1 1) What's "gnus-offline (Gnus Offline Backend Utility)" ?
2 =========================================================
4 This program is a utility for Semi-gnus that handles messages
5 (i.e. mail and news) in the "offline" state in a more simple way.
7 It is basically designed for "gnus-agent". (See info about gnus-agent.)
9 You can also use it with a function "nnspool"(*1) (which needs an
10 external program such as "gnspool"(*2) ), or with "miee.el"(*3) for
11 posting and/or sending messages.
13 (*1) See info about nnspool.
14 (*2) gnspool comes with a newsreader "gn".
15 (*3) The latest version of miee.el (or MIEE) is available at
16 http://www.shiojiri.ne.jp/%7Et-ichi/meadow.html
18 You can handle messages in the offline state without "gnus-offline",
19 but "gnus-offline" provides a simple way for setup and operation.
23 o Simple configuration -- An "INTERACTIVE" configuration to set
26 o Simple operation -- Type "g" in the *Group* buffer, and gnus-offline
29 o Send mails & post news articles
30 o Fetch new mails & articles
33 (*) For dialing and hanging up, external softwares are needed.
34 But you can do without ones if you connect and disconnect
37 This document is written mainly for the case using "gnus-agent" with
38 gnus-offline.el bundled in T-gnus 6.10.056 or later, and Semi-gnus
41 (*) T-gnus is based on the latest test version of Gnus. It is
42 called Pterodactyl Gnus or pGnus.
43 Most versions of Semi-gnus other than T-gnus are based on
45 There are a lot of changes between Gnus 5.6.xx and pGnus.
46 This document will refer to the differences caused by the
47 changes when it is important.
52 As you are reading this document, this version of Semi-gnus includes
53 gnus-offline. Installation is simple. "make install" will
54 automatically install "gnus-offline".
56 If the Semi-gnus comes without gnus-offline, or you want to install
57 the latest version of gnus-offline, you may manually byte-compile
58 "gnus-offline.el" and "gnus-ofsetup.el". Make sure they are in one of
59 the `load-path' directories.
64 o First, you must do a general setup for Semi-gnus (See info about the
67 o Add the following code to ~/.emacs
70 (gnus-setup-for-offline)
71 (load gnus-offline-setting-file)
73 o Add the following code to ~/.gnus
77 o Restart Emacs. gnus-ofsetup.el will ask you some questions and
78 create ~/.gnus-offline.el. (*)
80 (*) If you don't know how to answer some questions, typing "TAB"
81 key may show you the possible answers. See the next section
82 which explains the user options.
83 You will also be asked whether to save the POP password in
84 ~/.newsrc.eld or not. Answer it carefully. See section 6)
87 o At the first time, you must start Gnus in the "online" state and
88 decide which groups to subscribe (See info about subscribing).
90 o Add the following code to ~/.gnus
92 (gnus-agent-toggle-plugged nil)
94 That's all. Restart Gnus and try typing "g" in the *Group* buffer.
98 Most versions of Semi-gnus have pop3-fma.el to operate multiple POP
99 accounts. T-gnus 6.10.56 or later does not because it can handle
100 multiple POP accounts itself.
102 <<<<<ATTENTION!!>>>>>
103 T-gnus 6.10.56 or later doesn't contain "pop3-fma.el". If you are
104 updating to T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, remove the setting for
105 pop3-fma.el (or simply, delete the old ~/.gnus-offline.el).
107 [Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el]
108 o pop3-fma-spool-file-alist
110 ("po:account1@pop-server1" pass)
111 ("po:account2@pop-server2" pass)
115 o pop3-fma-movemail-type
116 use movemail.exe ('exe) or pop3.el('lisp)
118 [T-gnus 6.10.56 or later]
120 o gnus-offline-mail-source
122 (pop :user "manbou" :server "pop.ceres.dti.ne.jp")
123 (pop :user "imp9397" :server "mvb.biglobe.ne.jp")
