\makeindex
\begin{document}
-\newcommand{\gnusversionname}{Oort Gnus v0.10}
+\newcommand{\gnusversionname}{Oort Gnus v0.19}
\newcommand{\gnuschaptername}{}
\newcommand{\gnussectionname}{}
\newcommand{\gnustt}[1]{{\gnusselectttfont{}#1}}
\newcommand{\gnuscode}[1]{\gnustt{#1}}
+\newcommand{\gnusenv}[1]{\gnustt{#1}}
\newcommand{\gnussamp}[1]{``{\fontencoding{OT1}\gnusselectttfont{}#1}''}
\newcommand{\gnuslisp}[1]{\gnustt{#1}}
\newcommand{\gnuskbd}[1]{`\gnustt{#1}'}
\newcommand{\gnusfile}[1]{`\gnustt{#1}'}
\newcommand{\gnusdfn}[1]{\textit{#1}}
\newcommand{\gnusi}[1]{\textit{#1}}
+\newcommand{\gnusr}[1]{\textrm{#1}}
\newcommand{\gnusstrong}[1]{\textbf{#1}}
\newcommand{\gnusemph}[1]{\textit{#1}}
\newcommand{\gnusvar}[1]{{\fontsize{10pt}{10}\selectfont\textsl{\textsf{#1}}}}
\newcommand{\gnusversion}[1]{{\small\textit{#1}}}
\newcommand{\gnusauthor}[1]{{\large\textbf{#1}}}
\newcommand{\gnusresult}[1]{\gnustt{=> #1}}
+\newcommand{\gnusacronym}[1]{\textsc{#1}}
+\newcommand{\gnusemail}[1]{\textit{#1}}
\newcommand{\gnusbullet}{{${\bullet}$}}
\newcommand{\gnusdollar}{\$}
\thispagestyle{empty}
-Copyright \copyright{} 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
+Copyright \copyright{} 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001,
+2002, 2003
Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This file documents Gnus, the GNU Emacs newsreader.
-Copyright (C) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
+Copyright (C) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
@page
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
-Copyright @copyright{} 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
+Copyright @copyright{} 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001,
+2002, 2003
Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
@ifinfo
You can read news (and mail) from within Emacs by using Gnus. The news
-can be gotten by any nefarious means you can think of---@sc{nntp}, local
+can be gotten by any nefarious means you can think of---@acronym{NNTP}, local
spool or your mbox file. All at the same time, if you want to push your
luck.
-This manual corresponds to Oort Gnus v0.10.
+This manual corresponds to Oort Gnus v0.19.
@end ifinfo
* Scoring:: Assigning values to articles.
* Various:: General purpose settings.
* The End:: Farewell and goodbye.
-* Appendices:: Terminology, Emacs intro, FAQ, History, Internals.
+* Appendices:: Terminology, Emacs intro, @acronym{FAQ}, History, Internals.
* Index:: Variable, function and concept index.
* Key Index:: Key Index.
Other related manuals
* Message:(message). Composing messages.
-* Emacs-MIME:(emacs-mime). Composing messages; MIME-specific parts.
+* Emacs-MIME:(emacs-mime). Composing messages; @acronym{MIME}-specific parts.
* Sieve:(sieve). Managing Sieve scripts in Emacs.
-* PGG:(pgg). PGP/MIME with Gnus.
+* PGG:(pgg). @acronym{PGP/MIME} with Gnus.
@detailmenu
--- The Detailed Node Listing ---
* Loose Threads:: How Gnus gathers loose threads into bigger threads.
* Filling In Threads:: Making the threads displayed look fuller.
* More Threading:: Even more variables for fiddling with threads.
-* Low-Level Threading:: You thought it was over... but you were wrong!
+* Low-Level Threading:: You thought it was over@dots{} but you were wrong!
Decoding Articles
* Article Washing:: Lots of way-neat functions to make life better.
* Article Header:: Doing various header transformations.
* Article Buttons:: Click on URLs, Message-IDs, addresses and the like.
+* Article Button Levels:: Controlling appearance of buttons.
* Article Date:: Grumble, UT!
* Article Display:: Display various stuff---X-Face, Picons, Smileys
* Article Signature:: What is a signature?
Article Buffer
* Hiding Headers:: Deciding what headers should be displayed.
-* Using MIME:: Pushing articles through @sc{mime} before reading them.
+* Using MIME:: Pushing articles through @acronym{MIME} before reading them.
* Customizing Articles:: Tailoring the look of the articles.
* Article Keymap:: Keystrokes available in the article buffer.
* Misc Article:: Other stuff.
* Getting News:: Reading USENET news with Gnus.
* Getting Mail:: Reading your personal mail with Gnus.
* Browsing the Web:: Getting messages from a plethora of Web sources.
-* IMAP:: Using Gnus as a @sc{imap} client.
+* IMAP:: Using Gnus as a @acronym{IMAP} client.
* Other Sources:: Reading directories, files, SOUP packets.
* Combined Groups:: Combining groups into one group.
* Gnus Unplugged:: Reading news and mail offline.
Getting News
-* NNTP:: Reading news from an @sc{nntp} server.
+* NNTP:: Reading news from an @acronym{NNTP} server.
* News Spool:: Reading news from the local spool.
-@sc{nntp}
+@acronym{NNTP}
* Direct Functions:: Connecting directly to the server.
* Indirect Functions:: Connecting indirectly to the server.
Choosing a Mail Back End
* Unix Mail Box:: Using the (quite) standard Un*x mbox.
-* Rmail Babyl:: Emacs programs use the rmail babyl format.
+* Rmail Babyl:: Emacs programs use the Rmail Babyl format.
* Mail Spool:: Store your mail in a private spool?
* MH Spool:: An mhspool-like back end.
+* Maildir:: Another one-file-per-message format.
* Mail Folders:: Having one file for each group.
* Comparing Mail Back Ends:: An in-depth looks at pros and cons.
* RSS:: Reading RDF site summary.
* Customizing w3:: Doing stuff to Emacs/w3 from Gnus.
-@sc{imap}
+@acronym{IMAP}
* Splitting in IMAP:: Splitting mail with nnimap.
* Expiring in IMAP:: Expiring mail with nnimap.
* Editing IMAP ACLs:: Limiting/enabling other users access to a mailbox.
-* Expunging mailboxes:: Equivalent of a "compress mailbox" button.
-* A note on namespaces:: How to (not) use IMAP namespace in Gnus.
+* Expunging mailboxes:: Equivalent of a ``compress mailbox'' button.
+* A note on namespaces:: How to (not) use @acronym{IMAP} namespace in Gnus.
Other Sources
* Agent Commands:: New commands for all the buffers.
* Agent as Cache:: The Agent is a big cache too.
* Agent Expiry:: How to make old articles go away.
-* Agent and IMAP:: How to use the Agent with IMAP.
+* Agent Regeneration:: How to recover from lost connections and other accidents.
+* Agent and IMAP:: How to use the Agent with @acronym{IMAP}.
* Outgoing Messages:: What happens when you post/mail something?
* Agent Variables:: Customizing is fun.
-* Example Setup:: An example @file{.gnus.el} file for offline people.
+* Example Setup:: An example @file{~/.gnus.el} file for offline people.
* Batching Agents:: How to fetch news from a @code{cron} job.
* Agent Caveats:: What you think it'll do and what it does.
Agent Commands
-* Group Agent Commands::
-* Summary Agent Commands::
-* Server Agent Commands::
+* Group Agent Commands:: Configure groups and fetch their contents.
+* Summary Agent Commands:: Manually select then fetch specific articles.
+* Server Agent Commands:: Select the servers that are supported by the agent.
Scoring
* Picons:: How to display pictures of what you're reading.
* Smileys:: Show all those happy faces the way they were meant to be shown.
* X-Face:: Display a funky, teensy black-and-white image.
-* Toolbar:: Click'n'drool.
* XVarious:: Other XEmacsy Gnusey variables.
-Picons
-
-* Picon Basics:: What are picons and How do I get them.
-* Picon Requirements:: Don't go further if you aren't using XEmacs.
-* Easy Picons:: Displaying Picons---the easy way.
-* Hard Picons:: The way you should do it. You'll learn something.
-* Picon Useless Configuration:: Other variables you can trash/tweak/munge/play with.
-
Thwarting Email Spam
* The problem of spam:: Some background, and some solutions
* Anti-Spam Basics:: Simple steps to reduce the amount of spam.
* SpamAssassin:: How to use external anti-spam tools.
* Hashcash:: Reduce spam by burning CPU time.
-* Filtering Spam Using spam.el::
-* Filtering Spam Using Statistics (spam-stat.el)::
+* Filtering Spam Using The Spam ELisp Package::
+* Filtering Spam Using Statistics with spam-stat::
Appendices
@kbd{M-x gnus-other-frame} instead.
If things do not go smoothly at startup, you have to twiddle some
-variables in your @file{~/.gnus} file. This file is similar to
+variables in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file. This file is similar to
@file{~/.emacs}, but is read when gnus starts.
If you puzzle at any terms used in this manual, please refer to the
native method. All groups not fetched with this method are
foreign groups.
-For instance, if the @samp{news.somewhere.edu} @sc{nntp} server is where
+For instance, if the @samp{news.somewhere.edu} @acronym{NNTP} server is where
you want to get your daily dosage of news from, you'd say:
@lisp
@vindex gnus-nntpserver-file
@cindex NNTPSERVER
-@cindex @sc{nntp} server
+@cindex @acronym{NNTP} server
If this variable is not set, Gnus will take a look at the
-@code{NNTPSERVER} environment variable. If that variable isn't set,
+@env{NNTPSERVER} environment variable. If that variable isn't set,
Gnus will see whether @code{gnus-nntpserver-file}
-(@file{/etc/nntpserver} by default) has any opinions on the matter. If
-that fails as well, Gnus will try to use the machine running Emacs as an @sc{nntp} server. That's a long shot, though.
+(@file{/etc/nntpserver} by default) has any opinions on the matter.
+If that fails as well, Gnus will try to use the machine running Emacs
+as an @acronym{NNTP} server. That's a long shot, though.
@vindex gnus-nntp-server
If @code{gnus-nntp-server} is set, this variable will override
@vindex gnus-secondary-servers
@vindex gnus-nntp-server
You can also make Gnus prompt you interactively for the name of an
-@sc{nntp} server. If you give a non-numerical prefix to @code{gnus}
+@acronym{NNTP} server. If you give a non-numerical prefix to @code{gnus}
(i.e., @kbd{C-u M-x gnus}), Gnus will let you choose between the servers
in the @code{gnus-secondary-servers} list (if any). You can also just
type in the name of any server you feel like visiting. (Note that this
@findex gnus-group-browse-foreign-server
@kindex B (Group)
-However, if you use one @sc{nntp} server regularly and are just
+However, if you use one @acronym{NNTP} server regularly and are just
interested in a couple of groups from a different server, you would be
better served by using the @kbd{B} command in the group buffer. It will
let you have a look at what groups are available, and you can subscribe
that is no problem whatsoever. You just do it.
The problem appears when you want to run two Gnusae that use the same
-@code{.newsrc} file.
+@file{.newsrc} file.
To work around that problem some, we here at the Think-Tank at the Gnus
Towers have come up with a new concept: @dfn{Masters} and
me. Usage of the patent (@dfn{Master/Slave Relationships In Computer
Applications}) will be much more expensive, of course.)
+@findex gnus-slave
Anyway, you start one Gnus up the normal way with @kbd{M-x gnus} (or
however you do it). Each subsequent slave Gnusae should be started with
@kbd{M-x gnus-slave}. These slaves won't save normal @file{.newsrc}
they were created, so the latest changes will have precedence.)
Information from the slave files has, of course, precedence over the
-information in the normal (i.e., master) @code{.newsrc} file.
+information in the normal (i.e., master) @file{.newsrc} file.
-If the @code{.newsrc*} files have not been saved in the master when the
+If the @file{.newsrc*} files have not been saved in the master when the
slave starts, you may be prompted as to whether to read an auto-save
-file. If you answer "yes", the unsaved changes to the master will be
-incorporated into the slave. If you answer "no", the slave may see some
+file. If you answer ``yes'', the unsaved changes to the master will be
+incorporated into the slave. If you answer ``no'', the slave may see some
messages as unread that have been read in the master.
@node Fetching a Group
@section Changing Servers
@cindex changing servers
-Sometimes it is necessary to move from one @sc{nntp} server to another.
+Sometimes it is necessary to move from one @acronym{NNTP} server to another.
This happens very rarely, but perhaps you change jobs, or one server is
very flaky and you want to use another.
@emph{Wrong!}
Article numbers are not (in any way) kept synchronized between different
-@sc{nntp} servers, and the only way Gnus keeps track of what articles
+@acronym{NNTP} servers, and the only way Gnus keeps track of what articles
you have read is by keeping track of article numbers. So when you
change @code{gnus-select-method}, your @file{.newsrc} file becomes
worthless.
several servers where not all servers support @code{ask-server}.
@vindex gnus-startup-file
+@vindex gnus-backup-startup-file
+@vindex version-control
The @code{gnus-startup-file} variable says where the startup files are.
The default value is @file{~/.newsrc}, with the Gnus (El Dingo) startup
file being whatever that one is, with a @samp{.eld} appended.
+If you want version control for this file, set
+@code{gnus-backup-startup-file}. It respects the same values as the
+@code{version-control} variable.
@vindex gnus-save-newsrc-hook
@vindex gnus-save-quick-newsrc-hook
@end lisp
@vindex gnus-init-file
+@vindex gnus-site-init-file
When Gnus starts, it will read the @code{gnus-site-init-file}
(@file{.../site-lisp/gnus} by default) and @code{gnus-init-file}
(@file{~/.gnus} by default) files. These are normal Emacs Lisp files
this variable is @code{nil}, which it is by default, Gnus will dribble
into the directory where the @file{.newsrc} file is located. (This is
normally the user's home directory.) The dribble file will get the same
-file permissions as the @code{.newsrc} file.
+file permissions as the @file{.newsrc} file.
@vindex gnus-always-read-dribble-file
If @code{gnus-always-read-dribble-file} is non-@code{nil}, Gnus will
If this variable is @code{nil}, Gnus will ask for group info in total
lock-step, which isn't very fast. If it is @code{some} and you use an
-@sc{nntp} server, Gnus will pump out commands as fast as it can, and
+@acronym{NNTP} server, Gnus will pump out commands as fast as it can, and
read all the replies in one swoop. This will normally result in better
performance, but if the server does not support the aforementioned
@code{LIST ACTIVE group} command, this isn't very nice to the server.
If non-@code{nil}, the startup message won't be displayed. That way,
your boss might not notice as easily that you are reading news instead
of doing your job. Note that this variable is used before
-@file{.gnus.el} is loaded, so it should be set in @code{.emacs} instead.
+@file{~/.gnus.el} is loaded, so it should be set in @file{.emacs} instead.
@item gnus-no-groups-message
@vindex gnus-no-groups-message
@item R
Number of read articles.
+@item U
+Number of unseen articles.
+
@item t
Estimated total number of articles. (This is really @var{max-number}
minus @var{min-number} plus 1.)
-Gnus uses this estimation because the @sc{nntp} protocol provides
+Gnus uses this estimation because the @acronym{NNTP} protocol provides
efficient access to @var{max-number} and @var{min-number} but getting
the true unread message count is not possible efficiently. For
hysterical raisins, even the mail back ends, where the true number of
comment element in the group parameters.
@item D
-Newsgroup description.
+Newsgroup description. You need to read the group descriptions
+before these will appear, and to do that, you either have to set
+@code{gnus-read-active-file} or use the group buffer @kbd{M-d}
+command.
@item o
@samp{m} if moderated.
@item ticked
The number of ticked articles in the group.
@item total
-The total number of articles in the group. Or rather, MAX-NUMBER minus
-MIN-NUMBER plus one.
+The total number of articles in the group. Or rather,
+@var{max-number} minus @var{min-number} plus one.
@item topic
When using the topic minor mode, this variable is bound to the current
topic being inserted.
first unread article (@code{gnus-group-read-group}). If there are no
unread articles in the group, or if you give a non-numerical prefix to
this command, Gnus will offer to fetch all the old articles in this
-group from the server. If you give a numerical prefix @var{N}, @var{N}
-determines the number of articles Gnus will fetch. If @var{N} is
-positive, Gnus fetches the @var{N} newest articles, if @var{N} is
-negative, Gnus fetches the @code{abs(@var{N})} oldest articles.
+group from the server. If you give a numerical prefix @var{n}, @var{n}
+determines the number of articles Gnus will fetch. If @var{n} is
+positive, Gnus fetches the @var{n} newest articles, if @var{n} is
+negative, Gnus fetches the @code{abs(@var{n})} oldest articles.
Thus, @kbd{SPC} enters the group normally, @kbd{C-u SPC} offers old
articles, @kbd{C-u 4 2 SPC} fetches the 42 newest articles, and @kbd{C-u
is positive, the @code{n} articles that have arrived most recently will
be fetched.
+@vindex gnus-large-ephemeral-newsgroup
+Same as @code{gnus-large-newsgroup}, but only used for ephemeral
+newsgroups.
+
@vindex gnus-select-group-hook
@vindex gnus-auto-select-first
+@vindex gnus-auto-select-subject
If @code{gnus-auto-select-first} is non-@code{nil}, select an article
automatically when entering a group with the @kbd{SPACE} command.
Which article this is is controlled by the
@item M-x gnus-group-clear-data-on-native-groups
@kindex M-x gnus-group-clear-data-on-native-groups
@findex gnus-group-clear-data-on-native-groups
-If you have switched from one @sc{nntp} server to another, all your marks
+If you have switched from one @acronym{NNTP} server to another, all your marks
and read ranges have become worthless. You can use this command to
clear out all data that you have on your native groups. Use with
caution.
@cindex making groups
Make a new group (@code{gnus-group-make-group}). Gnus will prompt you
for a name, a method and possibly an @dfn{address}. For an easier way
-to subscribe to @sc{nntp} groups, @pxref{Browse Foreign Server}.
+to subscribe to @acronym{NNTP} groups, @pxref{Browse Foreign Server}.
@item G r
@kindex G r (Group)
If @code{gnus-activate-foreign-newsgroups} is a positive number,
Gnus will check all foreign groups with this level or lower at startup.
This might take quite a while, especially if you subscribe to lots of
-groups from different @sc{nntp} servers. Also @pxref{Group Levels};
+groups from different @acronym{NNTP} servers. Also @pxref{Group Levels};
@code{gnus-activate-level} also affects activation of foreign
newsgroups.
(auto-expire . t))
@end example
-We see that each element consists of a "dotted pair"---the thing before
+We see that each element consists of a ``dotted pair''---the thing before
the dot is the key, while the thing after the dot is the value. All the
parameters have this form @emph{except} local variable specs, which are
not dotted pairs, but proper lists.
to-address and to-list parameters for this group as addresses of
mailing lists you are subscribed to. Giving Gnus this information is
(only) a first step in getting it to generate correct Mail-Followup-To
-headers for your posts to these lists. Look here @pxref{(message)Mailing
-Lists} for a complete treatment of available MFT support.
+headers for your posts to these lists. Look here @pxref{Mailing
+Lists, , Mailing Lists, message, The Message Manual} for a complete
+treatment of available MFT support.
See also @code{gnus-find-subscribed-addresses}, the function that
directly uses this group parameter.
@item broken-reply-to
@cindex broken-reply-to
Elements like @code{(broken-reply-to . t)} signals that @code{Reply-To}
-headers in this group are to be ignored. This can be useful if you're
-reading a mailing list group where the listserv has inserted
-@code{Reply-To} headers that point back to the listserv itself. This is
-broken behavior. So there!
+headers in this group are to be ignored, and for the header to be hidden
+if @code{reply-to} is part of @code{gnus-boring-article-headers}. This
+can be useful if you're reading a mailing list group where the listserv
+has inserted @code{Reply-To} headers that point back to the listserv
+itself. That is broken behavior. So there!
@item to-group
@cindex to-group
Display all articles, both read and unread.
@item an integer
-Display the last INTEGER articles in the group. This is the same as
-entering the group with C-u INTEGER.
+Display the last @var{integer} articles in the group. This is the same as
+entering the group with @kbd{C-u @var{integer}}.
@item default
Display the default visible articles, which normally includes unread and
@item posting-style
@cindex posting-style
-You can store additional posting style information for this group only
+You can store additional posting style information for this group
here (@pxref{Posting Styles}). The format is that of an entry in the
@code{gnus-posting-styles} alist, except that there's no regexp matching
the group name (of course). Style elements in this group parameter will
@example
(posting-style
(name "Funky Name")
+ ("X-My-Header" "Funky Value")
(signature "Funky Signature"))
@end example
@item banner
@cindex banner
-An item like @code{(banner . "regex")} causes any part of an article
-that matches the regular expression "regex" to be stripped. Instead of
-"regex", you can also use the symbol @code{signature} which strips the
+An item like @code{(banner . @var{regexp})} causes any part of an article
+that matches the regular expression @var{regexp} to be stripped. Instead of
+@var{regexp}, you can also use the symbol @code{signature} which strips the
last signature or any of the elements of the alist
@code{gnus-article-banner-alist}.
in the summary buffer you enter, and the form @code{nil} will be
@code{eval}ed there.
+Note that this feature sets the variable locally to the summary buffer.
+But some variables are evaluated in the article buffer, or in the
+message buffer (of a reply or followup or otherwise newly created
+message). As a workaround, it might help to add the variable in
+question to @code{gnus-newsgroup-variables}. @xref{Various Summary
+Stuff}. So if you want to set @code{message-from-style} via the group
+parameters, then you may need the following statement elsewhere in your
+@file{~/.gnus} file:
+@lisp
+(add-to-list 'gnus-newsgroup-variables 'message-from-style)
+@end lisp
+
@vindex gnus-list-identifiers
-A use for this feature, is to remove a mailing list identifier tag in
+A use for this feature is to remove a mailing list identifier tag in
the subject fields of articles. E.g. if the news group
@samp{nntp+news.gnus.org:gmane.text.docbook.apps} has the tag
@samp{DOC-BOOK-APPS:} in the subject of all articles, this tag can be
putting @code{(gnus-list-identifiers "DOCBOOK-APPS:")} into the group
parameters for the group.
-
This can also be used as a group-specific hook function, if you'd like.
If you want to hear a beep when you enter a group, you could put
something like @code{(dummy-variable (ding))} in the parameters of that
silly Lisp errors.) You might also be interested in reading about topic
parameters (@pxref{Topic Parameters}).
+@vindex gnus-parameters
Group parameters can be set via the @code{gnus-parameters} variable too.
But some variables, such as @code{visible}, have no effect. For
example:
-@example
+@lisp
(setq gnus-parameters
'(("mail\\..*"
(gnus-show-threads nil)
("list\\..*"
(total-expire . t)
(broken-reply-to . t))))
-@end example
+@end lisp
String value of parameters will be subjected to regexp substitution, as
the @code{to-group} example shows.
List all groups that have unread articles
(@code{gnus-group-list-groups}). If the numeric prefix is used, this
command will list only groups of level ARG and lower. By default, it
-only lists groups of level five (i. e.,
+only lists groups of level five (i.e.,
@code{gnus-group-default-list-level}) or lower (i.e., just subscribed
groups).
@vindex gnus-exit-gnus-hook
@vindex gnus-suspend-gnus-hook
+@vindex gnus-after-exiting-gnus-hook
@code{gnus-suspend-gnus-hook} is called when you suspend Gnus and
@code{gnus-exit-gnus-hook} is called when you quit Gnus, while
@code{gnus-after-exiting-gnus-hook} is called as the final item when
exiting Gnus.
-@findex gnus-unload
-@cindex unloading
-If you wish to completely unload Gnus and all its adherents, you can use
-the @code{gnus-unload} command. This command is also very handy when
-trying to customize meta-variables.
-
Note:
@quotation
is a toggling command.)
Go ahead, just try it. I'll still be here when you get back. La de
-dum... Nice tune, that... la la la... What, you're back? Yes, and
-now press @kbd{l}. There. All your groups are now listed under
-@samp{misc}. Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy? Hot and
-bothered?
+dum@dots{} Nice tune, that@dots{} la la la@dots{} What, you're back?
+Yes, and now press @kbd{l}. There. All your groups are now listed
+under @samp{misc}. Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
+Hot and bothered?
If you want this permanently enabled, you should add that minor mode to
the hook for the group mode. Put the following line in your
-@file{~/.gnus} file:
+@file{~/.gnus.el} file:
@lisp
(add-hook 'gnus-group-mode-hook 'gnus-topic-mode)
@kindex T # (Topic)
@findex gnus-topic-mark-topic
Mark all groups in the current topic with the process mark
-(@code{gnus-topic-mark-topic}).
+(@code{gnus-topic-mark-topic}). This command works recursively on
+sub-topics unless given a prefix.
@item T M-#
@kindex T M-# (Topic)
@findex gnus-topic-unmark-topic
Remove the process mark from all groups in the current topic
-(@code{gnus-topic-unmark-topic}).
+(@code{gnus-topic-unmark-topic}). This command works recursively on
+sub-topics unless given a prefix.
@item C-c C-x
@kindex C-c C-x (Topic)
for group to post to. @xref{Composing Messages}.
This function actually prepares a news even when using mail groups.
-This is useful for "posting" messages to mail groups without actually
+This is useful for ``posting'' messages to mail groups without actually
sending them over the network: they're just saved directly to the group
in question. The corresponding back end must have a request-post method
for this to work though.
@item gnus-group-name-charset-method-alist
@vindex gnus-group-name-charset-method-alist
An alist of method and the charset for group names. It is used to show
-non-ASCII group names.
+non-@acronym{ASCII} group names.
For example:
@lisp
@cindex UTF-8 group names
@vindex gnus-group-name-charset-group-alist
An alist of regexp of group name and the charset for group names. It
-is used to show non-ASCII group names. @code{((".*" utf-8))} is the
-default value if UTF-8 is supported, otherwise the default is nil.
+is used to show non-@acronym{ASCII} group names. @code{((".*"
+utf-8))} is the default value if UTF-8 is supported, otherwise the
+default is @code{nil}.
For example:
@lisp
@vindex gnus-group-faq-directory
@cindex FAQ
@cindex ange-ftp
-Try to fetch the FAQ for the current group
-(@code{gnus-group-fetch-faq}). Gnus will try to get the FAQ from
-@code{gnus-group-faq-directory}, which is usually a directory on a
-remote machine. This variable can also be a list of directories. In
-that case, giving a prefix to this command will allow you to choose
-between the various sites. @code{ange-ftp} (or @code{efs}) will be used
-for fetching the file.
+Try to fetch the @acronym{FAQ} for the current group
+(@code{gnus-group-fetch-faq}). Gnus will try to get the @acronym{FAQ}
+from @code{gnus-group-faq-directory}, which is usually a directory on
+a remote machine. This variable can also be a list of directories.
+In that case, giving a prefix to this command will allow you to choose
+between the various sites. @code{ange-ftp} (or @code{efs}) will be
+used for fetching the file.
If fetching from the first site is unsuccessful, Gnus will attempt to go
through @code{gnus-group-faq-directory} and try to open them one by one.
@code{ftp.isc.org} (@code{gnus-group-fetch-control}). Query for a
group if given a prefix argument.
-If @code{gnus-group-fetch-control-use-browse-url} is non-nil, Gnus
-will open the control messages in a browser using @code{browse-url}.
-Otherwise they are fetched using @code{ange-ftp} and displayed in an
-ephemeral group.
+If @code{gnus-group-fetch-control-use-browse-url} is non-@code{nil},
+Gnus will open the control messages in a browser using
+@code{browse-url}. Otherwise they are fetched using @code{ange-ftp}
+and displayed in an ephemeral group.
Note that the control messages are compressed. To use this command
-you need to turn on @code{auto-compression-mode}
-(@pxref{(emacs)Compressed Files}).
+you need to turn on @code{auto-compression-mode} (@pxref{Compressed
+Files, ,Compressed Files, emacs, The Emacs Manual}).
@item H d
@itemx C-c C-d
@vindex gnus-init-file
@cindex reading init file
Re-read the init file (@code{gnus-init-file}, which defaults to
-@file{~/.gnus}) (@code{gnus-group-read-init-file}).
+@file{~/.gnus.el}) (@code{gnus-group-read-init-file}).
@item s
@kindex s (Group)
@vindex gnus-sieve-crosspost
The variable @code{gnus-sieve-crosspost} controls how the Sieve script
-is generated. If it is non-nil (the default) articles is placed in
-all groups that have matching rules, otherwise the article is only
-placed in the group with the first matching rule. For example, the
-group parameter @samp{(sieve address "sender"
+is generated. If it is non-@code{nil} (the default) articles is
+placed in all groups that have matching rules, otherwise the article
+is only placed in the group with the first matching rule. For
+example, the group parameter @samp{(sieve address "sender"
"owner-ding@@hpc.uh.edu")} will generate the following piece of Sieve
-code if @code{gnus-sieve-crosspost} is nil. (When
-@code{gnus-sieve-crosspost} is non-nil, it looks the same except that
-the line containing the call to @code{stop} is removed.)
+code if @code{gnus-sieve-crosspost} is @code{nil}. (When
+@code{gnus-sieve-crosspost} is non-@code{nil}, it looks the same
+except that the line containing the call to @code{stop} is removed.)
@example
if address "sender" "owner-ding@@hpc.uh.edu" @{
Indentation based on thread level (@pxref{Customizing Threading}).
@item B
A complex trn-style thread tree, showing response-connecting trace
-lines.
+lines. A thread could be drawn like this:
+
+@example
+>
++->
+| +->
+| | \->
+| | \->
+| \->
++->
+\->
+@end example
+
+You can customize the appearance with the following options. Note
+that it is possible to make the thread display look really neat by
+replacing the default @acronym{ASCII} characters with graphic
+line-drawing glyphs.
