp
1986: Although the \fIMH\fR system was originally developed by the Rand Corporation,
1987: and is now in the public domain,
1988: the Rand Corporation assumes no responsibility for \fIMH\fR
1989: or this particular version of \fIMH\fR.
1990: .pp
1991: In addition,
1992: the Regents of the University of California issue the following
1993: \fBdisclaimer\fR in regard to the UCI version of \fIMH\fR:
1994: .sp 1
1995: .in +.5i
1996: \*(lqAlthough each program has been tested by its contributor,
1997: no warranty, express or implied,
1998: is made by the contributor or the University of California,
1999: as to the accuracy and functioning of the program
2000: and related program material,
2001: nor shall the fact of distribution constitute any such warranty,
2002: and no responsibility is assumed by the contributor
2003: or the University of California in connection herewith.\*(rq
2004: .in -.5i
2005: .pp
2006: This version of \fIMH\fR is in the public domain,
2007: and as such,
2008: there are no real restrictions on its use.
2009: The \fIMH\fR source code and documentation have no licensing restrictions
2010: whatsoever.
2011: As a courtesy,
2012: the authors ask only that you provide appropriate credit to the Rand
2013: Corporation and the University of California for having developed the software.
2014: .pp
2015: \fIMH\fR is a software package that is supported neither by the Rand
2016: Corporation nor the University of California.
2017: However,
2018: since we do use the software ourselves and plan to continue using
2019: (and improving) \fIMH\fR,
2020: bug reports and their associated fixes should be reported back to us so that
2021: we may include them in future releases.
2022: The current computer mailbox for \fIMH\fR is \fBBug\[email protected]\fR
2023: (in the ARPA Internet),
2024: and \fB...!ucbvax!ucivax!bug\-mh\fR (UUCP).
2025: Presently,
2026: there are two Internet discussion groups,
2027: \fBMH\[email protected]\fR and \fBMH\[email protected]\fR.
2028: If there is sufficient interest,
2029: corresponding Usenet news groups may be established along with the
2030: appropriate gateways.
2031: .+c FOREWORD
2032: .pp
2033: This document describes the Rand \fIMH\fR Message Handling System.
2034: Its primary purpose is to serve as a user's manual.
2035: It has been heavily based on a previous version of the manual,
2036: prepared by Bruce Borden, Stockton Gaines, and Norman Shapiro.
2037: .pp
2038: \fIMH\fR is a particularly novel system,
2039: and thus it is often more prone to change than other pieces of production
2040: software.
2041: As such, some specific points in this manual may not be correct in the
2042: future.
2043: In all cases, the on\-line sections of this manual,
2044: available through the UNIX\** \fIman\fR command,
2045: should present the most current information.
2046: .(f
2047: \** UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories.
2048: .)f
2049: .pp
2050: When reading this document as a user's manual,
2051: certain sections are more interesting than others.
2052: The Preface and Summary are not particularly interesting to those
2053: interested in learning \fIMH\fR.
2054: The Introduction is slightly more interesting,
2055: as it touches upon the organization of the remainder of this document.
2056: The most useful sections are the Overview, Tutorial, and Detailed
2057: Description.
2058: The Overview should be read by all \fIMH\fR users, regardless of their
2059: expertise (beginning, novice, advanced, or hacker).
2060: The Tutorial should be read by all beginning and novice \fIMH\fR users,
2061: as it presents a nice description of the \fIMH\fR system.
2062: The Detailed Description should be read by the day\-to\-day user of \fIMH\fR,
2063: as it spells out all of the realities of the \fIMH\fR system.
2064: The Advanced Features section discusses some powerful \fIMH\fR capabilities for
2065: advanced users.
2066: Appendix A is particularly useful for novices,
2067: as it summarizes the invocation syntax of all the \fIMH\fR commands.
