1) What's "gnus-offline (Gnus Offline Backend Utility)" ?
+=========================================================
-This program is a utility to handle messages(mail & news) in "offline"
-status with Semi-gnus in more simple way.
+This program is a utility for Semi-gnus that handles messages
+(i.e. mail and news) in the "offline" state in a more simple way.
-It designed mainly for "gnus-agent".
+It is basically designed for "gnus-agent". (See info about gnus-agent.)
-So, you can use it with function "nnspool" (which needs external
-programs (such as "gnspool")). And also with "Miee.el" (for only
-posting/sending).
+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.
-;; Of course, you can handle messages in offline status without
-;; "gnus-offline", but using "gnus-offline" provides you a simple way
-;; to setup and operation.
+ (*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" way to set variables for
- configuration.
+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 (*)
-o Simple operation -- Only typing "g" on *Groups* buffer, then "dialing ->
- sending mails & posting news articles, and fetch new mails &
- articles -> hang-up line".(For automatic dialing and hang-up, some
- external software needed.)
+ (*) For dialing and hanging up, external softwares are needed.
+ But you can do without ones if you connect and disconnect
+ manually.
-So, this document is written for using "gnus-agent",mainly for bundled
-with T-gnus 6.10.56 or later.
+This document is written mainly for the case using "gnus-agent" with
+gnus-offline.el bundled in T-gnus 6.10.056 or later, and Semi-gnus
+6.10.1 or later. (*)
-2)Installation
+ (*) T-gnus is based on the latest test version of Gnus. It is
+ called Pterodactyl Gnus or pGnus.
+ Most versions of Semi-gnus other than T-gnus are based on
+ Gnus version 5.6.xx.
+ There are a lot of changes between Gnus 5.6.xx and pGnus.
+ This document will refer to the differences caused by the
+ changes when it is important.
-If you use "gnus-offline" with "T-gnus", installation is very
-simple. It would automatically install with "T-gnus".
+2) Installation
+===============
-If not, you may byte-compile "gnus-offline.el" and "gnus-ofsetup.el",
-and set load-path.
+As you are reading this document, this version of Semi-gnus includes
+gnus-offline. Installation is simple. "make install" will
+automatically install "gnus-offline".
+
+If the Semi-gnus comes without gnus-offline, or you want to install
+the latest version of gnus-offline, you may manually byte-compile
+"gnus-offline.el" and "gnus-ofsetup.el". Make sure they are in one of
+the `load-path' directories.
3) How to use
+=============
-o First, you must set up general configuration for Semi-gnus.(See info)
+o First, you must do a general setup for Semi-gnus (See info about the
+ setup).
-o Add following code to your ~/.emacs
+o Add the following code to ~/.emacs
(load "gnus-ofsetup")
(gnus-setup-for-offline)
(load gnus-offline-setting-file)
-o Add following code to your ~/.gnus
+o Add the following code to ~/.gnus
(gnus-agentize)
-o Please restart emacs. Then, gnus-ofsetup.el ask you some questions
- (when you don't know how to answer,see next section of this document
- or type "TAB" key for completion) and then gnus-ofsetup.el will creates
- ~/.gnus-offline.el.
+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 first time, you must connect "online" status for subscribe
- group.(See info)
+o At the first time, you must start Gnus in the "online" state and
+ decide which groups to subscribe (See info about subscribing).
-o Add following code to ~/.gnus
+o Add the following code to ~/.gnus
(gnus-agent-toggle-plugged nil)
-Then restart Gnus and try to type "g" on *Groups" buffer.
+That's all. Restart Gnus and try typing "g" in the *Group* buffer.
***Note***
-In T-gnus 6.10.56 or later,"pop3-fma.el" doesn't need for multiple
-mail-accounts.
+Most versions of Semi-gnus have pop3-fma.el to operate multiple POP
+accounts. T-gnus 6.10.56 or later does not because it can handle
+multiple POP accounts itself.
<<<<<ATTENTION!!>>>>>
-T-gnus 6.10.56 or later doesn't contain "pop3-fma.el". So if you had
-use T-gnus 6.10.55(or older) and update to 6.10.56(or later), change
-your settings.(most simple way is deleting old ~/.gnus-offline.el.)
+T-gnus 6.10.56 or later doesn't contain "pop3-fma.el". If you are
+updating to T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, remove the setting for
+pop3-fma.el (or simply, delete the old ~/.gnus-offline.el).
