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AA-M840B-TK

May 1986

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Document:	AA M840B DECMail MS Manual Jul86
Order Number:	AA-M840B-TK
Revision:	0
Pages:	82
Original Filename:	AA_M840B_DECMail_MS_Manual_Jul86.pdf

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TOPS-1 0/ TOPS-20
DECmail/ MS Manual
Order Number: AA-M840B-TK

July 1986
This manual describes the commands for the DECmail/MS system.
This manual supersedes the manual of the same name and the order
number AA-M840A-TK.

Operating System and Version:

TOPS-10 V7.03
TOPS-20 VB. 1

Software Version:

DECmail/MS V 11
DECnet V4

digital equipment corporation

First Printing, December 1982
Revised, July 1986
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should
not be construed as a commitment by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital
Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear
in this document.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license and may be
used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license.
No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on equipment
that is not supplied by Digital Equipment Corporation or its affiliated companies.
Copyright © 1982, 1986 by Digital Equipment Corporation
All Rights Reserv~d.
Printed in U.S.A.
The postpaid READER'S COMMENTS form on the last page of this document
requests the user's critical evaluation to assist in preparing future documentation.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:
DEC
DEC/CMS
DEC/MMS
DECnet
DECsystem-10
DECSYSTEM-20
DECUS
DECwriter

DIBOL
EduSystem
lAS
MASSBUS
PDP
PDT
RSTS
RSX

UNIBUS
VAX
VAXcluster
VMS
VT

~U~U[J~U

HOW TO ORDER ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
DIRECT MAIL ORDERS
USA & PUERTO RICO*

CANADA

INTERNATIONAL

Digital Equipment Corporation
P.O. Box CS2008
Nashua,' New Hampshire
03061

Digital Equipment
of Canada Ltd.
100 Herzberg Road
Kanata, Ontario K2K 2A6
Attn: Direct Order Desk

Digital Equipment Corporation
PSG Business Manager
c/o Digital's local subsidiary
or approved distributor

In Continental USA and Puerto Rico call 800-258-1710.
In New Hampshire, Alaska, and Hawaii call 603-884-6660.
In Canada call 800-267-6215.

* Any prepaid order from Puerto Rico must be placed with the local Digital subsidiary (809-754-7575).
Internal orders should be placed through the Software Distribution Center (SOC), Digital Equipment
Corporation, Westminster, Massachusetts 01473.

CONTENTS

PREFACE
CHAPTER 1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
CHAPTER 2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
CHAPTER 3
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.2
3.3
3 .. 4
3.4.1
3.4 .. 2
CHAPTER 4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.3.1
4.4
CHAPTER 5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
CHAPTER 6
6.1
6.2
6.2.1
6.2.2
6.3
6.4

INTRODUCTION
YOUR KEYBOARD . . . . .
GETTING STARTED
DECmail/MS VOCABULARY
COMMAND LEVELS • • • •
MESSAGE SEQUENCES

• • 1-1
.. .. 1-5
• 1-8
1-13
1-15

READING MESSAGES
READING AND ACTING UPON MESSAGES .. ..
PERUSING MESSAGES . . . . . . . . . . .
READING THE "NEXT" MESSAGE .. • • • • • ·
READING THE SYSTEM "BULLETIN BOARD"
DESIGNATING MAIL AS READ AND UNREAD

• ..
.

• .. •
•
. . .
•
•

2-1
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-6

SENDING MESSAGES
SENDING MAIL .. • • • .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Continuing Work on an Old Draft
...... ..
Editing and Resending a Message
...... ..
ANSWERING MAIL .. .. ....
.....
FORWARDING MAIL
.. • • • • .. • • •
SENDING NETWORK MAIL • • • • • • • ..
Sending DECnet Mail
.......... .
Correcting Undeliverable DECnet Mail ..

.. • .. 3-1
.. .. 3-6
.. 3-6
..

..
..
..
..

3-7
3-8
3-9
3-9

3-10

OBTAINING INFORMATION
GETTING HELP • .. .. • .. .. .. .. .. .. •
CHECKING FOR NEW MAIL
.. .. .. .. .. ..
OBTAINING SUMMARIES OF MESSAGES
Scanning a Message File
.........
DISPLAYING SYSTEM AND USER INFORMATION •

.. 4-1
.. 4-1
• 4-2
4-3
• .. 4-5

MANAGING MESSAGE FILES
MOVING MESSAGES TO OTHER FILES
RETRIEVING MESSAGES
SAVING OUTGOING MAIL
DISCARDING MESSAGES
PRINTING MESSAGES ON THE LINE PRINTER
FLAGGING MESSAGES

• .. .. ..
. . . .

. 5-1
5-2
.. 5-3
.. 5-4
. 5-5
5-5

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
DEFINING MESSAGE HEADER ITEMS
.. .. ....
.. 6-1
ESTABLISHING ALTERNATIVE NAMES FOR ADDRESSES • .. .. 6-3
Defining Alias Names for Users .. .. .. .. ....
• 6-3
Defining Address Lists •
.. . . . . . . . . . 6-4
SET COMMANDS - CUSTOMIZING THE DECmail/MS SYSTEM • 6-6
USING COMMAND FILES
• • • • .. .. • .. • 6-11
iii

6.4.1
6.4.2
6.5
CHAPTER 7

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
APPENDIX A
A.l
A.2
APPENDIX B

Initializing the DECmail/MS System
Processing Command Files • •
• •••
CLEARING THE TERMINAL SCREEN • • • • • • • • • •

6-11
6-13
6-13

EXITING
USING THE EXIT COMMAND •
• 7-1
USING THE QUIT COMMAND • •
• • • • • • • • • • 7-1
ISSUING CTRL/C • • • • • • • • • •
7-1
• • • • 7-1
ISSUING CTRL/Z (TOPS-10)
LEAVING THE DECmail/MS SESSION TEMPORARILY •
7-2
ERROR INFORMATION
ERROR MESSAGES • • • • • •
REPAIRING DAMAGED MESSAGES •

• • A-I
• A-3

MESSAGE FILE FORMAT

INDEX
FIGURES
B-1

Message File • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • B-1

PREFACE

The DECmail/MS mail system allows TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 users to send
messages to,
and receive them from, other users.
This mail system
also provides users with facilities for filing,
retrieving, editing,
and discarding these messages.
The DECmail/MS system adheres to the Request for Comments 822 standard
(RFC822) •
RFC822
is the name of the ARPANET computer network mail
format standard.
It is the oldest and most widely-known electronic
mail standard,· and forms the basis of many others, which are usually
subsets. While the DECmail/MS system does not implement everything in
the standard, it never generates messages that violate it.
The TOPS-10/TOPS-20 DECmail/MS Manual addresses users at all levels of
expertise,
introducing the beginner to the DECmail/MS system, then
describing the DECmail commands in functional groupings.

MANUAL ORGANIZATION
Chapter I discusses DECmail/MS and operating system concepts,
shows the beginner how to use basic DECmail/MS commands.

and

also

Chapter 2 describes the various ways of reading messages.
tells how to act upon a message that has just been read.

Chapter 3 discusses how to send messages.
Included in this chapter is
information on replying to mail, forwarding mail, and sending network
mail.
Chapter 4 presents the DECmail/MS commands for obtaining information.
Chapter 5 discusses managing message files.
Chapter 6 shows how to customize the DECmail/MS system.
Chapter 7 explains how to exit from the various
levels and from the DECmail/MS system itself.

DECmail/MS

Appendix A lists error messages and their explanations and
to repair damaged files.
Appendix B shows the message file format.

command

shows

how

For supplemental information,
following manuals:

refer

the

latest

copies

the

TOPS-10 Operating System Commands Manual
TOPS-20 User's Guide
TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual
CONVENTIONS
This manual uses the following conventions and symbols:
n

A number.

(RET> or (CR>

A directive for you to press the RETURN key.

(ESC>

A directive for you to press the ESC key.

date and time

A set of alphanumeric characters that specifies date
and
time,
for example,
l4-JULY-82 12:00:00 or
10/4/82. Time of day is represented by a 24-hour
notation; 17:00:00 means 5:00 P.M.

filespec

The specification for a file.
Refer
description of "file" in Section 1.3.

the

underlining

Input that you are expected to type, as
output generated by the mail system.

opposed

command

A command that accepts one of the options listed.

option
option
option

UPPERCASE

In user input representations, information that must
be entered exactly as shown.

lowercase

In user input representations, variable
that is determined by you.

information

DECmail/MS COMMANDS
Command

Function

Section
Level
(Top, Read, Send)

BACKUP

Displays the preceding message
in sequence

2.1

BLANK

Clears the video terminal screen

T,R,S

6.5

Adds names to the "carbon copy"
list of recipients

3.1

CHECK

Checks mail file for new messages

4.2

COpy

Copies messages to specified file

T,R

5.1

CREATE-INIT-FILE

Creates an initialization file

6.4.1

DAYTIME

Displays the current date and
time

T,R,S

4.4

DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST

Creates address lists

T,R,S

6.2.2

DEFINE ALIAS

Creates aliases to addresses

T,R,S

6.2

DEFINE HEADER-ITEM

Creates user-defined message
header items

T,R,S

6.1

Marks messages for removal from
mail file

T,R

5.4

Displays one-line summaries
of messages

T,R

4.3

Shows various parts of the
message draft

3.1

Allows you to edit the draft
with a system text editor

3.1

Deletes various parts of the
message draft

3.1

EXIT

Returns to system or logs out

T,R,S

7.1

EXPUNGE

Removes DELETEd messages from
mail file

5.4

Copies messages--either deletes
or retains originals

T,R

5.1

Flags messages for future
reference

T,R

5.6

Sends received messages to other
users

T,R

3.3

GET

Retrieves a specified mail file

5.2

HEADERS

Displays one-line summaries of
messages
Explains briefly various commands
and functions

T,R

4.3

T,R,S

4.1

DELETE
DIRECTORY
DISPLAY
EDIT TEXT
ERASE

FILE
FLAG
FORWARD

HELP
INCLUDE

Incorporates user-defined header
items

3.1

INSERT

Appends a file or message to the
draft

3.1

MARK

Designates messages as having
been read

T,R

2.5

MOVE

Moves messages to other mail
files

T,R

5.1

vi i

Command

Function

Section
Level
(Top, Read, Send)

Displays the next message in
sequence

T,R

2.3

Prints messages on the line
printer

T,R

5.5

Suspends mail system--enters
system command level

T,R,S

7.5

Returns you to previous
DECmail/MS command level

T,R,S

7.2

Enters read level to display
messages in sequence

2.1

Displays messages.-- nests
read levels

2.1

Deletes names from the "To" or
"cc" list

3.1

Helps fix undeliverable DECnet
mail

T,R

3.4.2

Facilitates replying to received
mail

T,R

3.2

Fetches a previously stored
draft

T,R

3.1.1

Fetches the last message sent

T,R

3.1. 2

3.1

Stores a copy of an unfinished
message draft
~

3.1

Makes copies of messages you
send

T,S

5.3

SEND

Lets you compose and send
messages
Sends completed message

T,R
S

3.1
3.1

SET

Customizes the mail system

T,R,S

6.3

SHOW

Gives information about system
and job parameters

T,R,S

4.4

Shows header information
enters read level

T,R

4.3.1

Allows you to retype the
message's subject line

3.1

SYSTEM-MESSAGES

Retrieves the public mail file

2.4

TAKE

Executes a file of DECmail/MS
commands

T,R,S

6.4

Allows you to continue composing
the message

3.1

Adds names to the "To" list of
recipients

3.1

Displays a sequence of messages
without pausing

T,R,S

2.2

PIUNT
PUSH
QUIT
READ
READ
REMOVE
*REPAIR
REPLY
RETRIEVE DRAFT
RETRIEVE LAST-MESSAGE

RETURN-RECEIPT-REQUESTED Requests recipients to
acknowledge your messages
SAVE DRAFT
SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES
SEND

SKIM
SUBJECT

TEXT
TO
TYPE

viii

Section
Level
(Top, Read, Send)

Command

Function

UNDELETE

Reverses the effect of the DELETE
command

T,R

5.4

Reverses the effect of the FLAG
command

T,R

5.6

Reverses the effect of the MARK
command

T,R

2.5

Displays messages in unsuppressed
format

T,R,S

2.2

UNFLAG
UNMARK
VERBOSE-TYPE

Systems with network software only

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

You should read all of Chapter 1 if you are unfamiliar with the
DECmail/MS system. This chapter tells you everything you need to know
to get the DECmail/MS system working
for
you.
It discusses your
terminal
keyboard, explains DECmail/MS-specific terms, and takes you
through the steps of reading and sending simple messages.

1.1

YOUR KEYBOARD

The keyboard of your terminal is almost exactly like that of a modern
electric typewriter.
The major difference is that your terminal has a
few additional keys, and one or two have new functions.
These special
terminal keys are described below.
CARRIAGE-RETURN
This key, called RETURN in this manual, has the usual
function of
indicating that you are finished with the current line of text and
wish to move on to the next line.
It also indicates to the DECmail/MS
system that you are finished typing a command and would now like the
DECmail/MS system to act upon the command.
(You must end all
DECmail/MS commands with a carriage-return.
The DECmail/MS system
does not act upon a command until you have pressed the RETURN key.)
ESCAPE
This key, called ESC, or ALTMODE on older terminals, is usually found
at the upper lefthand corner of the keyboard.
It performs a
particularly useful function called RECOGNITION.
With recognition,
you type only the first few characters of a command and then press the
ESCAPE key.
By doing this, you are asking the DECmail/MS system to
type the rest of the command for you and to prompt you for any
information that you must supply-to this command.
The remainder of
this section discusses command abbreviation and recognition.
Many DECmail/MS commands have long names, and typing an entire name
could be tedious and error prone.
In order to save you some typing,
the DECmail/MS system allows you to type only as much of a command
name as
is necessary to uniquely specify it.
For example, consider
the two commands that begin with the letter F:
FLAG and FORWARD.
If
you type only F, the DECmail/MS system cannot know whether you mean
FLAG or FORWARD, since both begin with F.
If, however, you type FO,
the DECmail/MS system knows you mean FORWARD.
Similarly, FL is a
valid abbreviation for FLAG.

