Mail Specification

KEY




Overview

KEY

    The  Mail  command  provides  facilities  for  composing,  amending,
sending, receiving and storing messages.  Messages  are  held  in  files
called  folders.   All the correspondence which relates to one topic can
be conveniently held in one folder.

    In turn, messages themselves consist of a number of components.  The
body  of the message consists of a text component, and the header of the
message consists of all the other components, e.g.

         Subject: Meeting on Wednesday, 2 p.m.
         From:    S Shaw
         To:      J Smith, j jones

         Please note the new location for our meeting is Room 2019.
         S.




    The process of composing a message entails  placing  text  into  the
various components of the draft message (which is not held in a folder).
For  example,  addresses go into the "To:" component and the body of the
message goes into the "Text:" component.  A draft message can  be  Sent,
which  causes  its  delivery  to all the indicated recipients; each will
receive a one-line TELL message indicating that  they  have  outstanding
mail.   After  receiving  messages,  the user may selectively List them.
Further manipulation of a  message  can  involve  Forwarding  copies  to
additional   recipients,  Replying  to  its  author,  Filing  for  later
reference or Discarding.

    The messages in a folder are  ordered  chronologically  and  may  be
referenced by their index number (i.e. by their position in the folder),
or  by  using  special  labels.   At  any  given moment the system has a
current folder, and  within  it  a  current  message,  which  are  under
scrutiny;  this  avoids having to specify a folder and message index for
every command.



    A standard folder called M#INBOX is created by the system.  When the
Mail  command  is  invoked,  the  normal  action is to Open the standard
folder and select it as the current folder.

    Only the draft message may be modified.  However, any message  in  a
folder  can  be Copied to the draft; similarly, the draft message can be
Filed in a folder.

    You are notified when a message  has  arrived  for  you  by  a  TELL
message  from  the  executive process MAILER.


Calling Mail

KEY

    If  the Mail command is called with no parameters, it checks whether
any messages have been sent to you and ACCEPTS them.  Otherwise it  just
issues  the  prompt  'Mail:', which is reissued after each directive has
been performed until the directive STOP or QUIT is given:

      Command:mail
      Mail:

    Alternatively,  the name of a Mail directive may be specified in the
call:

      Command:mail(help)
   or
      Command:mail(compose)



    If a directive is to be given with parameters,  the  directive  name
should be followed by a comma:

      Command:mail(list,all/.lp)
      Mail:

    A special call of Mail is provided for use in an FSTARTFILE, so that
it is executed every time you log on to EMAS.  This call reports whether
there are any outstanding messages, then returns to Command level:

      Command:mail(?)
      2 new messages
      Command:

    The  parameters  for  each  Mail  command  generally  take  the form
.  If no 
 parameter is given then  the  slash  (/)
can be omitted.



    A  command name need not be typed out in full, and in most cases may
be abbreviated to a single letter.  Where an ambiguous  name  is  given,
e.g. "f",  then  alphabetical  order  determines  the  command selected.
Hence "f" will invoke "file", "fo" will invoke  "forward".   Lower  case
input is accepted throughout.

    At  the  'Mail:'  prompt,  you  can  invoke any command available at
command level by  using  '!'  as  an  escape  character.   In  addition,
parameters  containing ':' are interpreted as message components and are
copied out to a temporary file; this filename  is  substituted  for  the
component  in  the  string passed to the command.  After the command has
been executed, the contents of the file are copied back if the component
is in the draft, e.g.

   Mail:!files ,,text:        outputs to the text of the draft
   Mail:!myprog text:2,text:  uses the text of message 2 as input to a
                              user program, with the output directed to
                              the text of the draft
   Mail:!restore file1


Simple operations

KEY

    Mail  provides  a  number  of  facilities for manipulating messages;
however,  to  get  started,  the  subset  described  below   should   be
sufficient.

Receiving messages
------------------

    When  a  message  is  sent  to  you,  you  learn of its arrival by a
TELL-type message of the following form -

   **MAILER 05/08/82 16.36: Message from R.Hill

    To receive the message, simply call the Mail  command.   Outstanding
messages  are  taken  into your message folder and a one line summary is
printed for each:



   Command:mail
   1 new message

   n 12     (68)  06 Apr   R.Hill         Tomorrow's meeting

   <return> to list message

   Mail:                               (user types <return> here)

   (Message 12, 68 bytes)
   Subject: Tomorrow's meeting
   From:    R.Hill at UKC        06 Apr 17 :36
   To:      J.Jones

   Please note that the meeting-place has been changed to Room 2019.

   Mail:




    In the example, the summary indicates that it is a new message, with
index number 12, contains 68 characters, was sent on the 6th of April by
R.Hill and concerns a meeting.  You then press the <return> key to  list
the  message.   Once  called,  the Mail command will continue to issue a
Mail: prompt until STOP is specified.




Sending messages
----------------

    To send a reply to a  message  you  have  received,  use  REPLY  and
specify the number of the message you want to reply to -

   Mail:reply 12
   Replying to R.Hill
   Text:
   :I'll be there.
   :John
   :*
   Send now? : YES
   Message sent and filed
   Mail:

    Input to the Text: prompt is terminated by typing either an asterisk
or a colon on a line by itself.



    To  send  a  message  other  than a reply, use COMPOSE to create the
draft message -

   Mail:compose
   To: B.Smith
   Subject: Sample message
   Text:
   :This is
   :a message.
   :*
   Send now? : YES
   Message sent and filed

    If you want to check  the  contents  of  the  draft  message  before
sending it, reply "NO" to the Send now? prompt and then list the draft -

   Mail:list draft



    Any part of the draft message may be amended using CHEF, EDIT, ECCE,
EM or Vedit.  The parameter specifies which part of the message is to be
edited -

   Mail:edit to:

Other methods of editing the message (during input) are discussed later.

    Once the draft is satisfactory, use SEND to dispatch it -

   Mail:send draft
   Message sent and filed

    The  attempt  to  send  a  message  may fail if it contains a faulty
recipient name.  However, the message remains intact in draft form,  and
the  procedure  outlined  above  can  be  used  to  correct  the  faulty
component, then send it again.




Reviewing messages
------------------

    A one line summary of a message is produced by SCAN.  To obtain this
summary for every message you have sent or  received,  use  the  keyword
ALL:

   Mail:scan all

    The  message  number printed at the start of each one line entry can
be used as a parameter to various operations including SCAN,  REPLY  and
LIST.  The message accepted in the first example would be reviewed by -

   Mail:list 12

    To mark a message as being eligible for deletion use DISCARD -

   Mail:discard 12



    A  subsequent  call  of TIDY is required to purge messages marked in
this way:

   Mail:tidy

    On-line assistance is provided  by  HELP.   Given  no  parameter  it
offers  a  table  of  contents;  otherwise  it lists information about a
specified Mail command.  Return from viewing the help file back to  Mail
by typing QUIT -

   Mail:help scan
      .
      .
   View:quit




Addressing
----------

    Messages  are  normally  addressed  to  individuals  by  using their
"recipient  names"  (the  same  names  appear  in  line  printer  output
banners).   These  names from all EMAS users are collected together in a
directory, the UKC directory, which can be examined by Mail's  DIRECTORY
command.   For  example, when sending a message to "Bill Smith", you can
check whether he is known as "B.Smith" or "W.Smith" as follows -




   Mail:directory Bill Smith

   Rname           User    Host      Type    Dept

   B.Smith        PHR999   2960     S'name   Physics extn 1234
   S.Smith        BIR888   2960     S'name   Biology extn 2642

    The  login  names  of  most  UNIX  users  are  also  included in the
directory, allowing transparent forwarding of mail where required.


