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new-subsys/ms.hlp
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MS is a replacement for the programs MAIL and RDMAIL. This document
reflects version 4(60) of MS.
MS is totally file compatible with the current mail system (as of
TOPS-20 Release 3 and TOPS-20AN Release 101B MAIL.TXT files). You can
change back to using MAIL and RDMAIL at any time.
Overview:
To use MS, type "MS<CR>" to the command processor.
MS reads your message file. The default message file is
PS:<Logged-in-directory>MAIL.TXT.1.
MS's first output is a list of new messages, followed by a line
giving the status of your message file.
Here is an example:
@MS
N 6 9-Aug ALLEN Demonstration (125 chars)
Last read: 7-Aug-78 20:21:01, 6 msgs (5 old), 2 pages
MS>
The N indicates that the message is new. (If this is the first time you
have used MS, all messages will be "new". You may "MARK" a new message
as old (seen) with the "MARK" command. Also see the "READ ALL"
command.) The "6" is the message number (starting with number one being
the first message in the message file). 9-Aug is the date the message
was sent and it was sent by user ALLEN. The message's subject is
"Demonstration" and it is 125 characters long.
MS Command levels
MS has three command levels: top level, send level, and read level.
Top level prompts with MS> and is the main level. When you start MS,
you are in top level. If you want, you may specify any top level MS
command at the monitor command level. To simulate the effect of running
RDMAIL, "MS READ". To simulate the effect of running MAIL, say "MS
SEND".
The send command in top level leads indirectly to send level if you
type the <escape> key in the message text portion of the message. The
read command in top level leaves you in read level after typing out the
first file of the specified sequence (for example "new" messages).
Basic usage for reading messages:
To read new messages, type "read" to the MS> prompt. (Or type "MS
read" to the command processor.) MS will display one message on the
screen and leave you in read level. To get the next message, type a
carriage return. To get back to top level, type Quit. When there are
no more new messages, <CR> will return to top level. (If you entered MS
by saying "MS READ" to the command processor, MS will exit when you
leave read level.) To do more complex operations, see read level below.
An alternate way to read new messages is to type "TYPE NEW". This
will cause MS to type out all new messages without pausing between
messages. (If you typed "MS TYPE NEW" to the command processor, MS will
exit when it finishes typing out the new messages.)
Basic usage for sending messages:
To send messages, type "send" to the MS> prompt. (Or type "MS
send" to the command processor.) It will ask for To:, Cc: Subject: and
message text entries. When you have completed typing the Message, type
CTRL/Z to send the message to the users specified in the To: and Cc:
fields. MS will send the message and return to top level (or exit if
you typed "MS SEND" to the command processor).
To change the To:, Cc:, or Subject:, type an <ESCAPE> and you will
be transfered into "send level" where the "to", "remove", "cc",
"subject" and "text" commands will allow you to change any of the
parameters of your message. When you are satisfied with all of the
message's parameters, type "send"<CR> and the message will be sent.
To retype the entire message, type CTRL/K. To enter the contents of an
indirect file, type CTRL/B or escape to send level and give the insert
command. Note: In the To and Cc commands, if you mistype a user name
and get a "?invalid user name" message, use a CTRL/H to get back the
part of the command line that was valid. To transfer control to the
EMACS editor with the message text in EMACS' buffer, type CTRL/E. To
return from EMACS to MS, type CTRL/X-CTRL/Z to EMACS.
Sending Network messages
To send to a user at another node in the network, after the user name,
give an "at sign" and then the node name, for example: To:
BOSACK@2102. If you are sending a message to an network remote site,
use the command "net-mail" to cause your message to be sent immediately
instead of queued.
Detailed Command information and advanced features:
Top level (which prompts with MS>) has the following commands:
*Answer Blank Check *Copy Daytime
*Delete Editor Exit Expunge *Flag
*Forward Get *Headers Help *List
*Mark *Move Net-mail Next Push
Quit *Read *Reply Send Status
System-msgs *Type *Undelete *Unflag *Unmark
The commands above which are marked with a * can refer to one or a group
of messages as specified by a "message sequence" argument. The "message
sequence" arguments possible are:
n - Single message number
n,m,...,k - List of message numbers
n:m - Range of message numbers
or any combination of ranges in a list.
"." - Current message number
"%" - Last message in file
Terminate list with <CR>
or one of the following:
All Answered Before Current Deleted
Flagged From Inverse Last New
Old Since Subject Unanswered Undeleted
Unflagged
The above arguments specify a sequence. A sequence is allowed to
be either:
1. Some number or range of numbers n:m. Or any combination of
groups, for example, 3,4:7,12.