1-1

INTRODUCTION
NOTE
Exception:
For some of the more
commonly
used
commands,
you
need
type
only
the
first
letter: DELETE, HEADERS, READ, SEND, TYPE.
It does
not matter that other commands begin with the same
letter.
Likewise, you need type only EX for the EXIT
command.
Using abbreviations at all times can save you typing, but can leave a
trail of obscure-looking characters on your terminal. Also, you
sometimes do not know how much of a command you need to type before
the DECmail/MS system will be able to recognize it, especially if you
are inexperienced.
The ESCAPE key takes care of the problems mentioned above.
If you
think you have typed enough of a command name for the DECmail/MS
system to recognize, press the ESCAPE key.
If you have typed enough
of the name, the DECmail/MS system finishes typing the name for you.
If you have not typed enough, so that what you have typed
is
ambiguous,
the DECmail/MS system will ring the terminal's bell. And
if there are no commands beginning with the abbreviation you have
typed, the DECmail/MS system will send you a message telling you so.
Returning to the previous example with the two commands beginning with
F,
if you were to type FO and then press the ESCAPE key, the
DECmail/MS system would type the letters RWARD to complete the word
FORWARD.
Using recognition has one additional advantage:
if the command whose
name
is being
typed
requires additional information, pressing the
ESCAPE key causes the DECmail/MS system to type guide words in
parentheses which
indicate what you are expected to type next.
In
this example, if you typed FO<ESC>, you would see this on your screen:
FO<ESC>rward (messages)
The word "messages" is a guide word for
the FORWARD command.
It
indicates that you are to specify which messages to be forwarded.
If
you are unsure of what you should type after a set of guide words,
type a question mark
(?)
to get a complete list of options.
The
question mark feature is described below.
QUESTION MARK
At any time, if you are not sure of the commands or command arguments
(additional
information that you supply to a command)
that are
available to you, you can type a question mark,
and the DECmail/MS
system 1 ists them for
you.
For example, when you beg in the mail
session, the DECmail/MS system prompts and awaits your first command
as follows:
MS>

1-2

INTRODUCTION
You are now at top level.
To get a list of the top-level commands,
type a question mark,
and
they will be displayed similar to the
following:
MS>? one of the following:
Blank
Check
Daytime
Define
Exit
Expunge
Get
Forward
Mark
Move
Push
Quit
Reply
Retrieve
Set
Show
Take
Type
Unmark
Verbose-type

Copy
Delete
File
Headers
Next
Read
Save
Skim
Undelete

Create-init-fi1e
Directory
Flag
Help
Print
Repair
Send
System-messages
Unf1ag

You now know what commands the DECmai1/MS system will accept
time.

this

To get a list of arguments for a command, use
follows:

mark

the

question

MS>show (information about) ? one of the following:
Address-list
Aliases
Daytime
Header-items
Status
Version
The DECmai1/MS system then retypes the command line up
where you entered the question mark:

Defaults
to

the

point

MS>show (information about)
Now, you can type one of the available arguments.
You can also type a question mark when you have entered only part of a
command:
MS>s?
Save
Skim
MS>s

one of the following:
Send
System-messages

Set

Show

CONTROL CHARACTERS
Another key on your terminal that is not found on typewriter keyboards
is the CONTROL key, which is usually labeled CTRL.
This works much
like the SHIFT key~ in that it does nothing by itself, but modifies
the action of any key you press while holding the CTRL key down.
Characters typed while holding the CTRL key down are called control
characters; for instance, the character you generate when you hold the
CTRL key down and
type the letter U is called CTRL/U.
Control
characters allow you to perform a number of system functions.

1-3

INTRODUCTION
The following is a list of control characters that you are
use during a DECmail/MS session:
o

likely

CTRL/Z tells the DECmail/MS system that you have finished
typing
the text of a message you are sending and that the
DECMAIL/MS system can now send the message.
You would not
want to use any ordinary text character for this purpose,
because that character then would not be allowed in the text
of a message you are sending.
Since control characters do
not ordinarily print anything on your screen, but simply
instruct the system to do something for you, using control
characters is the only good way to type commands to the
system while you are entering the text of a message. Refer
to Section 3.1 for a description of other control characters
you might want to use while preparing a message.
On TOPS-10 systems, CTRL/Z exits the mail session
terminal is at a command level.

when

your

since

the

CTRL/C aborts the DECmail/MS session.

CTRL/U erases all the information you have
last carriage-return.

CTRL/O aborts the output of any information that is being
typed on your terminal. A second CTRL/O resumes typing if
the output was long enough not to have completed yet.
Thus,
CTRL/O works like a toggle switch that alternately enables
and disables output.

typed

Suppose you gave the HEADERS ALL command:
MS)HEADERS (MESSAGES) ALL
The DECmail/MS system would begin typing the following
kind
of information on your terminal. You could at any point type
CTRL/O when you have seen enough:
MS>HEADERS ALL
1 23-Dec "Phyllis Angers, DTN 21ALTERED LABOR HOURS (485 chars)
A 2 2~-Dec CSMALL@HYPER
IHAPPY HOLIDAYS TY EXT (3~156 chars)
A 3 2~-Dec MEYERS@CLOYD
IRe: question (452 chars)
A 4 2~-Dec LIBRARIAN@GNUVAX
IRE: files (258 chars)
5 2~-Dec TUCKER@GIDNEY
IRe: test (361 chars)
6 2~-Dec TUCKER@GIDNEY
Itest (214 chars)
A 7 2~-Dec Mark Pratt <PRATT@GIDNIRe: task list and bugs 1 (696 chars)
A 8 18-Dec Mark Pr 0 •••

CTRL/S and CTRL/Q are control characters you can use to pause
and continue respectively during the output of information on
your terminal. Using the CTRL/O example above, you could
issue
CTRL/S,
instead,
to temporarily halt output of
information to your terminal. Then, you could issue CTRL/Q
to continue output at the point where you left off. This
differs from CTRL/O, which cancels the current output.
NOTE
Some terminals do not accept the CTRL/Q and
CTRL/S characters.
If your terminal does
not, ask your system manager what the pause
and
continue
characters
are
for your
terminal.

1-4

INTRODUCTION
o

CTRL/H retypes the last command you issued if it resulted
in
an error message. This control character must be the first
thing you type after the_ error.
It types the command up to
the point where you made the error, letting you know what
part of the command line you need to correct and saving you
from having to retype the whole command again.
For example,
suppose you misspelled part of a command:
MS>show (information about) degaults
The DECmail/MS system sends you the following error message:
?MS command error: Does not match switch or keyword: "degaults"

You then issue CTRL/H:

and the DECmail/MS system retypes the line as follows:
MS>show (information about)
Now type the rest of the command correctly:
MS>show (information about) defaults
o

1.2

CTRL/W deletes the previous word in a message you are typing.

GETTING STARTED
NOTE
TOPS-20
If your system manager has defined the POBOX: disk
area to be other than the public structure, you must
issue TOPS-20 operating system commands to ACCESS or
CONNECT to your directory on POBOX:.

Now that you are familiar with your
some mail and reading it.

keyboard,

To begin, start the mail system by
successfully logged onto the computer.
o

On TOPS-10 systems, your
like this:

try

sending

yourself

"MS"

after

you

display

looks

something

typing

terminal

have

.MS

~messages

(4610 characters), in 8 disk blocks.
Message 1 flagged.
MS>
o

On TOPS-20 systems, your
like this:

terminal

display

looks

@MS
Last read: Thursday, December 12, 1985 15:03-EST.
131 messages (201417 characters), in 79 disk pages.
Messages 87, 116, 119 flagged.
MS>
1-5

something

INTRODUCTION
The lines that appear between the MS command and the MS)
prompt give
you the status of your mail file.
These lines will appear only if
someone has sent you mail.
Refer
to
the description of the SHOW
STATUS command in Section 4.4 for details on this information.
Notice that the DECmail/MS system is now prompting you for a
command.
You give a command by typing the command's name, possibly followed by
additional information (depending upon the particular command),
and
then pressing
the RETURN key.
You are now at top level.
(You have
entered another command level if the mail system ever prompts you with
anything other
than MS).
The QUIT command always returns you to the
previous level.)
NOTE
The following
system.
Any
applicable.

examples were created on a TOPS-20
TOPS-10 differences are described where

Sending A Message
To send a message, issue the SEND command from top level.
After you
give the SEND command, the DECmail/MS system prompts you for the "To"
and "cc" lists, and
for
the subject.
In the
following
example,
specify yourself as the
recipient by typing a period (.) when the
DECmail/MS system asks you for the "To" list.
MS)SEND
To:
cc:
Subject:

Practicing

Now, the DECmail/MS system types the following help
terminal:
Message

message

your

(ESC to enter Send
level,
CTRL/Z to send,
CTRL/K
to
redisplay, CTRL/B to insert file, CTRL/E to enter editor):

This message lets you know what you can do while typing
the text of
your message.
You can press the ESCAPE
key or issue one of the
control characters to:
o

Enter send level <ESC).
At send level, you can issue any of
the send-level commands to affect the message, or to perform
a variety of other tasks.
If you decide to enter send level,
issue the TEXT command when you are ready to return to your
message text.
Or issue the SEND command if you are ready to
send the message when you are at send level.

Send the message as is <CTRL/Z).

Display the message text <CTRL/K).

Insert a file in this message <CTRL/B).
This
further described at the end of Section 3.1.

Finish preparing the message using your default text editor
<CTRL/E).
When
you
exit
from the editor,
you are
automatically placed at send level, which is described above.
Refer
to the description of the EDIT TEXT command in Section
3.1 for additional information.

1-6

feature

INTRODUCTION
After the DECmail/MS system types the help message, anything you type
(other
than ESC and the control characters) is assumed to be the text
of your message.
Type a line of text and issue CTRL/Z to send the message:
Remember the 10:00 meeting tomorrow.
A
Z
The DECmail/MS system types
information similar to the following,
letting you know that the message was successfully sent to your mail
file:
Processing mail •••
Mail queued for delivery by MX
MS>
There is 1 additional message:
N
132 23-Dec TUCKER@CLOYD
Currently at message 1.
MS>

IPracticing (230 chars)

After the MX program delivers the message to your mail file,
summary
information about this new, "additional" message is displayed.
Among
the items shown are the date of the message, the subject line, and the
message number (132).
In this example, the recipient (and sender) is
a user who is known to the system as TUCKER.
Refer to the description
of the HEADERS command
in Section 4.3 for further information on
message summaries.
You could just as easily have sent this message to any number of other
people by including their addresses (separated by commas) in the "To"
or "cc" list.
Refer to Section 3.1 for further information on sending messages,
to Section 1.3 for information on the mail file and addresses.

and

Reading A Message
Now read the message that you just sent to yourself:
MS>READ<ESC> (MESSAGES) NEW
Message 132 (230 chars~received Monday, December 23, 1985 17:23-EST
Sender: TUCKER
Date: 23 Dec 1985 1723-EST
From: TUCKER@CLOYD
To: TUCKER@CLOYD
Subject: Practicing
Message-ID: <"MSll(5062)+GLXLIB5(0)" 12169493415.152.542.84314 at CLOYD>
Remember the 10:00 meeting tomorrow.
MS read»
This command displays all messages in the current message file
that
you have not read.
After the READ command displays a message, it
leaves your terminal at read-command level, as indicated by the "MS
read»"
prompt.
You can then issue any of the read-level commands to
affect this "current message." If you do not want to do anything with
the message, press the RETURN key to read the next new message (or to
return to top level if there are no other new messages) •

1-7

INTRODUCTION
Now remove this message from your mail file:
1.

First, mark the message for deletion.
MS read»DELETE
MS read»

Return to top level and issue the EXPUNGE command.
This
command completes the action of the DELETE comm'and--i t
removes all traces of a message from your mail file.
MS read»<RET>
MS> EXPUNG-E-Expunging deleted messages - OK
MS>

Finish the DECmail/MS session by typing the EXIT command:
MS>EXIT

1.3

DECmail/MS VOCABULARY

This section defines various DECmail/MS terms that you should know.
ADDRESS
An address tells the DECmail/MS system where to send a message. There
are two kinds of address, depending on whether the person you are
sending a message to uses the same computer that you do or a different
one.
o

Local Address - for users on the same computer system or in
the same TOPS-20 computer cluster. A local address is just a
username.
Username is defined later in this section.

Network Address - for users connected through a computer
network.
A network address has two parts: a username (just
like a local address), and a hostname, which identifies the
computer.
For example, somebody who uses a computer called
HOST2 and who has a username of Joe would have a network
address of:
Joe@HOST2

An address can also include a personal name (described later
section) in the form:

this

personal name <address>
CURRENT MESSAGE FILE
Since the DECmail/MS system can handle only one message file at a
time,
the one you are currently dealing with is called the current
message file.
You can think of the DECmail/MS system as a desk that
is big enough to hold only one file folder.
You can change message
files with the GET or SYSTEM-MESSAGES command. Until you give one of
these commands, the current message file is your mail file (described
below). A message file is created the first time someone sends you
mail
(mail file),
or with the COPY, MOVE, or SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES
command.
1-8

INTRODUCTION
FILE
Several DECmail/MS commands require that you supply the name of a
file.
A file is similar to the contents of an ordinary file folder.
A file has a name, called a filespec (short for
file
specification).
Although a
filespec can have numerous parts, including the device,
directory, name, and extension or ~,
ordinarily you can ignore
everything but the name and extension.
You can set the default
directory for the DECmail/MS session with the SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY
command.
o

On TOPS-10 systems, a file name or extension can consist of
any sequence of uppercase letters and numbers.
The file name
can be up to six characters long; the extension can be only
three characters long.
For example, "MEMOl", "JULY", and
"OPEN" are all valid names; "REPORTS" is not (contains seven
characters),
and
"JUL-81"
is not (the hyphen is neither a
letter nor a number).
The extension is separated from the
name by a dot, so that MAIL.TXT is a file whose name is MAIL
and whose extension is TXT.
For more information about file
specifications,
see the TOPS-10 Operating System Commands
Manual.

On TOPS-20 systems, a file name or file type can consist of
any sequence of letters,
numbers,
and hyphens up to 39
characters long; it must not contain spaces, dots,
or other
special
characters.
For
instance,
"namel",
"budget",
"memo-to-the-president", and "my-letter" are all valid names.
"This is my letter"
is not; it contains spaces.
The file
type is separated from the file name by a dot,
so that
MAIL. TXT is a file whose name is MAIL and whose type is TXT.
For complete information on file specifications,
see the
TOPS-20 User's Guide.

The file extension or type is useful for classifying groups of files.
For example,
you could assign the same extension or type to many
different files.
The DECmail/MS system, for instance, assigns .TXT to
all
files
you create with the COPY, MOVE, or SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES
command if you do not specify otherwise.
MAIL FILE
Every user has his or her own personal message file,
called a mail
file.
This
is
just like an "in" basket.
All incoming messages go
into your mail file.
This file is named MAIL. TXT on TOPS-10 systems,
and MAIL.TXT.I on TOPS-20 systems. Your mail file is automatically
created
for
you
in your
logged-in directory
(TOPS-10)
or your
directory on the POBOX:
disk structure
(TOPS-20) the first time
someone sends you mail.
On TOPS-20 systems, if your system manager has defined POBOX: to be
other than the public structure, you must issue the operating system
command to either CONNECT to or ACCESS POBOX:.

1-9

INTRODUCTION
NOTE
MAIL.TXT must include the gen~ration number of 1 on
TOPS-20 systems.
If for some reason you create or
edit your own mail file with an editor, you will have
to rename MAIL.TXT.* to MAIL.TXT.l.
You should not delete the mail file with an operating
system command.
Instead,
if the need arises, you
should DELETE then EXPUNGE the messages.
Refer to
Section 5.4.
MESSAGE
The DECmail/MS system sends, receives, and files messages.
Messages
are exactly like office memos; they are sent "To" some people and "cc"
to others. They have a subject and some text. They also have a date,
which is supplied automatically when you send the message.
A message is composed of two parts:
o

The message header, or "header area," which contains such
items as the date, subject, "To", and "cc" lists, and other
identifying information.
The message header is further
described below.

The "text part,"
message.

which

contains

the

actual

text

the

MESSAGE FILE
The DECmail/MS system deals with message files,
one at a time.
A
message file
1S
a file containing one or more messages.
The
DECmail/MS system can handle only one file at a time, but it is easy
for you to put one file away and retrieve another one with the GET or
SYSTEM-MESSAGES command. A message file is created the first time
someone sends you mail (mail file), or with the COPY, MOVE, or SAVE
OUTGOING-MESSAGES command.