Summary of commands

KEY

Command                      Description                            

Accept    take outstanding messages into the message folder            
Accredit  add an alias R-name to the name/address directory            
Alias     change or display your private aliases for recipients        
Bboard    access bulletin boards                                       
Bbcancel  cancel subscription to a bulletin board                      
Chef      invoke the CHEF editor to edit a component of the draft
Compose   create a draft message and offer to SEND it                  
Copy      create components of the draft message                       
Directory list an extract of the name/address directory                
Discard   mark messages for deletion, or destroy draft components      
Discredit remove an R-name from the name/address directory             
Dn        discard the current message and list the next                
Ecce      invoke ECCE to edit a component of the draft message         
Edit      invoke the standard editor to edit a component of the draft  
Em        invoke the EM editor to edit a component of the draft
File      copy messages to another folder, then discard the originals  
Forward   package up an existing message for retransmission            
Goto      make the message specified the current message               
Help      provide on-line information about Mail commands              
List      display messages on the console or list to a file            
Next      list the next message in the folder on the console           
Open      make the folder named the new current folder                 
Output    list a message component to a file,device or the console     
Post      generate hardcopy listing for sending by surface post        
Previous  list the previous message on the console                     
Profile   set or display Mail user options                             
Quit      exit from Mail and return to the Subsystem                   
Reply     create a draft message in reply to one received              
Retrieve  remove "discarded" status from messages                      
Scan      produce a list of contents for the current folder            
Send      package up a message and submit it for transmission          
Stop      exit from Mail and return to the Subsystem                   
Tidy      purge discarded messages from a folder                       
Vedit     invoke a user-specified editor to edit the draft             



    The next five  sections  describe  in  detail  the  conventions  for
specifying  addresses,  message lists, message components, filing copies
and time-determined  delivery  of  messages,  which  appear  as  keyword
parameters  in  many  of  these  commands.   The  following section then
describes each of the commands in detail.


Addressing conventions


    Messages are addressed to  individuals  by  using  their  "recipient
names"   (R-names).    Each  R-name  is  unique  and,  for  EMAS  users,
corresponds to the surname string associated  with  their  EMAS  process
(the  same  string is printed on line printer output banners).  If it is
not unique, the surname, i.e. R-name, can be made unique by  request  to
the  System  Management.   Every EMAS user with a unique R-name has this
name automatically entered into  Mail's  name/address  directory.   This
directory  (the  UKC  directory) contains names collected from the 2960,
and from some UNIX hosts.  It  can  be  consulted  using  the  DIRECTORY
command.

    R-names take the form <name> at <directory>, e.g.

        J.Jones at UKC
        sjl @ UKC

    For UKC directory names, the  "at  UKC"  (or  "@UKC")  part  may  be
omitted.



    Hosts are regarded  as  having  their  own  directories,  containing
usernumbers.  Hence the following R-names are valid:

        CUR999 at 2960
        pc @ EAGLE
        mjb at comet

    When  a specified R-name is being processed by Mail, the case of the
letters is ignored, as are spaces and dots.  The  following  rules  also
apply:

  -   a list of recipients can be specified by using commas to separate
      R-names.
  -   any text enclosed in parentheses "(...)" is ignored when analysing
      R-names.
  -   if an address contains matching angle brackets "<...>", any text
      outside the angle brackets is ignored.



The following address list shows these forms:

  J.Jones at UKC (this text ignored),
  CUR999 @ 2960 (usernumber addressing),
  K.Jones <CUR998 at 2960> (only text within <> taken as the address)

    A user can avoid having his surname string made known to other users
as an R-name by calling the DISCREDIT command:

        Mail:discredit R.Hill



    In  addition  to the local hosts EMAS, EAGLE etc., a large number of
remote  hosts  are  accessible.   These  include  certain  JANet  hosts,
Internet hosts (ARPANET, CSNET) and other UK hosts attached to PSS.

    Access  to  remote  hosts  follows the JNT Mail Protocol, a national
standard also used  throughout  the  USA  by  the  ARPA  network.   This
protocol  is different from that used by the UKC UNIX systems, which use
a mixture of three incompatible systems.



    Remote  hosts are often addressed via intermediate machines known as
'relays'.  For example, to access the host 'UCL-CS', routing the message
via the EDINBURGH network and the DECsystem-10 on the JANet at Edinburgh
(known as 'EDXA'), you would give the address:

          bloggs%ucl-cs%edxa@edinburgh

    However,  well-known  hosts  are  automatically  given  the  correct
routing, so you could just use:

          bloggs@ucl-cs

and  the  EMAS MAILER would do the rest.  Only hosts which are 'known to
work' are given automatic routing, although if you know of a host  which
could be added to the list for automatic routing, we would be pleased to
do this for you.



    For  an  up-to-date  list  of hosts for which routing is unnecessary
(and which are known to work), see HELP(MAILHOSTS) or the contents  list
of this document (there is a Section on mail hosts).


Message lists

KEY

    A number of Mail  commands,  including  LIST,  SCAN,  FORWARD  etc.,
accept  a  list  of messages as a parameter.  Various ways of specifying
such a list are described here.

    Within  a  folder,  messages  can  be  referenced  by  index  number
(position in the folder), and a collection of messages can be referenced
at  one  time,  by  using  commas  and  dashes as connectors.  Hence the
specification "1, 7-9, 90>89" refers  to  messages  one,  seven,  eight,
nine,  ninety  and  eighty-nine.   The angle bracket is like dash except
that it indicates that the sub-list is in descending order.

    Also, certain keywords define groups  of  messages,  so  that  "new,
10-15,  last2"  will  reference all new messages, the tenth to fifteenth
and the last two messages in the folder.  The same  message  may  appear
more than once in such a list, but this does not imply any repetition of
the message.



    Complex  message lists can be formed using the logical operators AND
(&),  NOT  (~),  OR  (,)   and   parentheses   '('   and   ')'.    Hence
'(from="smith",to="smith")  and  not  last20' selects all correspondence
with "smith" excluding the last 20 messages in the folder.   The  normal
rules  of  precedence apply so that NOT is most binding, followed by AND
then OR.  Parentheses may be used to override this.



    Keywords  may be abbreviated to a shorter form (as short as a single
letter), but note that "D" is a short form of "draft" (not "discarded").