+@table @code
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-root
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-root
+Used for the root of a thread. If @code{nil}, use subject
+instead. The default is @samp{> }.
+
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-false-root
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-false-root
+Used for the false root of a thread (@pxref{Loose Threads}). If
+@code{nil}, use subject instead. The default is @samp{> }.
+
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-false-root
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-false-root
+Used for the root of a thread if it is a false root. If @code{nil},
+use subject instead. The default is @samp{> }.
+
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-single-indent
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-single-indent
+Used for a thread with just one message. If @code{nil}, use subject
+instead. The default is @samp{}.
+
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-vertical
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-vertical
+Used for drawing a vertical line. The default is @samp{| }.
+
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-indent
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-indent
+Used for indenting. The default is @samp{ }.
+
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-leaf-with-other
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-leaf-with-other
+Used for a leaf with brothers. The default is @samp{+-> }.
+
+@item gnus-sum-thread-tree-single-leaf
+@vindex gnus-sum-thread-tree-single-leaf
+Used for a leaf without brothers. The default is @samp{\-> }
+
+@end table
+
@item T
Nothing if the article is a root and lots of spaces if it isn't (it
pushes everything after it off the screen).
@vindex nnmail-extra-headers
A related variable is @code{nnmail-extra-headers}, which controls when
-to include extra headers when generating overview (@sc{nov}) files. If
-you have old overview files, you should regenerate them after changing
-this variable, by entering the server buffer using `^', and then `g' on
-the appropriate mail server (e.g. nnml) to cause regeneration.
+to include extra headers when generating overview (@acronym{NOV}) files.
+If you have old overview files, you should regenerate them after
+changing this variable, by entering the server buffer using @kbd{^},
+and then @kbd{g} on the appropriate mail server (e.g. nnml) to cause
+regeneration.
@vindex gnus-summary-line-format
You also have to instruct Gnus to display the data by changing the
@code{gnus-summary-line-format} variable.
In summary, you'd typically put something like the following in
-@file{~/.gnus}:
+@file{~/.gnus.el}:
@lisp
(setq gnus-extra-headers
support:
The above is mostly useful for mail groups, where you have control over
-the @sc{nov} files that are created. However, if you can persuade your
+the @acronym{NOV} files that are created. However, if you can persuade your
nntp admin to add (in the usual implementation, notably INN):
@example
Select the current article, or, if that one's read already, the next
unread article (@code{gnus-summary-next-page}).
+If you have an article window open already and you press @kbd{SPACE}
+again, the article will be scrolled. This lets you conveniently
+@kbd{SPACE} through an entire newsgroup. @pxref{Paging the Article}.
+
@item G n
@itemx n
@kindex n (Summary)
@item gnus-select-article-hook
@vindex gnus-select-article-hook
This hook is called whenever an article is selected. By default it
-exposes any threads hidden under the selected article.
+exposes any threads hidden under the selected article. If you would
+like each article to be saved in the Agent as you read it, putting
+@code{gnus-agent-fetch-selected-article} on this hook will do so.
@item gnus-mark-article-hook
@vindex gnus-mark-article-hook
or, if you have come to the end of the current article, will choose the
next article (@code{gnus-summary-next-page}).
+@vindex gnus-article-boring-faces
+@vindex gnus-article-skip-boring
+If @code{gnus-article-skip-boring} is non-@code{nil} and the rest of
+the article consists only of citations and signature, then it will be
+skipped; the next article will be shown instead. You can customize
+what is considered uninteresting with
+@code{gnus-article-boring-faces}. You can manually view the article's
+pages, no matter how boring, using @kbd{C-M-v}.
+
@item DEL
@kindex DEL (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-prev-page
@findex gnus-summary-reply-broken-reply-to
Mail a reply to the author of the current article but ignore the
@code{Reply-To} field (@code{gnus-summary-reply-broken-reply-to}).
+If you need this because a mailing list incorrectly sets a
+@code{Reply-To} header pointing to the list, you probably want to set
+the @code{broken-reply-to} group parameter instead, so things will work
+correctly. @xref{Group Parameters}.
@item S B R
@kindex S B R (Summary)
is forwarded according to the value of (@code{message-forward-as-mime})
and (@code{message-forward-show-mml}); if the prefix is 1, decode the
message and forward directly inline; if the prefix is 2, forward message
-as an rfc822 @sc{mime} section; if the prefix is 3, decode message and
-forward as an rfc822 @sc{mime} section; if the prefix is 4, forward message
+as an rfc822 @acronym{MIME} section; if the prefix is 3, decode message and
+forward as an rfc822 @acronym{MIME} section; if the prefix is 4, forward message
directly inline; otherwise, the message is forwarded as no prefix given
but use the flipped value of (@code{message-forward-as-mime}). By
-default, the message is decoded and forwarded as an rfc822 @sc{mime}
+default, the message is decoded and forwarded as an rfc822 @acronym{MIME}
section.
@item S m
prefix is 1, prompt for a group to post to.
This function actually prepares a news even when using mail groups.
-This is useful for "posting" messages to mail groups without actually
+This is useful for ``posting'' messages to mail groups without actually
sending them over the network: they're just saved directly to the group
in question. The corresponding back end must have a request-post method
for this to work though.
of (@code{message-forward-as-mime}) and
(@code{message-forward-show-mml}); if the prefix is 1, decode the
message and forward directly inline; if the prefix is 2, forward message
-as an rfc822 @sc{mime} section; if the prefix is 3, decode message and
-forward as an rfc822 @sc{mime} section; if the prefix is 4, forward message
+as an rfc822 @acronym{MIME} section; if the prefix is 3, decode message and
+forward as an rfc822 @acronym{MIME} section; if the prefix is 4, forward message
directly inline; otherwise, the message is forwarded as no prefix given
but use the flipped value of (@code{message-forward-as-mime}). By
-default, the message is decoded and forwarded as an rfc822 @sc{mime} section.
+default, the message is decoded and forwarded as an rfc822 @acronym{MIME} section.
@item S O p
@kindex S O p (Summary)
@code{X-Gnus-Delayed} header and puts the message in the
@code{nndraft:delayed} group.
+@findex gnus-delay-send-queue
And whenever you get new news, Gnus looks through the group for articles
which are due and sends them. It uses the @code{gnus-delay-send-queue}
function for this. By default, this function is added to the hook
@findex gnus-delay-initialize
By default, this function installs @code{gnus-delay-send-queue} in
@code{gnus-get-new-news-hook}. But it accepts the optional second
-argument @code{no-check}. If it is non-nil,
+argument @code{no-check}. If it is non-@code{nil},
@code{gnus-get-new-news-hook} is not changed. The optional first
argument is ignored.
Compare with @code{gnus-recent-mark}.
@item
+@vindex gnus-downloaded-mark
+When using the Gnus agent @pxref{Agent Basics}, articles may be
+downloaded for unplugged (offline) viewing. If you are using the
+@samp{%O} spec, these articles get the @samp{+} mark in that spec.
+(The variable @code{gnus-downloaded-mark} controls which character to
+use.)
+
+@item
@vindex gnus-undownloaded-mark
-When using the Gnus agent @pxref{Agent Basics}, some articles might not
-have been downloaded. Such articles cannot be viewed while you are
-offline (unplugged). These articles get the @samp{@@} mark in the
-first column. (The variable @code{gnus-undownloaded-mark} controls
-which character to use.)
+When using the Gnus agent @pxref{Agent Basics}, some articles might
+not have been downloaded. Such articles cannot be viewed while you
+are unplugged (offline). If you are using the @samp{%O} spec, these
+articles get the @samp{-} mark in that spec. (The variable
+@code{gnus-undownloaded-mark} controls which character to use.)
@item
@vindex gnus-downloadable-mark
@subsection Setting Process Marks
@cindex setting process marks
+Process marks are displayed as @code{#} in the summary buffer, and are
+used for marking articles in such a way that other commands will
+process these articles. For instance, if you process mark four
+articles and then use the @kbd{*} command, Gnus will enter these four
+commands into the cache. For more information,
+@pxref{Process/Prefix}.
+
@table @kbd
@item M P p
* Loose Threads:: How Gnus gathers loose threads into bigger threads.
* Filling In Threads:: Making the threads displayed look fuller.
* More Threading:: Even more variables for fiddling with threads.
-* Low-Level Threading:: You thought it was over... but you were wrong!
+* Low-Level Threading:: You thought it was over@dots{} but you were wrong!
@end menu
format of the dummy roots. It accepts only one format spec: @samp{S},
which is the subject of the article. @xref{Formatting Variables}.
If you want all threads to have a dummy root, even the non-gathered
-ones, set @code{gnus-summary-make-false-root-always} to t.
+ones, set @code{gnus-summary-make-false-root-always} to @code{t}.
@item empty
Gnus won't actually make any article the parent, but simply leave the
visible effects, but is useful if you use the @kbd{A T} command a lot
(@pxref{Finding the Parent}).
+@item gnus-fetch-old-ephemeral-headers
+@vindex gnus-fetch-old-ephemeral-headers
+Same as @code{gnus-fetch-old-headers}, but only used for ephemeral
+newsgroups.
+
@item gnus-build-sparse-threads
@vindex gnus-build-sparse-threads
Fetching old headers can be slow. A low-rent similar effect can be
@vindex gnus-thread-operation-ignore-subject
If you ignore subject while threading, you'll naturally end up with
threads that have several different subjects in them. If you then issue
-a command like `T k' (@code{gnus-summary-kill-thread}) you might not
+a command like @kbd{T k} (@code{gnus-summary-kill-thread}) you might not
wish to kill the entire thread, but just those parts of the thread that
have the same subject as the current article. If you like this idea,
you can fiddle with @code{gnus-thread-operation-ignore-subject}. If it
@cindex article pre-fetch
@cindex pre-fetch
-If you read your news from an @sc{nntp} server that's far away, the
+If you read your news from an @acronym{NNTP} server that's far away, the
network latencies may make reading articles a chore. You have to wait
for a while after pressing @kbd{n} to go to the next article before the
article appears. Why can't Gnus just go ahead and fetch the article
extra connection takes some time, so Gnus startup will be slower.
Gnus will fetch more articles than you will read. This will mean that
-the link between your machine and the @sc{nntp} server will become more
+the link between your machine and the @acronym{NNTP} server will become more
loaded than if you didn't use article pre-fetch. The server itself will
also become more loaded---both with the extra article requests, and the
extra connection.
-Ok, so now you know that you shouldn't really use this thing... unless
+Ok, so now you know that you shouldn't really use this thing@dots{} unless
you really want to.
@vindex gnus-asynchronous
@vindex gnus-async-prefetch-article-p
@findex gnus-async-read-p
There are probably some articles that you don't want to pre-fetch---read
-articles, for instance. The @code{gnus-async-prefetch-article-p} variable controls whether an article is to be pre-fetched. This function should
-return non-@code{nil} when the article in question is to be
-pre-fetched. The default is @code{gnus-async-read-p}, which returns
-@code{nil} on read articles. The function is called with an article
-data structure as the only parameter.
+articles, for instance. The @code{gnus-async-prefetch-article-p}
+variable controls whether an article is to be pre-fetched. This
+function should return non-@code{nil} when the article in question is
+to be pre-fetched. The default is @code{gnus-async-read-p}, which
+returns @code{nil} on read articles. The function is called with an
+article data structure as the only parameter.
-If, for instance, you wish to pre-fetch only unread articles shorter than 100 lines, you could say something like:
+If, for instance, you wish to pre-fetch only unread articles shorter
+than 100 lines, you could say something like:
@lisp
(defun my-async-short-unread-p (data)
@cindex article caching
@cindex caching
-If you have an @emph{extremely} slow @sc{nntp} connection, you may
+If you have an @emph{extremely} slow @acronym{NNTP} connection, you may
consider turning article caching on. Each article will then be stored
locally under your home directory. As you may surmise, this could
potentially use @emph{huge} amounts of disk space, as well as eat up all
picture? The @code{gnus-jog-cache} command will go through all
subscribed newsgroups, request all unread articles, score them, and
store them in the cache. You should only ever, ever ever ever, use this
-command if 1) your connection to the @sc{nntp} server is really, really,
+command if 1) your connection to the @acronym{NNTP} server is really, really,
really slow and 2) you have a really, really, really huge disk.
Seriously. One way to cut down on the number of articles downloaded is
to score unwanted articles down and have them marked as read. They will
file (@code{gnus-cache-active-file}). If this file (or any other parts
of the cache) becomes all messed up for some reason or other, Gnus
offers two functions that will try to set things right. @kbd{M-x
-gnus-cache-generate-nov-databases} will (re)build all the @sc{nov}
+gnus-cache-generate-nov-databases} will (re)build all the @acronym{NOV}
files, and @kbd{gnus-cache-generate-active} will (re)generate the active
file.
bound before exploding and taking your machine down with you. I put
that in there just to keep y'all on your toes.
-This variable is @code{nil} by default.
+The default value is 20.
@node Saving Articles
@item O r
@kindex O r (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-save-article-rmail
-Save the current article in rmail format
+Save the current article in Rmail format
(@code{gnus-summary-save-article-rmail}).
@item O f
@findex gnus-summary-muttprint
@vindex gnus-summary-muttprint-program
Save the current article into muttprint. That is, print it using the
-external program Muttprint (see
-@uref{http://muttprint.sourceforge.net/}). The program name and
-options to use is controlled by the variable
-@code{gnus-summary-muttprint-program}. (@code{gnus-summary-muttprint}).
+external program @uref{http://muttprint.sourceforge.net/,
+Muttprint}. The program name and options to use is controlled by the
+variable @code{gnus-summary-muttprint-program}.
+(@code{gnus-summary-muttprint}).
@end table
@findex gnus-summary-save-in-rmail
@vindex gnus-rmail-save-name
@findex gnus-plain-save-name
-This is the default format, @dfn{babyl}. Uses the function in the
+This is the default format, @dfn{Babyl}. Uses the function in the
@code{gnus-rmail-save-name} variable to get a file name to save the
article in. The default is @code{gnus-plain-save-name}.
@vindex gnus-article-save-directory
All of these functions, except for the last one, will save the article
in the @code{gnus-article-save-directory}, which is initialized from the
-@code{SAVEDIR} environment variable. This is @file{~/News/} by
+@env{SAVEDIR} environment variable. This is @file{~/News/} by
default.
As you can see above, the functions use different functions to find a
You can have Gnus suggest where to save articles by plonking a regexp into
the @code{gnus-split-methods} alist. For instance, if you would like to
save articles related to Gnus in the file @file{gnus-stuff}, and articles
-related to VM in @code{vm-stuff}, you could set this variable to something
+related to VM in @file{vm-stuff}, you could set this variable to something
like:
@lisp
a spool, you could
@lisp
-(setq gnus-use-long-file-name '(not-save)) ; to get a hierarchy
+(setq gnus-use-long-file-name '(not-save)) ; @r{to get a hierarchy}
(setq gnus-default-article-saver
- 'gnus-summary-save-in-file) ; no encoding
+ 'gnus-summary-save-in-file) ; @r{no encoding}
@end lisp
Then just save with @kbd{o}. You'd then read this hierarchy with
@vindex gnus-uu-user-view-rules
@cindex sox
This variable is consulted first when viewing files. If you wish to use,
-for instance, @code{sox} to convert an @samp{.au} sound file, you could
+for instance, @code{sox} to convert an @file{.au} sound file, you could
say something like:
@lisp
(setq gnus-uu-user-view-rules
@item gnus-uu-ignore-files-by-type
@vindex gnus-uu-ignore-files-by-type
-Files with a @sc{mime} type matching this variable won't be viewed.
+Files with a @acronym{MIME} type matching this variable won't be viewed.
Note that Gnus tries to guess what type the file is based on the name.
-@code{gnus-uu} is not a @sc{mime} package (yet), so this is slightly
+@code{gnus-uu} is not a @acronym{MIME} package (yet), so this is slightly
kludgey.
@item gnus-uu-tmp-dir
@vindex gnus-uu-view-with-metamail
@cindex metamail
Non-@code{nil} means that @code{gnus-uu} will ignore the viewing
-commands defined by the rule variables and just fudge a @sc{mime}
+commands defined by the rule variables and just fudge a @acronym{MIME}
content type based on the file name. The result will be fed to
@code{metamail} for viewing.
thread. This may not be smart, as no other decoder I have seen is able
to follow threads when collecting uuencoded articles. (Well, I have
seen one package that does that---@code{gnus-uu}, but somehow, I don't
-think that counts...) Default is @code{nil}.
+think that counts@dots{}) Default is @code{nil}.
@item gnus-uu-post-separate-description
@vindex gnus-uu-post-separate-description
* Article Washing:: Lots of way-neat functions to make life better.
* Article Header:: Doing various header transformations.
* Article Buttons:: Click on URLs, Message-IDs, addresses and the like.
+* Article Button Levels:: Controlling appearance of buttons.
* Article Date:: Grumble, UT!
* Article Display:: Display various stuff---X-Face, Picons, Smileys
* Article Signature:: What is a signature?
@findex gnus-article-hide
Do quite a lot of hiding on the article buffer
(@kbd{gnus-article-hide}). In particular, this function will hide
-headers, PGP, cited text and the signature.
+headers, @acronym{PGP}, cited text and the signature.
@item W W h
@kindex W W h (Summary)
@end table
-@item W W p
-@kindex W W p (Summary)
-@findex gnus-article-hide-pgp
-@vindex gnus-article-hide-pgp-hook
-Hide @sc{pgp} signatures (@code{gnus-article-hide-pgp}). The
-@code{gnus-article-hide-pgp-hook} hook will be run after a @sc{pgp}
-signature has been hidden. For example, to automatically verify
-articles that have signatures in them do:
-@lisp
-;;; Hide pgp cruft if any.
-
-(setq gnus-treat-strip-pgp t)
-
-;;; After hiding pgp, verify the message;
-;;; only happens if pgp signature is found.
-
-(add-hook 'gnus-article-hide-pgp-hook
- (lambda ()
- (save-excursion
- (set-buffer gnus-original-article-buffer)
- (mc-verify))))
-@end lisp
-
@item W W P
@kindex W W P (Summary)
@findex gnus-article-hide-pem
-Hide @sc{pem} (privacy enhanced messages) cruft
+Hide @acronym{PEM} (privacy enhanced messages) cruft
(@code{gnus-article-hide-pem}).
@item W W B
@item gnus-article-address-banner-alist
@vindex gnus-article-address-banner-alist
Alist of mail addresses and banners. Each element has the form
-@code{(ADDRESS . BANNER)}, where ADDRESS is a regexp matching a mail
-address in the From header, BANNER is one of a symbol @code{signature},
-an item in @code{gnus-article-banner-alist}, a regexp and @code{nil}.
-If ADDRESS matches author's mail address, it will remove things like
-advertisements. For example, if a sender has the mail address
-@samp{hail@@yoo-hoo.co.jp} and there is a banner something like
-@samp{Do You Yoo-hoo!?} in all articles he sends, you can use the
-following element to remove them:
+@code{(@var{address} . @var{banner})}, where @var{address} is a regexp
+matching a mail address in the From header, @var{banner} is one of a
+symbol @code{signature}, an item in @code{gnus-article-banner-alist},
+a regexp and @code{nil}. If @var{address} matches author's mail
+address, it will remove things like advertisements. For example, if a
+sender has the mail address @samp{hail@@yoo-hoo.co.jp} and there is a
+banner something like @samp{Do You Yoo-hoo!?} in all articles he
+sends, you can use the following element to remove them:
@lisp
("@@yoo-hoo\\.co\\.jp\\'" . "\n_+\nDo You Yoo-hoo!\\?\n.*\n.*\n")
you type this, you see the article exactly as it exists on disk or on
the server.
+@item g
+Force redisplaying of the current article
+(@code{gnus-summary-show-article}). This is also not really washing.
+If you type this, you see the article without any previously applied
+interactive Washing functions but with all default treatments
+(@pxref{Customizing Articles}).
+
@item W l
@kindex W l (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-stop-page-breaking
@item W m
@kindex W m (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-morse-message
-@c @icon{gnus-summary-morse-message}
Morse decode the article buffer (@code{gnus-summary-morse-message}).
@item W t
like @code{\222} or @code{\264} where you're expecting some kind of
apostrophe or quotation mark, then try this wash.
-@item W k
-@kindex W k (Summary)
+@item W Y f
+@kindex W Y f (Summary)
@findex gnus-article-outlook-deuglify-article
@cindex Outlook Express
-Deuglify broken Outlook (Express) articles and redisplay
+Full deuglify of broken Outlook (Express) articles: Treat dumbquotes,
+unwrap lines, repair attribution and rearrange citation.
(@code{gnus-article-outlook-deuglify-article}).
+@item W Y u
+@kindex W Y u (Summary)
+@findex gnus-article-outlook-unwrap-lines
+@vindex gnus-outlook-deuglify-unwrap-min
+@vindex gnus-outlook-deuglify-unwrap-max
+Unwrap lines that appear to be wrapped citation lines. You can control
+what lines will be unwrapped by frobbing
+@code{gnus-outlook-deuglify-unwrap-min} and
+@code{gnus-outlook-deuglify-unwrap-max}, indicating the miminum and
+maximum length of an unwrapped citation line.
+(@code{gnus-article-outlook-unwrap-lines}).
+
+@item W Y a
+@kindex W Y a (Summary)
+@findex gnus-article-outlook-repair-attribution
+Repair a broken attribution line.
+(@code{gnus-article-outlook-repair-attribution}).
+
+@item W Y c
+@kindex W Y c (Summary)
+@findex gnus-article-outlook-rearrange-citation
+Repair broken citations by rearranging the text.
+(@code{gnus-article-outlook-rearrange-citation}).
+
@item W w
@kindex W w (Summary)
@findex gnus-article-fill-cited-article
@kindex W q (Summary)
@findex gnus-article-de-quoted-unreadable
Treat quoted-printable (@code{gnus-article-de-quoted-unreadable}).
-Quoted-Printable is one common @sc{mime} encoding employed when sending
-non-ASCII (i. e., 8-bit) articles. It typically makes strings like
-@samp{déjà vu} look like @samp{d=E9j=E0 vu}, which doesn't look very
-readable to me. Note that this is usually done automatically by
-Gnus if the message in question has a @code{Content-Transfer-Encoding}
-header that says that this encoding has been done.
-If a prefix is given, a charset will be asked for.
+Quoted-Printable is one common @acronym{MIME} encoding employed when
+sending non-@acronym{ASCII} (i.e., 8-bit) articles. It typically
+makes strings like @samp{déjà vu} look like @samp{d=E9j=E0 vu}, which
+doesn't look very readable to me. Note that this is usually done
+automatically by Gnus if the message in question has a
+@code{Content-Transfer-Encoding} header that says that this encoding
+has been done. If a prefix is given, a charset will be asked for.
@item W 6
@kindex W 6 (Summary)
@findex gnus-article-de-base64-unreadable
-Treat base64 (@code{gnus-article-de-base64-unreadable}).
-Base64 is one common @sc{mime} encoding employed when sending non-ASCII
-(i. e., 8-bit) articles. Note that this is usually done
-automatically by Gnus if the message in question has a
-@code{Content-Transfer-Encoding} header that says that this encoding has
-been done.
-If a prefix is given, a charset will be asked for.
+Treat base64 (@code{gnus-article-de-base64-unreadable}). Base64 is
+one common @acronym{MIME} encoding employed when sending
+non-@acronym{ASCII} (i.e., 8-bit) articles. Note that this is
+usually done automatically by Gnus if the message in question has a
+@code{Content-Transfer-Encoding} header that says that this encoding
+has been done. If a prefix is given, a charset will be asked for.
@item W Z
@kindex W Z (Summary)
@item W h
@kindex W h (Summary)
@findex gnus-article-wash-html
-Treat @sc{html} (@code{gnus-article-wash-html}). Note that this is
+Treat @acronym{HTML} (@code{gnus-article-wash-html}). Note that this is
usually done automatically by Gnus if the message in question has a
-@code{Content-Type} header that says that the message is @sc{html}.
+@code{Content-Type} header that says that the message is @acronym{HTML}.
If a prefix is given, a charset will be asked for.
@vindex gnus-article-wash-function
The default is to use the function specified by
-@code{mm-inline-text-html-renderer} (@pxref{Customization, , , emacs-mime})
-to convert the @sc{html}, but this is controlled by the
+@code{mm-text-html-renderer} (@pxref{Display Customization, ,Display
+Customization, emacs-mime, The Emacs MIME Manual}) to convert the
+@acronym{HTML}, but this is controlled by the
@code{gnus-article-wash-function} variable. Pre-defined functions you
can use include:
Use Emacs/w3.
@item w3m
-Use emacs-w3m (see @uref{http://emacs-w3m.namazu.org/} for more
-information).
+Use @uref{http://emacs-w3m.namazu.org/, emacs-w3m}.
@item links
-Use Links (see @uref{http://artax.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~mikulas/links/}).
+Use @uref{http://links.sf.net/, Links}.
@item lynx
-Use Lynx (see @uref{http://lynx.browser.org/}).
+Use @uref{http://lynx.isc.org/, Lynx}.
@item html2text
-Use html2text -- a simple @sc{html} converter included with Gnus.
+Use html2text---a simple @acronym{HTML} converter included with Gnus.
@end table
@item W p
@kindex W p (Summary)
@findex gnus-article-verify-x-pgp-sig
-Verify a signed control message (@code{gnus-article-verify-x-pgp-sig}).
-Control messages such as @code{newgroup} and @code{checkgroups} are
-usually signed by the hierarchy maintainer. You need to add the PGP
-public key of the maintainer to your keyring to verify the
-message.@footnote{PGP keys for many hierarchies are available at
-@uref{ftp://ftp.isc.org/pub/pgpcontrol/README.html}}
+Verify a signed control message
+(@code{gnus-article-verify-x-pgp-sig}). Control messages such as
+@code{newgroup} and @code{checkgroups} are usually signed by the
+hierarchy maintainer. You need to add the @acronym{PGP} public key of
+the maintainer to your keyring to verify the
+message.@footnote{@acronym{PGP} keys for many hierarchies are
+available at @uref{ftp://ftp.isc.org/pub/pgpcontrol/README.html}}
@item W s
@kindex W s (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-force-verify-and-decrypt
-Verify a signed (PGP, @sc{pgp/mime} or @sc{s/mime}) message
+Verify a signed (@acronym{PGP}, @acronym{PGP/MIME} or
+@acronym{S/MIME}) message
(@code{gnus-summary-force-verify-and-decrypt}). @xref{Security}.
@item W a
@vindex gnus-button-man-handler
Gnus adds @dfn{buttons} to certain standard references by default:
-Well-formed URLs, mail addresses, Message-IDs, Info links and man pages.
-This is controlled by two variables, one that handles article bodies and
-one that handles article heads:
+Well-formed URLs, mail addresses, Message-IDs, Info links, man pages and
+Emacs or Gnus related references. This is controlled by two variables,
+one that handles article bodies and one that handles article heads:
@table @code
This is an alist where each entry has this form:
@lisp
-(REGEXP BUTTON-PAR USE-P FUNCTION DATA-PAR)
+(@var{regexp} @var{button-par} @var{use-p} @var{function} @var{data-par})
@end lisp
@table @var
considered an external reference. Here's a typical regexp that matches
embedded URLs: @samp{<URL:\\([^\n\r>]*\\)>}. This can also be a
variable containing a regexp, useful variables to use include
-@code{gnus-button-url-regexp}.
+@code{gnus-button-url-regexp} and @code{gnus-button-mid-or-mail-regexp}.
@item button-par
Gnus has to know which parts of the matches is to be highlighted. This
@item use-p
This form will be @code{eval}ed, and if the result is non-@code{nil},
this is considered a match. This is useful if you want extra sifting to
-avoid false matches.
+avoid false matches. Often variables named
+@code{gnus-button-@var{*}-level} are used here, @xref{Article Button
+Levels}, but any other form may be used too.
+
+@c @code{use-p} is @code{eval}ed only if @code{regexp} matches.
@item function
This function will be called when you click on this button.
used to say what headers to apply the buttonize coding to:
@lisp
-(HEADER REGEXP BUTTON-PAR USE-P FUNCTION DATA-PAR)
+(@var{header} @var{regexp} @var{nutton-par} @var{use-p} @var{function} @var{data-par})
@end lisp
@var{header} is a regular expression.
+@subsubsection Related variables and functions
+
+@item gnus-button-@var{*}-level
+@xref{Article Button Levels}.
+
+@c Stuff related to gnus-button-browse-level
+
@item gnus-button-url-regexp
@vindex gnus-button-url-regexp
A regular expression that matches embedded URLs. It is used in the
default values of the variables above.
+@c Stuff related to gnus-button-man-level
+
+@item gnus-button-man-handler
+@vindex gnus-button-man-handler
+The function to use for displaying man pages. It must take at least one
+argument with a string naming the man page.
+
+@c Stuff related to gnus-button-message-level
+
+@item gnus-button-mid-or-mail-regexp
+@vindex gnus-button-mid-or-mail-regexp
+Regular expression that matches a message ID or a mail address.
+
+@item gnus-button-prefer-mid-or-mail
+@vindex gnus-button-prefer-mid-or-mail
+This variable determines what to do when the button on a string as
+@samp{foo123@@bar.invalid} is pushed. Strings like this can be either a
+message ID or a mail address. If it is one of the symbols @code{mid} or
+@code{mail}, Gnus will always assume that the string is a message ID or
+a mail address, respectivly. If this variable is set to the symbol
+@code{ask}, always query the user what do do. If it is a function, this
+function will be called with the string as it's only argument. The
+function must return @code{mid}, @code{mail}, @code{invalid} or
+@code{ask}. The default value is the function
+@code{gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic}.