1-10

INTRODUCTION
MESSAGE HEADER
The first few lines of a message are called the message header,
or
header area.
The header area is separated from the text of the
message by a blank line.
The header area consists of several "header
items." A header item consists of the header item's name, a colon, and
then the data portion of the header item (which may extend over more
than one line).
Typical header items that the DECmail/MS system
always includes are the date the message was sent, the subject,
"To"
and "cc"
lists, and the name of the sender. You can use the .DEFINE
HEADER-ITEM command to define your own header items. Here is a sample
message:
Message 176 (775 chars), received Monday, January 27, 1986 09:27-EST
Sender: PRATT
Date: 27 Jan 1986 0927-EST
From: Mark Pratt <PRATT@GREEN>
To: Appe11of@GREEN, Appellof@GOLD, JRossell@GREEN,
Mayo@GREEN, Pratt@GREEN, Santee@GREEN, Ned@KL1026,
TGrady@GREEN, Tucker@GREEN, Waddington@GREEN, Hdavis@GREEN
cc: Schmitt@BLUE
Subject: Meeting
Message-ID: <"MS11(5116)+GLXLIB5(0)" 12178581754.213.51.31405 at Green>
I have the Shoebox conference room reserved every Monday from 3-4
pm for our weekly status meeting. This room is signed up from
now until the time the product ships.

In this example, the lines beginning with Sender:
and ending with
"Message-ID:", are the header area.
Next
is a blank line, which
separates the header area from the message text.
Finally, there are
three lines of message text and the closing line, which contains a
string of hyphens. There are seven header
items present in this
message:
"Sender:",
"Date:", "From:", "To:", "cc:", "Subject:", and
"Message-ID:". The "To:" item in this message illustrates the case of
a header item that is too long to fit on one line. The strings GREEN,
BLUE, KL1026, and GOLD are names of different computers in a network.
The "Message-ID:" helps identify a message, and is of concern only to
the DECmail/MS system.
The DECmail/MS system automatically inserts
this line in your message.
It is unique for
every message created.
You can suppress output of this line with the SET SUPPRESSED-HEADERS
or the SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN command.
The prefix line at the top of the message tells when it was received
and gives the length of the message and its relative position in the
ma i 1 f i 1 e ( 176) •
MESSAGE NUMBER
Each message in a file has a message number; the messages are numbered
from one up to however many me~s~g~i there are in the file.
You could
use these numbers to let the DECmail/MS system know what messages you
want it to perform some actiQn upon.
(Refer to the description of
message sequence below.) Note that ~essages are renumbered as messages
are deleted from a file--message numbers are based upon the messages'
relative positions in a file.
The HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands,
described in Section 4.3, list tha numbers assigned to messages.

1-11

INTRODUCTION
MESSAGE SEQUENCE
A message sequence is a keyword or list of message numbers that you
supply to various DECmail/MS commands. This lets the mail system know
what messages are to be handled.
Message sequences are further
described in Section 1.5.
PERSONAL NAME
A personal name is optional information that accompanies an address.
It is a more human-readable name. You can specify this information
for your own and recipient addresses.
The SET PERSONAL-NAME command adds your
outgoing mail (see Section 6.3).

personal

name

all

your

To give a personal name for recipient addresses,
after it the address enclosed in angle brackets:

type

it,

and

add

Sam Slade <SSLADE@DETEC>
Giving a personal name for recipient addresses may be useful
in such
cases where a secretary receives mail and later distributes it to
others.
The personal name could indicate the
final
intended
recipient,
and the address would be the secretary's. The secretary
would FORWARD (see Section 3.3) these messages to intended recipients.
The personal name can contain any letter or digit, space, hyphen,
dollar sign,
underscore, or dot. By enclosing it in quotes, you can
include any other character:
"Sam Slade, private eye" <SSLADE@DETEC>
Some systems to which you send mail may require all personal names
be enclosed in quotes.

USERNAME
You send messages to, and receive them from,
users of a computer.
Each user of a computer has a username, which is the name by which the
computer knows that person. This name is often a last name.
On TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 systems, usernames are composed of up to 39
characters of letters, digits, and hyphens.
(Note that a period (.)
is taken by the DECmail/MS system to be your own username in local and
network addresses. That is, you can include a period, for example, in
the "To" or "cc" 1 ist.)
When sending mail to systems that do not run TOPS-10 or TOPS-20,
however, the rules for forming usernames may be different.
If you are
sending network mail to a user whose username contains characters not
allowed
in TOPS-10/TOPS-20 usernames,
then you must enclose the
username inside double quotes (" "). Spaces and special characters
such as the following are not allowed in TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 usernames
unless they are enclosed in double quotes:

< > @ ,

;

% [ ] \

However, the following special characters are allowed:
$

1-12

INTRODUCTION
Refer to the description of ADDRESS for related information.
NOTE
On TOPS-10 systems, you can specify PPNs within square
brackets instead of a local username: [30,5701].
The
mail system translates the PPN to the corresponding
username.
You can also
include a personal name
(described earlier)
with such usernames.
It
is
recommended that you use usernames whenever possible.

1.4

COMMAND LEVELS

The DECmai1/MS system has three command levels:
top level,
read
level, and send level.
Each command level has a different prompt, and
each level has its own set of commands. Top Level, which is the level
you see when you begin a DECmai1/MS session, has commands for dealing
with message files as a whole, or for manipulating entire groups of
messages at once.
Read Level is in effect after you have selected
messages to read, and has commands for dealing with the current
message or, optionally, other messages.
Send Level contains commands
for composing, editing, and filing drafts of messages, and for sending
the message once it is complete.
At all levels, the QUIT command always returns you to the previous
level;
thus,
typing QUIT at top level causes you to exit from the
DECmai1/MS session.
Also,
typing EXIT from any level ends the
DECmai1/MS session,
and executes the EXPUNGE command unless you
specify otherwise with the SET AUTO-EXPUNGE command.
TOP LEVEL
When you first run the mail system, you are at top level.
At this
level, the DECmai1/MS system prompts you for a command by typing:
MS)
To get a list of top-level commands,
top-level prompt.

type

question

mark

NOTE
You can issue top-level commands from operating system
command level also.
For example, to read the first
two messages in your mail file, you can type:
(TOPS-10)

.MS TYPE 1:2
or

(TOPS-20)

@MS TYPE 1:2

After the messages are displayed, you are returned to
operating system command level.
Issuing DECmai1/MS
commands from this level
saves
you
time
and
keystrokes.
This manual, however, discusses issuing
commands from the three DECmai1/MS command levels
only.
It assumes that you are issuing the various
commands while in the middle of a DECmail/MS session.

1-13

the

INTRODUCTION
READ LEVEL
When you issue the READ command, the DECmail/MS system places
read level. The read-level prompt is:

you

MS read»
You give the READ command a message sequence, which tells the
DECmail/MS system which messages you want to read.
The system then
types the first message
in the sequence, and prompts you for a
command.
You can now type a read-level command to do something with
that message, or press the RETURN key to go on to the next message
in
the sequence. When there are no more messages to read, the DECmail/MS
system returns to top level. - For more details on read level, refer to
Section 2.1.
Most top-level commands are also available at read level.
To get a list of read-level commands, type
read-level prompt:
MS read»? one of the following:
Backup
Blank
Copy
Delete
Directory
Exit
Forward
Headers
Help
Next
Print
Push
Repair
Reply
Retrieve
Skim
Take
Show
Unflag
Unmark
Verbose-type

question

Daytime
File
Mark
Quit
Send
Type

mark

the

Define
Flag
Move
Read
Set
Undelete

SEND LEVEL
Send level is invoked in one of the following ways:
o

You ask the DECmail/MS system to put you there,
by pressing
the ESCAPE key while entering the text of a message you are
sending.

You use the RETRIEVE DRAFT command to continue working on a
draft which you had previously saved with the SAVE-DRAFT
command.

You use the RETRIEVE LAST-MESSAGE command
draft of the last message you sent.

retrieve

You use the
message.

undeliverable

The DECmail/MS system puts you there automatically,
it encountered some problem while sending a message.

REPAIR

command

The send-level prompt is:
MS send»

1-14

correct

the

because

INTRODUCTION
The commands available at send level allow you to modify any part of a
message that you are in the process of sending. You can add or delete
users in the "To" or "cc" lists, change the subject line, edit the
text of the message,
and so forth.
If the DECmail/MS system
encounters any difficulties in sending the message,
it automatically
puts you into send level, so that you have a chance to fix the part of
the message that caused the problem. At send level, you can return to
the previous level without sending the message by giving the QUIT
command; or you can give the SEND command, which sends the message and
then returns to the previous command level.
To get a list of send-level commands, type
send-level prompt:
MS send»? one of the following:
Blank
Daytime
Display
Erase
Help
Insert
Quit
Return-receipt-requested
Send
Show
Take
To
Verbose-type

1.5

question

mark

the

cc
Define
Edit
Exit
Include
Push
Remove
Save
Set
Subject
Text
Type

MESSAGE SEQUENCES

Many of the DECmail/MS commands require you to specify a "message
sequence." A message sequence 1S a keyword or a list of message
numbers that indicate the messages upon which an action is to be
performed.
For example,
if you give the TYPE command, you are
expected to indicate the messages to be displayed. To get a complete
list of all the possible ways to select messages, type a question mark
when you are prompted for a message sequence, as follows:
PR<ESC>INT (messages) ?
You can specify a message sequence by means
special characters, as follows:

message

a single message number -

a list of message numbers -

(7,18,7S, ••• )

a range of message numbers -

{3:30}

the current message number -

(.)

the last message in the file -

any combination of ranges and single messages
(.,9,17:51, ••• ,%)

numbers

(7)

1-15

(%)
in

list

and

INTRODUCTION
(Note that the HEADERS
assigned to messages.)

and

DIRECTORY

commands

list

In addition, you can give
message sequence:

one

following

keywords

the

numbers
for

the

ALL

refers to all messages in the mail file.

ANSWERED

refers to messages that you have answered
with the REPLY command;
the HEADERS and
DIRECTORY commands display an "A" in the left
margin for all answered messages.

BEFORE date and time

refers
to messages dated
specified date and time.

CURRENT

refers to the current message, that is,
the
one
you
most recently accessed with a
DECmail/MS command; it is the first message
in the file
if you have not yet given any
commands.
This is the
default
message
sequence for most commands. The SHOW STATUS
command displays the current message number.

DELETED

refers to all messages
that
you
have
specified in a DELETE or MOVE command but
have not yet erased with the EXPUNGE command;
the HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands display a
"D"
in the left margin for all deleted
messages.

FIRST n

refers to the first n messages in the mail
file.
If you do not specify n, the first
message is accessed.

FLAGGED

refers to all messages
that
you
have
specified in a FLAG command; the HEADERS and
DIRECTORY commands display an "F" in the left
margin for all flagged messages.

FROM string

refers to messages in the file containing the
specified string in the "From" line of the
header. The string can contain blanks.

INVERSE

displays messages in the file in the order of
last-numbered to first-numbered.

KEYWORD string

refers to all messages that contain the
specified string within the header or text
portion of the message.
The string can
contain blanks.

LA.RGER n

refers to all messages having more than
specified
number
(n)
of characters;
HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands report
number of characters in a message.

LAST n

refers to the last n
(decimal
number)
messages in the file, beginning with the last
message.
If you do not specify n,
the last
message is accessed.

1-16

prior

the

the
the
the

INTRODUCTION
NEW

refers to all messages that have not been
read or specified
in a MARK command; also,
all previously read messages that you have
specified in an UNMARK command. NEW is the
default argument for the READ command when
issued from top level.
The HEADERS and
DIRECTORY.commands display an "N" in the left
margin for all "new" messages.

NEXT n

refers to the next n messages from the
current one.
For example, MOVE 5, followed
by HEADERS NEXT 4 would summarize messages 6,
7, 8, and 9.

OLD

refers to-all messages that you have read or
that you have specified in a MARK command.

RELATED-TO message
sequence

refers to all
replies to the specified
messages that are contained in the current
file.

SAME

refers to the messages you last specified
in
a command.
Message numbers may be different
if you issued an EXPUNGE command
in the
interim;
however,
the same messages are
retrieved.

SINCE date and time

refers to all messages
specified date and time.

after

the

SMALLER n

refers to all messages having fewer than
specified
number
(n)
of characters;
HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands report
number of characters in a message.

the
the
the

SORTED

displays messages in the file in the order of
first-dated to last-dated.

SUBJECT string

refers to all
messages
containing
the
specified string in the "Subject" line of the
header.
The string can contain blanks.

TO string

refers to all
messages
containing
the
specified string
In the "To"
line of the
header.
The string can contain blanks.

UNANSWERED

refers to messages that you have not answered
with the REPLY command.

UNDELETED

excludes messages that have been specified in
a DELETE command.

UNFLAGGED

refers to messages that
you
specified in a FLAG command.

1-17

dated

have

not

INTRODUCTION
EXAMPLES
The simplest sequence is a message number, or list of numbers
separated by commas.
For
instance,
the following
is a message
sequence that specifies the ~irst six messages in a file:
1,2,3,4,5,6
To read the first six messages in a file, you can type:
MS)READ 1,2,3,4,5,6
A shorthand way to specify the same
these:
the
message
sequence
"1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10".

thing
is "1:6".
"1:4,7:10"
means

You
the

can mix
same as

You can also select messages based on their contents.
For instance,
the message sequence below selects all messages in the current file
with the word "budget" in the subject:
Subject Budget
Likewise, the following command can be used to read all messages
the word "monthly" in their subject:

with

MS)READ SUBJECT monthly
And the following command lets you read the
your current message file:

first

nine

messages

MS)READ FIRST 9
One particularly useful message sequence is the word "same".
This
directs the DECmail/MS system to use the same message sequence you
used in your last command. For instance, suppose you want to delete
all messages from a user named Jones. However, before deleting them
you would like to check to be sure that they are the correct messages.
To do this,
you might first give the following command to get a
one-line summary of each message from Jones:
MS)HEADERS FROM Jones
Once you are satisfied that you
messages, you can then type:

really

MS)DELETE SAME

1-18

want

delete

all

these

CHAPTER 2
READING MESSAGES

Chapter 2 describes the DECmail/MS commands that allow you to
messages on your terminal or copy messages on a line printer.

2.1

display

READING AND ACTING UPON MESSAGES

To read a message and subsequently perform some action on that
message,
use the READ command.
This command displays messages,
stopping at read level after each one.
This allows you to manipulate
messages as you read them.
The READ command is available at both top
and read levels.
Command format:
MS>READ (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»READ (MESSAGES) message sequence
where:
message sequence specifies the messages you want to read.
At top
level,
NEW is the default message sequence.
At read level,
CURRENT is the default message sequeunce.[l]
After each message is displayed, the
level and prompts with:

DECmail/MS

system

read

MS read»
You can then issue one of the following read-level commands.
READ-LEVEL COMMANDS
BACKUP
Displays the previous message in the sequence you specified
with the READ command.
The BACKUP command is the same as
the PREVIOUS command.
BLANK
Clears the video terminal screen.
BLANK command.