2068: .pp
2069: There are also several other documents which may be useful to you:
2070: \fIThe Rand MH Message Handling System: Tutorial\fR,
2071: which is a tutorial for \fIMH\fR;
2072: \fIThe Rand MH Message Handling System: The UCI BBoards Facility\fR,
2073: which describes the BBoards handling under \fIMH\fR;
2074: \fIMH.5: How to process 200 messages a day and still get some real work
2075: done\fR,
2076: which was presented at the 1985 Summer Usenix Conference and
2077: Exhibition in Portland, Oregon;
2078: \fIMH: A Multifarious User Agent\fR,
2079: which has been accepted for publication by Computer Networks;
2080: \fIMZnet: Mail Service for Personal Micro\-Computer Systems\fR,
2081: which was presented at the First International Symposium on Computer Message
2082: Systems in Nottingham, U.K.;
2083: and,
2084: \fIDesign of the TTI Prototype Trusted Mail Agent\fR,
2085: which describes a proprietary \*(lqtrusted\*(rq mail system built on \fIMH\fR.
2086: All of these documents exist in the \fImh.6\fR distribution sent to your
2087: site.
2088: There's also a document,
2089: \fIChanges to the Rand MH Message Handling System: MH.6\fR,
2090: which describes user\-visible changes made to \fIMH\fR since the last major
2091: release.
2092: .pp
2093: This manual is very large, as it describes a large, powerful system in
2094: gruesome detail.
2095: The important thing to remember is:
2096: .sp 2
2097: .ce
2098: .b "\s+4DON'T PANIC\s0\**"
2099: .sp 2
2100: As explained in the tutorial, you really need to know only 5 commands to
2101: handle most of your mail.
2102: .(f
2103: \** Note the large, \fIfriendly\fR letters.
2104: .)f
2105: .pp
2106: Very advanced users may wish to consult
2107: \fIThe Rand MH Message Handling System: Administrator's Guide\fR,
2108: which is also present in the \fImh.6\fR distribution sent to your site.
2109: .+c ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
2110: .pp
2111: The \fIMH\fR system described herein is based on the original Rand \fIMH\fR
2112: system.
2113: It has been extensively developed (perhaps too much so) by Marshall T. Rose and
2114: John L. Romine at the University of California, Irvine.
2115: Einar A. Stefferud, Jerry N. Sweet, and Terry P. Domae provided numerous
2116: suggestions to improve the UCI version of \fIMH\fR.
2117: Of course,
2118: a large number of people have helped \MH/ along.
2119: The list of ``\fIMH\fR immortals'' is too long to list here.
2120: However, Van Jacobson deserves a special acknowledgement for his tireless
2121: work in improving the performance of \fIMH\fR.
2122: Some programs have been speeded-up by a factor of 10 or 20.
2123: All of users of \fIMH\fR, everywhere, owe a special thanks to Van.
2124: .pp
2125: This manual is based on the original \fIMH\fR manual written at Rand by
2126: Bruce Borden, Stockton Gaines, and Norman Shapiro.
2127: .+c PREFACE
2128: .pp
2129: This report describes a system for dealing with messages transmitted on a
2130: computer. Such messages might originate with other users of the same
2131: computer or might come from an outside source through a network to which the user's
2132: computer is connected. Such computer-based message systems are
2133: becoming increasingly widely used, both within and outside the Department
2134: of Defense.
2135: .pp
2136: The message handling system \fIMH\fR was developed for two reasons.
2137: One was to investigate some
2138: research ideas concerning how a message system might take advantage of
2139: the architecture of the UNIX time-sharing operating system for
2140: Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-11 and VAX computers, and the special
2141: features of UNIX's command-level interface with the user (the
2142: \*(lqshell\*(rq). The other reason was to provide a better and more
2143: adaptable base than that of conventional designs
2144: on which to build a command and control message system.
2145: The effort has succeeded in both
2146: regards, although this report mainly describes the message system itself
2147: and how it fits in with UNIX.
2148: .pp
2149: The present report should be of interest to three groups of readers. First,
2150: it is a complete reference manual for the users of \fIMH\fR.
2151: Second, it should be
2152: of interest to those who have a general knowledge of computer-based
2153: message systems, both in civilian and military applications. Finally,
2154: it should be of interest to those who build large subsystems that
2155: interface with users, since it illustrates a new approach to such
2156: interfaces.