+
+@item gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic
+@findex gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic
+Function that guesses whether it's argument is a message ID or a mail
+address. Returns @code{mid} it's a message IDs, @code{mail} if it's a
+mail address, @code{ask} if unsure and @code{invalid} if the string is
+invalid.
+
+@item gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic-alist
+@vindex gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic-alist
+An alist of @code{(RATE . REGEXP)} pairs used by the function
+@code{gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic}.
+
+@c Stuff related to gnus-button-tex-level
+
+@item gnus-button-ctan-handler
+@findex gnus-button-ctan-handler
+The function to use for displaying CTAN links. It must take one
+argument, the string naming the URL.
+
+@item gnus-ctan-url
+@vindex gnus-ctan-url
+Top directory of a CTAN (Comprehensive TeX Archive Network) archive used
+by @code{gnus-button-ctan-handler}.
+
+@c Misc stuff
+
@item gnus-article-button-face
@vindex gnus-article-button-face
Face used on buttons.
@xref{Customizing Articles}, for how to buttonize articles automatically.
+@node Article Button Levels
+@subsection Article button levels
+@cindex button levels
+The higher the value of the variables @code{gnus-button-@var{*}-level},
+the more buttons will appear. If the level is zero, no corresponding
+buttons are displayed. With the default value (which is 5) you should
+already see quite a lot of buttons. With higher levels, you will see
+more buttons, but you may also get more false positives. To avoid them,
+you can set the variables @code{gnus-button-@var{*}-level} local to
+specific groups (@pxref{Group Parameters}). Here's an example for the
+variable @code{gnus-parameters}:
+
+@lisp
+;; @r{increase @code{gnus-button-*-level} in some groups:}
+(setq gnus-parameters
+ '(("\\<\\(emacs\\|gnus\\)\\>" (gnus-button-emacs-level 10))
+ ("\\<unix\\>" (gnus-button-man-level 10))
+ ("\\<tex\\>" (gnus-button-tex-level 10))))
+@end lisp
+
+@table @code
+
+@item gnus-button-browse-level
+@vindex gnus-button-browse-level
+Controls the display of references to message IDs, mail addresses and
+news URLs. Related variables and functions include
+@code{gnus-button-url-regexp}, @code{browse-url}, and
+@code{browse-url-browser-function}.
+
+@item gnus-button-emacs-level
+@vindex gnus-button-emacs-level
+Controls the display of Emacs or Gnus references. Related functions are
+@code{gnus-button-handle-custom},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-describe-function},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-describe-variable},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-symbol},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-describe-key},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-apropos},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-apropos-command},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-apropos-variable},
+@code{gnus-button-handle-apropos-documentation}, and
+@code{gnus-button-handle-library}.
+
+@item gnus-button-man-level
+@vindex gnus-button-man-level
+Controls the display of references to (Unix) man pages.
+See @code{gnus-button-man-handler}.
+
+@item gnus-button-message-level
+@vindex gnus-button-message-level
+Controls the display of message IDs, mail addresses and news URLs.
+Related variables and functions include
+@code{gnus-button-mid-or-mail-regexp},
+@code{gnus-button-prefer-mid-or-mail},
+@code{gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic}, and
+@code{gnus-button-mid-or-mail-heuristic-alist}.
+
+@item gnus-button-tex-level
+@vindex gnus-button-tex-level
+Controls the display of references to @TeX{} or LaTeX stuff, e.g. for CTAN
+URLs. See the variables @code{gnus-ctan-url},
+@code{gnus-button-ctan-handler},
+@code{gnus-button-ctan-directory-regexp}, and
+@code{gnus-button-handle-ctan-bogus-regexp}.
+
+@end table
+
+
@node Article Date
@subsection Article Date
X-Sent: 6 weeks, 4 days, 1 hour, 3 minutes, 8 seconds ago
@end example
+@vindex gnus-article-date-lapsed-new-header
The value of @code{gnus-article-date-lapsed-new-header} determines
whether this header will just be added below the old Date one, or will
replace it.
(gnus-start-date-timer)
@end lisp
-in your @file{.gnus.el} file, or you can run it off of some hook. If
+in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file, or you can run it off of some hook. If
you want to stop the timer, you can use the @code{gnus-stop-date-timer}
command.
Smileys are those little @samp{:-)} symbols that people like to litter
their messages with (@pxref{Smileys}).
-All these functions are toggles--if the elements already exist,
+All these functions are toggles---if the elements already exist,
they'll be removed.
@table @kbd
Display an @code{X-Face} in the @code{From} header.
(@code{gnus-article-display-x-face}).
+@item W D d
+@kindex W D d (Summary)
+@findex gnus-article-display-face
+Display a @code{Face} in the @code{From} header.
+(@code{gnus-article-display-face}).
+
@item W D s
@kindex W D s (Summary)
@findex gnus-treat-smiley
@lisp
(setq gnus-signature-separator
- '("^-- $" ; The standard
- "^-- *$" ; A common mangling
- "^-------*$" ; Many people just use a looong
- ; line of dashes. Shame!
- "^ *--------*$" ; Double-shame!
- "^________*$" ; Underscores are also popular
- "^========*$")) ; Pervert!
+ '("^-- $" ; @r{The standard}
+ "^-- *$" ; @r{A common mangling}
+ "^-------*$" ; @r{Many people just use a looong}
+ ; @r{line of dashes. Shame!}
+ "^ *--------*$" ; @r{Double-shame!}
+ "^________*$" ; @r{Underscores are also popular}
+ "^========*$")) ; @r{Pervert!}
@end lisp
The more permissive you are, the more likely it is that you'll get false
@cindex viewing attachments
The following commands all understand the numerical prefix. For
-instance, @kbd{3 b} means ``view the third @sc{mime} part''.
+instance, @kbd{3 b} means ``view the third @acronym{MIME} part''.
@table @kbd
@item b
@itemx K v
@kindex b (Summary)
@kindex K v (Summary)
-View the @sc{mime} part.
+View the @acronym{MIME} part.
@item K o
@kindex K o (Summary)
-Save the @sc{mime} part.
+Save the @acronym{MIME} part.
@item K c
@kindex K c (Summary)
-Copy the @sc{mime} part.
+Copy the @acronym{MIME} part.
@item K e
@kindex K e (Summary)
-View the @sc{mime} part externally.
+View the @acronym{MIME} part externally.
@item K i
@kindex K i (Summary)
-View the @sc{mime} part internally.
+View the @acronym{MIME} part internally.
@item K |
@kindex K | (Summary)
-Pipe the @sc{mime} part to an external command.
+Pipe the @acronym{MIME} part to an external command.
@end table
-The rest of these @sc{mime} commands do not use the numerical prefix in
+The rest of these @acronym{MIME} commands do not use the numerical prefix in
the same manner:
@table @kbd
@item K b
@kindex K b (Summary)
-Make all the @sc{mime} parts have buttons in front of them. This is
+Make all the @acronym{MIME} parts have buttons in front of them. This is
mostly useful if you wish to save (or perform other actions) on inlined
parts.
@item X m
@kindex X m (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-save-parts
-Save all parts matching a @sc{mime} type to a directory
+Save all parts matching a @acronym{MIME} type to a directory
(@code{gnus-summary-save-parts}). Understands the process/prefix
convention (@pxref{Process/Prefix}).
charset. If there is no such header in the article, you can give it a
prefix, which will prompt for the charset to decode as. In regional
groups where people post using some common encoding (but do not
-include @sc{mime} headers), you can set the @code{charset} group/topic
+include @acronym{MIME} headers), you can set the @code{charset} group/topic
parameter to the required charset (@pxref{Group Parameters}).
@item W M v
@kindex W M v (Summary)
@findex gnus-mime-view-all-parts
-View all the @sc{mime} parts in the current article
+View all the @acronym{MIME} parts in the current article
(@code{gnus-mime-view-all-parts}).
@end table
@table @code
@item gnus-ignored-mime-types
@vindex gnus-ignored-mime-types
-This is a list of regexps. @sc{mime} types that match a regexp from
+This is a list of regexps. @acronym{MIME} types that match a regexp from
this list will be completely ignored by Gnus. The default value is
@code{nil}.
'("text/x-vcard"))
@end lisp
+@item gnus-article-loose-mime
+@vindex gnus-article-loose-mime
+If non-@code{nil}, Gnus won't required the @samp{MIME-Version} header
+before interpreting the message as a @acronym{MIME} message. This helps
+when reading messages from certain broken mail user agents. The
+default is @code{nil}.
+
+@item gnus-article-emulate-mime
+@vindex gnus-article-emulate-mime
+There are other, non-@acronym{MIME} encoding methods used. The most common
+is @samp{uuencode}, but yEncode is also getting to be popular. If
+this variable is non-@code{nil}, Gnus will look in message bodies to
+see if it finds these encodings, and if so, it'll run them through the
+Gnus @acronym{MIME} machinery. The default is @code{t}.
+
@item gnus-unbuttonized-mime-types
@vindex gnus-unbuttonized-mime-types
-This is a list of regexps. @sc{mime} types that match a regexp from
-this list won't have @sc{mime} buttons inserted unless they aren't
+This is a list of regexps. @acronym{MIME} types that match a regexp from
+this list won't have @acronym{MIME} buttons inserted unless they aren't
displayed or this variable is overridden by
@code{gnus-buttonized-mime-types}. The default value is
-@code{(".*/.*")}.
+@code{(".*/.*")}. This variable is only used when
+@code{gnus-inhibit-mime-unbuttonizing} is @code{nil}.
@item gnus-buttonized-mime-types
@vindex gnus-buttonized-mime-types
-This is a list of regexps. @sc{mime} types that match a regexp from
-this list will have @sc{mime} buttons inserted unless they aren't
+This is a list of regexps. @acronym{MIME} types that match a regexp from
+this list will have @acronym{MIME} buttons inserted unless they aren't
displayed. This variable overrides
@code{gnus-unbuttonized-mime-types}. The default value is @code{nil}.
+This variable is only used when @code{gnus-inhibit-mime-unbuttonizing}
+is @code{nil}.
To see e.g. security buttons but no other buttons, you could set this
variable to @code{("multipart/signed")} and leave
@item gnus-inhibit-mime-unbuttonizing
@vindex gnus-inhibit-mime-unbuttonizing
-If this is non-nil, then all @sc{mime} parts get buttons. The default
-value is @code{nil}.
+If this is non-@code{nil}, then all @acronym{MIME} parts get buttons. The
+default value is @code{nil}.
@item gnus-article-mime-part-function
@vindex gnus-article-mime-part-function
-For each @sc{mime} part, this function will be called with the @sc{mime}
+For each @acronym{MIME} part, this function will be called with the @acronym{MIME}
handle as the parameter. The function is meant to be used to allow
users to gather information from the article (e. g., add Vcard info to
the bbdb database) or to do actions based on parts (e. g., automatically
@vindex gnus-mime-multipart-functions
@item gnus-mime-multipart-functions
-Alist of @sc{mime} multipart types and functions to handle them.
+Alist of @acronym{MIME} multipart types and functions to handle them.
@vindex mm-file-name-rewrite-functions
@item mm-file-name-rewrite-functions
-List of functions used for rewriting file names of @sc{mime} parts.
+List of functions used for rewriting file names of @acronym{MIME} parts.
Each function takes a file name as input and returns a file name.
Ready-made functions include@*
@end lisp
@noindent
-to your @file{.gnus} file.
+to your @file{~/.gnus.el} file.
@end table
@section Charsets
@cindex charsets
-People use different charsets, and we have @sc{mime} to let us know what
+People use different charsets, and we have @acronym{MIME} to let us know what
charsets they use. Or rather, we wish we had. Many people use
-newsreaders and mailers that do not understand or use @sc{mime}, and
+newsreaders and mailers that do not understand or use @acronym{MIME}, and
just send out messages without saying what character sets they use. To
help a bit with this, some local news hierarchies have policies that say
what character set is the default. For instance, the @samp{fj}
variable, which is an alist of regexps (use the first item to match full
group names) and default charsets to be used when reading these groups.
-In addition, some people do use soi-disant @sc{mime}-aware agents that
+@vindex gnus-newsgroup-ignored-charsets
+In addition, some people do use soi-disant @acronym{MIME}-aware agents that
aren't. These blithely mark messages as being in @code{iso-8859-1}
even if they really are in @code{koi-8}. To help here, the
@code{gnus-newsgroup-ignored-charsets} variable can be used. The
@vindex gnus-group-posting-charset-alist
When posting, @code{gnus-group-posting-charset-alist} is used to
-determine which charsets should not be encoded using the @sc{mime}
+determine which charsets should not be encoded using the @acronym{MIME}
encodings. For instance, some hierarchies discourage using
quoted-printable header encoding.
Other charset tricks that may be useful, although not Gnus-specific:
-If there are several @sc{mime} charsets that encode the same Emacs
+If there are several @acronym{MIME} charsets that encode the same Emacs
charset, you can choose what charset to use by saying the following:
@lisp
@end lisp
This means that Russian will be encoded using @code{koi8-r} instead of
-the default @code{iso-8859-5} @sc{mime} charset.
+the default @code{iso-8859-5} @acronym{MIME} charset.
If you want to read messages in @code{koi8-u}, you can cheat and say
@findex gnus-summary-refer-parent-article
If you'd like to read the parent of the current article, and it is not
displayed in the summary buffer, you might still be able to. That is,
-if the current group is fetched by @sc{nntp}, the parent hasn't expired
+if the current group is fetched by @acronym{NNTP}, the parent hasn't expired
and the @code{References} in the current article are not mangled, you
can just press @kbd{^} or @kbd{A r}
(@code{gnus-summary-refer-parent-article}). If everything goes well,
@kindex M-^ (Summary)
@cindex Message-ID
@cindex fetching by Message-ID
-You can also ask the @sc{nntp} server for an arbitrary article, no
+You can also ask the @acronym{NNTP} server for an arbitrary article, no
matter what group it belongs to. @kbd{M-^}
(@code{gnus-summary-refer-article}) will ask you for a
@code{Message-ID}, which is one of those long, hard-to-read thingies
@vindex gnus-refer-article-method
If the group you are reading is located on a back end that does not
support fetching by @code{Message-ID} very well (like @code{nnspool}),
-you can set @code{gnus-refer-article-method} to an @sc{nntp} method. It
-would, perhaps, be best if the @sc{nntp} server you consult is the one
+you can set @code{gnus-refer-article-method} to an @acronym{NNTP} method. It
+would, perhaps, be best if the @acronym{NNTP} server you consult is the one
updating the spool you are reading from, but that's not really
necessary.
If you're using horizontal trees, it might be nice to display the trees
side-by-side with the summary buffer. You could add something like the
-following to your @file{.gnus.el} file:
+following to your @file{~/.gnus.el} file:
@lisp
(setq gnus-use-trees t
@item B r
@kindex B r (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-respool-article
+@vindex gnus-summary-respool-default-method
Respool the mail article (@code{gnus-summary-respool-article}).
@code{gnus-summary-respool-default-method} will be used as the default
select method when respooling. This variable is @code{nil} by default,
@kindex B t (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-respool-trace
Similarly, this command will display all fancy splitting patterns used
-when repooling, if any (@code{gnus-summary-respool-trace}).
+when respooling, if any (@code{gnus-summary-respool-trace}).
@item B p
@kindex B p (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-article-posted-p
-Some people have a tendency to send you "courtesy" copies when they
+Some people have a tendency to send you ``courtesy'' copies when they
follow up to articles you have posted. These usually have a
@code{Newsgroups} header in them, but not always. This command
(@code{gnus-summary-article-posted-p}) will try to fetch the current
@end menu
@table @code
+@vindex gnus-summary-display-while-building
+@item gnus-summary-display-while-building
+If non-@code{nil}, show and update the summary buffer as it's being
+built. If @code{t}, update the buffer after every line is inserted.
+If the value is an integer, @var{n}, update the display every @var{n}
+lines. The default is @code{nil}.
+
@vindex gnus-summary-mode-hook
@item gnus-summary-mode-hook
This hook is called when creating a summary mode buffer.
@item gnus-newsgroup-variables
A list of newsgroup (summary buffer) local variables, or cons of
variables and their default values (when the default values are not
-nil), that should be made global while the summary buffer is active.
-These variables can be used to set variables in the group parameters
-while still allowing them to affect operations done in other
-buffers. For example:
+@code{nil}), that should be made global while the summary buffer is
+active. These variables can be used to set variables in the group
+parameters while still allowing them to affect operations done in
+other buffers. For example:
@lisp
(setq gnus-newsgroup-variables
@kindex H f (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-fetch-faq
@vindex gnus-group-faq-directory
-Try to fetch the FAQ (list of frequently asked questions) for the
-current group (@code{gnus-summary-fetch-faq}). Gnus will try to get the
-FAQ from @code{gnus-group-faq-directory}, which is usually a directory
-on a remote machine. This variable can also be a list of directories.
-In that case, giving a prefix to this command will allow you to choose
-between the various sites. @code{ange-ftp} or @code{efs} will probably
-be used for fetching the file.
+Try to fetch the @acronym{FAQ} (list of frequently asked questions)
+for the current group (@code{gnus-summary-fetch-faq}). Gnus will try
+to get the @acronym{FAQ} from @code{gnus-group-faq-directory}, which
+is usually a directory on a remote machine. This variable can also be
+a list of directories. In that case, giving a prefix to this command
+will allow you to choose between the various sites. @code{ange-ftp}
+or @code{efs} will probably be used for fetching the file.
@item H d
@kindex H d (Summary)
@findex gnus-summary-exit
@vindex gnus-summary-exit-hook
@vindex gnus-summary-prepare-exit-hook
+@vindex gnus-group-no-more-groups-hook
@c @icon{gnus-summary-exit}
Exit the current group and update all information on the group
(@code{gnus-summary-exit}). @code{gnus-summary-prepare-exit-hook} is
@cindex cross-posting
@cindex Xref
-@cindex @sc{nov}
+@cindex @acronym{NOV}
One thing that may cause Gnus to not do the cross-posting thing
-correctly is if you use an @sc{nntp} server that supports @sc{xover}
+correctly is if you use an @acronym{NNTP} server that supports @sc{xover}
(which is very nice, because it speeds things up considerably) which
-does not include the @code{Xref} header in its @sc{nov} lines. This is
+does not include the @code{Xref} header in its @acronym{NOV} lines. This is
Evil, but all too common, alas, alack. Gnus tries to Do The Right Thing
even with @sc{xover} by registering the @code{Xref} lines of all
articles you actually read, but if you kill the articles, or just mark
@cindex LIST overview.fmt
@cindex overview.fmt
-To check whether your @sc{nntp} server includes the @code{Xref} header
+To check whether your @acronym{NNTP} server includes the @code{Xref} header
in its overview files, try @samp{telnet your.nntp.server nntp},
@samp{MODE READER} on @code{inn} servers, and then say @samp{LIST
overview.fmt}. This may not work, but if it does, and the last line you
@enumerate
@item
-The @sc{nntp} server may fail to generate the @code{Xref} header. This
+The @acronym{NNTP} server may fail to generate the @code{Xref} header. This
is evil and not very common.
@item
-The @sc{nntp} server may fail to include the @code{Xref} header in the
+The @acronym{NNTP} server may fail to include the @code{Xref} header in the
@file{.overview} data bases. This is evil and all too common, alas.
@item
You may be reading the same group (or several related groups) from
-different @sc{nntp} servers.
+different @acronym{NNTP} servers.
@item
You may be getting mail that duplicates articles posted to groups.
@section Security
Gnus is able to verify signed messages or decrypt encrypted messages.
-The formats that are supported are PGP, @sc{pgp/mime} and @sc{s/mime},
-however you need some external programs to get things to work:
+The formats that are supported are @acronym{PGP}, @acronym{PGP/MIME}
+and @acronym{S/MIME}, however you need some external programs to get
+things to work:
@enumerate
@item
-To handle PGP messages, you have to install mailcrypt or gpg.el as
-well as a OpenPGP implementation (such as GnuPG).
+To handle @acronym{PGP} and @acronym{PGP/MIME} messages, you have to
+install an OpenPGP implementation such as GnuPG. The lisp interface
+to GnuPG included with Gnus is called PGG (@pxref{Top, ,PGG, pgg, PGG
+Manual}), but Mailcrypt and gpg.el are also supported.
@item
-To handle @sc{s/mime} message, you need to install OpenSSL. OpenSSL 0.9.6
+To handle @acronym{S/MIME} message, you need to install OpenSSL. OpenSSL 0.9.6
or newer is recommended.
@end enumerate
@code{always}, always decrypt; @code{known}, only decrypt known
protocols. Otherwise, ask user.
+@item mml1991-use
+@vindex mml1991-use
+Symbol indicating elisp interface to OpenPGP implementation for
+@acronym{PGP} messages. The default is @code{pgg}, but
+@code{mailcrypt} and @code{gpg} are also supported although
+deprecated.
+
+@item mml2015-use
+@vindex mml2015-use
+Symbol indicating elisp interface to OpenPGP implementation for
+@acronym{PGP/MIME} messages. The default is @code{pgg}, but
+@code{mailcrypt} and @code{gpg} are also supported although
+deprecated.
+
@end table
+@cindex snarfing keys
+@cindex importing PGP keys
+@cindex PGP key ring import
+Snarfing OpenPGP keys (i.e., importing keys from articles into your
+key ring) is not supported explicitly through a menu item or command,
+rather Gnus do detect and label keys as @samp{application/pgp-keys},
+allowing you to specify whatever action you think is appropriate
+through the usual @acronym{MIME} infrastructure. You can use a
+@file{~/.mailcap} entry (@pxref{mailcap, , mailcap, emacs-mime, The
+Emacs MIME Manual}) such as the following to import keys using GNU
+Privacy Guard when you click on the @acronym{MIME} button
+(@pxref{Using MIME}).
+
+@example
+application/pgp-keys; gpg --import --interactive --verbose; needsterminal
+@end example
+
+This happens to also be the default action defined in
+@code{mailcap-mime-data}.
+
@node Mailing List
@section Mailing List
@kindex A M (summary)
@findex gnus-mailing-list-insinuate
Gnus understands some mailing list fields of RFC 2369. To enable it,
-either add a `to-list' group parameter (@pxref{Group Parameters}),
+add a @code{to-list} group parameter (@pxref{Group Parameters}),
possibly using @kbd{A M} (@code{gnus-mailing-list-insinuate}) in the
-summary buffer, or say:
-
-@lisp
-(add-hook 'gnus-summary-mode-hook 'turn-on-gnus-mailing-list-mode)
-@end lisp
+summary buffer.
That enables the following commands to the summary buffer:
@end table
+
@node Article Buffer
@chapter Article Buffer
@cindex article buffer
@menu
* Hiding Headers:: Deciding what headers should be displayed.
-* Using MIME:: Pushing articles through @sc{mime} before reading them.
+* Using MIME:: Pushing articles through @acronym{MIME} before reading them.
* Customizing Articles:: Tailoring the look of the articles.
* Article Keymap:: Keystrokes available in the article buffer.
* Misc Article:: Other stuff.
@code{Newsgroups} header.
@item reply-to
Remove the @code{Reply-To} header if it lists the same address as the
-@code{From} header.
+@code{From} header, or if the @code{broken-reply-to} group parameter is
+set.
@item newsgroups
Remove the @code{Newsgroups} header if it only contains the current group
name.
@item to-address
Remove the @code{To} header if it only contains the address identical to
the current groups's @code{to-address} parameter.
+@item to-list
+Remove the @code{To} header if it only contains the address identical to
+the current groups's @code{to-list} parameter.
+@item cc-list
+Remove the @code{CC} header if it only contains the address identical to
+the current groups's @code{to-list} parameter.
@item date
Remove the @code{Date} header if the article is less than three days
old.
@node Using MIME
@section Using MIME
-@cindex @sc{mime}
+@cindex @acronym{MIME}
Mime is a standard for waving your hands through the air, aimlessly,
while people stand around yawning.
-@sc{mime}, however, is a standard for encoding your articles, aimlessly,
+@acronym{MIME}, however, is a standard for encoding your articles, aimlessly,
while all newsreaders die of fear.
-@sc{mime} may specify what character set the article uses, the encoding
+@acronym{MIME} may specify what character set the article uses, the encoding
of the characters, and it also makes it possible to embed pictures and
other naughty stuff in innocent-looking articles.
@vindex gnus-display-mime-function
@findex gnus-display-mime
-Gnus pushes @sc{mime} articles through @code{gnus-display-mime-function}
-to display the @sc{mime} parts. This is @code{gnus-display-mime} by
+Gnus pushes @acronym{MIME} articles through @code{gnus-display-mime-function}
+to display the @acronym{MIME} parts. This is @code{gnus-display-mime} by
default, which creates a bundle of clickable buttons that can be used to
-display, save and manipulate the @sc{mime} objects.
+display, save and manipulate the @acronym{MIME} objects.
The following commands are available when you have placed point over a
-@sc{mime} button:
+@acronym{MIME} button:
@table @kbd
@findex gnus-article-press-button
@item RET (Article)
@kindex RET (Article)
@itemx BUTTON-2 (Article)
-Toggle displaying of the @sc{mime} object
+Toggle displaying of the @acronym{MIME} object
(@code{gnus-article-press-button}). If builtin viewers can not display
the object, Gnus resorts to external viewers in the @file{mailcap}
files. If a viewer has the @samp{copiousoutput} specification, the
@item M-RET (Article)
@kindex M-RET (Article)
@itemx v (Article)
-Prompt for a method, and then view the @sc{mime} object using this
+Prompt for a method, and then view the @acronym{MIME} object using this
method (@code{gnus-mime-view-part}).
@findex gnus-mime-view-part-as-type
@item t (Article)
@kindex t (Article)
-View the @sc{mime} object as if it were a different @sc{mime} media type
+View the @acronym{MIME} object as if it were a different @acronym{MIME} media type
(@code{gnus-mime-view-part-as-type}).
@findex gnus-mime-view-part-as-charset
@item C (Article)
@kindex C (Article)
-Prompt for a charset, and then view the @sc{mime} object using this
+Prompt for a charset, and then view the @acronym{MIME} object using this
charset (@code{gnus-mime-view-part-as-charset}).
@findex gnus-mime-save-part
@item o (Article)
@kindex o (Article)
-Prompt for a file name, and then save the @sc{mime} object
+Prompt for a file name, and then save the @acronym{MIME} object
(@code{gnus-mime-save-part}).
@findex gnus-mime-save-part-and-strip
@item C-o (Article)
@kindex C-o (Article)
-Prompt for a file name, then save the @sc{mime} object and strip it from
+Prompt for a file name, then save the @acronym{MIME} object and strip it from
the article. Then proceed to article editing, where a reasonable
suggestion is being made on how the altered article should look
-like. The stripped @sc{mime} object will be referred via the
-message/external-body @sc{mime} type.
+like. The stripped @acronym{MIME} object will be referred via the
+message/external-body @acronym{MIME} type.
(@code{gnus-mime-save-part-and-strip}).
+@findex gnus-mime-delete-part
+@item d (Article)
+@kindex d (Article)
+Delete the @acronym{MIME} object from the article and replace it with some
+information about the removed @acronym{MIME} object
+(@code{gnus-mime-delete-part}).
+
@findex gnus-mime-copy-part
@item c (Article)
@kindex c (Article)
-Copy the @sc{mime} object to a fresh buffer and display this buffer
-(@code{gnus-mime-copy-part}).
+Copy the @acronym{MIME} object to a fresh buffer and display this buffer
+(@code{gnus-mime-copy-part}). Compressed files like @file{.gz} and
+@file{.bz2} are automatically decompressed if
+@code{auto-compression-mode} is enabled (@pxref{Compressed Files,,
+Accessing Compressed Files, emacs, The Emacs Editor}).
@findex gnus-mime-print-part
@item p (Article)
@kindex p (Article)
-Print the @sc{mime} object (@code{gnus-mime-print-part}). This
+Print the @acronym{MIME} object (@code{gnus-mime-print-part}). This
command respects the @samp{print=} specifications in the
@file{.mailcap} file.
@findex gnus-mime-inline-part
@item i (Article)
@kindex i (Article)
-Insert the contents of the @sc{mime} object into the buffer
+Insert the contents of the @acronym{MIME} object into the buffer
(@code{gnus-mime-inline-part}) as text/plain. If given a prefix, insert
the raw contents without decoding. If given a numerical prefix, you can
do semi-manual charset stuff (see
@findex gnus-mime-view-part-internally
@item E (Article)
@kindex E (Article)
-View the @sc{mime} object with an internal viewer. If no internal
+View the @acronym{MIME} object with an internal viewer. If no internal
viewer is available, use an external viewer
(@code{gnus-mime-view-part-internally}).
@findex gnus-mime-view-part-externally
@item e (Article)
@kindex e (Article)
-View the @sc{mime} object with an external viewer.
+View the @acronym{MIME} object with an external viewer.
(@code{gnus-mime-view-part-externally}).
@findex gnus-mime-pipe-part
@item | (Article)
@kindex | (Article)
-Output the @sc{mime} object to a process (@code{gnus-mime-pipe-part}).
+Output the @acronym{MIME} object to a process (@code{gnus-mime-pipe-part}).
@findex gnus-mime-action-on-part
@item . (Article)
@kindex . (Article)
-Interactively run an action on the @sc{mime} object
+Interactively run an action on the @acronym{MIME} object
(@code{gnus-mime-action-on-part}).
@end table
-Gnus will display some @sc{mime} objects automatically. The way Gnus
+Gnus will display some @acronym{MIME} objects automatically. The way Gnus
determines which parts to do this with is described in the Emacs
-@sc{mime} manual.
+@acronym{MIME} manual.