    The terms defined below (with the exception of  "draft")  relate  to
messages in the current folder; they are as follows:

  n         -  message n in the folder

  n-m       -  messages n to m; either n or m may be a message keyword,
               hence "10-last"

  n>m       -  messages n to m; the messages are selected in reverse
               order



  c=text    -  where 'c' represents the name of a message component.
  c#text       This will select all messages in the folder whose
               'c' component includes the indicated text (but need not
               be equivalent to it), e.g.  FROM=JONES.  The '#' form
               gives the converse.  The text comparison ignores the
               case of the characters, but spaces etc. are significant.

  all       -  all messages in the folder

  current   -  the message currently under scrutiny

  discarded -  messages which have been discarded to a "wastebin" but
               which the janitor has not yet taken away (see the
               "Discard" command, below)

  draft     -  the single message which is currently being prepared;
               it is not held in any folder



  first     -  the first message in the folder; if followed by a number
               'n', selects the first 'n' messages in the folder,
               e.g. 'first10' selects the first 10 messages in the
               folder

  last      -  the last message in the folder; if followed by a number
               'n', selects the last 'n' messages in the folder

  new       -  messages which have been accepted in this Mail session
               but have not yet been LISTed

  next      -  the first message after the current one; if followed by a
               number 'n', selects the next 'n' messages

  old       -  messages in the folder which are not discarded, new,
               unseen or saved

  previous  -  the first message preceding the current one; if followed
               by a number 'n', selects the previous 'n' messages



  saved     -  former draft messages which have been saved by being
               FILEd in the folder

  unseen    -  messages which were accepted in a previous Mail session
               and have not yet been LISTed


Message components


    A  message  is  composed of a series of components.  The body of the
message consists of a "Text:"  component  -  all  the  other  components
together constitute the header of the message.  The following components
are defined:

  Date:    Indicates the date and time when the message was sent.

  Subject: Gives a brief indication of the content of the message and is
           displayed when the message is SCANned.

  From:    Indicates who sent the message.  This field may be set by the
           sender to contain any text he wishes (if, for example, he is
           sending a message on someone else's behalf); in this case,
           MAILER will add a "Sender:" component to the message to show
           who actually sent it.

  Sender:  Shows who actually sent the message and indicates that the
           "From:" component is not authentic.

  Reply to: This allows the originator of the message to indicate where
           replies are to be sent.

  To:      The one or more primary recipients of the message.

  cc:      One or more secondary recipients (who receive carbon copies).

  bcc:     One or more tertiary recipients (who receive blind carbon
           copies, see below).

  Msg ID:  This holds a unique message identifier and is composed of
           three parts:

                 1) host name
                 2) a numeric identifier allocated by the host
                 3) date and time when the message was sent

  In reply to:  This component is added to a message by the REPLY
           command, and identifies the message being replied to.

  Comments: This allows text comments to be added to the message without
           disturbing the contents of the message proper.

  After:   This component contains a date and time which determines when
           the message is to be delivered.  See the section on
           "Time-determined delivery".

  References:  Not filled in or used by any Mail function, this
           component may contain any text.

  Keywords: Again, this component may contain any text and may be used
           to classify messages or to direct the operations of programs
           which automatically receive and manipulate messages.

  Folder:  Indicates the name of a folder in which the sender recommends
           the recipient to file the message.

  Via:     Gives routing information on the steps a message took to
           reach you. May be required to enable a return address to be
           formed.

  Ack to:  Indicates to whom an acknowledgement is to be sent on receipt
           of the message.  Some hosts (including EMAS) automatically
           generate the acknowledgement when the recipient accepts
           the message.  Currently, EAGLE and COMET do not support
           this facility.



    When sending a message to a number of  recipients,  the  sender  may
determine  how  much  information  each  recipient  receives  about  his
co-recipients  by  selective  use  of  the  "To:",  "cc:",  and   "bcc:"
components.

  To:, cc: a recipient in either of these lists has details only of the
           other "To:" and "cc:" recipients included in his copy of the
           message - the "bcc:" recipients are excluded.

  bcc:     a "bcc:" recipient will receive a copy of the message
           containing details of the "To:" and "cc:" recipients, and
           showing his own name alone in the "bcc:" component.



Hence, a message addressed

   To:     Black
   cc:     Brown
   bcc:    White, Grey

will be received by each as follows:

   Black and Brown -

           To:   Black
           cc:   Brown

   White - To:   Black
           cc:   Brown
           bcc:  White



    This feature may be useful where a distribution list containing many
names  is  given  - the sender can avoid burdening each recipient with a
long list of names in which he has no interest.

    Many of the commands of the Mail program take  a  message  component
parameter.  The full specification is:

      <component name>:<message>(<folder name>)

      e.g.  cc:4(LETTERS)

    The  <folder  name>  can usually be omitted - by default the message
referred to will be in the current folder.  The <message>  part  of  the
specification  may  also  be  omitted, in which case the current message
under scrutiny is assumed.  Hence the  message  component  specification
"To:",  refers  to  the  "To:"  component  of the current message in the
current folder.



    Message component names can be abbreviated to a shorter  form  -  in
all cases, the first two characters of each component name give a unique
abbreviation (hence "su:" is equivalent to "Subject:").

    Note that a message keyword which may define more than  one  message
can  be  used  -  the  message selected is the first message found which
matches the keyword.   Hence  "Subject:NEW"  refers  to  the  "Subject:"
component of the first NEW message in the current folder.


Filing copies

KEY

    When  a  message  is  sent  successfully, by default a copy of it is
filed in the current folder.  The default can be changed permanently  by
use  of  the  PROFILE  command,  so that no copy is automatically filed.
This applies in three places: in the POST and SEND  commands  which  are
described  elsewhere,  and  at  the  "Send  now?:"  prompt which follows
COMPOSE, REPLY, FORWARD and sometimes POST.

The response to "Send now?:" has the form:

      Send now?: YES or NO or <when>/<folder for filed copy>

The  <when>  specification is described under "Time-determined delivery"
(in relation to filing copies, <when> is equivalent to replying YES):

      Send now? : tomorrow (send, and by default file a copy)
      Send now? : YES      (send, and by default file a copy)



    The default option setting may be overridden by  specifying  ".NULL"
(or ".N") as the null folder to indicate that no copy is to be filed:

      Send now? : YES/.N   (or simply '/.N')

    Conversely,  if  the  profile option is disabled permanently so that
copies are not normally filed, specifying ".FOLDER" (or ".F") will cause
a copy to be filed in the current folder:

      Send now? : Y/.F     (or simply '/.F')

    When  a  folder  name is explicitly specified, a copy is filed there
regardless of the profile setting:

      Send now? : Y/FOLD2  (files a copy in FOLD2)



    If you decide not to send the message by  replying  "NO"  (or  "N"),
then  regardless  of  the  profile  setting, no copy is filed unless you
specify the folder:

      Send now? : N        (not sent or filed)
      Send now? : N/.F     (not sent, but filed in the current folder)
      Send now? : N/FOLD3  (not sent, but filed in FOLD3)


Time-determined delivery

KEY

    A message may be sent with a  "deliver  after"  specification  which
delays  the  delivery  of the message until the current date and time is
after the date and time specified.  This is useful for sending reminders
to yourself or others.  The date specification may be either a  standard
date  (e.g. 15  July  1981), or a day of the week (MONDAY), or a keyword
(TOMORROW).  The time specification may be in hours and minutes  (12:30)
or mnemonic.