2157: .pp
2158: The original \fIMH\fR system was developed by Bruce Borden,
2159: using an approach suggested by Stockton Gaines and Norman Shapiro.
2160: Valuable assistance was provided by Phyllis Kantar in the later
2161: stages of the system's implementation.
2162: Several colleagues
2163: contributed to the ideas included in this system, particularly
2164: Robert Anderson and David Crocker.
2165: In addition, valuable experience
2166: in message systems, and a valuable source of ideas, was available
2167: to us in the form of a previous message system for UNIX called
2168: MS, designed at Rand by David Crocker.
2169: .pp
2170: This report was originally prepared as part of the Rand project entitled
2171: \*(lqData Automation Research\*(rq, sponsored by Project AIR FORCE.
2172: .+c SUMMARY
2173: .pp
2174: Electronic communication of text messages is becoming
2175: commonplace. Computer-based message systems\-software
2176: packages that provide tools for dealing with messages\-are used in many
2177: contexts. In particular, message systems are becoming
2178: increasingly important in command and control and intelligence
2179: applications.
2180: .pp
2181: This report describes a message handling system called \fIMH\fR.
2182: This system provides the user
2183: with tools to compose, send, receive, store, retrieve, forward, and
2184: reply to messages. \fIMH\fR has been built on the UNIX time-sharing system,
2185: a popular operating system developed for the DEC PDP-11 and VAX classes of
2186: computers.
2187: .pp
2188: A complete description of \fIMH\fR is given for users of
2189: the system. For those who do not intend to use the system, this description
2190: gives a general idea of what a message system is like. The system involves
2191: some new ideas about how large subsystems can be constructed.
2192: .pp
2193: The interesting and unusual features of \fIMH\fR include the
2194: following: The user command interface to \fIMH\fR is the UNIX \*(lqshell\*(rq
2195: (the standard UNIX command interpreter). Each separable
2196: component of message handling, such as message composition or
2197: message display, is a separate command. Each program is driven from
2198: and updates a private user environment, which is stored as a file
2199: between program invocations. This private environment also contains
2200: information to \*(lqcustom tailor\*(rq \fIMH\fR to the individual's tastes.
2201: \fIMH\fR stores each message as a separate file under UNIX, and it utilizes the
2202: tree-structured UNIX file system to organize groups of files within
2203: separate directories or \*(lqfolders\*(rq. All of the UNIX facilities
2204: for dealing with files and directories, such as
2205: renaming, copying, deleting, cataloging, off-line printing, etc., are
2206: applicable to messages and directories of messages (folders). Thus,
2207: important capabilities needed in a message system are available in \fIMH\fR
2208: without the need (often seen in other message systems) for code that
2209: duplicates the facilities of the supporting operating system.
2210: It also allows users familiar with the shell to use \fIMH\fR with minimal
2211: effort.
2212: .he ''''
2213: .fo ''''
2214: .bp
2215: .ce
2216: .b \\s12CONTENTS\\s0
2217: .sp 3
2218: .xp y
2219: .xp x
2220: .bp
2221: .\" And now the COVER sheet
2222: .po +.325i
2223: .ll 32P
2224: .nf
2225:
2226: .sp 1.5in
2227: .ps 24
2228: .vs 32
2229: .ft B
2230: .ce 4
2231: THE RAND MH
2232: MESSAGE HANDLING
2233: SYSTEM:
2234: USER'S MANUAL
2235: .ft R
2236: .sp .8i
2237: .ps 20
2238: .vs 24
2239: .ce
2240: UCI Version
2241: .sp 0.7i
2242: .ce 2
2243: Marshall T. Rose
2244: John L. Romine
2245: .sp 0.5i
2246: .ce 2
2247: Based on the original manual by
2248: Borden, Gaines, and Shapiro
2249: .vs
2250: .sp 1i
2251: .ps 18
2252: .vs 22
2253: .ce 2
2254: \*(td
2255: \*(MH
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