2. ".", which is the number of the current message, or "%", which
is the number of the last message.
3. Some category such as "deleted", "undeleted", "old", "new",
"flagged", before (a date and time), since (a date and time),
answered, "all" (messages), "inverse" (all messages with the
newest one first), last (the last message in your file), or
current (the last message that you referenced in a command).
4. In the case of the from and subject arguments, which accept a
character string, the sequence used is all messages that have a
string match in their from or subject fields respectively.
The default message sequence is current for all commands except "read",
and "headers".
Alphabetical list of top level commands:
MS>answer (msg sequence)
Answer puts you in send level to reply to a specified message sequence.
Answer accepts "all" or "sender" as the choice of To: users. You may
type <escape> and enter send level to add or delete users from the list
before sending the message. Notes: 1.) The "all" does not include
yourself. 2.) The reply command is identical to the answer command.
MS>blank (screen)
Blank clears the screen on a VT52 and reprompts.
MS>check (for new messages)
Check rechecks the message file to see if any changes have been made to
it since the file was last checked. MS also checks for new messages
every time you return to top level.
MS>copy (msg sequence)
Copy copies the specified messages from your message file into the
specified file.
MS>daytime
Daytime gives the current local date and time.
MS>delete (msg sequence)
Delete marks the specified sequence as deleted. The messages are not
expunged until either the "exit" or the "expunge" command is given. If
CTRL/C or "quit" is used to exit from MS, the messages will not be
expunged.
MS>editor
Editor transfers control to EMACS in a subordinate process (Lower fork).
When you exit EMACS, you will return to MS. If you type CTRL/X M to
EMACS, (with the MMAIL library loaded), you will be transfered to send
level.
MS>exit (and update message file)
Exit returns to the command processor and updates your message file.
All deleted messages are expunged. Exit may be abbreviated with "Ex".
MS>expunge (deleted messages)
The expunge command removes the deleted messages from your message file
and updates the file on the disk.
MS>flag (message sequence)
Flag causes an "F" to be written on the left hand side of the message
header. The "F" indicates that you have flagged the message for future
attention. Flag also causes MS to type a message to you each time you
start MS that says (for example) "Message 5, 14 flagged." See the
"headers" command.
MS>forward (msg sequence)
Forward takes a specified sequence of messages and sends them to the
specified To: and Cc: users by putting you in send level with the text
of the specified message already preloaded in the buffer. It allows you
to add text at the beginning of the forwarded messages. To add text to
the end of a forward message, type an <escape> to get back to send level
and then give the text command. You will now be entering text at the
end of the forwarded message. If you type CTRL/K, you will see all of
the forwarded message and the text that you typed.
MS>get (msgs from file)
Get reads a specified filespec and substitutes the specified file's
contents for your message file. The default extension is TXT. [See
also copy and move].
MS>headers (msg sequence)
The headers command takes a message sequence as it's argument and types
the headers of the specified messages. For example, if you typed
"headers all", you might get:
NFAD 1 20-Oct LUCIER New Macro Library (580 chars)
F 2 23-Oct HELLIWELL Re: waterskiing (205 chars)
A 3 24-Oct M-NEWMAN at 2102 Ropes (480 chars)
N 4 24-Oct ALLEN Test (110 chars)
MS>
The N indicates that the message is "new"; you have never read the
message before. (Since RDMAIL does not support message state bits, all
old messages will initially be "N".)
The F indicates that you have flagged the message for future attention.
The A indicates that you have answered (replied to) the message.
The D indicates that the message is deleted. It will be removed from
your message file when you "exit" or "expunge".
The ascending numbers at the left are the message numbers.
The text at the right is the message's subject and length.
This command may be abbreviated by an "H". The default message sequence
is "new".
The "at 2102" in message number 3 is the network node name from which
message 3 originated.
MS>help
Help types out this message.
MS>list (msg sequence)
List prints the specified message sequence on the line printer. MS will
use the lowercase printer if one is available.
MS>mark (msg sequence)
Mark marks the specified message sequence as seen ("old"). You may
"unmark" the message with the "unmark" command. Then it will be
considered "new".
MS>move (msg sequence)
The move command removes the specified messages from your message file
and puts them into the specified file. (The message remains marked as
deleted until you exit or expunge.)
MS>net-mail (queued messages)
The net-mail command mails any messages you have sent with the send
command to remote network sites. If you don't give this command, the
messages will mailed later by the system's DMAILR (DECNET) or NMAILER
(ARPA net) program.
MS>next (message)
The next command types out the next higher numbered message. When MS
starts, the current message is the last message in your message file.)
If you said "type 1" then "next" would type message number 2, and so
on... The next command may be abbreviated with an "N".