129 4) User customizable variables in gnus-offline
130 ==============================================
132 o gnus-offline-dialup-program
133 Program name to dialup.
135 o gnus-offline-dialup-program-arguments
136 List of dialup program arguments.
138 o gnus-offline-hangup-program
139 Program name to hangup.
141 o gnus-offline-hangup-program-arguments
142 List of hangup program arguments.
144 o gnus-offline-mail-spool-directory
145 Spool directory for sending mail.
146 This variable is available only using MIEE.
148 o gnus-offline-news-spool-directory
149 Spool directory for sending news.
150 This variable is available only using MIEE.
152 o gnus-offline-mail-treat-environ
153 If t , gnus-offline sends mail to spool first.
154 If nil , gnus-offline sends mail immediately.
156 o gnus-offline-articles-to-fetch
157 Article type you want to fetch.
159 'both ... Fetch both Mail/News.
160 'Mail ... Fetch only Mail.
161 'News ... Fetch only News.
163 Default value is both.
165 o gnus-offline-load-hook
166 Hook before gnus-offline load.
168 o gnus-offline-before-online-hook
169 Hook before all online jobs.
171 o gnus-offline-after-online-hook
172 Hook after all online jobs.
174 o gnus-offline-interval-time
175 Interval time to do all online jobs.(minutes)
177 o gnus-offline-MTA-type
178 MTA type to sending mail.
180 'smtp ... Use smtp.el.
181 'sendmail ... Use sendmail.el.
183 o gnus-offline-drafts-queue-type
184 Message queue type when spooling message.
186 'miee ... Use miee.el.
187 'agent ... Use gnus-agent.el.
189 o gnus-offline-after-empting-spool-hook
190 Hook before empting spool.
192 o gnus-offline-before-empting-spool-hook
193 Hook after emoting spool.
195 o gnus-offline-dialup-function
198 o gnus-offline-hangup-function
201 o gnus-offline-pop-password-file
202 File name to save username , mailserver and password.
204 o gnus-offline-pop-password-decoding-function
205 Function to decode password.
207 5) Commands in gnus-offline
208 ===========================
210 o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-plugged
211 Toggle offline/online state.
213 o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-auto-hangup
214 Change current state to offline.
216 o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-on/off-send-mail
217 Toggle method to sending mail.
219 o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-articles-to-fetch
220 Toggle articles you want to fetch.
222 o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-movemail-program
223 Toggle movemail program.
225 o M-x gnus-offline-set-interval-time
226 Set interval time(minute) to fetch article.
228 o M-x gnus-offline-agent-expire
231 6) [!!!IMPORTANT!!!] About the pop password
232 ===========================================
234 <<<<<ATTENTION!!>>>>>
235 T-gnus 6.10.56 or later doesn't contain "pop3-fma.el". If you are
236 updating to T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, remove the setting for
237 pop3-fma.el (or simply, delete the old ~/.gnus-offline.el).
239 Under Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el, you must enter the password for the
240 pop server every time you accesses the server. (We recommend you do
243 If your machine is stand alone, and nobody else uses it, you can save
244 the password in some ways. (But, on your own responsibility!)
248 One way is provided by gnus-ofsetup.el. At the first interactive
249 configuration, it will ask you whether to save the password in
250 ~/.newsrc.eld or not. When you answer "y" to this question, the
251 password will be saved in ~/.newsrc.eld. (*)
253 (*) Actually the following will be added to ~/.gnus-offline.el.
255 [Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el]
257 (add-hook 'gnus-setup-news-hook
259 (setq pop3-fma-save-password-information t)
260 (add-to-list 'gnus-variable-list 'pop3-fma-password)))
262 [T-gnus 6.10.56 or later]
264 (add-hook 'gnus-setup-news-hook
266 (add-to-list 'gnus-variable-list 'mail-source-password-cache)))
268 Answer this question carefully, because the password will NOT be
273 There is another way. It will not save the password in a file but keep
274 it in the memory as a variable.
276 For Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el, add the following code in
279 (setq pop3-fma-save-password-information t)
281 In this way, once you enter the password at the startup of Gnus, it
282 will be kept as a variable `pop3-fma-password' until you quit Gnus.
284 Under T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, the password will be kept as a variable
285 `mail-source-password-cache' by default.