Section 6.5 discusses the

[1]
At read level, it is advisable to use the TYPE command
instead
of the READ command for the current message.
Refer to the description
of the READ read-level command, below.
2-1

READING MESSAGES
COpy filespec
Copies the current message to another file,
retaining the
original.
Refer to the full description of the COpy command
in Section 5.1.
DAYTIME
Displays the current date and time.
ADDRESS-LIST
DEFINE ALIAS
HEADER-ITEM
Allows you to create address lists, alias names for
users,
or new message header
items.
Refer to Chapter 6 for
descriptions.
DELETE message sequence
Marks messages for removal from the mail file.
Refer to the
full description of the DELETE command in Section 5.4.
DIRECTORY message sequence
Gives a one-line summary of messages.
The DIRECTORY command
is the same as the HEADERS command.
Refer to the full
description of the DIRECTORY command in Section 4.3.
EXIT
Ends your DECmail/MS session;
returns you to operating
Refer to
system command level or logs you off the system.
Section 7.1 for details on the EXIT command.
FILE filespec
Copies the current message to another file and gives you the
option
to
delete
the original.
Refer to the full
description of the FILE command in Section 5.1.
FLAG message sequence
Marks messages for future
reference.
Refer to
description of the FLAG command in Section 5.6.

the

full

FORWARD message sequence
Sends received messages to other users.
Refer to the
description of the FORWARD command in Section 3.3.

full

HEADERS message sequence
Gives a one-line summary of messages.
The HEADERS command
is the same as the DIRECTORY command.
Refer to the full
description of the HEADERS command in Section 4.3.
HELP topic
Provides short explanations of various DECmail/MS commands
and
functions.
Refer to the full description of the HELP
command in Section 4.1 for
the list of topics you can
request with the HELP command.
MARK message sequence
Designates messages as having been read. Refer to the
description of the MARK command in Section 2.5.

full

MOVE filespec
Copies the current message to another file and deletes the
original.
Refer to the full description of the MOVE command
in Section 5.1.

2-2

READING MESSAGES
NEXT
Displays the next message in the sequence you specified with
the READ command.
This
is the default command at read
level. That is, if you press the RETURN key,
this command
is executed. Section 2.3 discusses the NEXT command.
PRINT
Prints the current message on the line printer.
discusses the PRINT command.

Section 5.5

PUSH
Suspends the DECmail/MS system and enters operating system
command level.
Refer to the full description of the PUSH
command in Section 7.5.
QUIT
Returns you to the previous DECmail/MS command level.
Refer
to the full description of the QUIT command in Section 7.2.
READ message sequence
Displays a new message- sequence on your terminal.
This
command, at read level, is useful for leaving the current
message sequence in order to look at a new set of messages.
For example,
you may want to read new messages that were
just sent to you, and respond to those messages or delete
them.
You may then need to look at yet another set of
messages. The DECmail/MS system helps you to keep track of
message sequences by attaching a number to the read prompt
[MS read(l»>] and incrementing that number every time you
issue the READ command at read level.
That number is
decremented when you leave a message sequence and return to
the previous level.
To simply reread the current message, use the TYPE command.
REPAIR numeric file identifier
Allows repair of undeliverable network mail.
Section 3.4.2 for details on the REPAIR command.

Refer

REPLY ALL
SENDER-ONLY
Facilitates replying to the current message.
Refer
Section 3.2 for a full description of the REPLY command.

RETRIEVE DRAFT
LAST-MESSAGE
Fetches the last message sent or a draft previously stored
in a file, and enters send level. Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.2
discuss the RETRIEVE command.
SEND
Lets you compose and send a message. Refer to Chapter 3 for
a full description of the SEND command.
SET parameter
Gives you control over many DECmail/MS operations. Refer to
the description of the SET command in Section 6.3 for the
list of parameters you can specify.
SHOW parameter
Displays a variety of information about the DECmail/MS
environment.
Refer to the full description of the SHOW
command in Section 4.4 for the list of parameters you can
specify.
2-3

READING MESSAGES
SKIM message sequence
Gives a one-line summary of messages and after each summary
leaves your terminal at the equivalent of read level.
Refer
to Section 4.3.1
for complete
information on the SKIM
command.
TAKE filespec
Executes a file of DECmail/MS commands.
Refer to
description of the TAKE command in Section 6.4.

the

full

EVERYTHING
TYPE HEADER-ITEMS
TEXT
Displays the current message on your terminal.
Refer to the
full description of the TYPE command in Section 2.2.
UNDELETE message sequence
Reverses the effect of the DELETE command.
UNFLAG message sequence
Reverses the effect of the FLAG command.
UNMARK message sequence
Reverses the effect of
messages become "new".

the

MARK

command.

The

specified

EVERYTHING
VERBOSE-TYPE HEADER-ITEMS
TEXT
Displays the current message on your terminal.
Refer to the
full description of the VERBOSE-TYPE command in Section 2.2.
When you have finished reading all
the messages
in the sequence,
typing carriage-return or QUIT to the MS READ» prompt returns you to
the previous command level.
Related Commands
The following commands are related to READ.
information on these commands.

Refer to Section 6.3

for

SET BRIEF-ADDRESS-LIST-DISPLAY
SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN
SET SUPPRESSED-HEADERS

2.2

PERUSING MESSAGES

There may be times when you want to
read messages without pausing
between them at
read
level.
The TYPE command, available from all
three DECmail/MS command levels, allows you to do this.
It displays
messages and
leaves your termlnal at the command level you issued lt
from.

2-4

READING MESSAGES
Command format:
MS>TYPE (MESSAGES) message sequence
MS READ»TYPE

EVERYTHING
HEADER-ITEMS
TEXT

MS SEND»TYPE (MESSAGES) message sequence
where:
o

EVERYTHING, HEADER-ITEMS, and TEXT refer to the part
current message you want to display.

message sequence specifies the messages you want to display.

Unlike READ, the TYPE
displaying messages.

command

does

not

clear

the

screen

the

before

The VERBOSE-TYPE command also allows you to read messages quickly.
It
is
identical
in format and function to the TYPE command, except that
it displays messages literally.
That is, it ignores any of your SET
command directives to suppress header output.
Messages are displayed
in their entirety.
Related Commands
The following commands are related to TYPE and VERBOSE-TYPE.
Section 6.3 for information on these commands.

Refer to

SET BRIEF-ADDRESS-LIST-DISPLAY
SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN
SET SUPPRESSED-HEADERS

2.3

READING THE "NEXT" MESSAGE

To read succeeding messages in a mail file, you
command from top or read level.

can

issue

the

Command format:
MS>NEXT (MESSAGE)
or
MS READ»NEXT (MESSAGE IN SEQUENCE)
The NEXT command has different effects according
to the level from
which it is issued.
From top level, it displays the message following
the current one in the file.
From read level, it displays the next
message in the sequence you specified with the READ command.
The NEXT
command is the default command at read level.
You can also display succeeding messages with the READ,
VERBOSE-TYPE command followed by the NEXT message sequence.

2-5

TYPE,

READI~G

2.4

MESSAGES

READING THE SYSTEM "BULLETIN BOARD"

A DECmail/MS bulletin board is a message file of general interest to
users.
As an unprivileged user, you can perform such activities as
reading, printing, and copying messages from the file.
However, only
privileged users can send messages to it or delete them.
The operator or system manager may send messages to this file
(that
is,
to SYSTEM)
to inform you of an upcoming system shutdown, and so
on.
You access this file with the SYSTEM-MESSAGES command to make it
current message file.

your

Command format:
MS)SYSTEM-MESSAGES
When new messages are sent to this file, the following line appears on
your terminal:
[<system)

<time~

New SYSTEM mail available]

where:
o

system is the name of your system.

time is the time of day.

On TOPS-20 systems, messages that were sent to this file after you
logged off the system are automatically displayed on your terminal (or
in your batch log file) when you log in.
To return to your mail file, give the command:
MS)GET

2.5

DESIGNATING MAIL AS READ AND UNREAD

When the DECmail/MS system first starts up, it displays a summary line
for each message that you have not yet read.
(An "N" appears in the
left margin of the line for each of these "new," or unread, messages.)
When you read a message using the READ, TYPE or VERBOSE-TYPE command,
the DECmail/MS system executes a MARK command for the message; and the
message is then designated as an "old," or read, message.
(Note that
you can specify NEW or OLD as the message sequence argument for
DECmail/MS commands.)
You may occasionally want to "mark" messages yourself.
Assume,
for
example,
that you receive large volumes of mail and cannot read it
right away. You could issue the MARK command for any messages you
want to postpone reading.
Then these messages would not be included
when you or the DECmail/MS system initiated any action on "new"
messages.
This command is avaIlable from top and read levels.

2-6

READING MESSAGES
Command format:
MS>MARK (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»MARK (MESSAGES) message sequence
where:
message sequence indicates the messages you want
current message is the default.

mark.

The

The UNMARK command removes the "read" mark from a message, putting it
back into the "new" category.
Its format is identical to that for the
MARK command.

2-7

CHAPTER 3
SENDING MESSAGES

Chapter 3 describes the DECmail/MS commands that allow you to send
messages.
Commands in this category include those for composing and
editing messages, for forwarding copies of messages you receive, and
for replying to messages.

3.1

SENDING MAIL

To compose and send a message, use the SEND command, from any
level.

command

Command format:
SEND (MESSAGE)
From top and read levels,
the SEND command prompts you for the
required
information,
such as the "To" list, the "cc" list and the
subject.
(The "cc" list and the subject can be blank.)
It then
prompts you for the text of the message. When you have completed the
text of the message, type C~RL/Z, which will cause the message to be
sent immediately.
If, at some point while you are typing the text of the message, you
realize that you have mqde a mistake in the header or text, you can
easily correct it. Prea~ the ESC key.
This puts you at send level,
which prompts with "Me Bend»". You can use send-level commands to
alter the current draft of the message,
From send level, the SmND Qommand causes the
prepared to be sent immediately.

message

you

have

just

SEND-LEVEL COMMANDS
BLANK
Clears the viqeQ terminal screen.
CC
Allows you to add to the list of people receiving "carbon
copies" of the message.
Refer to the description of the SET
DEFAULT CC~LIST oommand in Section
6.3
for
related
information.
DAYTIME
Displays the current date and time.

3-1

SENDING MESSAGES
ADDRESS-LIST
DEFINE ALIAS
HEADER-ITEM
Allows you to create address lists, alias names for
or new message-header
items.
Refer to Chapter
descriptions.

users,
6 for

ALL
CC
DISPLAY SUBJECT
TEXT
TO
the entire
Shows the part of the message that you specify:
message,
the recipient lists,
the subject line, or the
message text. The default value is ALL.
EDIT TEXT
Sends your message text to your default text editor,
for
example, TV, SOS, or EDIT.
You can then use any of the
editor commands to modify your message. After exiting from
the editor, you are returned to send level.
NOTE
If you periodically copy your files
to disk while
using an editor, you may need to give the command:
INSERT FILE MSG.TMP to retrieve the message text
after returning to send level.
On TOPS-10 systems, the default editor is TECO
created a
logical name EDITOR: that points
editor.

unless you
to another

On TOPS-20 systems, the default editor is the same one that
is invoked when you give the EDIT or CREATE operating system
command. Refer to the TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual for
details on default editors.
ALL
CC
HEADER-ITEM keyword
ERASE REPLY-INFORMATION
SUBJECT
TEXT
TO
Erases the part of the message that you specify:
o

the entire message

the recipient lists

any particular message header item that you
with the DEFINE command

reply-related
header
information
such
as
the
"References" and "In-reply-to" fields (applicable if you
entered send level by way of REPLY)

the subject line

the message text

To delete individual names from the "To" or "cc"
the REMOVE command instead.

3-2

established

list,

use

SENDING MESSAGES
EXIT
Ends your DECmail/MS session;
returns you to operating
system command level or logs you off the system. Refer to
Section 7.1 for details on the EXIT command.
HELP topic
Provides short explanations of various DECmail/MS commands
and functions.
~efer
to the full description of the HELP
command in Section 4.1 for the list of topics you can
specify with the HELP command.
INCLUDE keyword
Incorporates optional or required user-defined header items
in the header portion of the message.
Refer to the
description of the DEFINE HEADER-ITEM command in Section 6.1
for details.
INSERT FILE filespec
MESSAGE message sequence
Appends a file or messages to the message you are preparing.
The default directory is the one you specified with the SET
DEFAULT DIRECTORY command. The INSERT command is useful for
sending reports and other lengthy material that you may have
created with one of the system text editors.
PUSH
Puts your terminal at operating system command level. Refer
to the full description of the PUSH command in Section 7.5.
QUIT
Peturns you to the previous DECmail/MS command level. Refer
to the full description of the QUIT command in Section 7.2.
REMOVE username(s)
Erases addresses from either the "To" or "cc"
list,
depending upon the list in which the addresses appear. To
delete the entire "To" or "cc" list, use the ERASE command
instead.
RETURN-RECEIPT-REQUESTED
Requests recipients to acknowledge the message
before
reading
it.
The command prompts you for the addressees)
where the acknowledgement is to be sent:
MS send»RETURN-RECEIPT-REQUESTED
Return-receipt-requested-to:TUCKER
If you specify a period (.), the acknowledgement is
your own address.

returned

When recipients try to read the message,
follows:

prompted

they

are

MS>READ
N 108 6-Dec TUCKER@GREEN IFinal Plan (238 chars)
Sender of message 108 has requested return receipt.
Send i t ? YES
Processing mail •••
Mail queued for delivery by MX

3-3

SENDING MESSAGES
After a YES response,
the message
is
acknowledgement is returned to the sender:

and

displayed,

Message 1~9 (394 chars), received Friday, December 6, 1985 15:29-EST
Sender: MEYERS
Date: 6 Dec 1985 1529-EST
From: MEYERS@GREEN
To: TUCKER@GREEN
Subject: Re: Final Plan
References: Message from <TUCKER@GREEN> of 6-Dec-85 1529-EST
In-~eply-to: <nMSll(2596)+GLXLIB5(9)n 12165~16134.225.542.656~9 at GREEN>
This is a RETURN RECEIPT for your message.

A NO response displays the message without returning a receipt.
SAVE DRAFT filespec or carriage-return
Stores the draft you are working on in the specified file.
On
TOPS-10 systems, the default file extension is .DRF. On TOPS-20
systems, the default file type is
.DRAFT, and the default
directory is the one specified
in the SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY
command. The draft
includes the "To" and "cc"
lists,
the
subject, and the text of the message.
You can later issue the
RETRIEVE DRAFT command to pick up where you left off.
(Refer to
Section 3.1.1 for a discussion of the RETRIEVE DRAFT command.)
The SAVE DRAFT command leaves you at send level.
If you wish to
send the draft as
is, give the SEND command (and the draft is
still saved in the file you specified).
If you wish to leave
send level without sending the draft right away, give the QUIT
command.
Note that, if you give a carriage-return instead of a filespec,
the DECmail/MS system gives you a message and returns you to send
level without having stored the draft anywhere. This gives you a
last-minute chance to change your mind about saving the draft for
later. You can then continue composing the message.
NOTE
If you specify the name of an existing file,
its
contents are erased and replaced with your draft.
SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES filespec or carriage-return
Stores copies of messages that you send.
Refer
for details.

Section

5.3

SEND
Sends your message and returns you
command level.

the

DECmail/MS

SET parameter
Gives you control over many DECmail/MS operations. Refer to the
full description of the SET command in Section 6.3 for the list
of parameters you can specify.
SHOW parameter
Displays a variety of
information
about
the
DECmail/MS
environment.
Refer to the full description of the SHOW command
in Section 4.4 for the list of parameters that you can specify.
SUBJECT
Allows you to retype the subject line of the message.

3-4

SENDING MESSAGES
TAKE filespec
Executes a file
of DECmail/MS commands.
Refer
description of the TAKE command in Section 6.4.

the

full

composing

the

TEXT
Returns you to text mode so that you can continue
Text mode is further described below.

message~

TO
Allows you to add to the list of recipients for the message.
TYPE message sequence
Displays the specified messages on your terminal.
Refer
full description of the TYPE command in Section 2.2.

the

VERBOSE-TYPE message sequence
Displays the specified messages on your terminal.
Refer
to
full description of the VERBOSE-TYPE command in Section 2.2.

the

If you are at send level and decide that you do not want to send
the
message,
use
the QUIT command,
which
returns you to the previous
level.
After giving a send-level command, you can return to DECmail/MS text
mode by issuing
the TEXT command to add text to the draft of the
message.
Or you can give the SEND command
to send
the completed
message.
In DECmail/MS text mode, you can manipulate lines of text by
the DELETE key or issuing one of several control characters:
DELETE

Deletes the previous character.