    Dates are recognised in various forms, e.g. 15 July 81 or 15 7 81 or
July  15  1981.   Missing numbers are filled from today's date except in
the case of a mnemonic month with no day following, when  the  first  of
the month is assumed.

Mnemonic  dates  are  a  weekday (Sunday, Monday etc.), Today, Tomorrow,
Week, Month and Year.  Weekdays are always in the future  -  if  today's
weekday   is   specified,   the  message  is  delivered  in  seven  days
time. "Week" specifies the next week (weeks start on a  Sunday). "Month"
specifies  next  month  (which  naturally  starts  on the first). "Year"
specifies next year (starting 1st January).

    Time specifications are in the  form  hh:mm  on  a  24  hour  clock.
Mnemonic  times  are  available: Breakfast  (8:00),  Lunch (12:00), Noon
(12:00), Tea (16:00), Dinner (20:00) and Midnight (23.59).

    The following "noise" words are available: next, after, at, since.

These date and time values may be specified with the  SEND  command,  or
given  in  response to the "Send now?" prompt which follows the COMPOSE,
FORWARD and REPLY commands:

   Mail:send ,after lunch tomorrow
   Mail:send ,13           (indicates 13th of this month)

   Send now? : NEXT WEEK   (equals next Sunday)
   Send now? : 10 AUG      (10th August this year)


Mail commands

KEY

    In  the  examples  which  follow, command names, component names and
message keywords are given in full, but note that abbreviated forms  are
acceptable for all of these.  The shortest abbreviation for each command
name is shown in parentheses at the right margin.




Accept

KEY


Mail:accept <R-names>/<folder name>                                  (a)

    This  command  is used to accept messages which arrive for you while
you are already within Mail.

    If the <folder name>  parameter  is  specified,  then  the  messages
accepted  are  stored  in  that  folder (it is made the current folder).
Otherwise the messages are stored in the folder M#INBOX.  The  <R-names>
parameter  should  be specified when you want to take messages addressed
to an alias associated with your process.   For  messages  addressed  to
your 'official' surname no parameter is required.

      Mail:accept

    Mail  addressed  to  different  R-names  may be accepted in a single
operation as follows:

      Mail:accept R.Hill+Package inquiries

    See PROFILE for details of a facility which  allows  default  ACCEPT
parameters  to be set.  When Mail is called without parameters an ACCEPT
is automatically performed which also uses the default ACCEPT parameters
held in the PROFILE.

    After taking the  outstanding  messages,  a  SCAN  of  new  messages
(i.e. messages not yet LISTed) is performed.


Accredit

KEY


Mail:accredit <R-name>,<Department>                               (accr)

    This command allows users to add additional R-names  for  themselves
(public  aliases) to the name/address directory.  In order to maintain a
rational naming system, this facility is only available  on  request  to
the System Management.

    You  may  always  set  a  "Department"  field  (31 characters) to be
associated with your normal R-name.  The information is displayed when a
search is made of the name/address  directory  (see  DIRECTORY)  and  is
intended  as  an  aid in distinguishing recipients with similar R-names.
Accredit may be called with the existing R-name entry in order to change
the Department field.

      Mail:accredit R.Hill,Physics - extn 1234

    Note  that if you want to have your default R-name changed, this can
only be done by application to the System Management.


Alias

KEY


Mail:alias <alias spec>                                             (al)

    This command allows you to set private  aliases  for  addresses  you
frequently  use.  Each alias you define may reference a single recipient
name or a list of recipient names.  Whenever you instruct Mail to send a
message, it checks whether the recipient fields of the  message  contain
any  private alias names - if so, the text associated with an alias name
is then substituted for it before the message is dispatched.

    The following examples show how the alias list can be displayed  and
how items can be added or removed from individual aliases:

   Mail:alias              -  display all aliases and the text
                              associated with each

   Mail:alias friends      -  display the text associated with the alias
                              'FRIENDS'

   Mail:alias friends=R.Hill,A.Aban
                              add two names to text associated with the
                              the alias 'FRIENDS' (creates an entry for
                              'FRIENDS' if it does not already exist)

   Mail:alias friends#R.Hill - remove 'R.Hill' from the text associated
                              with 'FRIENDS' (if no text remains,
                              removes the alias 'FRIENDS' altogether)

   Mail:alias friends#     -  remove alias 'friends' and all text
                              associated with it.


Bboard

KEY


Mail:bboard <bboard name>                                            (b)

    This  command  gives  access  to  shared  folders  known as bulletin
boards, which are intended for use by any group of  users  who  share  a
common  interest.   Messages  are  sent to bulletin boards by addressing
them in the normal way, (e.g.  To:  general @ ukc).  To read a  bulletin
board, you must first become a subscriber to it:

      Mail:bboard general

If 'general' was already subscribed to, then the above call would simply
open  it for inspection.  With no parameter specified, the command opens
the first bulletin board which contains new messages.  Subsequent  calls
open  further  bulletin  boards  until  all  those  subscribed to, which
contain new messages, have been accessed:

      Mail:bboard

If a bulletin board containing new messages is opened for you, but  some
(or all) of the messages are of no interest, you can mark them as having
been  read  using  the  GOTO  command. "GOTO last" marks all messages as
having been read, and so subsequent calls of Bboard will not  cause  the
bulletin board to be reopened for these same messages.

    To find the names of the bulletin boards to which you subscribe, the
number of messages each contains, and whether there are any new messages
since your last access, use:

      Mail:bboard ?

This  also  shows  the  names  of other bulletin boards to which you may
choose to subscribe.

    Note  that  bulletin   boards   are   not   yet   fully   supported;
investigations are being made into ways of linking them to the EMAS News
System.


Bbcancel

KEY


Mail:bbcancel <bboard name>                                        (bbc)

    This command cancels a subscription to a bulletin  board.   With  no
parameter  it cancels subscription to the bulletin board currently open.
Otherwise, it cancels subscription to the bulletin board named:

      Mail:bbcancel general

The effect of this is to omit the indicated bulletin board from the list
of those checked when command 'bboard' is called.


Chef

KEY


Mail:chef <component or EMAS file>/<component of the draft>          (c)

    This  command  allows  an  EMAS file or an existing component of any
message file to be edited (using the CHEF editor), and the result placed
in a component of the draft.

    If no parameters are given, then the "Text:" component of the  draft
message  is  edited.   If  an output draft component (i.e. one following
"/") is  given,  then  the  existing  contents  of  that  component  are
overwritten.   Note that a filename "CC" is distinguished from a message
component "CC:" by the presence of a colon.

      Mail:chef             - edits the "Text:" component of the draft,
                              creating it if none already exists

      Mail:chef cc:         - edits the "cc:" component of the draft,
                              creating it if none exists.

      Mail:chef Text:current/text:  - edits the "Text:" component of the
                              current message to the "Text:" component
                              of the draft.

      Mail:chef /to:        - edits an empty file to the "To:" component
                              of the draft.

      Mail:chef mylist/to:  - edits an EMAS file to the "To:" component
                              of the draft.