It might be best to just use the toggling functions from the article
buffer to avoid getting nasty surprises. (For instance, you enter the
-group @samp{alt.sing-a-long} and, before you know it, @sc{mime} has
+group @samp{alt.sing-a-long} and, before you know it, @acronym{MIME} has
decoded the sound file in the article and some horrible sing-a-long song
comes screaming out your speakers, and you can't find the volume button,
because there isn't one, and people are starting to look at you, and you
@cindex article customization
A slew of functions for customizing how the articles are to look like
-exist. You can call these functions interactively, or you can have them
+exist. You can call these functions interactively
+(@pxref{Article Washing}), or you can have them
called automatically when you select the articles.
To have them called automatically, you should set the corresponding
@end enumerate
You may have noticed that the word @dfn{part} is used here. This refers
-to the fact that some messages are @sc{mime} multipart articles that may
+to the fact that some messages are @acronym{MIME} multipart articles that may
be divided into several parts. Articles that are not multiparts are
considered to contain just a single part.
@item gnus-treat-strip-leading-blank-lines (t, integer)
@item gnus-treat-strip-multiple-blank-lines (t, integer)
@item gnus-treat-strip-pem (t, last, integer)
-@item gnus-treat-strip-pgp (t, last, integer)
@item gnus-treat-strip-trailing-blank-lines (t, last, integer)
@item gnus-treat-unsplit-urls (t, integer)
@item gnus-treat-wash-html (t, integer)
@item gnus-treat-hide-citation-maybe (t, integer)
@item gnus-treat-hide-headers (head)
@item gnus-treat-hide-signature (t, last)
+@item gnus-treat-strip-banner (t, last)
+@item gnus-treat-strip-list-identifiers (head)
@xref{Article Hiding}.
@kindex SPACE (Article)
@findex gnus-article-next-page
Scroll forwards one page (@code{gnus-article-next-page}).
+This is exactly the same as @kbd{h SPACE h}.
@item DEL
@kindex DEL (Article)
@findex gnus-article-prev-page
Scroll backwards one page (@code{gnus-article-prev-page}).
+This is exactly the same as @kbd{h DEL h}.
@item C-c ^
@kindex C-c ^ (Article)
@vindex gnus-article-decode-hook
@item gnus-article-decode-hook
@cindex MIME
-Hook used to decode @sc{mime} articles. The default value is
+Hook used to decode @acronym{MIME} articles. The default value is
@code{(article-decode-charset article-decode-encoded-words)}
@vindex gnus-article-prepare-hook
Syntax table used in article buffers. It is initialized from
@code{text-mode-syntax-table}.
+@vindex gnus-article-over-scroll
+@item gnus-article-over-scroll
+If non-@code{nil}, allow scrolling the article buffer even when there
+no more new text to scroll in. The default is @code{nil}.
+
@vindex gnus-article-mode-line-format
@item gnus-article-mode-line-format
This variable is a format string along the same lines as
@end table
@item m
-The number of @sc{mime} parts in the article.
+The number of @acronym{MIME} parts in the article.
@end table
@vindex gnus-page-delimiter
This is the delimiter mentioned above. By default, it is @samp{^L}
(formfeed).
+
+@cindex IDNA
+@cindex internationalized domain names
+@vindex gnus-use-idna
+@item gnus-use-idna
+This variable controls whether Gnus performs IDNA decoding of
+internationalized domain names inside @samp{From}, @samp{To} and
+@samp{Cc} headers. This requires
+@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/, GNU Libidn}, and this
+variable is only enabled if you have installed it.
+
@end table
@item gnus-confirm-mail-reply-to-news
@vindex gnus-confirm-mail-reply-to-news
-If non-@code{nil}, Gnus requests confirmation when replying to news.
+This can also be a function receiving the group name as the only
+parameter which should return non-@code{nil} if a confirmation is
+needed, or a regular expression matching group names, where
+confirmation is should be asked for.
+
If you find yourself never wanting to reply to mail, but occasionally
press R anyway, this variable might be for you.
+@item gnus-confirm-treat-mail-like-news
+@vindex gnus-confirm-treat-mail-like-news
+If non-@code{nil}, Gnus also requests confirmation according to
+@code{gnus-confirm-mail-reply-to-news} when replying to mail. This is
+useful for treating mailing lists like newsgroups.
+
@end table
The default function, @code{message-send-mail-with-sendmail}, pipes
your article to the @code{sendmail} binary for further queuing and
sending. When your local system is not configured for sending mail
-using @code{sendmail}, and you have access to a remote @sc{smtp}
+using @code{sendmail}, and you have access to a remote @acronym{SMTP}
server, you can set @code{message-send-mail-function} to
@code{smtpmail-send-it} and make sure to setup the @code{smtpmail}
package correctly. An example:
smtpmail-default-smtp-server "YOUR SMTP HOST")
@end lisp
-To the thing similar to this, there is @code{message-smtpmail-send-it}.
-It is useful if your ISP requires the POP-before-SMTP authentication.
-See the documentation for the function @code{mail-source-touch-pop}.
+To the thing similar to this, there is
+@code{message-smtpmail-send-it}. It is useful if your ISP requires
+the @acronym{POP}-before-@acronym{SMTP} authentication. See the
+documentation for the function @code{mail-source-touch-pop}.
Other possible choices for @code{message-send-mail-function} includes
@code{message-send-mail-with-mh}, @code{message-send-mail-with-qmail},
@cindex mailing lists
If your news server offers groups that are really mailing lists
-gatewayed to the @sc{nntp} server, you can read those groups without
+gatewayed to the @acronym{NNTP} server, you can read those groups without
problems, but you can't post/followup to them without some difficulty.
One solution is to add a @code{to-address} to the group parameters
(@pxref{Group Parameters}). An easier thing to do is set the
lists will work most of the time. Posting to these groups (@kbd{a}) is
still a pain, though.
+@item gnus-user-agent
+@vindex gnus-user-agent
+@cindex User-Agent
+
+This variable controls which information should be exposed in the
+User-Agent header. It can be one of the symbols @code{gnus} (show only
+Gnus version), @code{emacs-gnus} (show only Emacs and Gnus versions),
+@code{emacs-gnus-config} (same as @code{emacs-gnus} plus system
+configuration), @code{emacs-gnus-type} (same as @code{emacs-gnus} plus
+system type) or a custom string. If you set it to a string, be sure to
+use a valid format, see RFC 2616.
+
@end table
You may want to do spell-checking on messages that you send out. Or, if
The first element in each style is called the @code{match}. If it's a
string, then Gnus will try to regexp match it against the group name.
-If it is the form @code{(header MATCH REGEXP)}, then Gnus will look in
-the original article for a header whose name is MATCH and compare that
-REGEXP. MATCH and REGEXP are strings. (There original article is the
-one you are replying or following up to. If you are not composing a
-reply or a followup, then there is nothing to match against.) If the
-@code{match} is a function symbol, that function will be called with no
-arguments. If it's a variable symbol, then the variable will be
+If it is the form @code{(header @var{match} @var{regexp})}, then Gnus
+will look in the original article for a header whose name is
+@var{match} and compare that @var{regexp}. @var{match} and
+@var{regexp} are strings. (There original article is the one you are
+replying or following up to. If you are not composing a reply or a
+followup, then there is nothing to match against.) If the
+@code{match} is a function symbol, that function will be called with
+no arguments. If it's a variable symbol, then the variable will be
referenced. If it's a list, then that list will be @code{eval}ed. In
-any case, if this returns a non-@code{nil} value, then the style is said
-to @dfn{match}.
+any case, if this returns a non-@code{nil} value, then the style is
+said to @dfn{match}.
Each style may contain an arbitrary amount of @dfn{attributes}. Each
attribute consists of a @code{(@var{name} @var{value})} pair. The
(organization "People's Front Against MWM"))
("^rec.humor"
(signature my-funny-signature-randomizer))
- ((equal (system-name) "gnarly") ;; A form
+ ((equal (system-name) "gnarly") ;; @r{A form}
(signature my-quote-randomizer))
- (message-news-p ;; A function symbol
+ (message-news-p ;; @r{A function symbol}
(signature my-news-signature))
- (window-system ;; A value symbol
+ (window-system ;; @r{A value symbol}
("X-Window-System" (format "%s" window-system)))
- ;; If I'm replying to Larsi, set the Organization header.
+ ;; @r{If I'm replying to Larsi, set the Organization header.}
((header "from" "larsi.*org")
(Organization "Somewhere, Inc."))
- ((posting-from-work-p) ;; A user defined function
+ ((posting-from-work-p) ;; @r{A user defined function}
(signature-file "~/.work-signature")
(address "user@@bar.foo")
(body "You are fired.\n\nSincerely, your boss.")
If the group doesn't exist, it will be created and you'll be subscribed
to it. The only way to make it disappear from the Group buffer is to
-unsubscribe it.
+unsubscribe it. The special properties of the draft group comes from
+a group property (@pxref{Group Parameters}), and if lost the group
+behaves like any other group. This means the commands below will not
+be available. To restore the special properties of the group, the
+simplest way is to kill the group, using @kbd{C-k}, and restart
+Gnus. The group is automatically created again with the
+correct parameters. The content of the group is not lost.
@c @findex gnus-dissociate-buffer-from-draft
@c @kindex C-c M-d (Mail)
Articles}).
@findex gnus-draft-send-all-messages
+@kindex D s (Draft)
@findex gnus-draft-send-message
+@kindex D S (Draft)
If you have lots of rejected messages you want to post (or mail) without
doing further editing, you can use the @kbd{D s} command
(@code{gnus-draft-send-message}). This command understands the
command (@code{gnus-draft-send-all-messages}) will ship off all messages
in the buffer.
+@findex gnus-draft-toggle-sending
+@kindex D t (Draft)
If you have some messages that you wish not to send, you can use the
@kbd{D t} (@code{gnus-draft-toggle-sending}) command to mark the message
as unsendable. This is a toggling command.
@cindex using s/mime
@cindex using smime
-Gnus can digitally sign and encrypt your messages, using vanilla PGP
-format or @sc{pgp/mime} or @sc{s/mime}. For decoding such messages,
-see the @code{mm-verify-option} and @code{mm-decrypt-option} options
-(@pxref{Security}).
-
-For PGP, Gnus supports two external libraries, @sc{gpg.el} and
-@sc{Mailcrypt}, you need to install at least one of them. The
-@sc{s/mime} support in Gnus requires the external program OpenSSL.
+Gnus can digitally sign and encrypt your messages, using vanilla
+@acronym{PGP} format or @acronym{PGP/MIME} or @acronym{S/MIME}. For
+decoding such messages, see the @code{mm-verify-option} and
+@code{mm-decrypt-option} options (@pxref{Security}).
+@vindex gnus-message-replysign
+@vindex gnus-message-replyencrypt
+@vindex gnus-message-replysignencrypted
Often, you would like to sign replies to people who send you signed
messages. Even more often, you might want to encrypt messages which
are in reply to encrypted messages. Gnus offers
@code{gnus-message-replysignencrypted} (on by default) will sign
automatically encrypted messages.
-Instructing MML to perform security operations on a @sc{mime} part is
+Instructing MML to perform security operations on a @acronym{MIME} part is
done using the @kbd{C-c C-m s} key map for signing and the @kbd{C-c
C-m c} key map for encryption, as follows.
@kindex C-c C-m s s
@findex mml-secure-message-sign-smime
-Digitally sign current message using @sc{s/mime}.
+Digitally sign current message using @acronym{S/MIME}.
@item C-c C-m s o
@kindex C-c C-m s o
@findex mml-secure-message-sign-pgp
-Digitally sign current message using PGP.
+Digitally sign current message using @acronym{PGP}.
@item C-c C-m s p
@kindex C-c C-m s p
@findex mml-secure-message-sign-pgp
-Digitally sign current message using @sc{pgp/mime}.
+Digitally sign current message using @acronym{PGP/MIME}.
@item C-c C-m c s
@kindex C-c C-m c s
@findex mml-secure-message-encrypt-smime
-Digitally encrypt current message using @sc{s/mime}.
+Digitally encrypt current message using @acronym{S/MIME}.
@item C-c C-m c o
@kindex C-c C-m c o
@findex mml-secure-message-encrypt-pgp
-Digitally encrypt current message using PGP.
+Digitally encrypt current message using @acronym{PGP}.
@item C-c C-m c p
@kindex C-c C-m c p
@findex mml-secure-message-encrypt-pgpmime
-Digitally encrypt current message using @sc{pgp/mime}.
+Digitally encrypt current message using @acronym{PGP/MIME}.
@item C-c C-m C-n
@kindex C-c C-m C-n
@end table
-Also @xref{Security, ,Security, message, Message Manual}.
+@xref{Security, ,Security, message, Message Manual}, for more information.
@node Select Methods
@chapter Select Methods
A @dfn{foreign group} is a group not read by the usual (or
default) means. It could be, for instance, a group from a different
-@sc{nntp} server, it could be a virtual group, or it could be your own
+@acronym{NNTP} server, it could be a virtual group, or it could be your own
personal mail group.
A foreign group (or any group, really) is specified by a @dfn{name} and
The @dfn{name} of the group is the name the back end will recognize the
group as.
-For instance, the group @samp{soc.motss} on the @sc{nntp} server
+For instance, the group @samp{soc.motss} on the @acronym{NNTP} server
@samp{some.where.edu} will have the name @samp{soc.motss} and select
method @code{(nntp "some.where.edu")}. Gnus will call this group
@samp{nntp+some.where.edu:soc.motss}, even though the @code{nntp}
* Getting News:: Reading USENET news with Gnus.
* Getting Mail:: Reading your personal mail with Gnus.
* Browsing the Web:: Getting messages from a plethora of Web sources.
-* IMAP:: Using Gnus as a @sc{imap} client.
+* IMAP:: Using Gnus as a @acronym{IMAP} client.
* Other Sources:: Reading directories, files, SOUP packets.
* Combined Groups:: Combining groups into one group.
* Gnus Unplugged:: Reading news and mail offline.
back end represents a virtual server.
For instance, the @code{nntp} back end may be used to connect to several
-different actual @sc{nntp} servers, or, perhaps, to many different ports
-on the same actual @sc{nntp} server. You tell Gnus which back end to
+different actual @acronym{NNTP} servers, or, perhaps, to many different ports
+on the same actual @acronym{NNTP} server. You tell Gnus which back end to
use, and what parameters to set by specifying a @dfn{select method}.
These select method specifications can sometimes become quite
complicated---say, for instance, that you want to read from the
-@sc{nntp} server @samp{news.funet.fi} on port number 13, which
-hangs if queried for @sc{nov} headers and has a buggy select. Ahem.
+@acronym{NNTP} server @samp{news.funet.fi} on port number 13, which
+hangs if queried for @acronym{NOV} headers and has a buggy select. Ahem.
Anyway, if you had to specify that for each group that used this
server, that would be too much work, so Gnus offers a way of naming
select methods, which is what you do in the server buffer.
@cindex proxy
@cindex firewall
-If you are behind a firewall and only have access to the @sc{nntp}
+If you are behind a firewall and only have access to the @acronym{NNTP}
server from the firewall machine, you can instruct Gnus to @code{rlogin}
-on the firewall machine and telnet from there to the @sc{nntp} server.
+on the firewall machine and telnet from there to the @acronym{NNTP} server.
Doing this can be rather fiddly, but your virtual server definition
should probably look something like this:
@node Server Variables
@subsection Server Variables
+@cindex server variables
+@cindex server parameters
One sticky point when defining variables (both on back ends and in Emacs
in general) is that some variables are typically initialized from other
variables when the definition of the variables is being loaded. If you
-change the "base" variable after the variables have been loaded, you
-won't change the "derived" variables.
+change the ``base'' variable after the variables have been loaded, you
+won't change the ``derived'' variables.
This typically affects directory and file variables. For instance,
@code{nnml-directory} is @file{~/Mail/} by default, and all @code{nnml}
(nnml-newsgroups-file "~/my-mail/newsgroups"))
@end lisp
+Server variables are often called @dfn{server parameters}.
@node Servers and Methods
@subsection Servers and Methods
@cindex news back ends
A newsreader is normally used for reading news. Gnus currently provides
-only two methods of getting news---it can read from an @sc{nntp} server,
+only two methods of getting news---it can read from an @acronym{NNTP} server,
or it can read from a local spool.
@menu
-* NNTP:: Reading news from an @sc{nntp} server.
+* NNTP:: Reading news from an @acronym{NNTP} server.
* News Spool:: Reading news from the local spool.
@end menu
@subsection NNTP
@cindex nntp
-Subscribing to a foreign group from an @sc{nntp} server is rather easy.
-You just specify @code{nntp} as method and the address of the @sc{nntp}
+Subscribing to a foreign group from an @acronym{NNTP} server is rather easy.
+You just specify @code{nntp} as method and the address of the @acronym{NNTP}
server as the, uhm, address.
-If the @sc{nntp} server is located at a non-standard port, setting the
+If the @acronym{NNTP} server is located at a non-standard port, setting the
third element of the select method to this port number should allow you
to connect to the right port. You'll have to edit the group info for
that (@pxref{Foreign Groups}).
@findex nntp-send-authinfo
@findex nntp-send-mode-reader
is run after a connection has been made. It can be used to send
-commands to the @sc{nntp} server after it has been contacted. By
+commands to the @acronym{NNTP} server after it has been contacted. By
default it sends the command @code{MODE READER} to the server with the
@code{nntp-send-mode-reader} function. This function should always be
present in this hook.
@vindex nntp-authinfo-function
@findex nntp-send-authinfo
@vindex nntp-authinfo-file
-This function will be used to send @samp{AUTHINFO} to the @sc{nntp}
+This function will be used to send @samp{AUTHINFO} to the @acronym{NNTP}
server. The default function is @code{nntp-send-authinfo}, which looks
through your @file{~/.authinfo} (or whatever you've set the
@code{nntp-authinfo-file} variable to) for applicable entries. If none
@item nntp-maximum-request
@vindex nntp-maximum-request
-If the @sc{nntp} server doesn't support @sc{nov} headers, this back end
+If the @acronym{NNTP} server doesn't support @acronym{NOV} headers, this back end
will collect headers by sending a series of @code{head} commands. To
speed things up, the back end sends lots of these commands without
waiting for reply, and then reads all the replies. This is controlled
@item nntp-connection-timeout
@vindex nntp-connection-timeout
If you have lots of foreign @code{nntp} groups that you connect to
-regularly, you're sure to have problems with @sc{nntp} servers not
+regularly, you're sure to have problems with @acronym{NNTP} servers not
responding properly, or being too loaded to reply within reasonable
time. This is can lead to awkward problems, which can be helped
somewhat by setting @code{nntp-connection-timeout}. This is an integer
@c @cindex dynamic IP addresses
@c If you're running Gnus on a machine that has a dynamically assigned
@c address, Gnus may become confused. If the address of your machine
-@c changes after connecting to the @sc{nntp} server, Gnus will simply sit
+@c changes after connecting to the @acronym{NNTP} server, Gnus will simply sit
@c waiting forever for replies from the server. To help with this
@c unfortunate problem, you can set this command to a number. Gnus will
@c then, if it sits waiting for a reply from the server longer than that
@item nntp-server-hook
@vindex nntp-server-hook
-This hook is run as the last step when connecting to an @sc{nntp}
+This hook is run as the last step when connecting to an @acronym{NNTP}
server.
@item nntp-buggy-select
@item nntp-nov-is-evil
@vindex nntp-nov-is-evil
-If the @sc{nntp} server does not support @sc{nov}, you could set this
-variable to @code{t}, but @code{nntp} usually checks automatically whether @sc{nov}
+If the @acronym{NNTP} server does not support @acronym{NOV}, you could set this
+variable to @code{t}, but @code{nntp} usually checks automatically whether @acronym{NOV}
can be used.
@item nntp-xover-commands
@vindex nntp-xover-commands
@cindex nov
@cindex XOVER
-List of strings used as commands to fetch @sc{nov} lines from a
+List of strings used as commands to fetch @acronym{NOV} lines from a
server. The default value of this variable is @code{("XOVER"
"XOVERVIEW")}.
@item nntp-nov-gap
@vindex nntp-nov-gap
-@code{nntp} normally sends just one big request for @sc{nov} lines to
+@code{nntp} normally sends just one big request for @acronym{NOV} lines to
the server. The server responds with one huge list of lines. However,
if you have read articles 2-5000 in the group, and only want to read
-article 1 and 5001, that means that @code{nntp} will fetch 4999 @sc{nov}
+article 1 and 5001, that means that @code{nntp} will fetch 4999 @acronym{NOV}
lines that you will not need. This variable says how
big a gap between two consecutive articles is allowed to be before the
@code{XOVER} request is split into several request. Note that if your
@item nntp-prepare-server-hook
@vindex nntp-prepare-server-hook
-A hook run before attempting to connect to an @sc{nntp} server.
+A hook run before attempting to connect to an @acronym{NNTP} server.
@item nntp-warn-about-losing-connection
@vindex nntp-warn-about-losing-connection
@item nntp-record-commands
@vindex nntp-record-commands
If non-@code{nil}, @code{nntp} will log all commands it sends to the
-@sc{nntp} server (along with a timestamp) in the @samp{*nntp-log*}
-buffer. This is useful if you are debugging a Gnus/@sc{nntp} connection
+@acronym{NNTP} server (along with a timestamp) in the @samp{*nntp-log*}
+buffer. This is useful if you are debugging a Gnus/@acronym{NNTP} connection
that doesn't seem to work.
@item nntp-open-connection-function
Note that not all servers support the recommended ID. This works for
INN versions 2.3.0 and later, for instance.
+
+@item nntp-read-timeout
+@vindex nntp-read-timeout
+How long nntp should wait between checking for the end of output.
+Shorter values mean quicker response, but is more CPU intensive. The
+default is 0.1 seconds. If you have a slow line to the server (and
+don't like to see Emacs eat your available CPU power), you might set
+this to, say, 1.
+
@end table
@menu
@cindex direct connection functions
These functions are called direct because they open a direct connection
-between your machine and the @sc{nntp} server. The behavior of these
+between your machine and the @acronym{NNTP} server. The behavior of these
functions is also affected by commonly understood variables
(@pxref{Common Variables}).
This is the default, and simply connects to some port or other on the
remote system.
+@findex nntp-open-tls-stream
+@item nntp-open-tls-stream
+Opens a connection to a server over a @dfn{secure} channel. To use
+this you must have @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gnutls/, GNUTLS}
+installed. You then define a server as follows:
+
+@lisp
+;; @r{"nntps" is port 563 and is predefined in our @file{/etc/services}}
+;; @r{however, @samp{gnutls-cli -p} doesn't like named ports.}
+;;
+(nntp "snews.bar.com"
+ (nntp-open-connection-function nntp-open-tls-stream)
+ (nntp-port-number )
+ (nntp-address "snews.bar.com"))
+@end lisp
+
@findex nntp-open-ssl-stream
@item nntp-open-ssl-stream
Opens a connection to a server over a @dfn{secure} channel. To use
-this you must have OpenSSL (@uref{http://www.openssl.org}) or SSLeay
-installed (@uref{ftp://ftp.psy.uq.oz.au/pub/Crypto/SSL}, and you also
-need @file{ssl.el} (from the W3 distribution, for instance). You then
-define a server as follows:
+this you must have @uref{http://www.openssl.org, OpenSSL} or
+@uref{ftp://ftp.psy.uq.oz.au/pub/Crypto/SSL, SSLeay} installed. You
+then define a server as follows:
@lisp
-;; Type `C-c C-c' after you've finished editing.
-;;
-;; "snews" is port 563 and is predefined in our /etc/services
-;; however, openssl s_client -port doesn't like named ports
+;; @r{"snews" is port 563 and is predefined in our @file{/etc/services}}
+;; @r{however, @samp{openssl s_client -port} doesn't like named ports.}
;;
(nntp "snews.bar.com"
(nntp-open-connection-function nntp-open-ssl-stream)
@findex nntp-open-telnet-stream
@item nntp-open-telnet-stream
-Opens a connection to an @sc{nntp} server by simply @samp{telnet}'ing
+Opens a connection to an @acronym{NNTP} server by simply @samp{telnet}'ing
it. You might wonder why this function exists, since we have the
default @code{nntp-open-network-stream} which would do the job. (One
of) the reason(s) is that if you are behind a firewall but have direct
@cindex indirect connection functions
These functions are called indirect because they connect to an
-intermediate host before actually connecting to the @sc{nntp} server.
+intermediate host before actually connecting to the @acronym{NNTP} server.
All of these functions and related variables are also said to belong to
-the "via" family of connection: they're all prefixed with "via" to make
+the ``via'' family of connection: they're all prefixed with ``via'' to make
things cleaner. The behavior of these functions is also affected by
commonly understood variables (@pxref{Common Variables}).
@item nntp-open-via-rlogin-and-telnet
@findex nntp-open-via-rlogin-and-telnet
Does an @samp{rlogin} on a remote system, and then does a @samp{telnet}
-to the real @sc{nntp} server from there. This is useful for instance if
+to the real @acronym{NNTP} server from there. This is useful for instance if
you need to connect to a firewall machine first.
@code{nntp-open-via-rlogin-and-telnet}-specific variables:
@vindex nntp-via-rlogin-command-switches
List of strings to be used as the switches to
@code{nntp-via-rlogin-command}. The default is @code{nil}. If you use
-@samp{ssh} for `nntp-via-rlogin-command', you may set this to
+@samp{ssh} for @code{nntp-via-rlogin-command}, you may set this to
@samp{("-C")} in order to compress all data connections, otherwise set
-this to @samp{("-t")} or @samp{("-C" "-t")} if the telnet command
-requires a pseudo-tty allocation on an intermediate host.
+this to @samp{("-t" "-e" "none")} or @samp{("-C" "-t" "-e" "none")} if
+the telnet command requires a pseudo-tty allocation on an intermediate
+host.
@end table
@item nntp-open-via-telnet-and-telnet
@item nntp-pre-command
@vindex nntp-pre-command
-A command wrapper to use when connecting through a non native connection
-function (all except @code{nntp-open-network-stream} and
-@code{nntp-open-ssl-stream}. This is where you would put a @samp{SOCKS}
-wrapper for instance.
+A command wrapper to use when connecting through a non native
+connection function (all except @code{nntp-open-network-stream},
+@code{nntp-open-tls-stream}, and @code{nntp-open-ssl-stream}. This is
+where you would put a @samp{SOCKS} wrapper for instance.
@item nntp-address
@vindex nntp-address
-The address of the @sc{nntp} server.
+The address of the @acronym{NNTP} server.
@item nntp-port-number
@vindex nntp-port-number
-Port number to connect to the @sc{nntp} server. The default is @samp{nntp}.
-If you use @sc{nntp} over @sc{ssl}, you may want to use integer ports rather
-than named ports (i.e, use @samp{563} instead of @samp{snews}), because
-external SSL tools may not work with named ports.
+Port number to connect to the @acronym{NNTP} server. The default is
+@samp{nntp}. If you use @acronym{NNTP} over
+@acronym{tls}/@acronym{ssl}, you may want to use integer ports rather
+than named ports (i.e, use @samp{563} instead of @samp{snews} or
+@samp{nntps}), because external @acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL} tools may
+not work with named ports.
@item nntp-end-of-line
@vindex nntp-end-of-line
-String to use as end-of-line marker when talking to the @sc{nntp}
+String to use as end-of-line marker when talking to the @acronym{NNTP}
server. This is @samp{\r\n} by default, but should be @samp{\n} when
using a non native connection function.
@item nntp-telnet-command
@vindex nntp-telnet-command
-Command to use when connecting to the @sc{nntp} server through
-@samp{telnet}. This is NOT for an intermediate host. This is just for
-the real @sc{nntp} server. The default is @samp{telnet}.
+Command to use when connecting to the @acronym{NNTP} server through
+@samp{telnet}. This is @emph{not} for an intermediate host. This is
+just for the real @acronym{NNTP} server. The default is
+@samp{telnet}.
@item nntp-telnet-switches
@vindex nntp-telnet-switches
@item nnspool-nov-directory
@vindex nnspool-nov-directory
-Where @code{nnspool} will look for @sc{nov} files. This is normally
+Where @code{nnspool} will look for @acronym{NOV} files. This is normally
@file{/usr/spool/news/over.view/}.
@item nnspool-lib-dir
@item nnspool-active-file
@vindex nnspool-active-file
-The path to the active file.
+The name of the active file.
@item nnspool-newsgroups-file
@vindex nnspool-newsgroups-file
-The path to the group descriptions file.
+The name of the group descriptions file.
@item nnspool-history-file
@vindex nnspool-history-file
-The path to the news history file.
+The name of the news history file.
@item nnspool-active-times-file
@vindex nnspool-active-times-file
-The path to the active date file.
+The name of the active date file.
@item nnspool-nov-is-evil
@vindex nnspool-nov-is-evil
-If non-@code{nil}, @code{nnspool} won't try to use any @sc{nov} files
+If non-@code{nil}, @code{nnspool} won't try to use any @acronym{NOV} files
that it finds.
@item nnspool-sift-nov-with-sed
@vindex nnspool-sift-nov-with-sed
@cindex sed
If non-@code{nil}, which is the default, use @code{sed} to get the
-relevant portion from the overview file. If nil, @code{nnspool} will
-load the entire file into a buffer and process it there.
+relevant portion from the overview file. If @code{nil},
+@code{nnspool} will load the entire file into a buffer and process it
+there.
@end table
they want to treat a message.
Many people subscribe to several mailing lists. These are transported
-via @sc{smtp}, and are therefore mail. But we might go for weeks without
+via @acronym{SMTP}, and are therefore mail. But we might go for weeks without
answering, or even reading these messages very carefully. We may not
need to save them because if we should need to read one again, they are
archived somewhere else.
Some people have local news groups which have only a handful of readers.