CTRL/W

Deletes the previous word.

CTRL/U

Deletes the current line.

CTRL/R

Redisplays the current line.

pressing

Note that you can delete across line boundaries.
That
is,
you can
continue deleting
lines, characters, and words until you have erased
the entire message.
The following characters allow you to manipulate
when you are in DECmail/MS text mode:

the

entire

message

CTRL/B

Inserts a file in the message you are preparing.
This commonly used control
key
is useful for
sending reports and other lengthy material
that
you have previously prepared with a system text
editor.
The system prompts you for
the name of
the file.
Note that the default directory for the
file is based on the SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY command
setting.

CTRL/K

Redisplays the entire message text.

ESC

Enters send-level command mode.

CTRL/E

Enters your default text editor.

CTRL/Z

Sends the message.

3-5

SENDING MESSAGES
Related Commands
The foLlowing commands are related to SEND.
information on them.

Refer to Section 6.3

for

SET AUTO-FILL
SET CLOSING-TEXT

3.1.1

Continuing Work on an Old Draft

While at send-command level, you can store the unfinished draft of a
message you are composing by issuing the SAVE DRAFT command.
The
RETRIEVE DRAFT command, available at top and read levels, fetches the
message when you are ready for it.
Command format:
MS>RETRIEVE DRAFT (FROM FILE)

filespec

or
MS READ»RETRIEVE DRAFT (FROM FILE) filespec
where:
filespec specifies the file that contains the draft.
The file
specification is the same one that you used for the SAVE DRAFT
command. The default directory for the file is based on the SET
DEFAULT DIRECTORY command setting.
This command retrieves the draft, displays the draft on your terminal,
and leaves you at send level.
You can then give any of the send-level
commands to manipulate the draft; most commonly, you would give the
TEXT command to add message text to the draft.

3.1.2

Editing and Resending a Message

After sending a message, you may realize that you forgot to
include
someone in the address lists.
Or you may want to modify a message and
send the new version to another list of addressees.
In these and
similar situations, you can issue the RETRIEVE LAST-MESSAGE command to
fetch a copy of the last message you sent in the current DECmail/MS
session, so that you can edit and resend it.
Command format:
MS>RETRIEVE LAST-MESSAGE (AND ENTER SEND LEVEL)
or
MS READ»RETRIEVE LAST-MESSAGE (AND ENTER SEND LEVEL)
This command, available at top and read levels, displays the message
and puts you into send level.
You can then use any send-Level command
to add or delete users in the address lists, to edit the text of the
message, and then to send the message again.

3-6

SENDING MESSAGES
NOTE
This command does NOT retract mail; that
is,
if you
have sent a message to someone and then changed your
mind, this command does not remove the message from
the
recipient's mailbox.
Once a message has been
sent, it has been sent. This command simply retrieves
the draft of the message so tqat you need not type it
in again.

3.2

ANSWERING MAIL

To reply to messages that other users send you, use the REPLY command.
REPLY command format:
MS>REPLY (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»REPLY (TO)

ALL
SENDER-ONLY

where:
o

ALL sends the reply to the sender
recipient lists.

and

everyone

SENDER-ONLY sends the reply only to the sender.
default action.

Message sequence specifies the message(s)

the

This is

the

to be answered.

At read level, it is assumed that you wish to
reply to the current
message.
This
is also true at top level if you do not specify a
message sequence.
When you use this command at top level, the DECmail/MS system
you as follows:

prompts

Reply message number n to:
where:
n indicates one of the messages
in the message sequence
specified.
You can respond with ALL or SENDER-ONLY.

you

except that,
since the
REPLY works just like the SEND command;
DECmail/MS system knows whom to send the message to, it does not ask
for the "To" or "cc" list.
The DECmail/MS system determines from the
message being answered who
the sender was, and thus whom the reply
should go to, so that you need not type in the name of the recipient.
Likewise,
if you choose to send replies to people who received copies
of the message,
the DECmail/MS system can easily determine the
addresses.
In addition, the DECmail/MS system does not prompt you for
the subject of the message.
It takes the subject line from
the
message you are answering.

3-7

SENDING MESSAGES
Related Commands
The following commands are related to REPLY.
information on these commands.

Refer to Section 6.3 for

SET DEFAULT REPLY-TO-ALL
SET DEFAULT REPLY-TO-SENDER-ONLY
SET [NO]

INCLUDE-ME-IN-REPLIES

SET [NO] REPLY-TO

3.3

FORWARDING MAIL

To send copies of mail you receive, issue the FORWARD command from top
or read level.
FORWARD
Command format:
MS>FORWARD (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»FORWARD (MESSAGES) message sequence
where:
message sequence specifies the message(s)

to be forwarded.

After you issue the command, the DECmail/MS system prompts you for the
"To" and "cc" lists.
It does not prompt you for the subject line of
the message, however, but takes this line from the last forwarded
message in the sequence you specified.
So that you can add your own comments about the messages,
the
DECmail/MS system prompts you for text, which is inserted in front of
the package.
If, while at text level, you type ESC to get to send
level, and later issue the TEXT command to continue the text you want
to insert, everything you type after issuing the TEXT command appears
after the messages you are forwarding. This is useful if you want to
add text after as well as before the forwarded messages.

3-8

SENDING MESSAGES
3.4

SENDING NETWORK MAIL
NOTE
Section 3.4 and its subsections are applicable only if
DECmail/MS network software
is
installed on your
system.

local mail, which
The DECmail/MS system handles two kinds of mail:
goes to and from users of the same computer, and network mail, which
computers.
Ordinarily,
goes to and from users of different (remote)
the only difference that is important to you is that, when you send
mail to remote users, you must identify the computer that they use.
to their usernames, where "hostname" is the name of
Add "@hostname"
For example:
the computer they use.
MS)SEND

To:~otta@KL2137

When you send mail, it is not delivered immediately but is queued
for
later transmission ("Mail queued for delivery by MX"). within a short
period of time the system will
transmit this mail,
provided the
destination system is up and receiving mail.
Otherwise, it remains
posted for up to fourteen days awaiting delivery.
Section 1.3 discusses network addresses in detail.
Note that mail
within a TOPS-20 computer cluster is considered to be local, so you do
not need to specify a hostname.
Your system manager will know whether
or not your system is part of a cluster.

3.4.1

Sending DECnet Mail

When you send a message, the DECmail/MS system creates
file in your directory:

the

following

MSnnnn.MX
where:
nnnn is a four-digit file identifier.
The DECmail/MS system places your message in the file.
A copy of this
file
is transmitted to the destination hosts and is copied as many
times as necessary for the number of recipients. After a successful
send,
the file
is deleted from your directory.
But if there are
problems during transmission, this file is renamed to:
MSnnnn.RPR

3-9

SENDING MESSAGES
You can then correct the message by using
the REPAIR command.
In
addition, the DECmail/MS system sends you mail when one of your DECnet
messages is undeliverable.
The message you receive looks something
like this:
Message 149 (308 chars), received Monday, February 10, 1986 16:06-EST
Sender: POSTMASTER
Date: 10-Feb-86 16:06:01-EST
From: Postmaster <POSTMASTER@GOLD>
To: TUCKER
Subject: Undeliverable Mail
MX1(124) was unable to deliver some (or all) of the mail contained
file POBOX: [TUCKER]MS7007.RPR because:

the

?MX %MAIL-E-NOSUCHUSR, no such user CPERLMAN at node GREEN
You may use the command "REPAIR 7007" to repair the message.

The following section describes how to correct messages.

3.4.2

Correcting Undeliverable DECnet Mail

Messages that you send across computer networks are returned to you
for correction if they contain wrong addresses:
an intended recipient
may not have an account on the destination host, or the hostname that
you specified may have been unrecognizable.
To correct the message,
issue the REPAIR command from top or read level.
Command format:
MS>REPAIR (UNDELIVERABLE MAIL IN .RPR FILE) n
or
MS READ»REPAIR (UNDELIVERABLE MAIL IN .RPR FILE) n
where:
n is the four-digit file identifier from the
.RPR file.
The
Postmaster message explains the problem and gives the full name
of the file.
If the message was sent to an address list,
all
other users received copies of the message.
Once you have successfully identified a
"dead letter"
to
the
DECmail/MS system, the message is displayed on your terminal, and you
are placed at send level. You can then use any of the send-level
commands to correct the problem with the message and try to send it
again.
At the end of a repair session, the .RPR file is deleted from
your directory.
Repaired messages are resent to all
recipients,
line inserted at the beginning of the text:

with

the

following

[THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN REMAILED WITH A CORRECTED DISTRIBUTION LIST]

3-l~

CHAPTER 4
OBTAINING INFORMATION

Chapter 4 presents the various commands you can use
to
get
miscellaneous information on the DECmai1/MS system, your message file,
and the parameters in effect for your job.

4.1

GETTING HELP

The DECmai1/MS system can give you information on any top-level
command, as well as on a variety of DECmai1/MS features.
To get the
assistance you need, use the HELP command at top, read, or send level.
This command types the information you request on your terminal.
For
the list of HELP command topics, type HELP? as follows:
MS)HELP ? confirm with carriage return
or one of the following:
Bad-format
Blank
Copy
Create-init-fi1e
Directory
Exit
Flag
Forward
Init-fi1e
Introduction
Move
Net-mail
Print
Push
Repair
Reply
Save
Send
Skim
System-messages
Undelete
Unf1ag
Version
Vocabulary
MS)HELP

Check
Define
Expunge
Get
Mark
Next
Quit
Retrieve
Set
Take
Unmark

Command-levels
Delete
File
Headers
Message-sequence
Novice
Read
RFC822
Show
Type
Verbose-type

To get help with one of these topics, type HELP followed by
of the topic.

4.2

the

name

CHECKING FOR NEW MAIL

The DECmai1/MS system periodically checks the current message file to
see if any new messages have arrived.
Every time the DECmai1/MS
system updates your message file (because you have deleted a message,
for example), and every time it returns to the top-level prompt from
some other level, it makes this check.
If new messages have arrived,
the DECmai1/MS system notifies you by displaying a one-line summary of
each new message.
To force the DECmail/MS system to check immediately for new messages,
give the CHECK command at top level.
If new messages have arrived,
the DECmail/MS system displays the new state of the message file,
along with a one-line summary of each new message.
4-1

OBTAINING
4.3

INFO~MATION

OBTAINING SUMMARIES OF MESSAGES

The HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands provide an index to the messages in
a mail file.
These commands have the same function and format.
Command format:
MS)HEADERS (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»HEADERS (MESSAGES) message sequence
where:
message sequence specifies the messages for which you want
summary information. At read level, the default message sequence
is CURRENT. At top level, the default message sequence is NEW.
These commands, available from both top and read levels, give you a
one-line summary of each message specified. The line looks something
like this:
NFAD 1 l2-Jul
o

GUINEAU~OFFICE-3

IThis Monday's meeting (549 chars)

The letters at the beginning of the line are called the
message flags.
Each letter has a meaning, and appears only
when it applies to the specified message.
The letters'
meanings are:
N - the message is new; that is, you have not seen it
yet.
It has not been specified in a READ, TYPE or
VERBOSE-TYPE command. The N also appears for messages
that were specified in an UNMARK command.
F - the message is flagged; it was specified
command.

FLAG

A - the message has been answered; it was specified in
REPLY command.
D - the message is deleted; it was specified in a
or MOVE command.

DELETE

The next column is the number assigned to the message. Every
message in the file has a unique number, determined by its
relative position in the file.
You can specify this number
for
the message sequence argument for DECmail/MS commands.
Note that message numbers change when a file is updated, for
example, when messages are deleted and expunged.

The next column is the date of the message.

Next is the name of the user who sent the message,
in this
case, GUINEAU@OFFICE-3.
If the user's name is so long that
it would overrun its allotted area, it is truncated.
If the message was sent by you,
the DECmail/MS
displays the "To" field of the message.
For example:

NFAD 1 l2-Jul To: GUINEAU@OFFICE-3

4-2

system

IThis Monday's maeting (549 chars)

OBTAINING INFORMATION
This situation reflects the fact that you are saving your
outgoing messages
in your mail file, or that you explicitly
sent a copy to yourself. Ordinarily, the "from"
field
is
displayed in the third column.
o

The next column, beginning at the vertical bar (I)
character, is the subject of the message.
The subject
also truncated when necessary.
If the message was sent with a
field begins with "Re:".

command,

And last, in parentheses, is the length of
characters.

the

subject

message,

Related Commands
The following commands are related to HEADERS and DIRECTORY.
Refer to
the table of commands preceding Chapter 2 for information on these
commands.
SET SUMMARY-PERSONAL-NAME-ONLY
SKIM

4.3.1

Scanning a Message File

with the SKIM command, you can scan message summaries and stop to
perform some action at the desired messages.
SKIM combines the
features of HEADERS and READ.
It executes the HEADERS command then
leaves your terminal at the equivalent of read level after each
message summary. At this level, you can then issue a command to
immediately act upon the message.
Command format:
MS)SKIM (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»SKIM (MESSAGES) message sequence
where:
message sequence specifies the messages you want
read level, the current message is the default.

4-3

scan.

OBTAINING INFORMATION
This example shows how you might skim a message file and act upon some
of the messages you encounter:
MS>SKIM 15:2~ <RET>
15 28-May David D'Antonio
(49~ chars)
IRe: FINAL review of -2~
MS skim»DELETE <RET>
MS skim» <RET>
A
16 29-May MEYERS@KL2137
IRe: FINAL review of -2~
(431 chars)
MS skim»MOVE 2~.TXT
MS skim» <RET>
17 3~-May CPERLMAN@KL21~2
I [GETTENS at KL2137: FYI (1~744 chars)
MS skim»DELETE <RET>
MS skim» <RET>
A
18 3-Jun GRANT@MARKET
IManual Review (285 chars)
MS skim»TYPE <RET>
Message 18 (285 chars), received Monday, June 3, 1985 ~6:57-EDT
Sender: GRANT
Date: 3 Jun 1985 ~657-EDT
From: GRANT@MARKET
To: tucker@MARKET
Subject: Manual Review
Can we get together today?
serious at all.

I have some minor comments, nothing very

MS skim» <RET>
19 3-Jun GRANT@MARKET
IRe: Manual Review (395 chars)
MS skim»TYPE <RET>
Message 19 (395 chars), received Monday, June 3, 1985 1~:59-EDT
Sender: GRANT@MARKET
Date: 3 Jun 1985 1~54-EDT
From: GRANT@MARKET
To: Brenda
Subject: Re: Manual Review
References: Message from Brenda <TUCKER@KL21~2> of 3-Jun-85 1012-EDT
In-reply-to: <"MSl1(24~7)+GLXLIB5(~) n 12116188646.1~~.542.4931 at KL21~2>
ok,

1:3~

MS skim»
2~

MS skim»
MS>

<RET>
5-Jun CAISSIE at KL2137
<RET>

ISPRING CLEAN UP DAY (874 chars)

The first command specifies that messages 15 through 20 are to be
skimmed.
Message 15 IS deleted; message 16 is moved to the file
20.TXT; message 17 is d~leted; messages 18 and 19 are displayed;
and
message 20
is simply summarized. The HEADERS command, below, shows
that messages 15, 16, and 17 were deleted. This is indicated by the D
in the left margin.
MS>HEADERS 15:2~ <RET>
D 15 28-May David D'Antonio
AD 16 29-May MEYERS@KL2i37
D 17 3~-May CPERLMAN@KL21~2
A 18 3-Jun GRANT@MARKET
19 3-Jun GRANT@MARKET
2~
5-Jun CAISSIE@KL2137
MS>

IRe: FINAL review of -2~
(49~ chars)
IRe: FINAL review of -2~
(431 chars)
I [GETTENS at KL2137: FYI (1~744 chars)
IManual Review (285 chars)
IRe: Manual Review (395 chars)
ISPRING CLEAN UP DAY (874 chars)

You can issue SKIM and READ commands while at skim-command level to
retrieve additional message sequences. The prompt shows your level of
recursion [SKIM (I}»].
For further information on this topic,
refer
to the description of the READ read-level command in Section 2.1.