      Mail:chef cc:2        - this will fail; a component of the draft
                              must be given following "/" in this case.
    See  also the Vedit command which allows any other editor to be used
within Mail.


Compose

KEY


Mail:compose <component names>                                      (co)

    This  command  offers  a convenient way of creating a draft message.
The draft is first cleared, then prompts are issued as indicated:

      Mail:compose
      To: J.Jones
      Subject: Old joke
      Text:
      : Send 3/4d we're going to a dance.
      ::
      Send now? : Y
      Message sent and filed



    Input  for the "Text:" and "Comments:" components is terminated by a
colon (:) or an asterisk (*) on a line by itself (the prompt  issued  on
each  line  is  ":").   The  input  for all other components is normally
terminated by a newline.  Continuation lines  are  allowed  and  can  be
specified in two ways.  If the line ends with a comma it is assumed that
additional  input  follows.   Alternatively,  an  explicit  continuation
character at the end of the line, backslash (\), allows a  further  line
to  be  input.   The  backslash  character itself is not included in the
message component.  Null input is accepted.

    In addition to accepting text, the COMPOSE command will  accept  the
contents  of an EMAS file or of a component of an existing message.  The
escape character '@' must be used to indicate this form of  input.   You
may request that prompts are issued for additional message components by
giving the component names as parameters:



      Mail:compose cc:, comments:
      To: @CUR999.NAMES
      cc: J.Jones, R.Hill
      Subject: @Subject:
      Comments: Any suggestions for additions
              : to this circulation list?
              ::
      Text:
      :@text:4
      Send now? : N
      Mail:

    In  this  example,  a  file  is copied to the "To:" component of the
draft, the "Subject:" component of the current message is copied to  the
"Subject:"  component of the draft, and the "Text:" component of message
4 is copied to the "Text:" component of the draft.  Note that a  message
component,  e.g. "@TEXT:" is distinguished from a file of the same name,
"@TEXT", by the presence of a colon.




    During  input  of text to any component, several additional commands
are available in the form of what are  known  as  'tilde  escapes'.   As
might  be expected, these commands are introduced by the tilde character
(~) which for this purpose must be the first character on a line. It  is
followed by one of several letters, which have the following meanings:

~f filename  - Include a copy of the specified file at this point.
~e           - Edit the text collected so far (by default, this uses the
               EM  editor  but  this  may be changed with the ~s command
               described below).
~l           - List the text collected so far.
~m message   - Include the message(s) indicated (e.g. last3).
~c component - Include the component indicated (e.g. cc:last).
~a           - Abandon input.
~! command   - Call an EMAS command.
~s editor    - Select the editor invoked by ~e.
~~           - Include a single ~ character.
~?           - Display a brief help message about tilde escapes.



    The response to the "Send now?" prompt may be "Y" or "N" or  a  date
and time indicating delayed delivery (see Time-determined delivery).

    If the message is sent successfully, then by default a copy of it is
filed in the current folder.  See the section  on  "Filing  copies"  for
details of how to control whether a copy is filed.

    If  the  draft message is not sent (as in the example above), it may
be modified further then dispatched using the SEND command.


Copy

KEY


Mail:copy <input>/<component of the draft> or DRAFT                (cop)

    This command allows text to be copied to a component of  the  draft.
Alternatively  a  complete message may be copied to the draft.  If input
is not specified then a prompt is issued and the text to  be  copied  is
read from the terminal.  If the component of the draft is not specified,
the  "Text:"  component is assumed.  Alternative sources of input are an
EMAS file or a component of an existing message.

      Mail:copy            (No parameters, so input is prompted
      Text:                for and is taken to be for the "Text:"
      :This is input       component of the draft message)
      ::

      Mail:copy msgtext    (EMAS file MSGTEXT is copied to the "Text:"
                           component of the draft message)



      Mail:copy cc:/to:    (copies the "cc:" component of the current
                           message to the "To:" component of the draft
                           message)

    Alternatively, a complete message (i.e. all its components)  may  be
copied  to  the  draft  message.  In this case the default for the first
parameter is the current message.

      Mail:copy /draft     (copies the current message to the draft)

      Mail:copy new/draft  (copies the first new message in the
                           current folder to the draft)


Directory

KEY


Mail:directory <R-name mask or username mask @ host>/<output>        (d)

    This command  allows  a  search  to  be  made  of  the  name/address
directory.   The  search  may  be  for  a specific R-name, or a specific
"usernumber at host" or for all R-names or usernumbers that fit a  mask.
As  in  the  Subsystem  command  FILES, the mask consists of up to three
fields where a field is either an explicit string of characters  or  the
symbol   "*",   representing  any  characters.   Upper  and  lower  case
characters are not distinguished.

    If an '@' symbol is present, as in "CUR999@2960" then the search  is
performed  on  the  usernumber  and host columns of the directory rather
than the Rname column.  Where an R-name search fails to  find  an  exact
match,  it attempts to select approximate matches.  Information is given
on each Rname selected, under the following headings:



      Rname     - the recipient name; if only approximate matches are
                  made for the name specified then the column is headed
                  "Rname(?)"

      User      - the user number to which messages are delivered

      Host      - the host on which the recipient is accredited

      Type      - currently takes one of two values:

                  S'name    - the R-name is the standard process surname
                              string, set by the System Manager

                  Alias     - the R-name was accredited by the user
                              himself

      Dept      - a user-defined field set by ACCREDIT



    The  <output>  parameter  may  be  null  (implying  output  to   the
terminal), or a filename or device name.  Examples:

      Mail:directory Bill Smith

      Mail:directory cur9*@2960/.lpcl

      Mail:directory *@eagle/vfile       (not yet supported by UNIX)


Discard

KEY


Mail:discard <messages> or <draft components>                      (dis)

    This  command  marks  one  or more messages in the current folder as
being discarded, but does not physically remove them  or  re-number  the
remaining  messages in the folder.  The action is like placing a message
in the wastebin - it  is  still  available  though  less  convenient  to
access,  and  is  subject to permanent removal later by the TIDY command
(see below).  If no TIDY has been performed after  a  DISCARD  then  the
RETRIEVE command can be used to recover the messages.

    As  with  other  commands,  DISCARD can be applied to the draft.  In
addition, for the draft only, individual  components  may  be  discarded
(the  component  name  must be followed by a colon).  However, discarded
components  of  the  draft  are  destroyed  immediately  and  cannot  be
recovered by RETRIEVE.



      Mail:discard 1-4,cc:,last  (discards messages 1-4 and the last
                                 message in the current folder, plus the
                                 "cc:" component of the draft)

      Mail:discard draft         (discards all components of the draft
                                 message)

    The  last  message specified in the list becomes the current message
if it is not the draft.


Discredit

KEY


Mail:discredit <R-name>                                          (discr)

    This command removes an  R-name  belonging  to  the  user  from  the
name/address directory.

    Discredit is called as follows:

      Mail:discredit R. Hill

    This is not really recommended unless you are paranoid,  because  it
makes it very difficult for others to send you mail!


Dn

KEY


Mail:dn                                                             (dn)

    This  command,  representing  Discard  +  Next, gives a quick way of
discarding the current message and listing the next in the folder.