-These are transported via @sc{nntp}, and are therefore news. But we may need
+These are transported via @acronym{NNTP}, and are therefore news. But we may need
to read and answer a large fraction of the messages very carefully in
order to do our work. And there may not be an archive, so we may need
to save the interesting messages the same way we would personal mail.
mail back end of your choice into @code{gnus-secondary-select-methods},
and things will happen automatically.
-For instance, if you want to use @code{nnml} (which is a "one file per
-mail" back end), you could put the following in your @file{.gnus} file:
+For instance, if you want to use @code{nnml} (which is a ``one file per
+mail'' back end), you could put the following in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file:
@lisp
(setq gnus-secondary-select-methods '((nnml "")))
Now, the next time you start Gnus, this back end will be queried for new
articles, and it will move all the messages in your spool file to its
-directory, which is @code{~/Mail/} by default. The new group that will
+directory, which is @file{~/Mail/} by default. The new group that will
be created (@samp{mail.misc}) will be subscribed, and you can read it
like any other group.
mail belongs in that group.
The last of these groups should always be a general one, and the regular
-expression should @emph{always} be @samp{} so that it matches any mails
+expression should @emph{always} be @samp{*} so that it matches any mails
that haven't been matched by any of the other regexps. (These rules are
processed from the beginning of the alist toward the end. The first
-rule to make a match will "win", unless you have crossposting enabled.
-In that case, all matching rules will "win".)
+rule to make a match will ``win'', unless you have crossposting enabled.
+In that case, all matching rules will ``win''.)
If you like to tinker with this yourself, you can set this variable to a
function of your choice. This function will be called without any
The mail back ends all support cross-posting. If several regexps match,
the mail will be ``cross-posted'' to all those groups.
@code{nnmail-crosspost} says whether to use this mechanism or not. Note
-that no articles are crossposted to the general (@samp{}) group.
+that no articles are crossposted to the general (@samp{*}) group.
@vindex nnmail-crosspost-link-function
@cindex crosspost
@vindex nnmail-mail-splitting-charset
@vindex nnmail-mail-splitting-decodes
-By default the splitting codes MIME decodes headers so you can match
-on non-ASCII strings. The @code{nnmail-mail-splitting-charset}
-variable specifies the default charset for decoding. The behaviour
-can be turned off completely by binding
-@code{nnmail-mail-splitting-decodes} to nil, which is useful if you
-want to match articles based on the raw header data.
+By default the splitting codes @acronym{MIME} decodes headers so you
+can match on non-@acronym{ASCII} strings. The
+@code{nnmail-mail-splitting-charset} variable specifies the default
+charset for decoding. The behaviour can be turned off completely by
+binding @code{nnmail-mail-splitting-decodes} to @code{nil}, which is
+useful if you want to match articles based on the raw header data.
@vindex nnmail-resplit-incoming
-By default, splitting is performed on all incoming messages. If
-you specify a @code{directory} entry for the variable
-@code{mail-sources} @pxref{Mail Source Specifiers}, however, then
-splitting does @emph{not} happen by default. You can set the variable
-@code{nnmail-resplit-incoming} to a non-nil value to make splitting
-happen even in this case. (This variable has no effect on other kinds
-of entries.)
+By default, splitting is performed on all incoming messages. If you
+specify a @code{directory} entry for the variable @code{mail-sources}
+@pxref{Mail Source Specifiers}, however, then splitting does
+@emph{not} happen by default. You can set the variable
+@code{nnmail-resplit-incoming} to a non-@code{nil} value to make
+splitting happen even in this case. (This variable has no effect on
+other kinds of entries.)
Gnus gives you all the opportunity you could possibly want for shooting
yourself in the foot. Let's say you create a group that will contain
@node Mail Sources
@subsection Mail Sources
-Mail can be gotten from many different sources---the mail spool, from a
-POP mail server, from a procmail directory, or from a maildir, for
-instance.
+Mail can be gotten from many different sources---the mail spool, from
+a @acronym{POP} mail server, from a procmail directory, or from a
+maildir, for instance.
@menu
* Mail Source Specifiers:: How to specify what a mail source is.
@table @code
@item :path
-The path of the file. Defaults to the value of the @code{MAIL}
+The file name. Defaults to the value of the @env{MAIL}
environment variable or the value of @code{rmail-spool-directory}
(usually something like @file{/usr/mail/spool/user-name}).
+
+@item :prescript
+@itemx :postscript
+Script run before/after fetching mail.
@end table
An example file mail source:
(file :path "/usr/spool/mail/user-name")
@end lisp
-Or using the default path:
+Or using the default file name:
@lisp
(file)
@end lisp
-If the mail spool file is not located on the local machine, it's best to
-use POP or @sc{imap} or the like to fetch the mail. You can not use ange-ftp
-file names here---it has no way to lock the mail spool while moving the
-mail.
+If the mail spool file is not located on the local machine, it's best
+to use @acronym{POP} or @acronym{IMAP} or the like to fetch the mail.
+You can not use ange-ftp file names here---it has no way to lock the
+mail spool while moving the mail.
If it's impossible to set up a proper server, you can use ssh instead.
@item directory
@vindex nnmail-scan-directory-mail-source-once
-Get mail from several files in a directory. This is typically used when
-you have procmail split the incoming mail into several files. That is,
-there is a one-to-one correspondence between files in that directory and
-groups, so that mail from the file @file{foo.bar.spool} will be put in
-the group @code{foo.bar}. (You can change the suffix to be used instead
-of @code{.spool}.) Setting
-@code{nnmail-scan-directory-mail-source-once} to non-nil forces Gnus to
-scan the mail source only once. This is particularly useful if you want
-to scan mail groups at a specified level.
+Get mail from several files in a directory. This is typically used
+when you have procmail split the incoming mail into several files.
+That is, there is a one-to-one correspondence between files in that
+directory and groups, so that mail from the file @file{foo.bar.spool}
+will be put in the group @code{foo.bar}. (You can change the suffix
+to be used instead of @code{.spool}.) Setting
+@code{nnmail-scan-directory-mail-source-once} to non-@code{nil} forces
+Gnus to scan the mail source only once. This is particularly useful
+if you want to scan mail groups at a specified level.
@vindex nnmail-resplit-incoming
There is also the variable @code{nnmail-resplit-incoming}, if you set
-that to a non-nil value, then the normal splitting process is applied
-to all the files from the directory, @ref{Splitting Mail}.
+that to a non-@code{nil} value, then the normal splitting process is
+applied to all the files from the directory, @ref{Splitting Mail}.
Keywords:
@table @code
@item :path
-The path of the directory where the files are. There is no default
+The name of the directory where the files are. There is no default
value.
@item :suffix
@end lisp
@item pop
-Get mail from a POP server.
+Get mail from a @acronym{POP} server.
Keywords:
@table @code
@item :server
-The name of the POP server. The default is taken from the
-@code{MAILHOST} environment variable.
+The name of the @acronym{POP} server. The default is taken from the
+@env{MAILHOST} environment variable.
@item :port
-The port number of the POP server. This can be a number (eg,
+The port number of the @acronym{POP} server. This can be a number (eg,
@samp{:port 1234}) or a string (eg, @samp{:port "pop3"}). If it is a
string, it should be a service name as listed in @file{/etc/services} on
Unix systems. The default is @samp{"pop3"}. On some systems you might
need to specify it as @samp{"pop-3"} instead.
@item :user
-The user name to give to the POP server. The default is the login
+The user name to give to the @acronym{POP} server. The default is the login
name.
@item :password
-The password to give to the POP server. If not specified, the user is
-prompted.
+The password to give to the @acronym{POP} server. If not specified,
+the user is prompted.
@item :program
-The program to use to fetch mail from the POP server. This should be
-a @code{format}-like string. Here's an example:
+The program to use to fetch mail from the @acronym{POP} server. This
+should be a @code{format}-like string. Here's an example:
@example
fetchmail %u@@%s -P %p %t
the @code{:program} keyword. This can also be a function to be run.
@item :function
-The function to use to fetch mail from the POP server. The function is
-called with one parameter---the name of the file where the mail should
-be moved to.
+The function to use to fetch mail from the @acronym{POP} server. The
+function is called with one parameter---the name of the file where the
+mail should be moved to.
@item :authentication
This can be either the symbol @code{password} or the symbol @code{apop}
If the @code{:program} and @code{:function} keywords aren't specified,
@code{pop3-movemail} will be used.
-Here are some examples. Fetch from the default POP server, using the
-default user name, and default fetcher:
+Here are some examples. Fetch from the default @acronym{POP} server,
+using the default user name, and default fetcher:
@lisp
(pop)
@table @code
@item :path
-The path of the directory where the mails are stored. The default is
-taken from the @code{MAILDIR} environment variable or
-@samp{~/Maildir/}.
+The name of the directory where the mails are stored. The default is
+taken from the @env{MAILDIR} environment variable or
+@file{~/Maildir/}.
@item :subdirs
The subdirectories of the Maildir. The default is
@samp{("new" "cur")}.
@end lisp
@item imap
-Get mail from a @sc{imap} server. If you don't want to use @sc{imap}
-as intended, as a network mail reading protocol (ie with nnimap), for
-some reason or other, Gnus let you treat it similar to a POP server
-and fetches articles from a given @sc{imap} mailbox. @xref{IMAP}, for
-more information.
+Get mail from a @acronym{IMAP} server. If you don't want to use
+@acronym{IMAP} as intended, as a network mail reading protocol (ie
+with nnimap), for some reason or other, Gnus let you treat it similar
+to a @acronym{POP} server and fetches articles from a given
+@acronym{IMAP} mailbox. @xref{IMAP}, for more information.
-Note that for the Kerberos, GSSAPI, SSL/TLS and STARTTLS support you
+Note that for the Kerberos, GSSAPI, @acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL} and STARTTLS support you
may need external programs and libraries, @xref{IMAP}.
Keywords:
@table @code
@item :server
-The name of the @sc{imap} server. The default is taken from the
-@code{MAILHOST} environment variable.
+The name of the @acronym{IMAP} server. The default is taken from the
+@env{MAILHOST} environment variable.
@item :port
-The port number of the @sc{imap} server. The default is @samp{143}, or
-@samp{993} for SSL/TLS connections.
+The port number of the @acronym{IMAP} server. The default is @samp{143}, or
+@samp{993} for @acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL} connections.
@item :user
-The user name to give to the @sc{imap} server. The default is the login
+The user name to give to the @acronym{IMAP} server. The default is the login
name.
@item :password
-The password to give to the @sc{imap} server. If not specified, the user is
+The password to give to the @acronym{IMAP} server. If not specified, the user is
prompted.
@item :stream
What stream to use for connecting to the server, this is one of the
symbols in @code{imap-stream-alist}. Right now, this means
-@samp{gssapi}, @samp{kerberos4}, @samp{starttls}, @samp{ssl},
-@samp{shell} or the default @samp{network}.
+@samp{gssapi}, @samp{kerberos4}, @samp{starttls}, @samp{tls},
+@samp{ssl}, @samp{shell} or the default @samp{network}.
@item :authentication
Which authenticator to use for authenticating to the server, this is
@item :program
When using the `shell' :stream, the contents of this variable is
-mapped into the `imap-shell-program' variable. This should be a
+mapped into the @code{imap-shell-program} variable. This should be a
@code{format}-like string (or list of strings). Here's an example:
@example
The name of the server.
@item l
-User name from `imap-default-user'.
+User name from @code{imap-default-user}.
@item p
The port number of the server.
@item :predicate
The predicate used to find articles to fetch. The default, @samp{UNSEEN
UNDELETED}, is probably the best choice for most people, but if you
-sometimes peek in your mailbox with a @sc{imap} client and mark some
+sometimes peek in your mailbox with a @acronym{IMAP} client and mark some
articles as read (or; SEEN) you might want to set this to @samp{1:*}.
Then all articles in the mailbox is fetched, no matter what. For a
complete list of predicates, see RFC 2060 section 6.4.4.
but more flags are defined in RFC 2060 section 2.3.2.
@item :dontexpunge
-If non-nil, don't remove all articles marked as deleted in the mailbox
-after finishing the fetch.
+If non-@code{nil}, don't remove all articles marked as deleted in the
+mailbox after finishing the fetch.
@end table
-An example @sc{imap} mail source:
+An example @acronym{IMAP} mail source:
@lisp
(imap :server "mail.mycorp.com"
@item webmail
Get mail from a webmail server, such as @uref{www.hotmail.com},
@uref{webmail.netscape.com}, @uref{www.netaddress.com},
-@uref{mail.yahoo..com}.
+@uref{mail.yahoo.com}.
NOTE: Webmail largely depends cookies. A "one-line-cookie" patch is
required for url "4.0pre.46".
prompted.
@item :dontexpunge
-If non-nil, only fetch unread articles and don't move them to trash
-folder after finishing the fetch.
+If non-@code{nil}, only fetch unread articles and don't move them to
+trash folder after finishing the fetch.
@end table
@table @code
@item :plugged
-If non-nil, fetch the mail even when Gnus is unplugged. If you use
-directory source to get mail, you can specify it as in this example:
+If non-@code{nil}, fetch the mail even when Gnus is unplugged. If you
+use directory source to get mail, you can specify it as in this
+example:
@lisp
(setq mail-sources
@item mail-source-delete-incoming
@vindex mail-source-delete-incoming
-If non-@code{nil}, delete incoming files after handling them.
+If non-@code{nil}, delete incoming files after handling them. If
+@code{t}, delete the files immediately, if @code{nil}, never delete any
+files. If a positive number, delete files older than number of days
+(This will only happen, when reveiving new mail). You may also set
+@code{mail-source-delete-incoming} to @code{nil} and call
+@code{mail-source-delete-old-incoming} from a hook or interactively.
+
+@item mail-source-delete-old-incoming-confirm
+@vindex mail-source-delete-old-incoming-confirm
+If non-@code{nil}, ask for for confirmation before deleting old incoming
+files. This variable only applies when
+@code{mail-source-delete-incoming} is a positive number.
+
+@item mail-source-ignore-errors
+@vindex mail-source-ignore-errors
+If non-@code{nil}, ignore errors when reading mail from a mail source.
@item mail-source-directory
@vindex mail-source-directory
@item mail-source-movemail-program
@vindex mail-source-movemail-program
-If non-nil, name of program for fetching new mail. If nil,
-@code{movemail} in @var{exec-directory}.
+If non-@code{nil}, name of program for fetching new mail. If
+@code{nil}, @code{movemail} in @var{exec-directory}.
@end table
@code{nil}, the mail back ends will never attempt to fetch mail by
themselves.
-If you want to fetch mail both from your local spool as well as a POP
-mail server, you'd say something like:
+If you want to fetch mail both from your local spool as well as a
+@acronym{POP} mail server, you'd say something like:
@lisp
(setq mail-sources
@vindex nnmail-split-hook
@item nnmail-split-hook
-@findex article-decode-encoded-words
+@findex gnus-article-decode-encoded-words
@findex RFC 1522 decoding
@findex RFC 2047 decoding
Hook run in the buffer where the mail headers of each message is kept
Let's look at an example value of this variable first:
@lisp
-;; Messages from the mailer daemon are not crossposted to any of
-;; the ordinary groups. Warnings are put in a separate group
-;; from real errors.
+;; @r{Messages from the mailer daemon are not crossposted to any of}
+;; @r{the ordinary groups. Warnings are put in a separate group}
+;; @r{from real errors.}
(| ("from" mail (| ("subject" "warn.*" "mail.warning")
"mail.misc"))
- ;; Non-error messages are crossposted to all relevant
- ;; groups, but we don't crosspost between the group for the
- ;; (ding) list and the group for other (ding) related mail.
+ ;; @r{Non-error messages are crossposted to all relevant}
+ ;; @r{groups, but we don't crosspost between the group for the}
+ ;; @r{(ding) list and the group for other (ding) related mail.}
(& (| (any "ding@@ifi\\.uio\\.no" "ding.list")
("subject" "ding" "ding.misc"))
- ;; Other mailing lists...
+ ;; @r{Other mailing lists@dots{}}
(any "procmail@@informatik\\.rwth-aachen\\.de" "procmail.list")
(any "SmartList@@informatik\\.rwth-aachen\\.de" "SmartList.list")
- ;; Both lists below have the same suffix, so prevent
- ;; cross-posting to mkpkg.list of messages posted only to
- ;; the bugs- list, but allow cross-posting when the
- ;; message was really cross-posted.
+ ;; @r{Both lists below have the same suffix, so prevent}
+ ;; @r{cross-posting to mkpkg.list of messages posted only to}
+ ;; @r{the bugs- list, but allow cross-posting when the}
+ ;; @r{message was really cross-posted.}
(any "bugs-mypackage@@somewhere" "mypkg.bugs")
(any "mypackage@@somewhere\" - "bugs-mypackage" "mypkg.list")
- ;; People...
+ ;; @r{People@dots{}}
(any "larsi@@ifi\\.uio\\.no" "people.Lars_Magne_Ingebrigtsen"))
- ;; Unmatched mail goes to the catch all group.
+ ;; @r{Unmatched mail goes to the catch all group.}
"misc.misc")
@end lisp
when the @code{:} function is run.
@item
-@code{(! @var{func} @var{split})}: If the split is a list, and the first
-element is @code{!}, then SPLIT will be processed, and FUNC will be
-called as a function with the result of SPLIT as argument. FUNC should
-return a split.
+@code{(! @var{func} @var{split})}: If the split is a list, and the
+first element is @code{!}, then @var{split} will be processed, and
+@var{func} will be called as a function with the result of @var{split}
+as argument. @var{func} should return a split.
@item
@code{nil}: If the split is @code{nil}, it is ignored.
messages into the right group. With this function, you only have to do
it once per thread.
-To use this feature, you have to set @code{nnmail-treat-duplicates} and
-@code{nnmail-cache-accepted-message-ids} to a non-nil value. And then
-you can include @code{nnmail-split-fancy-with-parent} using the colon
-feature, like so:
+To use this feature, you have to set @code{nnmail-treat-duplicates}
+and @code{nnmail-cache-accepted-message-ids} to a non-@code{nil}
+value. And then you can include @code{nnmail-split-fancy-with-parent}
+using the colon feature, like so:
@lisp
-(setq nnmail-treat-duplicates 'warn ; or 'delete
+(setq nnmail-treat-duplicates 'warn ; @r{or @code{delete}}
nnmail-cache-accepted-message-ids t
nnmail-split-fancy
'(| (: nnmail-split-fancy-with-parent)
- ;; other splits go here
+ ;; @r{other splits go here}
))
@end lisp
This feature works as follows: when @code{nnmail-treat-duplicates} is
-non-nil, Gnus records the message id of every message it sees in the
-file specified by the variable @code{nnmail-message-id-cache-file},
-together with the group it is in (the group is omitted for non-mail
-messages). When mail splitting is invoked, the function
-@code{nnmail-split-fancy-with-parent} then looks at the References (and
-In-Reply-To) header of each message to split and searches the file
-specified by @code{nnmail-message-id-cache-file} for the message ids.
-When it has found a parent, it returns the corresponding group name
-unless the group name matches the regexp
-@code{nnmail-split-fancy-with-parent-ignore-groups}. It is recommended
-that you set @code{nnmail-message-id-cache-length} to a somewhat higher
-number than the default so that the message ids are still in the cache.
-(A value of 5000 appears to create a file some 300 kBytes in size.)
+non-@code{nil}, Gnus records the message id of every message it sees
+in the file specified by the variable
+@code{nnmail-message-id-cache-file}, together with the group it is in
+(the group is omitted for non-mail messages). When mail splitting is
+invoked, the function @code{nnmail-split-fancy-with-parent} then looks
+at the References (and In-Reply-To) header of each message to split
+and searches the file specified by @code{nnmail-message-id-cache-file}
+for the message ids. When it has found a parent, it returns the
+corresponding group name unless the group name matches the regexp
+@code{nnmail-split-fancy-with-parent-ignore-groups}. It is
+recommended that you set @code{nnmail-message-id-cache-length} to a
+somewhat higher number than the default so that the message ids are
+still in the cache. (A value of 5000 appears to create a file some
+300 kBytes in size.)
@vindex nnmail-cache-accepted-message-ids
When @code{nnmail-cache-accepted-message-ids} is non-@code{nil}, Gnus
also records the message ids of moved articles, so that the followup
splits like this:
@lisp
-(: gnus-group-split-fancy GROUPS NO-CROSSPOST CATCH-ALL)
+(: gnus-group-split-fancy @var{groups} @var{no-crosspost} @var{catch-all})
@end lisp
@var{groups} may be a regular expression or a list of group names whose
@code{nnmail-split-fancy} manually. You can do it by running
@code{gnus-group-split-update}. If you'd rather have it updated
automatically, just tell @code{gnus-group-split-setup} to do it for
-you. For example, add to your @file{.gnus}:
+you. For example, add to your @file{~/.gnus.el}:
@lisp
-(gnus-group-split-setup AUTO-UPDATE CATCH-ALL)
+(gnus-group-split-setup @var{auto-update} @var{catch-all})
@end lisp
If @var{auto-update} is non-@code{nil}, @code{gnus-group-split-update}
Go to the group buffer.
@item
-Type `G f' and give the path to the mbox file when prompted to create an
+Type @kbd{G f} and give the file name to the mbox file when prompted to create an
@code{nndoc} group from the mbox file (@pxref{Foreign Groups}).
@item
-Type `SPACE' to enter the newly created group.
+Type @kbd{SPACE} to enter the newly created group.
@item
-Type `M P b' to process-mark all articles in this group's buffer
+Type @kbd{M P b} to process-mark all articles in this group's buffer
(@pxref{Setting Process Marks}).
@item
-Type `B r' to respool all the process-marked articles, and answer
+Type @kbd{B r} to respool all the process-marked articles, and answer
@samp{nnml} when prompted (@pxref{Mail Group Commands}).
@end enumerate
articles you read as expirable, no matter if they were read or unread
before. To avoid having articles marked as read marked as expirable
automatically, you can put something like the following in your
-@file{.gnus} file:
+@file{~/.gnus.el} file:
@vindex gnus-mark-article-hook
@lisp
string (which should be the name of the group the message should be
moved to), or a function (which will be called in a buffer narrowed to
the message in question, and with the name of the group being moved
-from as its parameter) which should return a target -- either a group
+from as its parameter) which should return a target---either a group
name or @code{delete}.
Here's an example for specifying a group name:
@lisp
(setq nnmail-split-fancy
- '(| ;; Messages duplicates go to a separate group.
+ '(| ;; @r{Messages duplicates go to a separate group.}
("gnus-warning" "duplicat\\(e\\|ion\\) of message" "duplicate")
- ;; Message from daemons, postmaster, and the like to another.
+ ;; @r{Message from daemons, postmaster, and the like to another.}
(any mail "mail.misc")
- ;; Other rules.
+ ;; @r{Other rules.}
[ ... ] ))
@end lisp
@lisp
(setq nnmail-split-methods
'(("duplicates" "^Gnus-Warning:.*duplicate")
- ;; Other rules.
+ ;; @r{Other rules.}
[...]))
@end lisp
@vindex nnmh-get-new-mail
@vindex nnfolder-get-new-mail
This might be too much, if, for instance, you are reading mail quite
-happily with @code{nnml} and just want to peek at some old @sc{rmail}
+happily with @code{nnml} and just want to peek at some old Rmail
file you have stashed away with @code{nnbabyl}. All back ends have
variables called back-end-@code{get-new-mail}. If you want to disable
the @code{nnbabyl} mail reading, you edit the virtual server for the
There are six different mail back ends in the standard Gnus, and more
back ends are available separately. The mail back end most people use
(because it is possibly the fastest) is @code{nnml} (@pxref{Mail
-Spool}). You might notice that only five back ends are listed below;
-@code{nnmaildir}'s documentation has not yet been completely
-incorporated into this manual. Until it is, you can find it at
-@uref{http://multivac.cwru.edu./nnmaildir/}.
+Spool}).
@menu
* Unix Mail Box:: Using the (quite) standard Un*x mbox.
-* Rmail Babyl:: Emacs programs use the rmail babyl format.
+* Rmail Babyl:: Emacs programs use the Rmail Babyl format.
* Mail Spool:: Store your mail in a private spool?
* MH Spool:: An mhspool-like back end.
+* Maildir:: Another one-file-per-message format.
* Mail Folders:: Having one file for each group.
* Comparing Mail Back Ends:: An in-depth looks at pros and cons.
@end menu
@node Rmail Babyl
@subsubsection Rmail Babyl
@cindex nnbabyl
-@cindex rmail mbox
+@cindex Rmail mbox
@vindex nnbabyl-active-file
@vindex nnbabyl-mbox-file
-The @dfn{nnbabyl} back end will use a babyl mail box (aka. @dfn{rmail
+The @dfn{nnbabyl} back end will use a Babyl mail box (aka. @dfn{Rmail
mbox}) to store mail. @code{nnbabyl} will add extra headers to each
mail article to say which group it belongs in.
@table @code
@item nnbabyl-mbox-file
@vindex nnbabyl-mbox-file
-The name of the rmail mbox file. The default is @file{~/RMAIL}
+The name of the Rmail mbox file. The default is @file{~/RMAIL}
@item nnbabyl-active-file
@vindex nnbabyl-active-file
@node Mail Spool
@subsubsection Mail Spool
@cindex nnml
-@cindex mail @sc{nov} spool
+@cindex mail @acronym{NOV} spool
The @dfn{nnml} spool mail format isn't compatible with any other known
format. It should be used with some caution.
@code{nnml} is probably the slowest back end when it comes to article
splitting. It has to create lots of files, and it also generates
-@sc{nov} databases for the incoming mails. This makes it possibly the
+@acronym{NOV} databases for the incoming mails. This makes it possibly the
fastest back end when it comes to reading mail.
@cindex self contained nnml servers
@table @code
@item nnml-directory
@vindex nnml-directory
-All @code{nnml} directories will be placed under this directory.
-The default is the value of `message-directory' (whose default value is
-@file{~/Mail}).
+All @code{nnml} directories will be placed under this directory. The
+default is the value of @code{message-directory} (whose default value
+is @file{~/Mail}).
@item nnml-active-file
@vindex nnml-active-file
The active file for the @code{nnml} server. The default is
-@file{~/Mail/active"}.
+@file{~/Mail/active}.
@item nnml-newsgroups-file
@vindex nnml-newsgroups-file
The @code{nnml} group descriptions file. @xref{Newsgroups File
-Format}. The default is @file{~/Mail/newsgroups"}.
+Format}. The default is @file{~/Mail/newsgroups}.
@item nnml-get-new-mail
@vindex nnml-get-new-mail
@item nnml-nov-is-evil
@vindex nnml-nov-is-evil
-If non-@code{nil}, this back end will ignore any @sc{nov} files. The
+If non-@code{nil}, this back end will ignore any @acronym{NOV} files. The
default is @code{nil}.
@item nnml-nov-file-name
@vindex nnml-nov-file-name
-The name of the @sc{nov} files. The default is @file{.overview}.
+The name of the @acronym{NOV} files. The default is @file{.overview}.
@item nnml-prepare-save-mail-hook
@vindex nnml-prepare-save-mail-hook
@end table
@findex nnml-generate-nov-databases
-If your @code{nnml} groups and @sc{nov} files get totally out of whack,
+If your @code{nnml} groups and @acronym{NOV} files get totally out of whack,
you can do a complete update by typing @kbd{M-x
nnml-generate-nov-databases}. This command will trawl through the
entire @code{nnml} hierarchy, looking at each and every article, so it
@cindex mh-e mail spool
@code{nnmh} is just like @code{nnml}, except that is doesn't generate
-@sc{nov} databases and it doesn't keep an active file or marks file.
+@acronym{NOV} databases and it doesn't keep an active file or marks file.
This makes @code{nnmh} a @emph{much} slower back end than @code{nnml},
but it also makes it easier to write procmail scripts for.
@end table
+@node Maildir
+@subsubsection Maildir
+@cindex nnmaildir
+@cindex maildir
+
+@code{nnmaildir} stores mail in the maildir format, with each maildir
+corresponding to a group in Gnus. This format is documented here:
+@uref{http://cr.yp.to/proto/maildir.html} and here:
+@uref{http://www.qmail.org/man/man5/maildir.html}. nnmaildir also
+stores extra information in the @file{.nnmaildir/} directory within a
+maildir.
+
+Maildir format was designed to allow concurrent deliveries and
+reading, without needing locks. With other backends, you would have
+your mail delivered to a spool of some kind, and then you would
+configure Gnus to split mail from that spool into your groups. You
+can still do that with nnmaildir, but the more common configuration is
+to have your mail delivered directly to the maildirs that appear as
+group in Gnus.
+
+nnmaildir is designed to be perfectly reliable: @kbd{C-g} will never
+corrupt its data in memory, and @code{SIGKILL} will never corrupt its
+data in the filesystem.
+
+nnmaildir stores article marks and @acronym{NOV} data in each maildir. So you
+can copy a whole maildir from one Gnus setup to another, and you will
+keep your marks.
+
+Virtual server settings:
+
+@table @code
+@item directory
+For each of your nnmaildir servers (it's very unlikely that you'd need
+more than one), you need to create a directory and populate it with
+maildirs or symlinks to maildirs (and nothing else; do not choose a
+directory already used for other purposes). Each maildir will be
+represented in Gnus as a newsgroup on that server; the filename of the
+symlink will be the name of the group. Any filenames in the directory
+starting with `.' are ignored. The directory is scanned when you
+first start Gnus, and each time you type @kbd{g} in the group buffer;
+if any maildirs have been removed or added, nnmaildir notices at these
+times.
