-User definable variables in gnus-offline
+1) What's "gnus-offline (Gnus Offline Backend Utility)" ?
+=========================================================
-o gnus-offline-dialup-program
+This program is a utility for T-gnus that handles messages
+(i.e. mail and news) in the "offline" state in a more simple way.
+
+It is basically designed for "gnus-agent". (See info about gnus-agent.)
+
+You can also use it with a function "nnspool"(*1) (which needs an
+external program such as "gnspool"(*2) ), or with "miee.el"(*3) for
+posting and/or sending messages.
+
+ (*1) See info about nnspool.
+ (*2) gnspool comes with a newsreader "gn".
+ (*3) The latest version of miee.el (or MIEE) is available at
+ http://www.shiojiri.ne.jp/%7Et-ichi/meadow.html
+
+You can handle messages in the offline state without "gnus-offline",
+but "gnus-offline" provides a simple way for setup and operation.
+
+**Features**
+
+o Simple configuration -- An "INTERACTIVE" configuration to set
+ the variables.
+
+o Simple operation -- Type "g" in the *Group* buffer, and gnus-offline
+ will:
+ o Dial (*)
+ o Send mails & post news articles
+ o Fetch new mails & articles
+ o Hang up (*)
+
+ (*) For dialing and hanging up, external softwares are needed.
+ But you can do without ones if you connect and disconnect
+ manually.
+
+This document is written mainly for the case using "gnus-agent" with
+gnus-offline.el bundled in T-gnus 6.12.0 or later.
+
+2) Installation
+===============
+
+As you are reading this document, this version of T-gnus includes
+gnus-offline. Installation is simple. "make install" will
+automatically install "gnus-offline".
+
+3) How to use
+=============
+
+o First, you must do a general setup for T-gnus (See info about the
+ setup).
+
+o Add the following code to ~/.emacs
+
+ (autoload 'gnus-plugged "gnus-agent" nil t)
+ (autoload 'gnus-unplugged "gnus-agent" nil t)
+
+o Add the following code to ~/.emacs
+
+ (load "gnus-ofsetup")
+ (gnus-setup-for-offline)
+
+o Add the following code to ~/.gnus
+
+ (gnus-agentize)
+
+o Restart Emacs. gnus-ofsetup.el will ask you some questions and
+ create ~/.gnus-offline.el. (*)
+
+ (*) If you don't know how to answer some questions, typing "TAB"
+ key may show you the possible answers. See the next section
+ which explains the user options.
+ You will also be asked whether to save the POP password in
+ ~/.newsrc.eld or not. Answer it carefully. See section 6)
+ for details.
+
+o At the first time, you must start Gnus in the online state
+ (by M-x gnus-plugged) and decide which groups to subscribe (See info
+ about subscribing).
+
+ From now on you can start Gnus as an offline reader by M-x gnus-unplugged.
+ Try typing "g" in the *Group* buffer.
+
+o You may want M-x gnus to start Gnus as an offline reader as
+ M-x gnus-unplugged. Then write the following code to ~/.emacs
+
+ (setq gnus-plugged nil)
+
+ you can put it into ~/.gnus if there's no need to start Gnus as an online
+ reader (by M-x gnus-plugged).
+
+4) User customizable variables in gnus-offline
+==============================================
+
+o gnus-offline-dialup-program
Program name to dialup.
o gnus-offline-dialup-program-arguments
o gnus-offline-mail-treat-environ
If t , gnus-offline sends mail to spool first.
- If nil , gnus-offline sends mail immediatry.
+ If nil , gnus-offline sends mail immediately.
o gnus-offline-articles-to-fetch
Article type you want to fetch.
Default value is both.
-o gnus-offline-popup-menu
- Whether use menu.
-
o gnus-offline-load-hook
Hook before gnus-offline load.
o gnus-offline-drafts-queue-type
Message queue type when spooling message.
-
+
'miee ... Use miee.el.
'agent ... Use gnus-agent.el.
o gnus-offline-hangup-function
Function to hangup.
-o gnus-offline-pop-password-file
- File name to save username , mailserver and password.
-
-o gnus-offline-pop-password-decoding-function
- Function to decode password.
-
-Commands in gnus-offline.
+5) Commands in gnus-offline
+===========================
o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-plugged
Toggle offline/online state.
o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-articles-to-fetch
Toggle articles you want to fetch.
-o M-x gnus-offline-toggle-movemail-program
- Toggle movemail program.
-
o M-x gnus-offline-set-interval-time
Set interval time(minute) to fetch article.
o M-x gnus-offline-agent-expire
Expire articles.
+6) [!!!IMPORTANT!!!] About the pop password
+===========================================
+
+If your machine is stand alone, and nobody else uses it, you can save
+the password. (But, on your own responsibility!)
+
+At the first interactive configuration, it will ask you whether to
+save the password in ~/.newsrc.eld or not. When you answer "y" to this
+question, the password will be saved in ~/.newsrc.eld. (*)
+
+ (*) Actually the following will be added to ~/.gnus-offline.el.
+
+ (add-hook
+ 'gnus-setup-news-hook
+ (lambda ()
+ (add-to-list 'gnus-variable-list 'mail-source-password-cache)))
+
+Answer this question carefully, because the password will NOT be
+encoded!