MS>push
Push starts a new copy of the command processor in a lower fork. You
may then run other programs and return to MM with "pop" to the command
processor. It is not recommended that you run another copy of MS in a
lower fork.
MS>quit
Quit is equivalent to CTRL/C - it returns to the command processor.
MS>read (msg sequence)
Read types out the specified message sequence one at a time. After
reading the first message, you are left in read level, where you can
delete, forward, reply etc. to the message. (For more information see
the MS read level specific information below.) Read may be abbreviated
as "R". The default message sequence is "NEW". Note: One of the
easiest ways to "clean up" your message file is to say "READ ALL" and
delete the messages which are no longer needed, while flagging messages
which require further attention. See MS read>> commands "DELETE" and
"FLAG" for more information.
MS>reply (message sequence)
Reply puts you in send level to reply to a specified message sequence.
Reply accepts "all" or "sender" as the choice of To: users. You may
type <escape> and enter send level to add or delete users from the list
before sending the message. Notes: 1.) The "all" does not include
yourself. 2.) The answer command is the same as the reply command.
MS>send (message)
Send sends a message. You are asked for the To: and Cc: user names,
the subject and the message text. When you are completed typing the
Message, type CTRL/Z to send the message to the users specified in the
To: and Cc: fields.
While typing the message text:
To retype the entire message, type CTRL/K.
To enter the contents of an indirect file, type CTRL/B.
To transfer control to EMACS with the message text in EMACS'
buffer, type CTRL/E.
To return from EMACS to MS, type CTRL/X-CTRL/Z to EMACS. To
send a message after starting EMACS with the editor
command, type CTRL/X M to EMACS (with the MMAIL libraries loaded) and
you will be put in MS send level with the text you were editing in the
send buffer.
To change the To:, Cc:, or Subject:, type an <ESCAPE> when
typing the message text and you will be transfered into "send level"
where the "to", "remove", "cc", "subject" and "text" commands will allow
you to change any of the parameters of your message. When you are
satisfied with all of the message's parameters, type "send"<cr> and the
message will be sent. For more information see the MS send level
specific information below.
MS>status
The status command provides the same information given when MS is
started. This includes the date and time the message file was last
read, the number of messages, the number of pages the message file
occupies on the disk and the number of messages flagged. It also
includes the current message number.
MS>system-msgs
System-msgs reads the SYSTEM message file. (SYSTEM:MAIL.TXT.1) MS
prints out headers of "new" messages - messages that were sent to the
system since the previous time that you logged in so that you can easily
reread messages that were presented at login time.
The default read command is read new, so that if you want to read
the system messages that are new since the previous time you logged in,
just type "R<cr>".
Although you may mark and delete messages, no changes will be made
to the system message file.
Note: Reentering MS prints outs the new system messages and exits.
MS>type (msg sequence)
The type command types out the specified sequence of messages. The type
command returns you to MS> command level. The default message sequence
is "current".
MS>undelete (msg sequence)
Undelete removes the deleted indicator from the specified messages that
would otherwise cause MS to remove messages from your message file when
you exited or typed the expunge command.
MS>unflag (msg sequence)
The unflag command removes the attention flag from the specified
sequence of messages.
MS>unmark (msg sequence)
The unmark command removes the "seen" mark from the specified sequence
of messages. This causes the messages to be considered "new".
MS send>> commands:
After getting to the message text part of sending a message, if you type
<escape>, MS prompts with "MS send>>". At this point you may give any
of the following commands:
Cc Display Edit Erase Help Insert
Push Quit Remove Send Subject Text
To Type
To, Cc, Subject, and Text allow you to specify additional information to
the To:, Cc:, Subject:, and message text fields. Note: In the To and
Cc commands, if you mistype a user name and get an ?invalid user name
message, use a CTRL/H to get back the part of the command line that was
valid.
MS send>>display (field)
Display has the following self explanatory arguments:
All Cc Subject Text To
MS send>>edit (field) text
Edit transfers control to the EMACS editor with the text of your message
in the buffer. The only field available to edit is the text field.
MS send>>erase (field)
Erase accepts one of the following arguments and erases the specified
field.
All Cc Reply-date Subject Text
To
The reply-date is the line that says, for example, "In-reply-to: Your
message of 14-Nov-78 0959-EST". The reply-date line is created when you
give the Reply command at MS> or MS read>> levels.
MS send>>help
Help types out this message.
MS send>>insert (file into message)
Insert appends a file to the end of your message text. You may then
type the text command and add more text, or you may insert more files
with additional insert commands, or you may send the message.
The insert command is similar in action to the CTRL/B command which
can be given while you are typing the message.