+
+The value of the @code{directory} parameter should be a Lisp form
+which is processed by @code{eval} and @code{expand-file-name} to get
+the path of the directory for this server. The form is @code{eval}ed
+only when the server is opened; the resulting string is used until the
+server is closed. (If you don't know about forms and @code{eval},
+don't worry---a simple string will work.) This parameter is not
+optional; you must specify it. I don't recommend using
+@code{"~/Mail"} or a subdirectory of it; several other parts of Gnus
+use that directory by default for various things, and may get confused
+if nnmaildir uses it too. @code{"~/.nnmaildir"} is a typical value.
+
+@item target-prefix
+This should be a Lisp form which is processed by @code{eval} and
+@code{expand-file-name}. The form is @code{eval}ed only when the
+server is opened; the resulting string is used until the server is
+closed.
+
+When you create a group on an nnmaildir server, the maildir is created
+with @code{target-prefix} prepended to its name, and a symlink
+pointing to that maildir is created, named with the plain group name.
+So if @code{directory} is @code{"~/.nnmaildir"} and
+@code{target-prefix} is @code{"../maildirs/"}, then when you create
+the group @code{foo}, nnmaildir will create
+@file{~/.nnmaildir/../maildirs/foo} as a maildir, and will create
+@file{~/.nnmaildir/foo} as a symlink pointing to
+@file{../maildirs/foo}.
+
+You can set @code{target-prefix} to a string without any slashes to
+create both maildirs and symlinks in the same @code{directory}; in
+this case, any maildirs found in @code{directory} whose names start
+with @code{target-prefix} will not be listed as groups (but the
+symlinks pointing to them will be).
+
+As a special case, if @code{target-prefix} is @code{""} (the default),
+then when you create a group, the maildir will be created in
+@code{directory} without a corresponding symlink. Beware that you
+cannot use @code{gnus-group-delete-group} on such groups without the
+@code{force} argument.
+
+@item directory-files
+This should be a function with the same interface as
+@code{directory-files} (such as @code{directory-files} itself). It is
+used to scan the server's @code{directory} for maildirs. This
+parameter is optional; the default is
+@code{nnheader-directory-files-safe} if
+@code{nnheader-directory-files-is-safe} is @code{nil}, and
+@code{directory-files} otherwise.
+(@code{nnheader-directory-files-is-safe} is checked only once when the
+server is opened; if you want to check it each time the directory is
+scanned, you'll have to provide your own function that does that.)
+
+@item get-new-mail
+If non-@code{nil}, then after scanning for new mail in the group
+maildirs themselves as usual, this server will also incorporate mail
+the conventional Gnus way, from @code{mail-sources} according to
+@code{nnmail-split-methods} or @code{nnmail-split-fancy}. The default
+value is @code{nil}.
+
+Do @emph{not} use the same maildir both in @code{mail-sources} and as
+an nnmaildir group. The results might happen to be useful, but that
+would be by chance, not by design, and the results might be different
+in the future. If your split rules create new groups, remember to
+supply a @code{create-directory} server parameter.
+@end table
+
+@subsubsection Group parameters
+
+nnmaildir uses several group parameters. It's safe to ignore all
+this; the default behavior for nnmaildir is the same as the default
+behavior for other mail backends: articles are deleted after one week,
+etc. Except for the expiry parameters, all this functionality is
+unique to nnmaildir, so you can ignore it if you're just trying to
+duplicate the behavior you already have with another backend.
+
+If the value of any of these parameters is a vector, the first element
+is evaluated as a Lisp form and the result is used, rather than the
+original value. If the value is not a vector, the value itself is
+evaluated as a Lisp form. (This is why these parameters use names
+different from those of other, similar parameters supported by other
+backends: they have different, though similar, meanings.) (For
+numbers, strings, @code{nil}, and @code{t}, you can ignore the
+@code{eval} business again; for other values, remember to use an extra
+quote and wrap the value in a vector when appropriate.)
+
+@table @code
+@item expire-age
+An integer specifying the minimum age, in seconds, of an article before
+it will be expired, or the symbol @code{never} to specify that
+articles should never be expired. If this parameter is not set,
+nnmaildir falls back to the usual
+@code{nnmail-expiry-wait}(@code{-function}) variables (overridable by
+the @code{expiry-wait}(@code{-function}) group parameters. If you
+wanted a value of 3 days, you could use something like @code{[(* 3 24
+60 60)]}; nnmaildir will evaluate the form and use the result. An
+article's age is measured starting from the article file's
+modification time. Normally, this is the same as the article's
+delivery time, but editing an article makes it younger. Moving an
+article (other than via expiry) may also make an article younger.
+
+@item expire-group
+If this is set to a string (a full Gnus group name, like
+@code{"backend+server.address.string:group.name"}), and if it is not
+the name of the same group that the parameter belongs to, then
+articles will be moved to the specified group during expiry before
+being deleted. @emph{If this is set to an nnmaildir group, the
+article will be just as old in the destination group as it was in the
+source group.} So be careful with @code{expire-age} in the
+destination group. If this is set to the name of the same group that
+the parameter belongs to, then the article is not expired at all. If
+you use the vector form, the first element is evaluated once for each
+article. So that form can refer to
+@code{nnmaildir-article-file-name}, etc., to decide where to put the
+article. @emph{If this parameter is not set, nnmaildir does not fall
+back to the @code{expiry-target} group parameter or the
+@code{nnmail-expiry-target} variable.}
+
+@item read-only
+If this is set to @code{t}, nnmaildir will treat the articles in this
+maildir as read-only. This means: articles are not renamed from
+@file{new/} into @file{cur/}; articles are only found in @file{new/},
+not @file{cur/}; articles are never deleted; articles cannot be
+edited. @file{new/} is expected to be a symlink to the @file{new/}
+directory of another maildir---e.g., a system-wide mailbox containing
+a mailing list of common interest. Everything in the maildir outside
+@file{new/} is @emph{not} treated as read-only, so for a shared
+mailbox, you do still need to set up your own maildir (or have write
+permission to the shared mailbox); your maildir just won't contain
+extra copies of the articles.
+
+@item directory-files
+A function with the same interface as @code{directory-files}. It is
+used to scan the directories in the maildir corresponding to this
+group to find articles. The default is the function specified by the
+server's @code{directory-files} parameter.
+
+@item distrust-Lines:
+If non-@code{nil}, nnmaildir will always count the lines of an
+article, rather than use the @code{Lines:} header field. If
+@code{nil}, the header field will be used if present.
+
+@item always-marks
+A list of mark symbols, such as
+@code{['(read expire)]}. Whenever Gnus asks nnmaildir for
+article marks, nnmaildir will say that all articles have these
+marks, regardless of whether the marks stored in the filesystem
+say so. This is a proof-of-concept feature that will probably be
+removed eventually; it ought to be done in Gnus proper, or
+abandoned if it's not worthwhile.
+
+@item never-marks
+A list of mark symbols, such as @code{['(tick expire)]}. Whenever
+Gnus asks nnmaildir for article marks, nnmaildir will say that no
+articles have these marks, regardless of whether the marks stored in
+the filesystem say so. @code{never-marks} overrides
+@code{always-marks}. This is a proof-of-concept feature that will
+probably be removed eventually; it ought to be done in Gnus proper, or
+abandoned if it's not worthwhile.
+
+@item nov-cache-size
+An integer specifying the size of the @acronym{NOV} memory cache. To speed
+things up, nnmaildir keeps @acronym{NOV} data in memory for a limited number of
+articles in each group. (This is probably not worthwhile, and will
+probably be removed in the future.) This parameter's value is noticed
+only the first time a group is seen after the server is opened---i.e.,
+when you first start Gnus, typically. The @acronym{NOV} cache is never resized
+until the server is closed and reopened. The default is an estimate
+of the number of articles that would be displayed in the summary
+buffer: a count of articles that are either marked with @code{tick} or
+not marked with @code{read}, plus a little extra.
+@end table
+
+@subsubsection Article identification
+Articles are stored in the @file{cur/} subdirectory of each maildir.
+Each article file is named like @code{uniq:info}, where @code{uniq}
+contains no colons. nnmaildir ignores, but preserves, the
+@code{:info} part. (Other maildir readers typically use this part of
+the filename to store marks.) The @code{uniq} part uniquely
+identifies the article, and is used in various places in the
+@file{.nnmaildir/} subdirectory of the maildir to store information
+about the corresponding article. The full pathname of an article is
+available in the variable @code{nnmaildir-article-file-name} after you
+request the article in the summary buffer.
+
+@subsubsection NOV data
+An article identified by @code{uniq} has its @acronym{NOV} data (used to
+generate lines in the summary buffer) stored in
+@code{.nnmaildir/nov/uniq}. There is no
+@code{nnmaildir-generate-nov-databases} function. (There isn't much
+need for it---an article's @acronym{NOV} data is updated automatically when the
+article or @code{nnmail-extra-headers} has changed.) You can force
+nnmaildir to regenerate the @acronym{NOV} data for a single article simply by
+deleting the corresponding @acronym{NOV} file, but @emph{beware}: this will also
+cause nnmaildir to assign a new article number for this article, which
+may cause trouble with @code{seen} marks, the Agent, and the cache.
+
+@subsubsection Article marks
+An article identified by @code{uniq} is considered to have the mark
+@code{flag} when the file @file{.nnmaildir/marks/flag/uniq} exists.
+When Gnus asks nnmaildir for a group's marks, nnmaildir looks for such
+files and reports the set of marks it finds. When Gnus asks nnmaildir
+to store a new set of marks, nnmaildir creates and deletes the
+corresponding files as needed. (Actually, rather than create a new
+file for each mark, it just creates hard links to
+@file{.nnmaildir/markfile}, to save inodes.)
+
+You can invent new marks by creating a new directory in
+@file{.nnmaildir/marks/}. You can tar up a maildir and remove it from
+your server, untar it later, and keep your marks. You can add and
+remove marks yourself by creating and deleting mark files. If you do
+this while Gnus is running and your nnmaildir server is open, it's
+best to exit all summary buffers for nnmaildir groups and type @kbd{s}
+in the group buffer first, and to type @kbd{g} or @kbd{M-g} in the
+group buffer afterwards. Otherwise, Gnus might not pick up the
+changes, and might undo them.
+
+
@node Mail Folders
@subsubsection Mail Folders
@cindex nnfolder
@item nnfolder-newsgroups-file
@vindex nnfolder-newsgroups-file
The name of the group descriptions file. @xref{Newsgroups File
-Format}. The default is @file{~/Mail/newsgroups"}
+Format}. The default is @file{~/Mail/newsgroups}
@item nnfolder-get-new-mail
@vindex nnfolder-get-new-mail
@item nnfolder-nov-is-evil
@vindex nnfolder-nov-is-evil
-If non-@code{nil}, this back end will ignore any @sc{nov} files. The
+If non-@code{nil}, this back end will ignore any @acronym{NOV} files. The
default is @code{nil}.
@item nnfolder-nov-file-suffix
@vindex nnfolder-nov-file-suffix
-The extension for @sc{nov} files. The default is @file{.nov}.
+The extension for @acronym{NOV} files. The default is @file{.nov}.
@item nnfolder-nov-directory
@vindex nnfolder-nov-directory
-The directory where the @sc{nov} files should be stored. If nil,
-@code{nnfolder-directory} is used.
+The directory where the @acronym{NOV} files should be stored. If
+@code{nil}, @code{nnfolder-directory} is used.
@item nnfolder-marks-is-evil
@vindex nnfolder-marks-is-evil
@item nnfolder-marks-directory
@vindex nnfolder-marks-directory
-The directory where the @sc{marks} files should be stored. If nil,
-@code{nnfolder-directory} is used.
+The directory where the @sc{marks} files should be stored. If
+@code{nil}, @code{nnfolder-directory} is used.
@end table
mail within spitting distance of Gnus.
The same concept exists for Usenet itself: Though access to articles is
-typically done by @sc{nntp} these days, once upon a midnight dreary, everyone
+typically done by @acronym{NNTP} these days, once upon a midnight dreary, everyone
in the world got at Usenet by running a reader on the machine where the
-articles lay (the machine which today we call an @sc{nntp} server), and
+articles lay (the machine which today we call an @acronym{NNTP} server), and
access was by the reader stepping into the articles' directory spool
area directly. One can still select between either the @code{nntp} or
@code{nnspool} back ends, to select between these methods, if one happens
format to which mail was converted, primarily involving creating a
spool-file-like entity with a scheme for inserting Babyl-specific
headers and status bits above the top of each message in the file.
-RMAIL was Emacs' first mail reader, it was written by Richard Stallman,
-and Stallman came out of that TOPS/Babyl environment, so he wrote RMAIL
+Rmail was Emacs' first mail reader, it was written by Richard Stallman,
+and Stallman came out of that TOPS/Babyl environment, so he wrote Rmail
to understand the mail files folks already had in existence. Gnus (and
VM, for that matter) continue to support this format because it's
perceived as having some good qualities in those mailer-specific
-headers/status bits stuff. RMAIL itself still exists as well, of
+headers/status bits stuff. Rmail itself still exists as well, of
course, and is still maintained by Stallman.
Both of the above forms leave your mail in a single file on your
CNews-based news system in (for instance) @file{/var/lib/news/active},
or what is returned via the @samp{NNTP LIST} verb) and also creates
@dfn{overview} files for efficient group entry, as has been defined for
-@sc{nntp} servers for some years now. It is slower in mail-splitting,
+@acronym{NNTP} servers for some years now. It is slower in mail-splitting,
due to the creation of lots of files, updates to the @code{nnml} active
file, and additions to overview files on a per-message basis, but it is
extremely fast on access because of what amounts to the indexing support
The Rand MH mail-reading system has been around UNIX systems for a very
long time; it operates by splitting one's spool file of messages into
-individual files, but with little or no indexing support -- @code{nnmh}
+individual files, but with little or no indexing support---@code{nnmh}
is considered to be semantically equivalent to ``@code{nnml} without
active file or overviews''. This is arguably the worst choice, because
one gets the slowness of individual file creation married to the
Basically the effect of @code{nnfolder} is @code{nnmbox} (the first
method described above) on a per-group basis. That is, @code{nnmbox}
-itself puts *all* one's mail in one file; @code{nnfolder} provides a
+itself puts @emph{all} one's mail in one file; @code{nnfolder} provides a
little bit of optimization to this so that each of one's mail groups has
a Unix mail box file. It's faster than @code{nnmbox} because each group
can be parsed separately, and still provides the simple Unix mail box
@item nnmaildir
+For configuring expiry and other things, @code{nnmaildir} uses
+incompatible group parameters, slightly different from those of other
+mail back ends.
+
@code{nnmaildir} is largely similar to @code{nnml}, with some notable
differences. Each message is stored in a separate file, but the
filename is unrelated to the article number in Gnus. @code{nnmaildir}
also stores the equivalent of @code{nnml}'s overview files in one file
per article, so it uses about twice as many inodes as @code{nnml}. (Use
@code{df -i} to see how plentiful your inode supply is.) If this slows
-you down or takes up very much space, consider switching to ReiserFS
-(@uref{http://www.namesys.com/}) or another non-block-structured
+you down or takes up very much space, consider switching to
+@uref{http://www.namesys.com/, ReiserFS} or another non-block-structured
file system.
Since maildirs don't require locking for delivery, the maildirs you use
thus damaging message bodies), and another set to be used as groups (in
whatever format you like). A maildir has a built-in spool, in the
@code{new/} subdirectory. Beware that currently, mail moved from
-@code{new/} to @code{cur/} instead of via mail splitting will undergo
-treatment such as duplicate checking.
-
-An article will not necessarily keep the same number across Gnus
-sessions; articles are renumbered starting from 1 for each Gnus session
-(more precisely, each time you open the @code{nnmaildir} server). This
-way, you don't get gaps in your article number ranges, and when entering
-large groups, Gnus is likely to give a more accurate article count. The
-price is that @code{nnmaildir} doesn't work with the cache or agent.
-This will probably be changed in the future.
+@code{new/} to @code{cur/} instead of via mail splitting will not
+undergo treatment such as duplicate checking.
@code{nnmaildir} stores article marks for a given group in the
corresponding maildir, in a way designed so that it's easy to manipulate
it's not as easy to work with them from outside Gnus as with
@code{nnmaildir}.
-For configuring expiry and other things, @code{nnmaildir} uses group
-parameters slightly different from those of other mail back ends.
-
@code{nnmaildir} uses a significant amount of memory to speed things up.
(It keeps in memory some of the things that @code{nnml} stores in files
and that @code{nnmh} repeatedly parses out of message files.) If this
is a problem for you, you can set the @code{nov-cache-size} group
parameter to something small (0 would probably not work, but 1 probably
-would) to make it use less memory.
+would) to make it use less memory. This caching will probably be
+removed in the future.
-Startup and shutdown are likely to be slower with @code{nnmaildir} than
-with other back ends. Everything in between is likely to be faster,
-depending in part on your file system.
+Startup is likely to be slower with @code{nnmaildir} than with other
+back ends. Everything else is likely to be faster, depending in part
+on your file system.
@code{nnmaildir} does not use @code{nnoo}, so you cannot use @code{nnoo}
to write an @code{nnmaildir}-derived back end.
All the web sources require Emacs/w3 and the url library to work.
The main caveat with all these web sources is that they probably won't
-work for a very long time. Gleaning information from the @sc{html} data
+work for a very long time. Gleaning information from the @acronym{HTML} data
is guesswork at best, and when the layout is altered, the Gnus back end
will fail. If you have reasonably new versions of these back ends,
though, you should be ok.
@cindex Slashdot
@cindex nnslashdot
-Slashdot (@uref{http://slashdot.org/}) is a popular news site, with
+@uref{http://slashdot.org/, Slashdot} is a popular news site, with
lively discussion following the news articles. @code{nnslashdot} will
let you read this forum in a convenient manner.
The easiest way to read this source is to put something like the
-following in your @file{.gnus.el} file:
+following in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file:
@lisp
(setq gnus-secondary-select-methods
command is the most handy tool (@pxref{Foreign Groups}).
When following up to @code{nnslashdot} comments (or posting new
-comments), some light @sc{html}izations will be performed. In
+comments), some light @acronym{HTML}izations will be performed. In
particular, text quoted with @samp{> } will be quoted with
@code{blockquote} instead, and signatures will have @code{br} added to
-the end of each line. Other than that, you can just write @sc{html}
+the end of each line. Other than that, you can just write @acronym{HTML}
directly into the message buffer. Note that Slashdot filters out some
-@sc{html} forms.
+@acronym{HTML} forms.
The following variables can be altered to change its behavior:
@item nnslashdot-directory
@vindex nnslashdot-directory
Where @code{nnslashdot} will store its files. The default is
-@samp{~/News/slashdot/}.
+@file{~/News/slashdot/}.
@item nnslashdot-active-url
@vindex nnslashdot-active-url
@cindex nnultimate
@cindex Ultimate Bulletin Board
-The Ultimate Bulletin Board (@uref{http://www.ultimatebb.com/}) is
+@uref{http://www.ultimatebb.com/, The Ultimate Bulletin Board} is
probably the most popular Web bulletin board system used. It has a
quite regular and nice interface, and it's possible to get the
information Gnus needs to keep groups updated.
@item nnultimate-directory
@vindex nnultimate-directory
The directory where @code{nnultimate} stores its files. The default is
-@samp{~/News/ultimate/}.
+@file{~/News/ultimate/}.
@end table
interface, and it's possible to get the information Gnus needs to keep
groups updated.
+@findex gnus-group-make-warchive-group
The easiest way to get started with @code{nnwarchive} is to say
something like the following in the group buffer: @kbd{M-x
-gnus-group-make-warchive-group RET an_egroup RET egroups RET
-www.egroups.com RET your@@email.address RET}. (Substitute the
-@sc{an_egroup} with the mailing list you subscribed, the
-@sc{your@@email.address} with your email address.), or to browse the
+gnus-group-make-warchive-group RET @var{an_egroup} RET egroups RET
+www.egroups.com RET @var{your@@email.address RET}}. (Substitute the
+@var{an_egroup} with the mailing list you subscribed, the
+@var{your@@email.address} with your email address.), or to browse the
back end by @kbd{B nnwarchive RET mail-archive RET}.
The following @code{nnwarchive} variables can be altered:
@item nnwarchive-directory
@vindex nnwarchive-directory
The directory where @code{nnwarchive} stores its files. The default is
-@samp{~/News/warchive/}.
+@file{~/News/warchive/}.
@item nnwarchive-login
@vindex nnwarchive-login
@item nnrss-directory
@vindex nnrss-directory
The directory where @code{nnrss} stores its files. The default is
-@samp{~/News/rss/}.
+@file{~/News/rss/}.
@end table
@end lisp
Put that in your @file{.emacs} file, and hitting links in w3-rendered
-@sc{html} in the Gnus article buffers will use @code{browse-url} to
+@acronym{HTML} in the Gnus article buffers will use @code{browse-url} to
follow the link.
@node IMAP
@section IMAP
@cindex nnimap
-@cindex @sc{imap}
+@cindex @acronym{IMAP}
-@sc{imap} is a network protocol for reading mail (or news, or ...),
-think of it as a modernized @sc{nntp}. Connecting to a @sc{imap}
+@acronym{IMAP} is a network protocol for reading mail (or news, or @dots{}),
+think of it as a modernized @acronym{NNTP}. Connecting to a @acronym{IMAP}
server is much similar to connecting to a news server, you just
specify the network address of the server.
-@sc{imap} has two properties. First, @sc{imap} can do everything that
-POP can, it can hence be viewed as a POP++. Secondly, @sc{imap} is a
-mail storage protocol, similar to @sc{nntp} being a news storage
-protocol -- however, @sc{imap} offers more features than @sc{nntp}
-because news is more or less read-only whereas mail is read-write.
+@acronym{IMAP} has two properties. First, @acronym{IMAP} can do
+everything that @acronym{POP} can, it can hence be viewed as a
+@acronym{POP++}. Secondly, @acronym{IMAP} is a mail storage protocol,
+similar to @acronym{NNTP} being a news storage protocol---however,
+@acronym{IMAP} offers more features than @acronym{NNTP} because news
+is more or less read-only whereas mail is read-write.
-If you want to use @sc{imap} as a POP++, use an imap entry in
-@code{mail-sources}. With this, Gnus will fetch mails from the
-@sc{imap} server and store them on the local disk. This is not the
-usage described in this section--@xref{Mail Sources}.
+If you want to use @acronym{IMAP} as a @acronym{POP++}, use an imap
+entry in @code{mail-sources}. With this, Gnus will fetch mails from
+the @acronym{IMAP} server and store them on the local disk. This is
+not the usage described in this section---@xref{Mail Sources}.
-If you want to use @sc{imap} as a mail storage protocol, use an nnimap
+If you want to use @acronym{IMAP} as a mail storage protocol, use an nnimap
entry in @code{gnus-secondary-select-methods}. With this, Gnus will
-manipulate mails stored on the @sc{imap} server. This is the kind of
+manipulate mails stored on the @acronym{IMAP} server. This is the kind of
usage explained in this section.
-A server configuration in @code{~/.gnus} with a few @sc{imap} servers
-might look something like the following. (Note that for SSL/TLS, you
+A server configuration in @file{~/.gnus.el} with a few @acronym{IMAP} servers
+might look something like the following. (Note that for @acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL}, you
need external programs and libraries, see below.)
@lisp
(setq gnus-secondary-select-methods
- '((nnimap "simpleserver") ; no special configuration
- ; perhaps a ssh port forwarded server:
+ '((nnimap "simpleserver") ; @r{no special configuration}
+ ; @r{perhaps a ssh port forwarded server:}
(nnimap "dolk"
(nnimap-address "localhost")
(nnimap-server-port 1430))
- ; a UW server running on localhost
+ ; @r{a UW server running on localhost}
(nnimap "barbar"
(nnimap-server-port 143)
(nnimap-address "localhost")
(nnimap-list-pattern ("INBOX" "mail/*")))
- ; anonymous public cyrus server:
+ ; @r{anonymous public cyrus server:}
(nnimap "cyrus.andrew.cmu.edu"
(nnimap-authenticator anonymous)
(nnimap-list-pattern "archive.*")
(nnimap-stream network))
- ; a ssl server on a non-standard port:
+ ; @r{a ssl server on a non-standard port:}
(nnimap "vic20"
(nnimap-address "vic20.somewhere.com")
(nnimap-server-port 9930)
(nnimap-stream ssl))))
@end lisp
+After defining the new server, you can subscribe to groups on the
+server using normal Gnus commands such as @kbd{U} in the Group Buffer
+(@pxref{Subscription Commands}) or via the Server Buffer
+(@pxref{Server Buffer}).
+
The following variables can be used to create a virtual @code{nnimap}
server:
@item nnimap-address
@vindex nnimap-address
-The address of the remote @sc{imap} server. Defaults to the virtual
+The address of the remote @acronym{IMAP} server. Defaults to the virtual
server name if not specified.
@item nnimap-server-port
@vindex nnimap-server-port
-Port on server to contact. Defaults to port 143, or 993 for SSL.
+Port on server to contact. Defaults to port 143, or 993 for @acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL}.
Note that this should be an integer, example server specification:
@vindex nnimap-list-pattern
String or list of strings of mailboxes to limit available groups to.
This is used when the server has very many mailboxes and you're only
-interested in a few -- some servers export your home directory via
-@sc{imap}, you'll probably want to limit the mailboxes to those in
+interested in a few---some servers export your home directory via
+@acronym{IMAP}, you'll probably want to limit the mailboxes to those in
@file{~/Mail/*} then.
The string can also be a cons of REFERENCE and the string as above, what
@vindex nnimap-stream
The type of stream used to connect to your server. By default, nnimap
will detect and automatically use all of the below, with the exception
-of SSL/TLS. (@sc{imap} over SSL/TLS is being replaced by STARTTLS, which
+of @acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL}. (@acronym{IMAP} over @acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL} is being replaced by STARTTLS, which
can be automatically detected, but it's not widely deployed yet.)
Example server specification:
@itemize @bullet
@item
@dfn{gssapi:} Connect with GSSAPI (usually Kerberos 5). Requires the
-@samp{imtest} program.
+@samp{gsasl} or @samp{imtest} program.
@item
@dfn{kerberos4:} Connect with Kerberos 4. Requires the @samp{imtest} program.
@item
@dfn{starttls:} Connect via the STARTTLS extension (similar to
-SSL). Requires the external library @samp{starttls.el} and program
+@acronym{TLS}/@acronym{SSL}). Requires the external library @samp{starttls.el} and program
@samp{starttls}.
@item
-@dfn{ssl:} Connect through SSL. Requires OpenSSL (the program
-@samp{openssl}) or SSLeay (@samp{s_client}) as well as the external
-library @samp{ssl.el}.
+@dfn{tls:} Connect through @acronym{TLS}. Requires GNUTLS (the program
+@samp{gnutls-cli}).
@item
-@dfn{shell:} Use a shell command to start @sc{imap} connection.
+@dfn{ssl:} Connect through @acronym{SSL}. Requires OpenSSL (the program
+@samp{openssl}) or SSLeay (@samp{s_client}).
+@item
+@dfn{shell:} Use a shell command to start @acronym{IMAP} connection.
@item
@dfn{network:} Plain, TCP/IP network connection.
@end itemize
1.5.x and 1.6.x) you need to frob @code{imap-process-connection-type}
to make @code{imap.el} use a pty instead of a pipe when communicating
with @samp{imtest}. You will then suffer from a line length
-restrictions on @sc{imap} commands, which might make Gnus seem to hang
+restrictions on @acronym{IMAP} commands, which might make Gnus seem to hang
indefinitely if you have many articles in a mailbox. The variable
@code{imap-kerberos4-program} contain parameters to pass to the imtest
program.
+For @acronym{TLS} connection, the @code{gnutls-cli} program from GNUTLS is
+needed. It is available from
+@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gnutls/}.
+
+@vindex imap-gssapi-program
+This parameter specifies a list of command lines that invoke a GSSAPI
+authenticated @acronym{IMAP} stream in a subshell. They are tried
+sequentially until a connection is made, or the list has been
+exhausted. By default, @samp{gsasl} from GNU SASL, available from
+@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gsasl/}, and the @samp{imtest}
+program from Cyrus IMAPD (see @code{imap-kerberos4-program}), are
+tried.
+
@vindex imap-ssl-program
-For SSL connections, the OpenSSL program is available from
+For @acronym{SSL} connections, the OpenSSL program is available from
@uref{http://www.openssl.org/}. OpenSSL was formerly known as SSLeay,
-and nnimap support it too - although the most recent versions of
+and nnimap support it too---although the most recent versions of
SSLeay, 0.9.x, are known to have serious bugs making it
useless. Earlier versions, especially 0.8.x, of SSLeay are known to
work. The variable @code{imap-ssl-program} contain parameters to pass
-to OpenSSL/SSLeay. You also need @samp{ssl.el} (from the W3
-distribution, for instance).
+to OpenSSL/SSLeay.
@vindex imap-shell-program
@vindex imap-shell-host
-For @sc{imap} connections using the @code{shell} stream, the variable
+For @acronym{IMAP} connections using the @code{shell} stream, the variable
@code{imap-shell-program} specify what program to call.
@item nnimap-authenticator
@itemize @bullet
@item
@dfn{gssapi:} GSSAPI (usually kerberos 5) authentication. Requires
-external program @code{imtest}.
+external program @code{gsasl} or @code{imtest}.
@item
@dfn{kerberos4:} Kerberos 4 authentication. Requires external program
@code{imtest}.