-[6.10.55 or older]
+[Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el]
o pop3-fma-spool-file-alist
\e$B!!!!!!!!\e(B'(
("po:account1@pop-server1" pass)
o pop3-fma-movemail-type
use movemail.exe ('exe) or pop3.el('lisp)
-[6.10.56 or later]
+[T-gnus 6.10.56 or later]
o gnus-offline-mail-source
'(
(pop :user "imp9397" :server "mvb.biglobe.ne.jp")
:
:
- )
-
+ )
-3)User definable variables in gnus-offline
+4) User customizable variables in gnus-offline
+==============================================
o gnus-offline-dialup-program
Program name to dialup.
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-pop-password-decoding-function
Function to decode password.
-4)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-agent-expire
Expire articles.
-5)[!!!IMPORTANT!!!] About pop password
-
-<<<<< ATTENTION >>>>>
-T-gnus 6.10.56 or later doesn't contain "pop3-fma.el". So if you had
-use T-gnus 6.10.55 or older, and update to 6.10.56 or later, change
-your configuration.(most simple way is deleting old
-~/.gnus-offline.el.)
-
-In T-gnus 6.10.55 or older, you must enter password for pop server per
-accesses.(This way is recommended.)
+6) [!!!IMPORTANT!!!] About the pop password
+===========================================
-If your machine is stand alone, and nobody but you use it, you can
-save password in some way.(Of course, it is in your responsibility!)
-
-The first way to save password(it is not save in file but in memory as
-variable), add following code in your ~/.gnus-offline.el.
+<<<<<ATTENTION!!>>>>>
+T-gnus 6.10.56 or later doesn't contain "pop3-fma.el". If you are
+updating to T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, remove the setting for
+pop3-fma.el (or simply, delete the old ~/.gnus-offline.el).
- (setq pop3-fma-save-password-information t)
+Under Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el, you must enter the password for the
+pop server every time you accesses the server. (We recommend you do
+it.)
-In this way, you must enter password only at startup of Gnus.
-(In T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, this status is default.)
+If your machine is stand alone, and nobody else uses it, you can save
+the password in some ways. (But, on your own responsibility!)
---
-The other way (save password in file but not save in memory) is
-following.
-
-o Add following code to ~/.gnus-offline.el
+One way is provided by gnus-ofsetup.el. 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. (*)
- (setq gnus-offline-pop-password-file "~/.pop.passwd")
+ (*) Actually the following will be added to ~/.gnus-offline.el.
-o In T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, comment out following code in
- ~/.gnus-offline.el.
+ [Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el]
- (require 'read-passwd)
- (setq mail-source-read-passwd 'read-pw-read-passwd)
- (add-hook 'gnus-before-startup-hook 'read-pw-set-mail-source-passwd-cache)
+ (add-hook 'gnus-setup-news-hook
+ (lambda ()
+ (setq pop3-fma-save-password-information t)
+ (add-to-list 'gnus-variable-list 'pop3-fma-password)))
-o Create password-file (e.g.~/.pop.passwd)
+ [T-gnus 6.10.56 or later]
- [T-gnus 6.10.55 or older]
+ (add-hook 'gnus-setup-news-hook
+ (lambda ()
+ (add-to-list 'gnus-variable-list 'mail-source-password-cache)))
- (setq pop3-fma-password
- '(("SERVER1" "ACCOUNT1" "PASSWORD1")
- ("SERVER2" "ACCOUNT2" "PASSWORD2")
- ............................
- ))
+Answer this question carefully, because the password will NOT be
+encoded!
- [T-gnus 6.10.56 or later]
+---
- (setq mail-source-password-cache
- '(("SERVER1:ACCOUNT1:pop3" . "PASSWORD1")
- ("SERVER2:ACCOUNT2:pop3" . "PASSWORD2")
- ............................
- ))
+There is another way. It will not save the password in a file but keep
+it in the memory as a variable.
-To prevent accidents, encoding this file with Base64 is recommended.
-For this purpose,
- M-: (base64-encode-region (point-min) (point-max))
-can be used.
+For Semi-gnus with pop3-fma.el, add the following code in
+~/.gnus-offline.el.
-If you don't need encoding, add following code to ~/.gnus-offline.el.
+ (setq pop3-fma-save-password-information t)
- (setq gnus-offline-pop-password-decoding-function nil)
-
-But it is so dangerous!!
-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+In this way, once you enter the password at the startup of Gnus, it
+will be kept as a variable `pop3-fma-password' until you quit Gnus.
-;;; In T-gnus 6.10.57 (or later), gnus-ofsetup.el will ask you whether
-;;; save password to ~/.newsrc.eld or not. When you answer "y" to this
-;;; question, your password might be saved to ~/.newsrc.eld. But in
-;;; this way, be careful to answer "y", because your saved password is
-;;; NOT encoded!(of course, you can use above way to save password.)
+Under T-gnus 6.10.56 or later, the password will be kept as a variable
+`mail-source-password-cache' by default.