Edit

KEY


Mail:ecce <component> or file/<component of the draft>               (e)
Mail:edit <component> or file/<component of the draft>              (ed)

    This command allows an EMAS file or  a  component  of  any  existing
message to be edited, and the result placed in a component of the draft.

    If  no parameters are given, then the "Text:" component of the draft
message is edited.  If an output  draft  component  (i.e. one  following
"/")  is  given,  then  the  existing  contents  of  that  component are
overwritten.  Note that a filename "CC" is distinguished from a  message
component "CC:" by the presence of a colon.

      Mail:ecce             - edits the "Text:" component of the draft,
                              creating it if none already exists

      Mail:ecce Text:current/text:  - edits the "Text:" component of the
                              current message to the "Text:" component
                              of the draft.

      Mail:edit cc:         - edits the "cc:" component of the draft,
                              creating it if none exists.

      Mail:ecce cc:2        - this will fail; a component of the draft
                              must be given following "/" in this case.

      Mail:edit mylist_n1/to:  - edits an EMAS file to the "to:"
                              component of the draft.

      Mail:edit /to:        - edits an empty file to the "To:" component
                              of the draft, i.e. creates a new "To:"
                              component.

    See also the Vedit command which allows any other editor to be  used
within Mail.


Em

KEY


Mail:em <component>/<component of the draft>                        (em)

    This command allows an existing component of any message file to  be
edited  (using  the  EM editor), and the result placed in a component of
the draft.

    If no parameters are given, then the "Text:" component of the  draft
message  is  edited.   If  an output draft component (i.e. one following
"/") is  given,  then  the  existing  contents  of  that  component  are
overwritten.   Note that a filename "CC" is distinguished from a message
component "CC:" by the presence of a colon.

      Mail:em               - edits the "Text:" component of the draft,
                              creating it if none already exists

      Mail:em   cc:         - edits the "cc:" component of the draft,
                              creating it if none exists.

      Mail:em   Text:current/text:  - edits the "Text:" component of the
                              current message to the "Text:" component
                              of the draft.

      Mail:em   cc:2        - this will fail; a component of the draft
                              must be given following "/" in this case.

    If a component does not exist, and it is edited and created, EM will
give an error message about the non- existence of  that  component. This
should be ignored.

    See also the Vedit command, which allows any other editor to be used
within Mail.


File

KEY


Mail:file <list of messages in the current folder>/<folder>          (f)

    This command copies messages from  the  current  folder  to  another
folder,  then  discards the messages from the current folder.  The input
list of messages defaults to the current message.  The draft message may
also be filed (this is the only  message  which  can  be  filed  in  the
current folder); a filed draft message is given SAVED status (see SCAN).

    The  last  message  in  the list of messages to be filed becomes the
current message.

      Mail:file /folder2    - files the current message to folder2

      Mail:file draft       - files the draft to the current folder

      Mail:file new,1,last/folderb  - files all new messages plus the
                              first and last in the folder to folderb


Forward

KEY


Mail:forward <messages>                                             (fo)

    This command sends a copy of one or more messages to another user or
users.  Mail issues a prompt for the name of the user or users  to  whom
you wish to forward the messages.  You reply to this with the name(s) or
alternatively specify an EMAS file or a message component which contains
the names.

    Mail  issues  a further prompt, "Comments:", which allows you to add
some text to  the  message  without  affecting  the  forwarded  messages
themselves.

    As with COMPOSE and REPLY, you are offered the option of sending the
message  at  the  end  of the operation.  The last message in <messages>
becomes the current message.  If  <messages>  lies  within  the  current
folder, it becomes the current message.



      Mail:forward 1           - forward the first message in the
      To: Rowland Hill           current folder
      Comments: Can you deal with this?
              ::

      Mail:forward new         - forward all new messages in the
      To: @cc:                   current folder to the list of
      Comments:For information   recipients held in the "cc:"
              ::                 component of the current message.


Goto

KEY


Mail:goto <message>                                                  (g)

    The  message  specified  becomes  the current message.  If a message
keyword is used which may  select  more  than  one  message,  the  first
message found is selected.

      Mail:goto 1        - go to the first message in the current folder

      Mail:goto next     - the next message after the current one

      Mail:goto new,last - go to the first new message; if there are
                           none, go to the last message in the current
                           folder


Help

KEY

Mail:help <command>                                                  (h)

    This command provides information about the Mail system and includes
descriptions  of  all  the Mail commands.  It operates by VIEWing a file
containing the help text; hence the whole of this file can  be  explored
at  one  time.   If no parameter is given a table of contents is printed
and further input requested.  Alternatively, the name of a Mail  command
may  be given as a parameter.  Return from viewing the help text to Mail
by using Q or QUIT.

      Mail:help
      .
      .
      View: QUIT

      Mail:help compose
      .
      .
      View: QUIT


List

KEY


Mail:list <messages>/<file> or <device>                              (l)

    This command displays messages in the current folder on the console,
or  alternatively lists them to a file or device.  In the latter case, a
SCAN (see below) is prepended to the listing.  If <messages> is omitted,
the current message is listed.

      Mail:list   - displays the current message on the console

      Mail:list new,draft/.lp - lists all new messages plus the draft
                    to the line printer

    Note that as a side effect of LIST, the status of a  NEW  or  UNSEEN
message is changed to OLD.

    There  are  alternative  ways  of  listing  a  single message to the
console which do not require that LIST is specified:




      Mail:<return>        lists the current message if it is new;
                           otherwise lists the NEXT message (strictly,
                           the next undiscarded message)

      Mail:n               lists message number 'n' in the folder; if
                           'n' is greater than the number of messages
                           in the folder, the last is listed.

      Mail:0               (zero) lists the draft message.

      Mail:-n              lists message "current-n"

      Mail:+n              lists message "current+n"

    If  the  message  number  calculated  is less than 1 or greater than
LAST, then message 1 or LAST is listed respectively.


Next

KEY


Mail:next <message>                                                  (n)

    This command lists the next message after the current message  which
matches  the  parameter.   If  no  parameter  is given it lists the next
undiscarded message.  The message listed becomes the current message.

      Mail:next from="smith"


Open

KEY


Mail:open <folder name>                                              (o)

    This  command  switches  primary  attention   to   another   folder,
i.e. makes  the indicated folder the current folder.  If the folder does
not already exist it is created.  If no parameter is given, the standard
folder M#INBOX is made the current folder.

      Mail:open bugs        - creates a new folder BUGS and makes it the
      Folder BUGS created     current folder

      Mail:open f2          - makes the existing folder F2 the current
                              folder

      Mail:open             - makes M#INBOX the current folder.



    If the parameter '?' is given, then the name of the  current  folder
and the number of messages in it is printed:

      Mail:open ?
      Folder M#INBOX contains 16 messages, current message = 4


Output

KEY


Mail:output <component>/<file> or <device>                          (ou)

    This  command is used to transfer a single component of a message to
a file or device or to  the  console.   The  default  component  is  the
"Text:" component and the default message the current message.