@item nnimap-expunge-on-close
@cindex Expunging
@vindex nnimap-expunge-on-close
-Unlike Parmenides the @sc{imap} designers has decided that things that
-doesn't exist actually does exist. More specifically, @sc{imap} has
+Unlike Parmenides the @acronym{IMAP} designers has decided that things that
+doesn't exist actually does exist. More specifically, @acronym{IMAP} has
this concept of marking articles @code{Deleted} which doesn't actually
delete them, and this (marking them @code{Deleted}, that is) is what
nnimap does when you delete a article in Gnus (with @kbd{B DEL} or
@table @code
@item always
-The default behavior, delete all articles marked as "Deleted" when
+The default behavior, delete all articles marked as ``Deleted'' when
closing a mailbox.
@item never
Never actually delete articles. Currently there is no way of showing
-the articles marked for deletion in nnimap, but other @sc{imap} clients
+the articles marked for deletion in nnimap, but other @acronym{IMAP} clients
may allow you to do this. If you ever want to run the EXPUNGE command
manually, @xref{Expunging mailboxes}.
@item ask
@item nnimap-importantize-dormant
@vindex nnimap-importantize-dormant
-If non-nil (the default), marks dormant articles as ticked (as well),
-for other @sc{imap} clients. Within Gnus, dormant articles will
+If non-@code{nil} (the default), marks dormant articles as ticked (as
+well), for other @acronym{IMAP} clients. Within Gnus, dormant articles will
naturally still (only) be marked as dormant. This is to make dormant
-articles stand out, just like ticked articles, in other @sc{imap}
-clients. (In other words, Gnus has two ``Tick'' marks and @sc{imap}
+articles stand out, just like ticked articles, in other @acronym{IMAP}
+clients. (In other words, Gnus has two ``Tick'' marks and @acronym{IMAP}
has only one.)
Probably the only reason for frobing this would be if you're trying
@cindex Expunging
@vindex nnimap-expunge-search-string
-This variable contain the @sc{imap} search command sent to server when
+This variable contain the @acronym{IMAP} search command sent to server when
searching for articles eligible for expiring. The default is
@code{"UID %s NOT SINCE %s"}, where the first @code{%s} is replaced by
UID set and the second @code{%s} is replaced by a date.
* Splitting in IMAP:: Splitting mail with nnimap.
* Expiring in IMAP:: Expiring mail with nnimap.
* Editing IMAP ACLs:: Limiting/enabling other users access to a mailbox.
-* Expunging mailboxes:: Equivalent of a "compress mailbox" button.
-* A note on namespaces:: How to (not) use IMAP namespace in Gnus.
+* Expunging mailboxes:: Equivalent of a ``compress mailbox'' button.
+* A note on namespaces:: How to (not) use @acronym{IMAP} namespace in Gnus.
@end menu
Splitting is something Gnus users has loved and used for years, and now
the rest of the world is catching up. Yeah, dream on, not many
-@sc{imap} server has server side splitting and those that have splitting
-seem to use some non-standard protocol. This means that @sc{imap}
+@acronym{IMAP} server has server side splitting and those that have splitting
+seem to use some non-standard protocol. This means that @acronym{IMAP}
support for Gnus has to do it's own splitting.
And it does.
@cindex crosspost
@vindex nnimap-split-crosspost
-If non-nil, do crossposting if several split methods match the mail. If
-nil, the first match in @code{nnimap-split-rule} found will be used.
+If non-@code{nil}, do crossposting if several split methods match the
+mail. If @code{nil}, the first match in @code{nnimap-split-rule}
+found will be used.
Nnmail equivalent: @code{nnmail-crosspost}.
@cindex inbox
@vindex nnimap-split-inbox
-A string or a list of strings that gives the name(s) of @sc{imap}
-mailboxes to split from. Defaults to nil, which means that splitting is
-disabled!
+A string or a list of strings that gives the name(s) of @acronym{IMAP}
+mailboxes to split from. Defaults to @code{nil}, which means that
+splitting is disabled!
@lisp
(setq nnimap-split-inbox
this variable.
This variable contains a list of lists, where the first element in the
-sublist gives the name of the @sc{imap} mailbox to move articles
+sublist gives the name of the @acronym{IMAP} mailbox to move articles
matching the regexp in the second element in the sublist. Got that?
Neither did I, we need examples.
The second element can also be a function. In that case, it will be
called with the first element of the rule as the argument, in a buffer
-containing the headers of the article. It should return a non-nil value
-if it thinks that the mail belongs in that group.
+containing the headers of the article. It should return a
+non-@code{nil} value if it thinks that the mail belongs in that group.
Nnmail users might recollect that the last regexp had to be empty to
match all articles (like in the example above). This is not required in
them every time you fetch new mail.)
These rules are processed from the beginning of the alist toward the
-end. The first rule to make a match will "win", unless you have
-crossposting enabled. In that case, all matching rules will "win".
+end. The first rule to make a match will ``win'', unless you have
+crossposting enabled. In that case, all matching rules will ``win''.
This variable can also have a function as its value, the function will
be called with the headers narrowed and should return a group where it
Mail matching this predicate in @code{nnimap-split-inbox} will be
split, it is a string and the default is @samp{UNSEEN UNDELETED}.
-This might be useful if you use another @sc{imap} client to read mail in
+This might be useful if you use another @acronym{IMAP} client to read mail in
your inbox but would like Gnus to split all articles in the inbox
regardless of readedness. Then you might change this to
@samp{UNDELETED}.
Nnmail equivalent: @code{nnmail-split-fancy}.
+@item nnimap-split-download-body
+@findex nnimap-split-download-body
+@vindex nnimap-split-download-body
+
+Set to non-@code{nil} to download entire articles during splitting.
+This is generally not required, and will slow things down
+considerably. You may need it if you want to use an advanced
+splitting function that analyses the body to split the article.
+
@end table
@node Expiring in IMAP
@subsection Expiring in IMAP
@cindex expiring imap mail
-Even though @sc{nnimap} is not a proper @sc{nnmail} derived back end,
-it supports most features in regular expiring (@pxref{Expiring Mail}).
-Unlike splitting in IMAP (@pxref{Splitting in IMAP}) it do not clone
-the @sc{nnmail} variables (i.e., creating @var{nnimap-expiry-wait})
-but reuse the @sc{nnmail} variables. What follows below are the
-variables used by the @sc{nnimap} expiry process.
+Even though @code{nnimap} is not a proper @code{nnmail} derived back
+end, it supports most features in regular expiring (@pxref{Expiring
+Mail}). Unlike splitting in @acronym{IMAP} (@pxref{Splitting in
+IMAP}) it does not clone the @code{nnmail} variables (i.e., creating
+@var{nnimap-expiry-wait}) but reuse the @code{nnmail} variables. What
+follows below are the variables used by the @code{nnimap} expiry
+process.
-A note on how the expire mark is stored on the @sc{imap} server is
+A note on how the expire mark is stored on the @acronym{IMAP} server is
appropriate here as well. The expire mark is translated into a
-@sc{imap} client specific mark, @code{gnus-expire}, and stored on the
+@code{imap} client specific mark, @code{gnus-expire}, and stored on the
message. This means that likely only Gnus will understand and treat
the @code{gnus-expire} mark properly, although other clients may allow
you to view client specific flags on the message. It also means that
@item nnmail-expiry-wait-function
These variables are fully supported. The expire value can be a
-number, the symbol @var{immediate} or @var{never}.
+number, the symbol @code{immediate} or @code{never}.
@item nnmail-expiry-target
This variable is supported, and internally implemented by calling the
-@sc{nnmail} functions that handle this. It contains an optimization
-that if the destination is a IMAP group on the same server, the
+@code{nnmail} functions that handle this. It contains an optimization
+that if the destination is a @acronym{IMAP} group on the same server, the
article is copied instead of appended (that is, uploaded again).
@end table
@subsection Editing IMAP ACLs
@cindex editing imap acls
@cindex Access Control Lists
-@cindex Editing @sc{imap} ACLs
+@cindex Editing @acronym{IMAP} ACLs
@kindex G l
@findex gnus-group-nnimap-edit-acl
-ACL stands for Access Control List. ACLs are used in @sc{imap} for
+ACL stands for Access Control List. ACLs are used in @acronym{IMAP} for
limiting (or enabling) other users access to your mail boxes. Not all
-@sc{imap} servers support this, this function will give an error if it
+@acronym{IMAP} servers support this, this function will give an error if it
doesn't.
To edit a ACL for a mailbox, type @kbd{G l}
@itemize @bullet
@item
-Giving "anyone" the "lrs" rights (lookup, read, keep seen/unseen flags)
+Giving ``anyone'' the ``lrs'' rights (lookup, read, keep seen/unseen flags)
on your mailing list mailboxes enables other users on the same server to
follow the list without subscribing to it.
@item
At least with the Cyrus server, you are required to give the user
-"anyone" posting ("p") capabilities to have "plussing" work (that is,
-mail sent to user+mailbox@@domain ending up in the @sc{imap} mailbox
+``anyone'' posting ("p") capabilities to have ``plussing'' work (that is,
+mail sent to user+mailbox@@domain ending up in the @acronym{IMAP} mailbox
INBOX.mailbox).
@end itemize
@cindex IMAP namespace
@cindex namespaces
-The IMAP protocol has a concept called namespaces, described by the
-following text in the RFC:
+The @acronym{IMAP} protocol has a concept called namespaces, described
+by the following text in the RFC:
@example
5.1.2. Mailbox Namespace Naming Convention
to a different object (e.g. a user's private mailbox).
@end example
-While there is nothing in this text that warrants concern for the IMAP
-implementation in Gnus, some servers use namespace prefixes in a way
-that does not work with how Gnus uses mailbox names.
-
-Specifically, University of Washington's IMAP server uses mailbox
-names like @code{#driver.mbx/read-mail} which are valid only in the
-@sc{create} and @sc{append} commands. After the mailbox is created
-(or a messages is appended to a mailbox), it must be accessed without
-the namespace prefix, i.e @code{read-mail}. Since Gnus do not make it
-possible for the user to guarantee that user entered mailbox names
-will only be used with the CREATE and APPEND commands, you should
-simply not use the namespace prefixed mailbox names in Gnus.
-
-See the UoW @sc{imapd} documentation for the @code{#driver.*/} prefix
+While there is nothing in this text that warrants concern for the
+@acronym{IMAP} implementation in Gnus, some servers use namespace
+prefixes in a way that does not work with how Gnus uses mailbox names.
+
+Specifically, University of Washington's @acronym{IMAP} server uses
+mailbox names like @code{#driver.mbx/read-mail} which are valid only
+in the @sc{create} and @sc{append} commands. After the mailbox is
+created (or a messages is appended to a mailbox), it must be accessed
+without the namespace prefix, i.e. @code{read-mail}. Since Gnus do
+not make it possible for the user to guarantee that user entered
+mailbox names will only be used with the CREATE and APPEND commands,
+you should simply not use the namespace prefixed mailbox names in
+Gnus.
+
+See the UoW IMAPD documentation for the @code{#driver.*/} prefix
for more information on how to use the prefixes. They are a power
tool and should be used only if you are sure what the effects are.
@code{ange-ftp} or @code{efs} will actually allow you to read this
directory over at @samp{sina} as a newsgroup. Distributed news ahoy!
-@code{nndir} will use @sc{nov} files if they are present.
+@code{nndir} will use @acronym{NOV} files if they are present.
@code{nndir} is a ``read-only'' back end---you can't delete or expire
articles with this method. You can use @code{nnmh} or @code{nnml} for
as a newsgroup. Several files types are supported:
@table @code
-@cindex babyl
-@cindex rmail mbox
+@cindex Babyl
+@cindex Rmail mbox
@item babyl
-The babyl (rmail) mail box.
+The Babyl (Rmail) mail box.
@cindex mbox
@cindex Unix mbox
Netscape mail boxes.
@item mime-parts
-@sc{mime} multipart messages.
+@acronym{MIME} multipart messages.
@item standard-digest
The standard (RFC 1153) digest format.
@item mime-digest
-A @sc{mime} digest of messages.
+A @acronym{MIME} digest of messages.
@item lanl-gov-announce
Announcement messages from LANL Gov Announce.
run through @code{nndoc-unquote-dashes} before being delivered.
To hook your own document definition into @code{nndoc}, use the
-@code{nndoc-add-type} function. It takes two parameters---the first is
-the definition itself and the second (optional) parameter says where in
-the document type definition alist to put this definition. The alist is
-traversed sequentially, and @code{nndoc-TYPE-type-p} is called for a given type @code{TYPE}. So @code{nndoc-mmdf-type-p} is called to see whether a document
-is of @code{mmdf} type, and so on. These type predicates should return
-@code{nil} if the document is not of the correct type; @code{t} if it is
-of the correct type; and a number if the document might be of the
-correct type. A high number means high probability; a low number means
-low probability with @samp{0} being the lowest valid number.
+@code{nndoc-add-type} function. It takes two parameters---the first
+is the definition itself and the second (optional) parameter says
+where in the document type definition alist to put this definition.
+The alist is traversed sequentially, and
+@code{nndoc-@var{type}-type-p} is called for a given type @var{type}.
+So @code{nndoc-mmdf-type-p} is called to see whether a document is of
+@code{mmdf} type, and so on. These type predicates should return
+@code{nil} if the document is not of the correct type; @code{t} if it
+is of the correct type; and a number if the document might be of the
+correct type. A high number means high probability; a low number
+means low probability with @samp{0} being the lowest valid number.
@node SOUP
@item nnsoup-replies-directory
@vindex nnsoup-replies-directory
All replies will be stored in this directory before being packed into a
-reply packet. The default is @file{~/SOUP/replies/"}.
+reply packet. The default is @file{~/SOUP/replies/}.
@item nnsoup-replies-format-type
@vindex nnsoup-replies-format-type
@cindex nnkiboze
@cindex kibozing
-@dfn{Kibozing} is defined by @sc{oed} as ``grepping through (parts of)
+@dfn{Kibozing} is defined by @acronym{oed} as ``grepping through (parts of)
the news feed''. @code{nnkiboze} is a back end that will do this for
-you. Oh joy! Now you can grind any @sc{nntp} server down to a halt
+you. Oh joy! Now you can grind any @acronym{NNTP} server down to a halt
with useless requests! Oh happiness!
@kindex G k (Group)
The address field of the @code{nnkiboze} method is, as with
@code{nnvirtual}, a regexp to match groups to be ``included'' in the
-@code{nnkiboze} group. That's where most similarities between @code{nnkiboze}
-and @code{nnvirtual} end.
+@code{nnkiboze} group. That's where most similarities between
+@code{nnkiboze} and @code{nnvirtual} end.
-In addition to this regexp detailing component groups, an @code{nnkiboze} group
-must have a score file to say what articles are to be included in
-the group (@pxref{Scoring}).
+In addition to this regexp detailing component groups, an
+@code{nnkiboze} group must have a score file to say what articles are
+to be included in the group (@pxref{Scoring}).
@kindex M-x nnkiboze-generate-groups
@findex nnkiboze-generate-groups
You must run @kbd{M-x nnkiboze-generate-groups} after creating the
-@code{nnkiboze} groups you want to have. This command will take time. Lots of
-time. Oodles and oodles of time. Gnus has to fetch the headers from
-all the articles in all the component groups and run them through the
-scoring process to determine if there are any articles in the groups
-that are to be part of the @code{nnkiboze} groups.
+@code{nnkiboze} groups you want to have. This command will take time.
+Lots of time. Oodles and oodles of time. Gnus has to fetch the
+headers from all the articles in all the component groups and run them
+through the scoring process to determine if there are any articles in
+the groups that are to be part of the @code{nnkiboze} groups.
Please limit the number of component groups by using restrictive
regexps. Otherwise your sysadmin may become annoyed with you, and the
-@sc{nntp} site may throw you off and never let you back in again.
+@acronym{NNTP} site may throw you off and never let you back in again.
Stranger things have happened.
@code{nnkiboze} component groups do not have to be alive---they can be dead,
@vindex nnkiboze-directory
The generation of an @code{nnkiboze} group means writing two files in
@code{nnkiboze-directory}, which is @file{~/News/} by default. One
-contains the @sc{nov} header lines for all the articles in the group,
+contains the @acronym{NOV} header lines for all the articles in the group,
and the other is an additional @file{.newsrc} file to store information
on what groups have been searched through to find component articles.
Articles marked as read in the @code{nnkiboze} group will have
-their @sc{nov} lines removed from the @sc{nov} file.
+their @acronym{NOV} lines removed from the @acronym{NOV} file.
@node Gnus Unplugged
* Agent Commands:: New commands for all the buffers.
* Agent as Cache:: The Agent is a big cache too.
* Agent Expiry:: How to make old articles go away.
-* Agent and IMAP:: How to use the Agent with IMAP.
+* Agent Regeneration:: How to recover from lost connections and other accidents.
+* Agent and IMAP:: How to use the Agent with @acronym{IMAP}.
* Outgoing Messages:: What happens when you post/mail something?
* Agent Variables:: Customizing is fun.
-* Example Setup:: An example @file{.gnus.el} file for offline people.
+* Example Setup:: An example @file{~/.gnus.el} file for offline people.
* Batching Agents:: How to fetch news from a @code{cron} job.
* Agent Caveats:: What you think it'll do and what it does.
@end menu
@itemize @bullet
@item
+@findex gnus-unplugged
You start Gnus with @code{gnus-unplugged}. This brings up the Gnus
Agent in a disconnected state. You can read all the news that you have
already fetched while in this mode.
@code{gnus-secondary-select-methods} are agentized.
@item
-Decide on download policy. @xref{Agent Categories}.
+
+Decide on download policy. It's fairly simple once you decide whether
+you are going to use agent categories, topic parameters, and/or group
+parameters to implement your policy. If you're new to gnus, it
+is probably best to start with a category @xref{Agent Categories}.
+
+Both topic parameters (@pxref{Topic Parameters}) and agent categories
+(@pxref{Agent Categories}) provide for setting a policy that applies
+to multiple groups. Which you use is entirely up to you. Topic
+parameters do override categories so, if you mix the two, you'll have
+to take that into account. If you have a few groups that deviate from
+your policy, you can use grou parameters (@pxref{Group Parameters}) to
+configure them.
@item
-Uhm... that's it.
+Uhm@dots{} that's it.
@end itemize
mark the articles for downloading manually if it should turn out that
you're interested in the articles anyway.
-The main way to control what is to be downloaded is to create a
-@dfn{category} and then assign some (or all) groups to this category.
-Groups that do not belong in any other category belong to the
-@code{default} category. Gnus has its own buffer for creating and
-managing categories.
+One of the more effective methods for controlling what is to be
+downloaded is to create a @dfn{category} and then assign some (or all)
+groups to this category. Groups that do not belong in any other
+category belong to the @code{default} category. Gnus has its own
+buffer for creating and managing categories.
+
+If you prefer, you can also use group parameters (@pxref{Group
+Parameters}) and topic parameters (@pxref{Topic Parameters}) for an
+alternative approach to controlling the agent. The only real
+difference is that categories are specific to the agent (so there is
+less to learn) while group and topic parameters include the kitchen
+sink.
+
+Since you can set agent parameters in several different places we have
+a rule to decide which source to believe. This rule specifies that
+the parameter sources are checked in the following order: group
+parameters, topic parameters, agent category, and finally customizable
+variables. So you can mix all of these sources to produce a wide range
+of behavior, just don't blame me if you don't remember where you put
+your settings.
@menu
* Category Syntax:: What a category looks like.
@node Category Syntax
@subsubsection Category Syntax
-A category consists of two things.
+A category consists of a name, the list of groups belonging to the
+category, and a number of optional parameters that override the
+customizable variables. The complete list of agent parameters are
+listed below.
-@enumerate
-@item
+@table @code
+@item gnus-agent-cat-name
+The name of the category.
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-groups
+The list of groups that are in this category.
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-predicate
A predicate which (generally) gives a rough outline of which articles
are eligible for downloading; and
-@item
+@item gnus-agent-cat-score-file
a score rule which (generally) gives you a finer granularity when
deciding what articles to download. (Note that this @dfn{download
score} is not necessarily related to normal scores.)
-@end enumerate
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-enable-expiration
+a boolean indicating whether the agent should expire old articles in
+this group. Most groups should be expired to conserve disk space. In
+fact, its probably safe to say that the gnus.* hierarchy contains the
+only groups that should not be expired.
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-days-until-old
+an integer indicating the number of days that the agent should wait
+before deciding that a read article is safe to expire.
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-low-score
+an integer that overrides the value of @code{gnus-agent-low-score}.
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-high-score
+an integer that overrides the value of @code{gnus-agent-high-score}.
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-length-when-short
+an integer that overrides the value of
+@code{gnus-agent-short-article}.
+
+@item gnus-agent-cat-length-when-long
+an integer that overrides the value of @code{gnus-agent-long-article}.
+@end table
+
+The name of a category can not be changed once the category has been
+created.
+
+Each category maintains a list of groups that are exclusive members of
+that category. The exclusivity rule is automatically enforced, add a
+group to a new category and it is automatically removed from its old
+category.
A predicate in its simplest form can be a single predicate such as
@code{true} or @code{false}. These two will download every available
The following predicates are pre-defined, but if none of these fit what
you want to do, you can write your own.
+When evaluating each of these predicates, the named constant will be
+bound to the value determined by calling
+@code{gnus-agent-find-parameter} on the appropriate parameter. For
+example, gnus-agent-short-article will be bound to
+@code{(gnus-agent-find-parameter group 'agent-short-article)}. This
+means that you can specify a predicate in your category then tune that
+predicate to individual groups.
+
@table @code
@item short
True iff the article is shorter than @code{gnus-agent-short-article}
always a reliable indication of when it was posted. Hell, some people
just don't give a damn.
-The above predicates apply to *all* the groups which belong to the
+The above predicates apply to @emph{all} the groups which belong to the
category. However, if you wish to have a specific predicate for an
individual group within a category, or you're just too lazy to set up a
new category, you can enter a group's individual predicate in it's group
(agent-predicate . short)
@end lisp
-This is the group parameter equivalent of the agent category default.
+This is the group/topic parameter equivalent of the agent category default.
Note that when specifying a single word predicate like this, the
@code{agent-predicate} specification must be in dotted pair notation.
@end lisp
@item
-Group Parameter specification
+Group/Topic Parameter specification
@lisp
(agent-score ("from"
@item
Agent score file
-These score files must *only* contain the permitted scoring keywords
-stated above.
+These score files must @emph{only} contain the permitted scoring
+keywords stated above.
example:
These directives in either the category definition or a group's
parameters will cause the agent to read in all the applicable score
-files for a group, *filtering out* those sections that do not
+files for a group, @emph{filtering out} those sections that do not
relate to one of the permitted subset of scoring keywords.
@itemize @bullet
@findex gnus-category-exit
Return to the group buffer (@code{gnus-category-exit}).
+@item e
+@kindex e (Category)
+@findex gnus-category-customize-category
+Use a customization buffer to set all of the selected category's
+parameters at one time (@code{gnus-category-customize-category}).
+
@item k
@kindex k (Category)
@findex gnus-category-kill
Articles that have a score higher than this have a high score. Default
0.
+@item gnus-agent-expire-days
+@vindex gnus-agent-expire-days
+The number of days that a @samp{read} article must stay in the agent's
+local disk before becoming eligible for expiration (While the name is
+the same, this doesn't mean expiring the article on the server. It
+just means deleting the local copy of the article). What is also
+important to understand is that the counter starts with the time the
+article was written to the local disk and not the time the article was
+read.
+Default 7.
+
+@item gnus-agent-enable-expiration
+@vindex gnus-agent-enable-expiration
+Determines whether articles in a group are, by default, expired or
+retained indefinitely. The default is @code{ENABLE} which means that
+you'll have to disable expiration when desired. On the other hand,
+you could set this to @code{DISABLE}. In that case, you would then
+have to enable expiration in selected groups.
+
@end table
@node Agent Commands
@subsection Agent Commands
+@findex gnus-agent-toggle-plugged
+@kindex J j (Agent)
All the Gnus Agent commands are on the @kbd{J} submap. The @kbd{J j}
(@code{gnus-agent-toggle-plugged}) command works in all modes, and
@menu
-* Group Agent Commands::
-* Summary Agent Commands::
-* Server Agent Commands::
+* Group Agent Commands:: Configure groups and fetch their contents.
+* Summary Agent Commands:: Manually select then fetch specific articles.
+* Server Agent Commands:: Select the servers that are supported by the agent.
@end menu
-You can run a complete batch command from the command line with the
-following incantation:
-
-@cindex gnus-agent-batch
-@example
-$ emacs -batch -l ~/.gnus.el -f gnus-agent-batch
-@end example
Remove the downloading mark from the article
(@code{gnus-agent-unmark-article}).
+@cindex %
@item @@
@kindex @@ (Agent Summary)
@findex gnus-agent-toggle-mark
-Toggle whether to download the article (@code{gnus-agent-toggle-mark}).
+Toggle whether to download the article
+(@code{gnus-agent-toggle-mark}). The dowload mark is @samp{%} by
+default.
@item J c
@kindex J c (Agent Summary)
@findex gnus-agent-catchup
-Mark all undownloaded articles as read (@code{gnus-agent-catchup}).
+Mark all articles as read (@code{gnus-agent-catchup}) that are neither cached, downloaded, nor downloadable.
+
+@item J S
+@kindex J S (Agent Summary)
+@findex gnus-agent-fetch-group
+Download all eligible (See @pxref{Agent Categories}) articles in this group.
+(@code{gnus-agent-fetch-group}).
+
+@item J s
+@kindex J s (Agent Summary)
+@findex gnus-agent-fetch-series
+Download all processable articles in this group.
+(@code{gnus-agent-fetch-series}).
@item J u
@kindex J u (Agent Summary)
article into the Agent, Gnus will not download the article from the
server again but use the locally stored copy instead.
-This behaviour can be controlled by @code{gnus-agent-cache}
-(@pxref{Agent Variables}).
+If you so desire, you can configure the agent (see @code{gnus-agent-cache}
+@pxref{Agent Variables}) to always download headers and articles while
+plugged. Gnus will almost certainly be slower, but it will be kept
+synchronized with the server. That last point probably won't make any
+sense if you are using a nntp or nnimap backend.
@node Agent Expiry
@subsection Agent Expiry
@vindex gnus-agent-expire-days
@findex gnus-agent-expire
@kindex M-x gnus-agent-expire
+@kindex M-x gnus-agent-expire-group
+@findex gnus-agent-expire-group
@cindex Agent expiry
@cindex Gnus Agent expiry
@cindex expiry
-@code{nnagent} doesn't handle expiry. Instead, there's a special
-@code{gnus-agent-expire} command that will expire all read articles that
-are older than @code{gnus-agent-expire-days} days. It can be run
-whenever you feel that you're running out of space. It's not
-particularly fast or efficient, and it's not a particularly good idea to
-interrupt it (with @kbd{C-g} or anything else) once you've started it.
-
-@code{gnus-agent-expire-days} can also be a list of regexp/day pairs.
-The regexps will be matched against group names to allow differing
-expiry in different groups.
+The Agent backend, @code{nnagent}, doesn't handle expiry. Well, at
+least it doesn't handle it like other backends. Instead, there are
+special @code{gnus-agent-expire} and @code{gnus-agent-expire-group}
+commands that will expire all read articles that are older than
+@code{gnus-agent-expire-days} days. They can be run whenever you feel
+that you're running out of space. Neither are particularly fast or
+efficient, and it's not a particularly good idea to interrupt them (with
+@kbd{C-g} or anything else) once you've started one of them.
-@lisp
-(setq gnus-agent-expire-days
- '(("alt\\." 7)
- (".*binary" 1)
- ("." 21)))
-@end lisp
+Note that other functions, e.g. @code{gnus-request-expire-articles},
+might run @code{gnus-agent-expire} for you to keep the agent
+synchronized with the group.
-If you use the list form, the last element must always be the default
-method---it must always match all groups.
+The agent parameter @code{agent-enable-expiration} may be used to
+prevent expiration in selected groups.
@vindex gnus-agent-expire-all
-If @code{gnus-agent-expire-all} is non-@code{nil}, this command will
-expire all articles---unread, read, ticked and dormant. If @code{nil}
-(which is the default), only read articles are eligible for expiry, and
-unread, ticked and dormant articles will be kept indefinitely.
+If @code{gnus-agent-expire-all} is non-@code{nil}, the agent
+expiration commands will expire all articles---unread, read, ticked
+and dormant. If @code{nil} (which is the default), only read articles
+are eligible for expiry, and unread, ticked and dormant articles will
+be kept indefinitely.
-@findex gnus-agent-regenerate
If you find that some articles eligible for expiry are never expired,
-perhaps some Gnus Agent files are corrupted. There's a special
-@code{gnus-agent-regenerate} command to fix possible problems.
+perhaps some Gnus Agent files are corrupted. There's are special
+commands, @code{gnus-agent-regenerate} and
+@code{gnus-agent-regenerate-group}, to fix possible problems.
+
+@node Agent Regeneration
+@subsection Agent Regeneration
+
+@cindex Agent Regeneration
+@cindex Gnus Agent Regeneration
+@cindex regeneration
+
+The local data structures used by @code{nnagent} may become corrupted
+due to certain exceptional conditions. When this happens,
+@code{nnagent} functionality may degrade or even fail. The solution
+to this problem is to repair the local data structures by removing all
+internal inconsistencies.
+
+For example, if your connection to your server is lost while
+downloaded articles into the agent, the local data structures will not
+know about articles successfully downloaded prior to the connection
+failure. Running @code{gnus-agent-regenerate} or
+@code{gnus-agent-regenerate-group} will update the data structures
+such that you don't need to download these articles a second time.
+
+@findex gnus-agent-regenerate
+@kindex M-x gnus-agent-regenerate
+The command @code{gnus-agent-regenerate} will perform
+@code{gnus-agent-regenerate-group} on every agentized group. While
+you can run @code{gnus-agent-regenerate} in any buffer, it is strongly
+recommended that you first close all summary buffers.