4-4

OBTAINING INFORMATION
4.4

DISPLAYING SYSTEM AND USER INFORMATION

This section describes the information you can obtain with the SHOW
and DAYTIME commands. These commands are available from all command
levels.
SHOW Commands
SHOW ADDRESS-LISTS
Displays all currently defined address lists that you or the
system manager may have established with the DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST
command.
SHOW ALIASES
Displays all currently defined aliases that you or the system
manager may have established with the DEFINE ALIAS command.
SHOW DAYTIME
Displays the current date and time.

Same as the DAYTIME command.

SHOW DEFAULTS
Shows the defaults (assumptions that the DECmail/MS system makes)
that are currently in effect. For example:
MS)SHOW (INFORMATION ABOUT) DEFAULTS
set default directory (to) connected-directory
set default protection (for created files) 777777
set default reply-to-sender-only
set no text-scroll-region
set personal-name Nelda F. Harris
set auto-expunge (on) exit-command-only
save-outgoing-messages (in file) PS:<HARRIS)MAIL.TXT.l
You can use the SET command to
displayed by the SHOW command.

change

most

the

defaults

SHOW HEADER-ITEMS (DEFINED BY USER)
Displays all currently defined header items and their types
(optional, predefined, or required); and, for predefined header
items, displays the currently defined value. You define header
items with the DEFINE HEADER-ITEM command.
SHOW STATUS (OF CURRENT MESSAGE FILE)
Shows you the name and status of the current message file.
includes:

This

the filespec for the current message file.

the date and time the file was
only) •

the number of messages in the file.

the number of new messages in the file.

the size of the file
in characters and disk blocks
TOPS-l0 systems; each block contains 640 characters.

the size of the file in characters and disk pages for TOPS-20
systems; each page contains 2560 characters.

the number of deleted (but not yet expunged) messages.

4-5

last

read

(TOPS-20

systems

for

OBTAINING INFORMATION
o

a list of numbers for flagged
specified in a FLAG command).

the current message number.

For example, on a TOPS-20

messages

(those

previously

syste~:

MS>SHOW STATUS
Current message file is PUBLIC:<TUCKER>MAIL.TXT.l
Last read: Wednesday, November 20, 1985 l0:l7-EST.
94 messages (1 new) (141468 characters) , in 56 disk pages.
(You have 2 messages deleted.)
Messages 89:90 flagged.
Currently at message 1.
Most of this information is displayed when you start up the
DECmail/MS system, unless the SET NO TYPE-INITIAL-SUMMARY command
is in effect.
SHOW VERSION
Displays the version of the DECmail/MS system currently running,
and a list of optional features that are supported by this
version (such as network mail) •
DAYTIME Command
DAYTIME
Displays the current date and time.
command.

4-6

Same

the

SHOW

DAYTIME

CHAPTER 5
MANAGING MESSAGE FILES

Chapter 5 discusses the various ways you can manipulate message files
as well
as
the
individual messages contained within them.
It
describes moving messages in and out of files and moving entire mail
files in and out of your range of influence.

5.1

MOVING MESSAGES TO OTHER FILES

You can move a message to a new or existing file and either retain or
delete the original copy.
You might want to move messages in order to
collect a set of related messages in one place.
The commands that
3llow you to move messages are COPY, MOVE, and FILE.
o

The COpy command, available from both top and
read
places a copy of a message into a different file.

levels,

Command format:
MS>COPY (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»COPY (INTO FILE)

filespec

where:
filespec is the name of the file in which to place
the message.
From top level, the DECmail/MS system
prompts you for the filespec after you issue the
command.
The default file type (or file extension)
is .TXT.
The messaga
is
then appended
to the
specified file;
any existing contents of this file
are preserved.
If the file does not exist,
it
is
created.
message sequence indicates the messages you want to
copy.
At read level, it is assumed that you want to
copy the current'message.
Example
MS>COPY (MESSAGE SEQUENCE) 1
Into file:
NEW.TXT
Copied:
1

5-1

MANAGING MESSAGE FILES
o

The MOVE command, available from both top and read levels,
moves a message into another file and deletes the original.
It works exactly as if you had used the COpy command to copy
the message into the other file, and then used the DELETE
command to delete the original copy.
The MOVE and COpy command formats are identical.

The FILE command is a combination of the MOVE and COpy
commands. It allows you to copy a number of messages (at top
level) or the current message (at read level)
into another
file,
and to optionally delete the original message(s).
After copying the message(s) into the specified file,
the
DECmail/MS system asks whether you wish to delete the
original(s). You reply either YES or NO; NO is the default
and is assumed if you give no reply.
Example
MS)FILE (MESSAGES) 1
Into file: NEW. TXT
Filed: 1
Delete from current message file the message(s)

\
just filed? YES

Use the GET command to examine and manipulate the contents of
message files you create with the COPY, MOVE, and FILE commands.

the

Related Commands
The following commands are related to COPY, MOVE, and FILE.
GET
SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY
SET DEFAULT PROTECTION

5.2

RETRIEVING MESSAGES

There are many ways to retrieve messages.
For example, Chapter 3
discusses the use of the RETRIEVE and REPAIR commands. Also, with the
message sequence arguments, you can select messages in a seemingly
infinite variety of ways. This section describes how to retrieve an
entire message file.
Once you have accessed the desired file, you can
then use any top-level command to manipulate the messages contained
within it.
To retrieve a message file, use the GET command from top level.
Command format:
MS>GET (MESSAGES FROM FILE) filespec

5-2

MANAGING MESSAGE FILES
where:
filespec is the designation for the message file you want to
retrieve.
The default file
extension is
.TXT.
The default
filespec is your mail file.
The default directory is your
logged-in
directory
(TOPS-10)
or
your
directory
on
POBOX: (TOPS-20), regardless of the SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY command
setting.
The GET command causes the DECmail/MS system to read in a new message
file.
Once the DECmail/MS system reads the file, it types a couple of
lines of status information about the file, for example:
MS>GET <BROWN>NEW.TXT
La~read:
ll-Apr-82 21:52.
Messages 1:2, 10 flagged.

14 messages, 4 pages.

This file is now considered to be the current message file.
to your mail file, type:

To return

MS>GET
Related Commands
The following commands are related to GET.
COpy
FILE
MOVE
SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES
SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY
SYSTEM-MESSAGES

5.3

SAVING OUTGOING MAIL

To keep a
record of all messages you send,
OUTGOING-MESSAGES command from top or send level.

give

the

SAVE

Command format:
MS>SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES

(IN FILE) filespec or carriage-return

or
MS SEND»SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES (IN FILE) filespec or carriage-return
where:
o

filespec is the name
messages.

the

carriage-return indicates that you want to erase the previous
setting for
this command;
outgoing messages are no longer
saved.

5-3

file

that

will

contain

the

MANAGING MESSAGE FILES
Once you give this command, every message you send is copied into the
file you named. You could give MAIL.TXT as the filespec, which would
cause all outgoing mail to go to your mail file.
Then, all your
incoming and outgoing mail would be collected in one place.
{The
HEADERS command highlights the messages you sent so that you are not
confused by having the two types of messages in one file.} Saving
incoming and outgoing mail in one file provides a handy log of message
transactions.
For example,
the output from the following HEADERS
command shows that a message was sent from Tucker to Tamburri on April
3rd; Tamburri replied to this message on April 5th; and so forth.
MS>HEADERS (MESSAGES) ALL
1 4-Feb COTE@KL21~2
2 IS-Mar To: MURDY@KL21~2
3 23-Mar To: tucker@KL21~2
4 23-Mar To: murdy@KL21~2
53-Apr To: TAMBURRI@KL21
6 5-Apr TAMBURRI@KL21~2
7 6-Apr To: TAMBURRI@KL21
8 8-Apr TAMBURRI@KL21~2

You could read
correspondence:

these

messages

Imail system improvements (1579 chars)
Itest (182 chars)
I (169 chars)
Itest (21~ chars)
IINFO BATCH (294 chars)
IRe: INFO BATCH (851 chars)
IRe: INFO BATCH (367 chars)
IRe: INFO BATCH (361 chars)

reacquaint

yourself

with

the

MS)READ SUBJECT INFO BATCH
If you choose to store your outgoing messages in a separate message
file,
you would issue the GET command to examine the contents of this
file.
SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES is most commonly placed in an initialization
file, rather than repeatedly typed at the terminal.
{Refer to Section
6.4.1 for information on initialization files.}
The SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES command saves all messages that you send;
however,
the SET INCLUDE-ME-IN-REPLIES command, described in Section
6.3, saves only the messages that you send with a REPLY command.

5.4

DISCARDING MESSAGES

To delete messages from the current message file,
command from either top or read level, as follows:

give

the

DELETE

MS)DELETE {MESSAGES} message sequence
or
MS READ»DELETE {MESSAGES} message sequence
where:
message sequence indicates the messages you want to delete.
current message is the default.

The

Messages you delete do not disappear immediately, but are marked as
deleted.
{The HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands show a "0" in the left
margin for these messages.} They remain in your file until you give
the EXPUNGE command or exit from the mail session.
{See Chapter 7.}
If you accidentally delete a message, you can use the UNDELETE command
to get it back, unless an expunge has occurred. Once you have
expunged a message, you cannot get it back.
The DELETE and UNDELETE command formats are identical.
5-4

MANAGING MESSAGE FILES
The EXPUNGE command, available from top level, does not require any
arguments.
It erases all messages that were specified in a DELETE
command and renumbers the remaining messages.
The SET AUTO-EXPUNGE
command determines when your messages are automatically expunged •
. Refer to the description of the SET AUTO-EXPUNGE command
in Section
6.3 for details.

5.5

PRINTING MESSAGES ON THE LINE PRINTER

To produce a line printer listing of messages, give the PRINT
from top or read level.

command

Command format:
MS)PRINT (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»PRINT (ON LINE-PRINTER)
where:
message sequence specifies the messages you want to print.
From
read level,
it is assumed that you want to print the current
message.
This is also true at top level if you do not specify a
message sequence.
Related Command
The SET SUMMARY-ON-PRINTER-OUTPUT command
is related
command.
It is described in detail in Section 6.3.

5.6

the

FLAGGING MESSAGES

The FLAG command, available from both top and read levels, allows you
to flag messages for future reference.
You may wish, for instance, to
read all your mail quickly and flag the important messages,
so that
you can later type READ FLAGGED to reread all the flagged messages.
An "F" appears in the left margin of the HEADERS and DIRECTORY command
output for all
flagged messages. Also, when you start up the mail
system, the message number6 for flagged messages are displayed.
Command format:
MS)FLAG (MESSAGES) message sequence
or
MS READ»FLAG (MESSAGES) message sequence
where:
message sequence indicates the messages you want
current message is the default.
The UNFLAG command turns off the flag on a message.

5-5

flag.

The

CHAPTER 6
TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT

Chapter 6 discusses how you can customize the
suit your particular needs and work habits.

6.1

DECmail/MS

system

DEFINING MESSAGE HEADER ITEMS

The message header is that portion of the message that appears before
the blank line preceding the text.
It contains such items as the
date, sender, and message recipients. A header item consists of an
alphanumeric string which is the name of the header item, a colon, and
some text which is the data associated with the header item. The "To"
item is an example of a header item which has addresses for its data.
The DECmail/MS system has seven predefined header
items:
Date, To,
cc,
From,
Subject, Reply-to, and In-reply-to. To define your own
items, use the DEFINE HEADER-ITEM command from any DECmail/MS command
level, as in:
DEFINE HEADER-ITEM name ~ subtype optional-value
where:
o

name is any alphanumeric string. Note that you must enclose
the name
in quotes
if it contains any of the special
characters listed in the description of "username" in Section
1.3.

type is OPTIONAL, PREDEFINED, or REQUIRED.

subtype is DATE, DATE-AND-TIME, TIME,
or KEYWORD.

optional value is the value for a predefined header item, or
a
list of keywords for keyword header items, separated by
commas.

ADDRESS,

TEXT-STRING,

An optional header item is one that you can elect to include in an
outgoing message, but is not required. The DECmail/MS system does not
prompt you for it; so, to include it, you must use the send-level
command INCLUDE.
A predefined header item is one whose data is defined in advance. The
DECmail/MS system does not prompt for it, but the predefined header
item will be included in all outgoing messages.
An example of a
predefined header
item might be your telephone number or postal
address.

6-1

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
A required header item is one whose data is not supplied in advance,
but which you must supply before sending any message. The DECmail/MS
system prompts you for these header items every time you send a
message.
You can give the INCLUDE command to later change a value
that you have given for a required item.
You can qualify these header item types with the six subtypes listed
above.
Note that, when defining a keyword header item, you must
supply a list of legal keywords for that header item.
Then, at the
time you send a message,
you must supply one of the applicable
keywords to the DECmail/MS system.
(See the second example below.)
Predefined keyword header items would not make much sense, and thus
are not allowed.
Your defined header items are inserted alphabetically just
Subject: line.

above

the

To delete a header item definition, give the command:
DEFINE HEADER-ITEM name
where:
"name" is the name of the header item. To delete all header item
definitions, give the command DEFINE HEADER-ITEM *.
The SHOW HEADER-ITEMS command displays all your currently defined
header
items.
Also, you can give the ERASE HEADER-ITEM command at
send level to erase one of your header items from the current draft.
NOTE
You should put the DEFINE HEADER-ITEM command in a
command file so that the DECmail/MS system will
remember your definitions permanently.
Refer
to
Section 6.4 for details.
EXAMPLES
1.

Define your department name so that it is always included
messages you send:

MS>DEFINE HEADER-ITEM (NAME) Department (TYPE) PREDEFINED TEXT-STRING Publica
tions

Messages that you send will now look something like this:
Date: 17-MAY-86 15:33
From: SEN@KL2l37
To: ANDERSON@GREEN
cc: PORADA@KL2137
Department: Publications
Subject: Newsletter Ideas
2.

One possible use for keyword header items is
the following example:

illustrated

MS>DEFINE HEADER-ITEM Priority REQUIRED KEYWORD urgent,high,medium,low

When you send messages, the DECmail/MS system prompts you for
one of these keywords.

6-2

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
3.

To optionally specify that responses are required or
required to your messages, give the following command:

not

MS>DEFINE HEADER-ITEM Response OPTIONAL KEYWORD Requested, Not-reguired

To include this optional header item in a message,
INCLUDE command at send level:

give

the

MS SEND»INCLUDE (HEADER-ITEM) Response
Response:
Requested
MS SEND»
Messages you send will then look like this:
Date: 8 Apr 1986 l446-EST
From: PORADA@KL2l02
To: MURDY@KL2l02
Response: Requested
Subject: Monthly Meeting
Related Commands
The following command relates to DEFINE HEADER-ITEM.
SHOW HEADER-ITEMS

6.2

ESTABLISHING ALTERNATIVE NAMES FOR ADDRESSES

The following sections describe how to assign new
addresses and how to create named address lists.