      Mail:output           - displays the "Text:" component of the
                              current message on the console

      Mail:output cc:4(f3)  - displays the "cc:" component of message 4
                              in folder F3 on the console

      Mail:output /file1    - outputs the "Text:" component of the
                              current message to a file named FILE1


Post

KEY


Mail:post <message>/<device or file>,<folder name>                   (p)

    This  command  provides  a way of generating a hardcopy listing of a
message suitable for sending by surface post to recipients  who  do  not
have  an  electronic  mail address.  The output should be sent to a line
printer, and will contain one  copy  of  the  message  for  each  postal
recipient  specified.   Postal  recipients  may  be  mixed  freely  with
electronic recipients in the "To:", "cc:", or "bcc:" fields of a message
and are specified by the form:

      (:Postal: <name>, <postal address>)

Example:
      To: R.Hill, J.Smith (electronic recipients),
          (:Postal: J.Jones, 14 High St., Newton)
      cc: (:Postal: B.Brown, Room 2019, JCMB)



    If <message> is not specified, then the draft message  is  taken  by
default; however the output parameter must be specified.

      Mail:post /.lpcl     (posts the draft message)

      Mail:post 21/.lp     (posts message 21 in the current folder)

    Copies are filed as for the SEND command.

    The other commands which send  messages,  REPLY,  FORWARD  and  SEND
ignore  all text enclosed in parentheses in address fields including the
(:Postal:) form.


Previous 

KEY


Mail:previous                                                       (pr)

    This command lists the first  message  before  the  current  message
which  matches  the  parameter.   If no parameter is given, it lists the
previous undiscarded message.  The message listed  becomes  the  current
message.

      Mail:previous  subj:="interesting"


Profile

KEY


Mail: profile                                                      (pro)

    This command allows the  user  to  specify  various  settings  which
modify  the  operation  of  the Mail program.  Each item is displayed in
turn with  the  current  setting  indicated  in  parentheses.   Replying
 causes the current setting to be retained and the command moves
to the next item.  If any other reply is given, this is taken as the new
setting for the option.

The PROFILE items, with their defaults are as follows:



   Mail:profile

   'V' editor (CHEF):            Mail's 'V' command allows a user-
                                 specified editor to be called exactly
                                 as for CHEF, EDIT, ECCE or EM.

   ACCEPT rnames (your name):    If you call ACCEPT with no parameters,
                                 the text specified here is taken as the
                                 parameter.  This can be useful where
                                 you have an alias, and you want to
                                 accept mail directed both to your alias
                                 and to your process surname - the
                                 connector '+' is used.  Hence the
                                 ACCEPT default parameter could be set
                                 to "R.Hill + Package suggestions". 



   Abbrev LIST-to-console (YES): When a message is listed to the
                                 console, the "Msg ID:" and
                                 "In-reply to:" fields are omitted
                                 if 'YES' is set.

   Abbrev LIST-to-device (NO):   When a message is listed to a device or
                                 file, its "Msg ID:" and "In-reply-to:"
                                 fields are included if "NO" is set.

   Default file-a-copy (YES):    When you SEND a message this option
                                 determines whether a copy of it is
                                 automatically filed in the current
                                 folder. (See also "Filing copies").

   Auto ACCEPT on entry (YES):   On initial entry to Mail from Command
                                 level, outstanding messages are
                                 accepted if 'YES' is set.



   Overwriting draft warning (NO):Whenever a new draft is to be created
                                 (by COMPOSE or REPLY) but an old draft
                                 still exists, Mail will require a
                                 confirmation that it is to proceed if
                                 'YES' is set.

   <return> only lists NEW (YES):Pressing <return> lists successive NEW
                                 messages only; if 'NO' is set then
                                 <return> will list all successive
                                 undiscarded messages.


Quit

KEY


Mail:quit                                                            (q)

Exits from Mail and returns to Subsystem command level.


Reply

KEY


Mail:reply <message>                                                 (r)

    This  command  provides  a  convenient way of replying to a received
message.

    If no parameter is given then a reply  to  the  current  message  is
produced.   A prompt is issued for the "Text:" of the reply.  The escape
character '@' can be used at this point to indicate input from  an  EMAS
file or from an existing message component:



      Mail:reply 2
      Replying to R. Hill
      Text:
      :Your message received
      ::
      Send now? : tomorrow

      Mail:reply last(folder3)
      Replying to J. Jones
      Text:
      :@ACK_VPOLITE
      Send now? : y

    If  a  <message>  in the current folder is specified, it is made the
current message.


Retrieve

KEY


Mail:retrieve <messages>                                           (ret)

    The complement of DISCARD, this command changes the  status  of  the
specified  messages  in  the  current  folder from "discarded" to "old".
Note that once discarded the draft  message  cannot  be  retrieved.   If
 is null, the current message is retrieved.

The first message in <messages> becomes the current message.

            Mail:retrieve discarded

            Mail:retrieve 10-12,last4


Scan

KEY


Mail:scan <messages>/<device> or <file>                              (s)

    This  command scans the specified messages in the current folder and
produces a "list of contents" - a series of one line summaries  for  the
messages.   By default, the current message is scanned and the output is
directed to the console.



The format of the one line summaries is as follows:

      status      -    (null) =  old message
                       s      =  saved message (created when a draft
                                 message is FILEd)
                       x      =  discarded message
                       draft  =  the draft message
                       n      =  new messages this Mail session not yet
                                 LISTed
                       u      =  unseen messages from previous Mail
                                 sessions

      index       -    the index number of the message within the folder

      <=          -    for the current message, the indicator '<=' is
                       printed

      (length)    -    the length of the "Text:" component of the
                       message in bytes

      date        -    the day and month that the message was sent

      from        -    the "From:" component of the message; if this
                       component is empty, the "To:" component is
                       displayed (prefixed with "To:")

      subject     -    the "Subject:" component of the message; if this
                       component is empty the first few bytes of the
                       "Text:" are displayed.



Examples:

      Mail:scan 12
         12    (105)   26 Aug   J.Jones        Meeting tomorrow

      Mail:scan 12,next2,10>6
         12   . . . .
          .
          .
          6   . . . .

      Mail:scan (from="jones",to="jones") and date="jun"
          .
          .


Send

KEY


Mail:send <message>,<when>/<folder name>                            (se)

    This command packages up a message and submits it for  transmission.
If <message> is omitted, the draft message is sent.

    The  <when>  parameter is used to indicate when the message is to be
delivered (see Time-determined  delivery).   If  this  is  omitted,  the
message is delivered immediately.

      Mail:send ,monday     - sends the draft for delivery next Monday
                              and files a copy in the current folder

      Mail:send 1(standard) - sends the first message in folder STANDARD
                              and files a copy in the current folder



    If the message is sent successfully, then by default a copy of it is
filed  in  the  current  folder.  The <folder name> parameter is used to
direct the copy to another folder.  A dummy folder .NULL (or .N) may  be
specified to indicate that no copy is to be filed:

      Mail:send /.n         - sends the draft without filing a copy

    You  can  change the default so that a copy of a message is not made
automatically when the message is sent (see PROFILE).  With this  option
selected,  you  can  cause  a  copy  to be filed either by specifying an
output folder or by specifying the keyword  ".FOLDER"  (or  ".F")  which
represents the current folder:

      Mail:send /.f         - files a copy in the current folder


Stop

KEY


Mail:stop                                                            (st)

    Exits  from the Mail program and returns to Subsystem command level.
STOP is identical to Mail:QUIT.