MS send>>push
Push starts a new copy of the command processor in a lower fork. You
may then run other programs and return to MS with "pop" to the command
processor. It is not recommended that you run MS again.
MS send>>quit
Quit returns you to the previous level, either top level or read level.
(If you were doing a forward or reply command in read level, the
previous level was read level. Quitting from send level forgets about
the current message.
MS send>>remove (user)
Remove accepts a user name, a list of user names separated by commas, or
"@FILE.EXT" to specify users to be removed from both the To: or Cc:
lists.
MS send>>send (message)
Send sends the message.
MS send>>text
The text command returns to message text input, appending to the end of
existing text. CTRL/K will type out all existing text. To enter the
contents of an indirect file anywhere in the text, type CTRL/B. CTRL/E
will transfer control to the editor (currently only EMACS) with your
existing text in the buffer. (CTRL/X-CTRL/Z will return to MS send
level from EMACS.)
MS send>>type (msg sequence)
The type command types out the specified message sequence. The default
sequence is "current". You may retype a message while you are answering
it.
MS read>> commands:
After reading a message with the READ command, MS returns with "MS
read>>". At this point you may give any of the following commands:
Answer Copy Delete Editor Exit Flag
Forward Help List Move Next Push
Quit Read Reply Type Undelete Unflag
MS read>>answer
Answer puts you in send level to reply to the current message. Answer
accepts "all" or "sender" as the choice of To: users. You may change
the To: or Cc: lists by going into send level. The "answer" command
is synonomous with "reply". For more information, see the reply
command.
MS read>>copy
Copy asks for a file specification and copies the current message from
your message file to the specified file.
MS read>>delete
Delete deletes the current message.
MS read>>editor
Editor transfers control to the EMACS editor with nothing in EMACS'
buffer. If you have the EMACS MMAIL library loaded and you type
"CTRL-META Y", EMACS will read in the current message and indent it four
spaces. If you type CTRL/X M to EMACS, (with the MMAIL library loaded),
you will be transfered to send level with the text that you were editing
in the send buffer.
MS read>>exit
Exit returns to the command processor and updates your message file.
All deleted messages are expunged.
MS read>>flag
Flag causes an "F" to be written on the left hand side of the message
header. The "F" indicates that you have flagged the message for future
attention. Flag also causes MS to type a message to you each time you
start MS that says (for example) "Message 5, 14 flagged."
MS read>>forward
Forward puts the current message in the send buffer and puts you in MS
send level, asking for the To: user. When the message has been sent
(or you quit from send level), you are returned to read level for more
action on the same message.
MS read>>help
Help types out this message.
MS read>>list (on line-printer)
List prints the current message on the line printer. MS will use the
lowercase printer if one is available.
MS read>>move
Move asks for a file specification and removes the current message from
your message file to the specified file. If the specified file exists
already, the current message is appended to it. (The message remains
marked as deleted until you exit.)
MS read>>net-mail (queued messages)
The net-mail command mails any messages you have sent with the send
command to remote network sites. If you don't give this command, the
messages will mailed later by the system's DMAILR (DECNET) or NMAILR
(ARPA net) program.
MS read>>next
Next reads the next message in the specified sequence. It is the
default command. If there are no more messages in the sequence, you are
returned to top level. (If you entered read level via a "MS read"
command to the command processor, you will be returned to the command
processor.)
MS read>>push
Push starts a new copy of the command processor in a lower fork. You
may then run other programs and return to MS with "pop" to the command
processor. It is recommended that you not run MS in the lower fork.
MS read>>quit
Quit leaves MS read level to top level. (If you entered read level via
an "MS read" command to the command processor, you will be returned to
the command processor.) No context information is saved.
MS read>>read
The read command retypes the current message. It is the same as the
type command.
MS read>>reply (to)
Reply puts you in send level to reply to the current message. Reply
accepts "all" or "sender" as the choice of To: users. You may change
the To: or Cc: lists by going into send level. The "answer" command
is synonomous with "reply". The MS read>> level reply command may be
abbreviated "R".
The message sent in reply will have a reply-date line as in the example
below:
DATE: 9-Aug-78 14:24
FROM: ALLEN
TO: ALLEN
_____
Subject: Re: MS
In-reply-to: Your message of 9-Aug-78 1423-EDT
This is an example of a reply message.
========
When the message has been sent (or you quit from send level), you are
returned to read level so that you may take more action on the same
message.
MS read>>type
Type types out the current message.
MS read>>undelete
Undelete undeletes the current message.
MS read>>unflag
The unflag command removes the attention flag from the specified
sequence of messages.
[End of MS.HLP]