6.2.1

names

standard

Defining Alias Names for Users
NOTE
You should put the DEFINE ALIAS command, described
below,
in your DECmail/MS initialization file if you
want the
DECmail/MS
system
to
remember
your
definitions permanently.
Refer to Section 6.4 for
details.

If you frequently send mail to someone with a long or unusual address,
or to someone whom you refer to by nickname, you may want to define an
alias name for that person. The DEFINE ALIAS command, available from
any DECmail/MS command level, allows you to do this.
Command format:
DEFINE ALIAS (NAME) alias name (TO BE)

long-unwieldy-address

where:
o

alias name is any combination of alphanumeric characters.
Alias names that include 'spaces and the following characters
must be enclosed in quotes:
$

long-unwieldy-address is a standard address.

6-3

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
For example, the following command identifies the name John
address Purretta@GREEN

with

the

MS)DEFINE ALIAS John (TO BE) Purretta@GREEN
You can give the alias name in any address specification, such as a
"To" or "cc"
list.
The DECmail/MS system converts it to the full
address for you. The alias name (John, in the example above)
is not
inserted into the address.
If you are a system administrator, you may find this command useful in
defining mailbox names that refer to subjects.
For instance, rather
than expecting users to know who maintains a particular program, you
could
put
a command similar to the following
in the system
initialization file, as described in Section 6.4.1:
MS)DEFINE ALIAS editor-bugs Admin@GREEN
Users could then send mail to editor-bugs when they encounter problems
with the word-processing software.
To delete an alias definition, give the command:
DEFINE ALIAS name

*
where:
o

"name" specifies the alias definition to be deleted.

* specifies that all definitions are to be deleted.

6.2.2

Defining Address Lists
NOTE
You should put
the
DEFINE
ALIAS
and
DEFINE
commands,
described below,
in your
ADDRESS-LIST
DECmail/MS initialization file so that the DECmail/MS
system will
remember your definitions permanently.
Refer to Section 6.4 for details.

There are three ways for you to implement address lists:
1.

An alias can represent a list of addresses, as in:
MS)DEFINE ALIAS Doria (TO BE) WDoria@GREEN, VDoria@GREEN
Here, all mail that you send to Doria goes to both addresses.
Section 6.2.1 further describes alias names.

6-4

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
2.

You can also use the DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST command to assign a
name to a group of people. This command is identical in
format and function to the DEFINE ALIAS command, except that
it causes the alias name to appear in the "To" field of the
message header.
For example, define the following address
list:
MS)DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST Task-force (TO BE) LCampbell,

Jones, Dickson

Then, if you send mail to "Task-force", the mail received has
a "To" field which looks like:
To:

Task-force:

LCampbell, King, Jones, Dickson;

You can also create nested address lists
(an
within an address list), as in this example:

address

list

MS>DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST Dept (TO BE) Production-group, Task-force, •••

To delete an address list, give the command:
DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST name

*
where:

"name" specifies
deleted.

the

address

list

definition

* specifies that all definitions are to be deleted.

You can create a standalone file of addresses with an editor.
This is useful when several people need to access an address
list.
For example, members of a committee may frequently
send mail to all other members. Rather than have each person
define an address list and update it as the committee
changes, all members can access one file.
A sample file of addresses:
PRATT,
SANTEE,
MAYO,
DAVIS,
TUCKER@GREEN,
ROSSELL,
WADDINGTON@GOLD
Note that a comma follows each address except the last.
To send mail to this kind of address list, type @filespec in
response to the TO:
and CC:
prompts, where "filespec" is
the file specification for the address list. An alternative
is to
include this specification in a DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST
command in your init file:
DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST Committee @COMM.LST
Then, whenever you send mail to "Committee,"
the
system will access the addresses in COMM.LST.

6-5

DECmail/MS

TAILORING THE DECmail/MSENVIRONMENT
Related Commands
The following commands relate to DEFINE ALIAS and DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST.
SHOW ALIASES
SHOW ADDRESS-LISTS
SET BRIEF-ADDRESS-LIST-DISPLAY
SET PERSONAL-NAME

6.3

SET COMMANDS - CUSTOMIZING THE DECmail/MS SYSTEM

This section of the manual describes the SET commands. Most of these
commands affect the behavior of one or more of the DECmail/MS commands
described elsewhere in this manual.
Where appropriate,
the SET
command descriptions refer
to these other commands. The many SET
commands are listed here alphabetically. You can give these commands
from any DECmail/MS command level. You might want to put SET commands
in your DECmail/MS initialization file so that the DECmail/MS system
will
remember your settings permanently.
Refer to Section 6.4 for
details.
In the following descriptions, the word NO enclosed in square brackets
denotes an optional negative version of the command, for example:
SET [NO] VIDEO-MODE
This command indicates that the word NO is optional, and,
if
specified,
reverses the effect of the SET VIDEO-MODE command. Note
that you do not type the square brackets.
SET Command Descriptions
ANY-EXIT
EXIT-COMMAND-ONLY
NEVER
Controls automatic expunging of deleted messages in the current
message file.
ANY-EXIT causes deleted messages to be expunged
when you give the EXIT command, or the QUIT command from top
level;
EXIT-COMMAND-ONLY expunges messages only when you issue
the EXIT command; and NEVER limits expunges to those times when
you issue the EXPUNGE command.
Default - EXIT-COMMAND-ONLY

SET AUTO-EXPUNGE (ON)

SET [NO] AUTO-FILL (AT COLUMN) n
When set, automatically inserts carriage-return/line-feeds while
you type in text mode.
In composing a message, if you type
beyond the column specified by n, the next space character causes
the beginning of a new line.
Default - SET NO AUTO-FILL
SET [NO] BRIEF-ADDRESS-LIST-DISPLAY
When set, causes the contents of address lists to be eliminated
from messages that you display.
Only the names of the address
lists appear in the "To" and "cc"
lists.
This facilitates
reading messages that have been sent to very long address lists.
If a message contains a nested address list, only the name of the
outermost
list is displayed.
Refer to Section 6.2.2 for
information on address lists.
Default - SET NO BRIEF-ADDRESS-LIST-DISPLAY
6-6

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
SET CLOSING-TEXT (TO) text string
Lets you specify a single line of" text that
added to the end of each message you send.

automatically

SET [NO] CONCISE-MODE
Shortens or eliminates some of the messages that the DECmail/MS
system types, such as instructions at the end of the header
prompts in a send-level session. You should set this command
only if you are an experienced user.
Default - SET NO CONCISE-MODE
SET DEFAULT CC-LIST address list
Causes the users named in the address list to receive
all
your
outgoing messages.
Refer to Section
information on defining address lists.

copies of
6.2.2 for

CONNECTED-DIRECTORY
directory name
LOGGED-IN-DIRECTORY
Sets the default directory for the DECmail/MS session.
The
exception is that the GET command always defaults to your TOPS-10
logged-in directory or your TOPS-20 directory on POBOX:.
The
default directory setting is in effect until you reissue the SET
DEFAULT DIRECTORY command.
That is,
if you connect to a
different directory without giving another SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY
CONNECTED-DIRECTORY command, the default remains as it was on the
last setting.
Refer to Section 7.5,
LEAVING THE DECmail/MS
SESSION TEMPORARILY, for a related example. For more information
on directories,
see the TOPS-20 User's Guide or the TOPS-10
Operating System Commands Manual.
Default - CONNECTED-DIRECTORY

SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY (TO)

SET DEFAULT PROTECTION (FOR CREATED FILES) p~otection code
Sets the protection code for files you create with such commands
as COpy and MOVE.
For more information on file protection, see
the TOPS-20 User's Guide or TOP-10 Operating System Commands
Manual.
Default - the default for all files in your directory
SET DEFAULT

REPLY-TO-ALL
REPLY-TO-SENDER-ONLY
Sets the default recipient list for the REPLY command.
SET
DEFAULT
REPLY-TO-SENDER-ONLY
causes replies to go to the
addressees named in the "Reply-to" field of the message you are
answering, or to the sender of the message, if no "Reply-to"
field exists.
(Refer to the SET REPLY-TO command description for
information on the "Reply-to" field.) SET DEFAULT REPLY-TO-ALL
causes replies to be sent to all users in the "TO" and "cc" lists
of the message you are answering.
Default - REPLY-TO-SENDER-ONLY

SET EXPERIENCE-LEVEL (TO)

EXPERT
NOVICE
Establishes you as either an expert or novice user. Expert users
may use all of the available facilities of the DECmail/MS system.
Novice users are limited to the following commands: DELETE,
EXIT,
EXPUNGE, FILE, HEADERS, HELP, PRINT, READ, SEND, SET,
SYSTEM-MESSAGES, UNDELETE.
If no argument is specified on the
command line, NOVICE is assumed.
Default - EXPERT

6-7

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
SET [NO] FORCE-DIRECTORY-LOOKUP
Verifies local addresses in the To: and cc: lists and in address
list definitions after you press the RETURN key. You immediately
receive an error message if an address is invalid.
Example:
Your initialization file (see Section 6.4.1) defines a very long
address list that rarely changes. To speed processing of this
file so you can begin the mail session,
turn off the verify
feature.
In your init file:

SET NO FORCE-DIRECTORY-LOOKUP
DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST VERY-LONG-LIST addressl,address2, •••
SET FORCE-DIRECTORY-LOOKUP

The default is SET FORCE-DIRECTORY-LOOKUP.
SET [NO] INCLUDE-ME-IN-REPLIES
Controls whether you receive copies of your replies to messages.
These copies are saved in your mail file.
This command has no
effect if you have already given the command SET DEFAULT
REPLY-TO-SENDER-ONLY.
The SAVE-OUTGOING-MESSAGES command saves
all messages that you send, including replies.
Default - SET NO INCLUDE-ME-IN-REPLIES
SET LOGOUT-ON-EXIT
Logs you off the computer when you issue the EXIT command or the
QUIT command from top level. This feature is usually employed
for users who wish to use only the DECmail/MS system. The system
administrator puts the following command in such a user's
LOGIN.CMD file:
MS SET LOGOUT-ON-EXIT
This command causes the users to start a DECmail/MS session
immediately upon logging in, and forces them to stay in this mode
for the duration of the computer session. This command is for
TOPS-20 users only.
For more information on LOGIN.CMD, see the
TOPS-20 User's Guide.

-----

SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN (TO) header name, header name, •••
Restricts the amount of header information displayed by the READ
and TYPE commands.
If you give this command, only the specified
header items are displayed.
For instance, the following command
causes only the "To", "Subject", and "From" fields to be shown:
SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN to, subject, from
SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN is particularly useful when
reading
messages
with
large
headers.
The
VERBOSE-TYPE command
temporarily overrides the effect of this command and shows the
entire message literally. A less restrictive, and somewhat more
flexible way of reducing the amount of header information
displayed is to use the SET SUPPRESSED-HEADERS command.

6-8

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
SET [NO] PERSONAL-NAME (USED IN OUTGOING MAIL) name
Causes the DECmail/MS system to add a personal name to the "From"
field of your outgoing mail (in addition to your username).
Bear
in mind that certain special
characters,
including
most
punctuation characters, are allowed only within quoted strings
(text enclosed by double quotes).
For a list of these special
characters,
refer to the description of "username" in Section
1.3. SET NO PERSONAL-NAME deletes your personal name setting.
Example:
User Caissie might use this command as follows:
SET PERSONAL-NAME Donna M. Caissie
The "From" field of all her outgoing mail would look like this:
From:

Donna M. Caissie <CAISSIE@KL2102>

SET [NO] REPLY-TO (TO) address list
Causes replies to your messages to go to the specified address
list rather than to the sender (you) and the recipients of the
message.
This command causes the following line to be
inserted
into every message you send:
Reply-to:

When the recipient of such a message uses the REPLY command to
compose a reply, the reply goes to the addresses specified in the
"Reply-to" line.
You might want to use this feature
if you send messages for
someone else
(for example,
if you are a secretary) who is
responsible for replies.
Or, vice-versa, you might want replies
to your messages to go to your secretary. Also, you might send
messages whose replies would interest a group of people other
than the recipients of the messages.
Default - Sender
SET [NO] SUMMARY-ON-PRINTER-OUTPUT
When set, causes the first page of any line printer listing of
messages created by the PRINT command to contain a one-line
summary of each message listed. This information is the same as
that given by the HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands.
Default - SET NO SUMMARY-ON-PRINTER-OUTPUT
SET [NO] SUMMARY-PERSONAL-NAME-ONLY
When set, causes the HEADERS and DIRECTORY commands to display
only personal names, rather than the full "From" or "TO" field.
For messages without personal names,
the entire field
is
displayed.
For additional information on personal names, refer
to the description of SET PERSONAL-NAME.
Default - SET NO SUMMARY-PERSONAL-NAME-ONLY
SET [NO] SUPPRESSED-HEADERS (TO BE) header name, header name, •••
When set, eliminates the named header
items from messages
display.

you

Example:
You could use this command to eliminate the message-id line
message displays:
SET SUPPRESSED-HEADERS message-id
6-9

from

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
Then, lines similar to the following no longer
display messages:
Message-ID:

appear

when

you

<"MS11(5116)+GLXLIB5(0)" 12178581754.213.51.31405 at Green>

The SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN and VERBOSE-TYPE commands override the
effect of this command.
Default - SET NO SUPPRESSED-HEADERS
SET [NO] TEXT-SCROLL-REGION (TO) n (LINES)
In read mode, scrolls only the text of messages being displayed,
while leaving the headers in place. This command applies only to
terminals capable of defining scroll regions, such as VT100 and
VT200 series terminals.
The header area remains on the screen
for your easy reference; but, if this area is too long, there
will be an annoyingly small number of lines for display of the
message text.
Therefore, the SET TEXT-SCROLL-REGION command
instructs the DECmail/MS system to scroll the text of the message
only if the specified number en) of lines is available in which
to scroll the text.
If the header area is too big to leave this
number of lines available for text, then the header is scrolled
as well as the text.
SET NO TEXT-SCROLL-REGION display~ messages in the usual manner,
that is, with the header area appearing at the top of the first
full screen of information, and the message text filling all
subsequent screens until the entire message has been displayed.
Default - SET NO TEXT-SCROLL-REGION
SET [NO] TYPE-INITIAL-SUMMARY
Controls whether the DECmail/MS system prints status information
about your mail file when you begin the mail session. The SHOW
STATUS command prints much of this same information.
Unread
messages in the file are indicated by an N in the left margin.
Default - SET TYPE-INITIAL-SUMMARY
SET [NO] VIDEO MODE
Turns on or off the DECmail/MS system's video display features.
Examples of these features are clearing the screen
(BLANK
command)
and setting scroll regions
(SET TEXT-SCROLL-REGION
command).
SET VIDEO-MODE also forces the DECmail/MS system to refresh its
knowledge of your terminal characteristics. Thus, if you issue
an operating system command to detach from a job running the
DECmail/MS system and later attach to the job on a different type
of terminal, you would give the operating system command:
TERMINAL terminal type
Then, continue the mail session and give the SET VIDEO-MODE
command.
Th~
DECmail/MS system is able to continue to do its
video display properly, because it now knows of your new terminal
characteristics.
Default - SET VIDEO-MODE

6-10

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
6.4

USING COMMAND FILES

A command file is a file that contains a group of commands, placed one
after another and executed
in that order.
The DECmail/MS system
allows you to create command files that contain almost any DECmail/MS
command.
At any time,
you can issue a
command that causes the
DECmail/MS system to process one of your command files.
In this way,
you can change environments or execute procedures whenever you like,
without having to repeatedly type the corresponding commands.
One
type of command file,
called an
initialization
(init)
file, is
executed automatically when you begin the mail session.
The following sections discuss
files.