Tidy

KEY


Mail:tidy <folder name>                                              (t)

    This command  causes  discarded  messages  to  be  purged  from  the
indicated   folder   (by   default,   the   current  folder).   TIDY  is
irreversible.

    The remaining messages in the folder  are  ordered  by  transmission
date, and hence the message index numbers change.

    If  the  current  folder  is tidied, the current message becomes the
first in the folder.

      Mail:tidy
      Folder M#INBOX contains 15 messages


Vedit

KEY


Mail:Vedit                                                           (v)

    This  command  operates exactly as CHEF, ECCE, EDIT or EM.  However,
the editor actually invoked by Vedit  can  be  specified  by  the  user.
Vedit is initially set to invoke CHEF; this can be changed by use of the
PROFILE command.


Mail Hosts

KEY
SKIP


>SUBSYS.VD_LOCAL,K



Alert

KEY

ALERT                                            Latest update: 08/06/85

*  The  COMPOSE  command  has  been  enhanced  to include a facility for
   modifying text during input, using tilde escapes.

*  The POST command now files copies as SEND does.

*  The POST command now retains spaces within addresses and also expands
   any aliases found.



ALERT                                            Latest update: 16/08/82

*  Commands which take a "message list" parameter (specifying a group of
   messages) such as LIST, SCAN, DISCARD, FORWARD etc. will  now  accept
   complex  message  lists which include the operators AND '&', NOT '~',
   OR ',' and parentheses '(',  ')'.   Hence  '(from="smith",to="smith")
   and not last20' selects all correspondence with "smith" excluding the
   last 20 messages in the folder.  The normal rules of precedence apply
   so  that  NOT  is most binding, followed by AND then OR.  Parentheses
   may be used to override this.

*  The NEXT and PREVIOUS commands now accept a <message> parameter  with
   the  effect  that  the  next  (previous)  message  which  matches the
   parameter is listed, e.g. 'NEXT FROM=SMITH'.  With no  parameter  the
   commands  operate  as before and list the next (previous) undiscarded
   message.

*  The  <return>  key  causes successive NEW messages only to be listed.
   Selecting a PROFILE option can widen the scope of <return> so that it
   lists successive messages in the folder whether new or not.

*  Another PROFILE option is available which gives  a  warning  whenever
   the  draft  message  is  about  to  be overwritten (say by COMPOSE or
   REPLY).  After the warning is issued Mail  asks  for  a  confirmation
   that it is to proceed.

*  The  'Acknowledge  to:'  message field can be used to give a recorded
   delivery facility.  When a message containing this field is ACCEPTed,
   an acknowledgement is automatically sent to  the  address  specified.
   The field can be added to a draft message in the usual way:

      Mail:compose ack
         .
      Ack to: R.Hill
         .
      Send now? : Y

   Alternatively, if the field is not specified in COMPOSE, reply 'N' to
   'Send now? :' and add it using EDIT or COPY:

      Mail:edit /ack:
      Mail:copy /ack:

   Then send the draft.

*  You  can  avoid  having  messages automatically ACCEPTed when Mail is
   called by setting a new PROFILE option:

      Mail:profile
         .
      Auto ACCEPT on entry (YES): no



ALERT                                            Latest update: 01/05/82

    The current version of Mail contains the following new facilities:

*  When  you  call  Mail  with  no parameter, an ACCEPT is automatically
   performed if there are outstanding messages.

*  ACCEPT can take more than one Rname parameter so that you can  ACCEPT
   mail sent to all your aliases in one operation, e.g.

         Mail:accept R.Hill+Package inquiries



*  Alternative ways of LISTing a message:

         Mail:<return>     lists the current message if it is new;
                           otherwise lists the NEXT message (strictly,
                           the next undiscarded message)

         Mail:n            lists message number 'n' in the folder; if
                           'n' is greater than the number of messages in
                           the folder, the last is listed.

         Mail:0            (zero) lists the draft message.

         Mail:-n           lists message "current-n"

         Mail:+n           lists message "current+n"; if the message
                           number calculated is less than 1 or greater
                           than LAST then message 1 or LAST is listed
                           respectively.



*  At the "Mail:" prompt you can invoke any command available at command
   level.   In  addition,  parameters  containing ':' are interpreted as
   message components and are copied  out  to  a  temporary  file;  this
   filename is substituted for the component in the string passed to the
   command.   After  the  command has been executed, the contents of the
   file are copied back if the component is in the draft, e.g.

         Mail:!files ,,text:  outputs to the text of the draft

         Mail:!myprog text:2,text: uses the text of message 2 as
                              input to a user program, with the
                              output directed to the text of the draft

         Mail:!restore file1



*  Alternative ways of specifying a group  of  messages.   The  keywords
   FIRST,  LAST,  NEXT,  PREVIOUS  may  be concatenated with a number to
   select a group of messages, e.g.

         Mail:list next2

         Mail:scan last5
   
   NEXT and PREVIOUS operate with reference to the current message.
   These keywords may be contracted to a single letter: "N2" or "L5".
   In addition, message ranges of the form "10-LAST" are now allowed.



*  Extensions to the DIRECTORY command.  If the command fails to find an
   exact match it attempts to make approximate matches and prints  them.
   The  rname  mask  (e.g. "*smith") is therefore largely redundant.  An
   additional facility  allows  the  "usernumber@host"  columns  of  the
   directory  to be searched rather than the Rname column.  In this case
   approximate matches are not attempted and the mask may  still  be  of
   some value.  Searches of this form are denoted by the presence of the
   '@' symbol:

         Mail:directory ercc82@2972 (who is he, what are his aliases?)

         Mail:directory ercc*@* (who works for ercc?)

         Mail:directory *@vax (who uses the vax?)

*  The   call   "Command:MAIL(?)"  reports  the  number  of  outstanding
   messages, then returns to Command level.  This may be  of  use  in  a
   process start-up file.



*  A  new  "DN" command, representing Discard+Next, gives a quick way of
   discarding the current message and listing the next.

*  A new ALIAS command allows you to define private aliases, e.g. if you
   define an alias JS=J.Smith,  then  a  message  addressed  "To:JS"  is
   amended "To:J.Smith" before being dispatched.



*  A new PROFILE command allows various options to be set:

        1.  'V' editor.  An editor of your choice is invoked by calling

                   "Mail:vedit"

        2.  Specifies default parameters for use with ACCEPT.  The text
            specified is used when ACCEPT is called without parameters.

        3.  Abbreviated listing to console - allows you to control
            whether the "Msg ID:" and "In reply to:" fields are to be
            displayed when a message is listed to the console.

        4.  Abbreviated listing to device or file - the same choice when
            a message is listed to a device or file.

        5.  Default file a copy - this determines whether a copy is
            automatically filed of a message being sent.