6.4.1

initialization

and

ordinary

command

Initializing the DECmail/MS System

Every time the DECmail/MS system starts up,
it executes commands
contained
in the MS.INI
file on TOPS-10 or the MS.INIT file on
TOPS-20.
By putting such commands as SET and DEFINE into this file,
you can make sure that the DECmail/MS system permanently remembers
your options.
You can create this initialization file either with an
editor
such as EDIT or TECO, or with the DECmail/MS command
CREATE-INIT-FILE, which requires no arguments.
On TOPS-20 systems,
MS.INIT should go in your directory on the POBOX: disk structure.
The CREATE-INIT-FILE command, available only at top level, causes the
DECmail/MS system to enter create-init mode.
Instead of prompting
with the standard prompt,
MS>
the DECmail/MS system prompts
CREATE-INIT-FILE command:

follows

when

you

issue

the

MS Create-init»
While
in this mode,
every command you
type
goes
into
the
initialization file, with the exception of the HELP and TAKE commands.
The HELP command is excluded so that you can get help during your
create-init session without cluttering up your init file with HELP
commands.
The TAKE command is executed on the spot and need not be
stored in the file.
(Refer to the Note below and to Section 6.4.2 for
information on TAKE.) Note that the DECmail/MS system assumes you want
the
in it file commands to be in effect immediately, so it executes
each command as it stores the command in the command file.
If during create-init mode you decide you really do not want to create
or change your
init file, give the QUIT command. Or, when you are
finished typing commands and wish to return to normal mode
(top
level), give the FINISH command.

6-11

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
CAUTION
When adding to your existing
init file,
it
is
important that you give the following command at some
point during your create-init dialogue:
TAKE (COMMANDS FROM)

filespec

where filespec is MS.INI on
TOPS-20.

TOPS-10

and

MS.INIT

This command
incorporates your existing init-file
commands in the new command file.
If you do not enter
this command,
the existing
init-file commands are
erased when you finish the create-init session, and
only the new commands remain.
If you update the init file with an editor,
no need for this use of the TAKE command.

there

Example
Create an init file on a TOPS-20 system:
MS>CREATE-INIT-FILE (FOR SETTING PERMANENT DEFAULTS)
Give commands whose effects you wish to have remembered as permanent
defaults (for example, SET PERSONAL-NAME, SET CONCISE-MODE, etc.).
Commands which cause actions (READ, HEADERS NEW, etc.) will be executed
every time MS starts up. Give the QUIT command to leave this mode
without changing anything, or the FINISH command to make your
changes permanent.
MS Create-init»TAKE MS.INIT
MS Create-init»SET PERSONAL-NAME Meryl ~ Steele
MS Create-init»SET SUMMARY-ON-PRINTER-OUTPUT
MS Create-init»DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST All (TO BE) Managers, Groups
MS Create-init»FINISH
MS>

SYSTEMWIDE INITIALIZATION FILE
There may be a systemwide initialization file on your system, which
contains the defaults, options, and commands specified by your system
manager.
For example, the file may contain address-list definitions
that are useful for many people on the system.
The system init file
is
SYSTEM:MS.INIT on TOPS-20.

called

STD:MS.INI

TOPS-10

and

When you begin a mail session, your own init file is processed after
the system init file.
If you do not have one, then only the system
init file is processed.

6-12

TAILORING THE DECmail/MS ENVIRONMENT
6.4.2

processing Command Files

You may want to change the existing set of DECmail/MS definitions and
options. . You are not confined to the init file specifications, but
can override them by issuing the appropriate commands with new
settings.
An easy way to change environments, though, is to use a
command file.
To create a command file, use any editor on your system, and enter one
command
per
line.
For information on editors,
refer to the
appropriate operating system manual. Command files can be nested;
that is, a command file can contain TAKE commands. By nesting command
files, you can prevent having to retype commands that another command
file contains.
You can insert comments in your command files that do not appear on
your terminal.
They simply remain in the files, providing you with
documentation when you look at the files.
You precede these comments
with an exclamation point:
!This command file is for setting new definitions.
DEFINE ADDRESS-LIST All (TO BE) Writers, Artists, Typists ISetting new address definitions
SET NO VIDEO-MODE
SET SUPPRESSED-HEADERS message-id
SET PERSONAL-NAME Tim Grady
lEnd of this command file

Once you have created a file,
issue the TAKE
DECmail/MS command level to execute the commands:
TAKE (COMMANDS FROM)

command

from

any

filespec

where:
filespec is the specification for the particular command file.
The default file
type or file extension is .CMD. The default
directory is the one specified in the SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY
command.

6.5

CLEARING THE TERMINAL SCREEN

If you are working on a video terminal and have not previously given a
SET NO VIDEO-MODE command, you can clear your screen by issuing the
BLANK command from any DECmail/MS command level:
BLANK (SCREEN)
Some people place this command into their init files so that when they
begin the mail session, they start with a clear screen.

6-13

CHAPTER 7
EXITING

Chapter 7 explains how to exit from the various DECmail/MS
levels as well as from the DECmail/MS system itself.

7.1

command

USING THE EXIT COMMAND

You use the EXIT command to leave your DECmail/MS session and to
return to the program that invoked it.
This program ordinarily is the
monitor on TOPS-10 or the command language processor
(EXEC)
on
TOPS-20.
Be aware that,
unless you have given an overriding SET
AUTO-EXPUNGE command, the EXIT command EXPUNGEs those messages for
which you have given the DELETE command.
TOPS-20
If the SET LOGOUT-ON-EXIT COMMAND. is in
EXIT command logs you off the system.

7.2

effect,

the

USING THE QUIT COMMAND

You use the quit command to leave the current command level and return
to the level that invoked the current level. At top level, then, the
QUIT command functions as the EXIT command.
If the SET AUTO-EXPUNGE
ANY-EXIT command is in effect, a QUIT command issued from top level
expunges your deleted messages.

7.3

ISSUING CTRL/C

CTRL/C causes you to leave the DECmail/MS session
TOPS-10 systems, you may have to type CTRL/C twice.

abruptly.

On TOPS-20 systems, if the SET LOGOUT-ON-EXIT command
CTRL/C has no effect.

7.4

effect,

ISSUING CTRL/Z (TOPS-l0)

On TOPS-l0 systems, CTRL/Z performs the same function as the EXIT
command.
It works only at command level.
For example, you cannot use
CTRL/Z to exit from the mail session while in the middle of reading a
long message.

7-1

EXITING
7.5

LEAVING THE DECmail/MS SESSION TEMPORARILY

To temporarily leave your DECmail/MS session so that you can perform
ordinary operating system activities, issue the PUSH command. This
command puts your terminal at operating system command level, at which
point you can run programs or issue any operating system command.
Giving the POP command returns you to your DECmail/MS session.
Example
Enter TOPS-20 command level to connect to a different directory.
Then,
return to the mail session and
indicate that the default
directory for the rest of the mail session should be your connected
directory.
MS>PUSH
TOPS-20 Command processor 6.1(273)
@CONNECT (TO DIRECTORY) <BROWN.SUB>
@POP
MS>SET DEFAULT DIRECTORY CONNECTED-DIRECTORY

7-2

APPENDIX A
ERROR INFORMATION

Appendix A des.cribes some of the error messages you might receive
during a mail session.
Many error messages are self-explanatory and,
therefore, are not included here.
On TOPS-10 systems, a general file-operation
format of this error message is:
%File Operation Failed:

error

may

occur.

The

name of error code, number, text

This line, which gives the name of the error,
its number, and some
text,
is followed by a one-line explanation.
If you receive one of
these messages,
you should refer to
the
appropriate
TOPS-10
documentation.
Note that messages preceded by a question mark
(?)
indicate "fatal"
errors; whereas those preceded by a percent sign (%) are warnings.

A.I

ERROR MESSAGES

%Cannot expunge deleted messages - another reader exists
The DECmail/MS system cannot expunge messages while another copy
of the mail system has the current message file open. This other
copy could be another process in your job, or a process in some
other job.
%Cannot expunge deleted messages - mail is arriving
The DECmail/MS system cannot expunge messages at
that someone is sending you mail.

same

time

Problems were encountered with one of the following files in
<SYSTEM> directory.

the

?Cannot find mailer flags because:

the

DECNET-MAILER.FLAGS
MAILER.FLAGS
XMAILR.FLAGS
This file was possibly installed incorrectly.
manager.
?Cannot open mailer flags because:

See

system

The explanation for this error is the same as that
find mailer flags."
A-I

your

for

"?Cannot

ERROR INFORMATION
%Cannot tell whom message is from
You cannot use the REPLY command for
this message because the
"From"
field contains undecipherable data.
If the message came
from someone on another computer, perhaps the host name is
undefined. See your system manager.
%Can't find "To" field in draft
You tried to retrieve a draft from a nonmail file.
%Can't update message bits--another reader exists
More than likely, you are the other reader, and you forgot
issue the POP command before reissuing the MS command.

?Command files nested too deeply, detected in opening <filespec>
You have entered too many nested TAKE commands
file.
The limit is 15 decimal.

this

command

%Duplicate address list purged - <address list>
You have previously given this address list for either the "To"
or "cc" list. The most recent specification is not honored.
%Duplicate name purged - <name>
You have previously given this name for either the "To"
list. The most recent specification is not honored.

"cc"

?Expunge failed due to insufficient memory
Your job could not acquire enough memory for the expunge.
?Expunge failed--message file busy
Another person is accessing the
messages will not be expunged.

mail

file;

therefore,

deleted

%Header-item is predefined; use DEFINE command to change
You can issue the INCLUDE command only for optional or required
header items. Predefined header items are automatically included
in the message.
%Incorrectly formatted header for message <message number>
This error message would mote than likely result because the mail
was sent from a foreign host system that does not conform to
DECmail/MS specifications.
%Keyword header-item cannot be predefined
You cannot predefine a header item in the keyword category.
keyword items, you must be able to choose among options.

With

%No current mail file
There is no mail file in your logged-in directory
(TOPS-10)
or
your directory on POBOX: (TOPS-20). Themail file is MAIL.TXT on
TOPS-10, and MAIL.TXT.l on TOPS-20.

A-2

ERROR INFORMATION
%No messages match this specification
You did not specify a message sequence, or there
for the sequence you specified.

message

%No previous sequence exists
You have not specified a message sequence yet.
%There is an overriding "SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN" command in effect
The SET ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN command takes precedence over the
SUPPRESSED-HEADERS command.

SET

%There is no previous message draft
You can issue the RETRIEVE LAST-MESSAGE command only for messages
that you send during the current DECmail/MS session.
?Too many header items given
You can specify up to 32
command.

A.2

items

the

SET

ONLY-HEADERS-SHOWN

REPAIRING DAMAGED MESSAGES

Occasionally, a message file gets damaged, either by a bug
in the
DECmail/MS system,
a
bug
in the computer on which the DECmail/MS
system runs, or a hardware problem.
If this happens, you will see one
of the following DECmail/MS messages.
?File has bad format - message nn has no receive date
?File has bad format - first message preceded by junk
?File has bad format - no messages found
?File has bad format - cannot find start of last message
DELETE or MOVE last message to correct problem
?Last message has invalid length field, truncating
?Any new messages will cause file damage
If you give a HEADERS ALL command,
you will most likely see some
peculiar looking headers.
Usually they have no Subject, From, or Date
field, and the length of the message is either
zero or ridiculously
large.
You can repair almost any kind of damage to a message
the appropriate DECmail/MS commands:

file

using

Make a copy of the damaged file using the COpy command with
the ALL keyword.
When the DECmail/MS system creates a
message file (with either COpy or MOVE), it always writes a
correctly formatted
file.
If
the
file
being copied is
damaged,
the DECmail/MS system
is forced
to make some
assumptions about
its format; but in all cases the new file
is correctly formatted.

Use the GET command to retrieve the copy you have just made.
You should see no error messages, but you may still have some
peculiar looking headers.

A-3

ERROR INFORMATION
o

Read the messages with these headers; and,
if they contain
only system-generated "garbage", you can delete them with the
DELETE command.
If they contain fragments of real messages,
you may want to keep them, rather than lose the fragments.

Once you have made a good copy of the damaged file, you should delete
the contents of the damaged file to save space. Return to the damaged
file (using the GET command), delete all the messages, and give the
EXPUNGE command.
If the damaged file was your mail file, be aware that your mail file
is now empty
(although you have a good copy of your old mail in
another file).
If you wish to put the good copy back into your mail
file,
use the GET command to get the good copy; then use the MOVE
command to move all the messages back into your mail file.
The file
specification of a mail file
is MAIL. TXT on TOPS-10 systems and
MAIL.TXT.l on TOPS-20 systems.
Be sure
to
give
this
file
specification completely on the MOVE command line. On a TOPS-20
system, this latter sequence of commands looks like:
MS>GET (MESSAGES FROM FILE) GOOD-COPY
Last read 25-Sep-80 15:22, 53 messages, 12 pages
MS>MOVE (MESSAGES) ALL
Into file: MAIL. TXT:!
1:53
MS>
Always report instances of damaged message files to the system manager
so that the cause can be eliminated.

A-4

APPENDIX B
MESSAGE FILE FORMAT

MAIL. TXT is a message file.
The DECmail/MS system can create other
message files with the COPY, MOVE, SAVE OUTGOING-MESSAGES, and FILE
commands. The GET command reads a message file and makes it the
current message file.
A message file is an ASCII text file that follows certain conventions.
If you must edit a message file using an editor, you must follow these
conventions.
A message file contains one or more messages prefixed with prefix
lines.
Each message contains a message header and the message text,
which are separated by (at least) one blank line.
Figure B-1 shows
the format of a message file:

+--------------+
Prefix Line
Header
Message 1

Blank Line
Text
Prefix Line
Header

Message 2

Blank Line
Text

1--------------1
1 Prefix Line 1
1--------------1
1 Header
1
1--------------1
I Blank Line

Message n

1--------------1
I Text

+--------------+
Figure B-1:

Message File

B-1

MESSAGE FILE FORMAT
Each message conforms to the ARPANET message format standard, known as
RFC822.
This standard is publicly available and so is not described
here.
The remainder of this section describes the format of the prefix line.
The prefix line
is a single line of
carriage-return/line-feed.
It contains:

text,

terminated

The date and time the message was received

A comma

The length of the message, in characters
not include the prefix line)

A semicolon

12 octal digits, representing 36 message bits.

(this

length

does

E.Kample
l2-0ct-8l 16:56:28,323;000000000001
This prefix line describes a message received on Oct.
12 at 4:56 PM
which
is 323 characters long.
All the message flags except the
rightmost, bit 35, are off.
The following message bits are currently defined:
Bit

Meaning

35
34
33
32

Message
Message
Message
Message

Name
has been seen
is deleted
is flagged
has been replied to

M%SEEN
M%DELE
M%ATTN
M%RPLY

The remaining 32 bits are reserved for future use.
The prefix line is not considered to be part of the message proper.
The mail system creates this line as an incoming message and is added
to a mail file.

B-2

TOPS-10/TOPS-20
DECmailjMS Manual
AA-M840B-TK

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