+
+@findex gnus-agent-regenerate-group
+@kindex M-x gnus-agent-regenerate-group
+The command @code{gnus-agent-regenerate-group} uses the local copies
+of individual articles to repair the local @acronym{NOV}(header) database. It
+then updates the internal data structures that document which articles
+are stored locally. An optional argument will mark articles in the
+agent as unread.
@node Agent and IMAP
@subsection Agent and IMAP
-The Agent work with any Gnus back end, including nnimap. However,
-since there are some conceptual differences between @sc{nntp} and
-@sc{imap}, this section (should) provide you with some information to
-make Gnus Agent work smoother as a @sc{imap} Disconnected Mode client.
+The Agent works with any Gnus back end, including nnimap. However,
+since there are some conceptual differences between @acronym{NNTP} and
+@acronym{IMAP}, this section (should) provide you with some information to
+make Gnus Agent work smoother as a @acronym{IMAP} Disconnected Mode client.
The first thing to keep in mind is that all flags (read, ticked, etc)
-are kept on the @sc{imap} server, rather than in @code{.newsrc} as is the
+are kept on the @acronym{IMAP} server, rather than in @file{.newsrc} as is the
case for nntp. Thus Gnus need to remember flag changes when
disconnected, and synchronize these flags when you plug back in.
in the group buffer.
Some things are currently not implemented in the Agent that you'd might
-expect from a disconnected @sc{imap} client, including:
+expect from a disconnected @acronym{IMAP} client, including:
@itemize @bullet
@end itemize
-Technical note: the synchronization algorithm does not work by "pushing"
+Technical note: the synchronization algorithm does not work by ``pushing''
all local flags to the server, but rather incrementally update the
server view of flags by changing only those flags that were changed by
the user. Thus, if you set one flag on a article, quit the group and
re-select the group and remove the flag; the flag will be set and
-removed from the server when you "synchronize". The queued flag
+removed from the server when you ``synchronize''. The queued flag
operations can be found in the per-server @code{flags} file in the Agent
directory. It's emptied when you synchronize flags.
@item gnus-agent-fetched-hook
@vindex gnus-agent-fetched-hook
-Hook run when after finishing fetching articles.
+Hook run when finished fetching articles.
@item gnus-agent-cache
@vindex gnus-agent-cache
-Variable to control whether use the locally stored @sc{nov} and
+Variable to control whether use the locally stored @acronym{NOV} and
articles when plugged, e.g. essentially using the Agent as a cache.
-The default is non-nil, which means to use the Agent as a cache.
+The default is non-@code{nil}, which means to use the Agent as a cache.
@item gnus-agent-go-online
@vindex gnus-agent-go-online
other value, all offline servers will be automatically switched into
online status.
+@item gnus-agent-mark-unread-after-downloaded
+@vindex gnus-agent-mark-unread-after-downloaded
+If @code{gnus-agent-mark-unread-after-downloaded} is non-@code{nil},
+mark articles as unread after downloading. This is usually a safe
+thing to do as the newly downloaded article has obviously not been
+read. The default is t.
+
+@item gnus-agent-consider-all-articles
+@vindex gnus-agent-consider-all-articles
+If @code{gnus-agent-consider-all-articles} is non-@code{nil}, the
+agent will fetch all missing headers. When @code{nil}, the agent will
+fetch only new headers. The default is @code{nil}.
+
+@item gnus-agent-max-fetch-size
+@vindex gnus-agent-max-fetch-size
+The agent fetches articles into a temporary buffer prior to parsing
+them into individual files. To avoid exceeding the max. buffer size,
+the agent alternates between fetching and parsing until all articles
+have been fetched. @code{gnus-agent-max-fetch-size} provides a size
+limit to control how often the cycling occurs. A large value improves
+performance. A small value minimizes the time lost should the
+connection be lost while fetching (You may need to run
+@code{gnus-agent-regenerate-group} to update the group's state.
+However, all articles parsed prior to loosing the connection will be
+available while unplugged). The default is 10M so it is unusual to
+see any cycling.
+
@item gnus-server-unopen-status
@vindex gnus-server-unopen-status
Perhaps not a Agent variable, but closely related to the Agent, this
for this variable include @code{denied} and @code{offline} the latter
is only valid if the Agent is used.
+@item gnus-auto-goto-ignores
+@vindex gnus-auto-goto-ignores
+Another variable that isn't a Agent variable, yet so closely related
+that most will look for it here, this variable tells the summary
+buffer how to maneuver around undownloaded (only headers stored in the
+agent) and unfetched (neither article nor headers stored) articles.
+
+The legal values are @code{nil} (maneuver to any article),
+@code{undownloaded} (maneuvering while unplugged ignores articles that
+have not been fetched), @code{always-undownloaded} (maneuvering always
+ignores articles that have not been fetched), @code{unfetched}
+(maneuvering ignores articles whose headers have not been fetched).
+
@end table
If you don't want to read this manual, and you have a fairly standard
setup, you may be able to use something like the following as your
-@file{.gnus.el} file to get started.
+@file{~/.gnus.el} file to get started.
@lisp
-;;; Define how Gnus is to fetch news. We do this over @sc{nntp}
-;;; from your ISP's server.
+;;; @r{Define how Gnus is to fetch news. We do this over @acronym{NNTP}}
+;;; @r{from your ISP's server.}
(setq gnus-select-method '(nntp "news.your-isp.com"))
-;;; Define how Gnus is to read your mail. We read mail from
-;;; your ISP's POP server.
+;;; @r{Define how Gnus is to read your mail. We read mail from}
+;;; @r{your ISP's @acronym{POP} server.}
(setq mail-sources '((pop :server "pop.your-isp.com")))
-;;; Say how Gnus is to store the mail. We use nnml groups.
+;;; @r{Say how Gnus is to store the mail. We use nnml groups.}
(setq gnus-secondary-select-methods '((nnml "")))
-;;; Make Gnus into an offline newsreader.
-;;; (gnus-agentize) ; The obsolete setting.
-;;; (setq gnus-agent t) ; Now the default.
+;;; @r{Make Gnus into an offline newsreader.}
+;;; (gnus-agentize) ; @r{The obsolete setting.}
+;;; (setq gnus-agent t) ; @r{Now the default.}
@end lisp
That should be it, basically. Put that in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file,
If this is the first time you've run Gnus, you will be subscribed
automatically to a few default newsgroups. You'll probably want to
subscribe to more groups, and to do that, you have to query the
-@sc{nntp} server for a complete list of groups with the @kbd{A A}
+@acronym{NNTP} server for a complete list of groups with the @kbd{A A}
command. This usually takes quite a while, but you only have to do it
once.
@node Batching Agents
@subsection Batching Agents
+@findex gnus-agent-batch
Having the Gnus Agent fetch articles (and post whatever messages you've
written) is quite easy once you've gotten things set up properly. The
following shell script will do everything that is necessary:
+You can run a complete batch command from the command line with the
+following incantation:
+
@example
#!/bin/sh
-emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs -f gnus-agent-batch >/dev/null
+emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs -f -l ~/.gnus.el gnus-agent-batch >/dev/null 2>&1
@end example
@table @dfn
@item If I read an article while plugged, do they get entered into the Agent?
-@strong{No}.
+@strong{No}. If you want this behaviour, add
+@code{gnus-agent-fetch-selected-article} to
+@code{gnus-select-article-hook}.
-@item If I read an article while plugged, and the article already exists in the Agent, will it get downloaded once more?
+@item If I read an article while plugged, and the article already exists in
+the Agent, will it get downloaded once more?
-@strong{No}, unless @code{gnus-agent-cache} is `nil'.
+@strong{No}, unless @code{gnus-agent-cache} is @code{nil}.
@end table
In short, when Gnus is unplugged, it only looks into the locally stored
-articles; when it's plugged, it only talks to your ISP and also uses the
+articles; when it's plugged, it talks to your ISP and may also use the
locally stored articles.
@kindex V t (Summary)
@findex gnus-score-find-trace
Display all score rules that have been used on the current article
-(@code{gnus-score-find-trace}).
+(@code{gnus-score-find-trace}). In the @code{*Score Trace*} buffer, you
+can use @kbd{q} to quit. @kbd{e} edits the corresponding score file.
+When point is on a string within the match element, @kbd{e} will try to
+bring you to this string in the score file.
@item V w
@kindex V w (Summary)
Score on the @code{Message-ID} header.
@item e
-Score on an "extra" header, that is, one of those in gnus-extra-headers,
-if your @sc{nntp} server tracks additional header data in overviews.
+Score on an ``extra'' header, that is, one of those in gnus-extra-headers,
+if your @acronym{NNTP} server tracks additional header data in overviews.
@item f
Score on followups---this matches the author name, and adds scores to
@item gnus-kill-files-directory
@vindex gnus-kill-files-directory
All kill and score files will be stored in this directory, which is
-initialized from the @code{SAVEDIR} environment variable by default.
+initialized from the @env{SAVEDIR} environment variable by default.
This is @file{~/News/} by default.
@item gnus-score-file-suffix
@vindex gnus-score-file-suffix
Suffix to add to the group name to arrive at the score file name
-(@samp{SCORE} by default.)
+(@file{SCORE} by default.)
@item gnus-score-uncacheable-files
@vindex gnus-score-uncacheable-files
@cindex score cache
All score files are normally cached to avoid excessive re-loading of
score files. However, if this might make your Emacs grow big and
-bloated, so this regexp can be used to weed out score files unlikely to be needed again. It would be a bad idea to deny caching of
+bloated, so this regexp can be used to weed out score files unlikely
+to be needed again. It would be a bad idea to deny caching of
@file{all.SCORE}, while it might be a good idea to not cache
@file{comp.infosystems.www.authoring.misc.ADAPT}. In fact, this
variable is @samp{ADAPT$} by default, so no adaptive score files will
@item gnus-score-thread-simplify
@vindex gnus-score-thread-simplify
-If this variable is non-@code{nil}, article subjects will be simplified
-for subject scoring purposes in the same manner as with
+If this variable is non-@code{nil}, article subjects will be
+simplified for subject scoring purposes in the same manner as with
threading---according to the current value of
-gnus-simplify-subject-functions. If the scoring entry uses
+@code{gnus-simplify-subject-functions}. If the scoring entry uses
@code{substring} or @code{exact} matching, the match will also be
simplified in this manner.
case, there is a 5th element in the score entry, being the name of the
header to be scored. The following entry is useful in your
@file{all.SCORE} file in case of spam attacks from a single origin host,
-if your @sc{nntp} server tracks NNTP-Posting-Host in overviews:
+if your @acronym{NNTP} server tracks NNTP-Posting-Host in overviews:
@lisp
("111.222.333.444" -1000 nil s "NNTP-Posting-Host")
@item local
@cindex local variables
-The value of this entry should be a list of @code{(VAR VALUE)} pairs.
-Each @var{var} will be made buffer-local to the current summary buffer,
-and set to the value specified. This is a convenient, if somewhat
-strange, way of setting variables in some groups if you don't like hooks
-much. Note that the @var{value} won't be evaluated.
+The value of this entry should be a list of @code{(@var{var}
+@var{value})} pairs. Each @var{var} will be made buffer-local to the
+current summary buffer, and set to the value specified. This is a
+convenient, if somewhat strange, way of setting variables in some
+groups if you don't like hooks much. Note that the @var{value} won't
+be evaluated.
@end table
will be applied to each article.
To take @code{gnus-del-mark} as an example---this alist says that all
-articles that have that mark (i.e., are marked with @samp{D}) will have a
+articles that have that mark (i.e., are marked with @samp{e}) will have a
score entry added to lower based on the @code{From} header by -4, and
lowered by @code{Subject} by -1. Change this to fit your prejudices.
on the @code{References} header using the @code{Message-ID} of the
current article, thereby matching the following thread.
-You can also score on @code{thread}, which will try to score all
-articles that appear in a thread. @code{thread} matches uses a
-@code{Message-ID} to match on the @code{References} header of the
-article. If the match is made, the @code{Message-ID} of the article is
-added to the @code{thread} rule. (Think about it. I'd recommend two
-aspirins afterwards.)
-
If you use this scheme, you should set the score file atom @code{mark}
to something small---like -300, perhaps, to avoid having small random
changes result in articles getting marked as read.
@vindex gnus-adaptive-file-suffix
The adaptive score entries will be put into a file where the name is the
group name with @code{gnus-adaptive-file-suffix} appended. The default
-is @samp{ADAPT}.
+is @file{ADAPT}.
@vindex gnus-score-exact-adapt-limit
When doing adaptive scoring, substring or fuzzy matching would probably
group name, the @var{file-name} will be used as the home score file.
@item
-A function. If the function returns non-nil, the result will be used as
-the home score file.
+A function. If the function returns non-@code{nil}, the result will
+be used as the home score file.
@item
A string. Use the string as the home score file.
@lisp
(setq gnus-home-score-file
- ;; All groups that match the regexp "\\.emacs"
+ ;; @r{All groups that match the regexp @code{"\\.emacs"}}
'(("\\.emacs" "emacs.SCORE")
- ;; All the comp groups in one score file
+ ;; @r{All the comp groups in one score file}
("^comp" "comp.SCORE")))
@end lisp
this mechanism does, but here's a cookbook example for @code{nnml} on
how to allow scoring on the @samp{To} and @samp{Cc} headers.
-Put the following in your @file{.gnus.el} file.
+Put the following in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file.
@lisp
(setq gnus-extra-headers '(To Cc Newsgroups Keywords)
old articles for a long time.
@end itemize
-... I wonder whether other newsreaders will support global score files
+@dots{} I wonder whether other newsreaders will support global score files
in the future. @emph{Snicker}. Yup, any day now, newsreaders like Blue
Wave, xrn and 1stReader are bound to implement scoring. Should we start
holding our breath yet?
encounters what looks like a @code{rn} kill file, it will take a stab at
interpreting it.
-Two summary functions for editing a GNUS kill file:
+Two summary functions for editing a @sc{gnus} kill file:
@table @kbd
@section GroupLens
@cindex GroupLens
-GroupLens (@uref{http://www.cs.umn.edu/Research/GroupLens/}) is a
+@uref{http://www.cs.umn.edu/Research/GroupLens/, GroupLens} is a
collaborative filtering system that helps you work together with other
people to find the quality news articles out of the huge volume of
news articles generated every day.
@node Using GroupLens
@subsection Using GroupLens
-To use GroupLens you must register a pseudonym with your local Better
-Bit Bureau (BBB).
-@uref{http://www.cs.umn.edu/Research/GroupLens/bbb.html} is the only
-better bit in town at the moment.
+To use GroupLens you must register a pseudonym with your local
+@uref{http://www.cs.umn.edu/Research/GroupLens/bbb.html, Better Bit
+Bureau (BBB)} is the only better bit in town at the moment.
Once you have registered you'll need to set a couple of variables.
In GroupLens, an article is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, inclusive.
Where 1 means something like this article is a waste of bandwidth and 5
means that the article was really good. The basic question to ask
-yourself is, "on a scale from 1 to 5 would I like to see more articles
-like this one?"
+yourself is, ``on a scale from 1 to 5 would I like to see more articles
+like this one?''
There are four ways to enter a rating for an article in GroupLens.
that do explicitly say so in this manual. To apply the process/prefix
convention to commands that do not use it, you can use the @kbd{M-&}
command. For instance, to mark all the articles in the group as
-expirable, you could say `M P b M-& E'.
+expirable, you could say @kbd{M P b M-& E}.
@node Interactive
@samp{hello} mouse-highlighted with @code{gnus-mouse-face-3}.
Text inside the @samp{%<<} and @samp{%>>} specifiers will get the
-special @code{balloon-help} property set to @code{gnus-balloon-face-0}.
-If you say @samp{%1<<}, you'll get @code{gnus-balloon-face-1} and so on.
-The @code{gnus-balloon-face-*} variables should be either strings or
-symbols naming functions that return a string. When the mouse passes
-over text with this property set, a balloon window will appear and
-display the string. Please refer to @ref{(emacs)Help Echo} (in GNU
-Emacs) or the doc string of @code{balloon-help-mode} (in XEmacs) for
-more information on this. (For technical reasons, the guillemets have
-been approximated as @samp{<<} and @samp{>>} in this paragraph.)
+special @code{balloon-help} property set to
+@code{gnus-balloon-face-0}. If you say @samp{%1<<}, you'll get
+@code{gnus-balloon-face-1} and so on. The @code{gnus-balloon-face-*}
+variables should be either strings or symbols naming functions that
+return a string. When the mouse passes over text with this property
+set, a balloon window will appear and display the string. Please
+refer to @ref{Tooltips, ,Tooltips, emacs, The Emacs Manual},
+(in GNU Emacs) or the doc string of @code{balloon-help-mode} (in
+XEmacs) for more information on this. (For technical reasons, the
+guillemets have been approximated as @samp{<<} and @samp{>>} in this
+paragraph.)
Here's an alternative recipe for the group buffer:
@lisp
-;; Create three face types.
+;; @r{Create three face types.}
(setq gnus-face-1 'bold)
(setq gnus-face-3 'italic)
-;; We want the article count to be in
-;; a bold and green face. So we create
-;; a new face called `my-green-bold'.
+;; @r{We want the article count to be in}
+;; @r{a bold and green face. So we create}
+;; @r{a new face called @code{my-green-bold}.}
(copy-face 'bold 'my-green-bold)
-;; Set the color.
+;; @r{Set the color.}
(set-face-foreground 'my-green-bold "ForestGreen")
(setq gnus-face-2 'my-green-bold)
-;; Set the new & fancy format.
+;; @r{Set the new & fancy format.}
(setq gnus-group-line-format
"%M%S%3@{%5y%@}%2[:%] %(%1@{%g%@}%)\n")
@end lisp
function is called @code{gnus-goto-colon}.
But perhaps the most convenient way to deal with this, if you don't want
-to have a colon in your line, is to use the @samp{%C} specifier. If you
-put a @samp{%C} somewhere in your format line definition, Gnus will
+to have a colon in your line, is to use the @samp{%*} specifier. If you
+put a @samp{%*} somewhere in your format line definition, Gnus will
place point there.
can often be more convenient to just output the strings, and then worry
about lining up the following text afterwards.
-To do that, Gnus supplies tabulator specs--@samp{%=}. There are two
+To do that, Gnus supplies tabulator specs---@samp{%=}. There are two
different types---@dfn{hard tabulators} and @dfn{soft tabulators}.
@samp{%50=} will insert space characters to pad the line up to column
(vertical 0.24
(if (buffer-live-p gnus-summary-buffer)
'(summary 0.5))
- (group 1.0)))))
+ (group 1.0))))
@end lisp
One common desire for a multiple frame split is to have a separate frame
@end lisp
You'd typically stick these @code{gnus-add-configuration} calls in your
-@file{.gnus.el} file or in some startup hook---they should be run after
+@file{~/.gnus.el} file or in some startup hook---they should be run after
Gnus has been loaded.
@vindex gnus-always-force-window-configuration
you'll get top speed again. Gnus will save these compiled specs in the
@file{.newsrc.eld} file. (User-defined functions aren't compiled by
this function, though---you should compile them yourself by sticking
-them into the @code{.gnus.el} file and byte-compiling that file.)
+them into the @file{~/.gnus.el} file and byte-compiling that file.)
@node Mode Lines
(gnus-demon-close-connections nil 30)
@end lisp
-Here's a handler that scans for PGP headers every hour when Emacs is
-idle:
+Here's a handler that scans for @acronym{PGP} headers every hour when
+Emacs is idle:
@lisp
(gnus-demon-scan-pgp 60 t)
all the timings in the handlers will be affected.)
So, if you want to add a handler, you could put something like this in
-your @file{.gnus} file:
+your @file{~/.gnus.el} file:
@findex gnus-demon-add-handler
@lisp
@code{gnus-demon-add-nntp-close-connection},
@code{gnus-demon-add-scan-timestamps}, @code{gnus-demon-add-rescan}, and
@code{gnus-demon-add-scanmail}. Just put those functions in your
-@file{.gnus} if you want those abilities.
+@file{~/.gnus.el} if you want those abilities.
@findex gnus-demon-init
@findex gnus-demon-cancel
(add-hook 'gnus-summary-mode-hook 'gnus-moderate)
@end lisp
-in your @file{.gnus.el} file.
+in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file.
If you are the moderator of @samp{rec.zoofle}, this is how it's
supposed to work:
* Picons:: How to display pictures of what you're reading.
* Smileys:: Show all those happy faces the way they were meant to be shown.
* X-Face:: Display a funky, teensy black-and-white image.
-* Toolbar:: Click'n'drool.
* XVarious:: Other XEmacsy Gnusey variables.
@end menu
good way to do so. Its also a great way to impress people staring
over your shoulder as you read news.
-@menu
-* Picon Basics:: What are picons and How do I get them.
-* Picon Requirements:: Don't go further if you aren't using XEmacs.
-* Easy Picons:: Displaying Picons---the easy way.
-* Hard Picons:: The way you should do it. You'll learn something.
-* Picon Useless Configuration:: Other variables you can trash/tweak/munge/play with.
-@end menu
-
-
-@node Picon Basics
-@subsubsection Picon Basics
-
What are Picons? To quote directly from the Picons Web site:
@iftex
@code{GIF} formats.
@end quotation
-@vindex gnus-picons-piconsearch-url
-If you have a permanent connection to the Internet you can use Steve
-Kinzler's Picons Search engine by setting
-@code{gnus-picons-piconsearch-url} to the string @*
-@uref{http://www.cs.indiana.edu/picons/search.html}.
-
-@vindex gnus-picons-database
-Otherwise you need a local copy of his database. For instructions on
-obtaining and installing the picons databases, point your Web browser at @*
-@uref{http://www.cs.indiana.edu/picons/ftp/index.html}. Gnus expects
-picons to be installed into a location pointed to by
-@code{gnus-picons-database}.
+@vindex gnus-picon-databases
+For instructions on obtaining and installing the picons databases,
+point your Web browser at
+@uref{http://www.cs.indiana.edu/picons/ftp/index.html}.
If you are using Debian GNU/Linux, saying @samp{apt-get install
picons.*} will install the picons where Gnus can find them.
+To enable displaying picons, simply make sure that
+@code{gnus-picon-databases} points to the directory containing the
+Picons databases.
-@node Picon Requirements
-@subsubsection Picon Requirements
-
-To have Gnus display Picons for you, you must have @code{x} support
-compiled into XEmacs. To display color picons which are much nicer
-than the black & white one, you also need one of @code{xpm} or
-@code{gif} compiled into XEmacs.
-
-@vindex gnus-picons-convert-x-face
-If you want to display faces from @code{X-Face} headers, you should have
-the @code{xface} support compiled into XEmacs. Otherwise you must have
-the @code{netpbm} utilities installed, or munge the
-@code{gnus-picons-convert-x-face} variable to use something else.
-(NOTE: @code{x-face} is used in the variable name, not @code{xface})
+The following variables offer control over where things are located.
-@node Easy Picons
-@subsubsection Easy Picons
+@table @code
-To enable displaying picons, simply put the following line in your
-@file{~/.gnus} file and start Gnus.
+@item gnus-picon-databases
+@vindex gnus-picon-databases
+The location of the picons database. This is a list of directories
+containing the @file{news}, @file{domains}, @file{users} (and so on)
+subdirectories. Defaults to @code{("/usr/lib/picon"
+"/usr/local/faces")}.
-@lisp
-(setq gnus-use-picons t)
-(setq gnus-treat-display-picons t)
-@end lisp
+@item gnus-picon-news-directories
+@vindex gnus-picon-news-directories
+List of subdirectories to search in @code{gnus-picon-databases} for
+newsgroups faces. @code{("news")} is the default.
-and make sure @code{gnus-picons-database} points to the directory
-containing the Picons databases.
+@item gnus-picon-user-directories
+@vindex gnus-picon-user-directories
+List of subdirectories to search in @code{gnus-picon-databases} for user
+faces. @code{("users" "usenix" "local" "misc")} is the default.
-Alternatively if you want to use the web piconsearch engine add this:
+@item gnus-picon-domain-directories
+@vindex gnus-picon-domain-directories
+List of subdirectories to search in @code{gnus-picon-databases} for
+domain name faces. Defaults to @code{("domains")}. Some people may
+want to add @samp{"unknown"} to this list.
-@lisp
-(setq gnus-picons-piconsearch-url
- "http://www.cs.indiana.edu:800/piconsearch")
-@end lisp
+@item gnus-picon-file-types
+@vindex gnus-picon-file-types
+Ordered list of suffixes on picon file names to try. Defaults to
+@code{("xpm" "gif" "xbm")} minus those not builtin your Emacs.
+@end table
-@node Hard Picons
-@subsubsection Hard Picons
+@node Smileys
+@subsection Smileys
+@cindex smileys
@iftex
@iflatex
-\margindex{}
+\gnusfig{-3cm}{0.5cm}{\epsfig{figure=ps/BigFace,height=20cm}}
+\input{smiley}
@end iflatex
@end iftex
-Gnus can display picons for you as you enter and leave groups and
-articles. It knows how to interact with three sections of the picons
-database. Namely, it can display the picons newsgroup pictures,
-author's face picture(s), and the authors domain. To enable this
-feature, you need to select where to get the picons from, and where to
-display them.
+@dfn{Smiley} is a package separate from Gnus, but since Gnus is
+currently the only package that uses Smiley, it is documented here.
-@table @code
+In short---to use Smiley in Gnus, put the following in your
+@file{~/.gnus.el} file:
-@item gnus-picons-database
-@vindex gnus-picons-database
-The location of the picons database. Should point to a directory
-containing the @file{news}, @file{domains}, @file{users} (and so on)
-subdirectories. This is only useful if
-@code{gnus-picons-piconsearch-url} is @code{nil}. Defaults to
-@file{/usr/local/faces/}.
-
-@item gnus-picons-piconsearch-url
-@vindex gnus-picons-piconsearch-url
-The URL for the web picons search engine. The only currently known
-engine is @uref{http://www.cs.indiana.edu:800/piconsearch}. To
-workaround network delays, icons will be fetched in the background. If
-this is @code{nil} 'the default), then picons are fetched from local
-database indicated by @code{gnus-picons-database}.
-
-@item gnus-picons-display-where
-@vindex gnus-picons-display-where
-Where the picon images should be displayed. It is @code{picons} by
-default (which by default maps to the buffer @samp{*Picons*}). Other
-valid places could be @code{article}, @code{summary}, or
-@samp{*scratch*} for all I care. Just make sure that you've made the
-buffer visible using the standard Gnus window configuration
-routines---@pxref{Window Layout}.
-
-@item gnus-picons-group-excluded-groups
-@vindex gnus-picons-group-excluded-groups
-Groups that are matched by this regexp won't have their group icons
-displayed.
+@lisp
+(setq gnus-treat-display-smileys t)
+@end lisp
-@end table
+Smiley maps text smiley faces---@samp{:-)}, @samp{8-)}, @samp{:-(} and
+the like---to pictures and displays those instead of the text smiley
+faces. The conversion is controlled by a list of regexps that matches
+text and maps that to file names.
-Note: If you set @code{gnus-use-picons} to @code{t}, it will set up your
-window configuration for you to include the @code{picons} buffer.
+@vindex smiley-regexp-alist
+The alist used is specified by the @code{smiley-regexp-alist}
+variable. The first item in each element is the regexp to be matched;
+the second element is the regexp match group that is to be replaced by
+the picture; and the third element is the name of the file to be
+displayed.
-Now that you've made those decision, you need to add the following
-functions to the appropriate hooks so these pictures will get displayed
-at the right time.
+The following variables customize where Smiley will look for these
+files:
-@vindex gnus-picons-display-where
@table @code
-@item gnus-article-display-picons
-@findex gnus-article-display-picons
-Looks up and displays the picons for the author and the author's domain
-in the @code{gnus-picons-display-where} buffer.
-@item gnus-picons-article-display-x-face
-@findex gnus-picons-article-display-x-face
-Decodes and displays the X-Face header if present.
-(NOTE: @code{x-face} is used in the function name, not @code{xface})
+@item smiley-data-directory
+@vindex smiley-data-directory
+Where Smiley will look for smiley faces files.
+
+@item gnus-smiley-file-types
+@vindex gnus-smiley-file-types
+List of suffixes on smiley file names to try.
@end table
+@node X-Face
+@subsection X-Face
+@cindex x-face
-@node Picon Useless Configuration
-@subsubsection Picon Useless Configuration
+@code{X-Face} headers describe a 48x48 pixel black-and-white (1 bit
+depth) image that's supposed to represent the author of the message.
+It seems to be supported by an ever-growing number of mail and news
+readers.
-@iftex
-@iflatex
-\margindex{}
-@end iflatex
-@end iftex
-
-The following variables offer further control over how things are
-done, where things are located, and other useless stuff you really
-don't need to worry about.
-
-@table @code
-
-@item gnus-picons-news-directories
-@vindex gnus-picons-news-directories
-List of subdirectories to search in @code{gnus-picons-database} for
-newsgroups faces. @code{("news")} is the default.
-
-@item gnus-picons-user-directories
-@vindex gnus-picons-user-directories
-List of subdirectories to search in @code{gnus-picons-database} for user
-faces. @code{("local" "users" "usenix" "misc")} is the default.
-
-@item gnus-picons-domain-directories
-@vindex gnus-picons-domain-directories
-List of subdirectories to search in @code{gnus-picons-database} for
-domain name faces. Defaults to @code{("domains")}. Some people may
-want to add @samp{"unknown"} to this list.
-
-@item gnus-picons-convert-x-face
-@vindex gnus-picons-convert-x-face
-If you don't have @code{xface} support builtin XEmacs, this is the
-command to use to convert the @code{X-Face} header to an X bitmap
-(@code{xbm}). Defaults to @code{(format "@{ echo '/* Width=48,
-Height=48 */'; uncompface; @} | icontopbm | pbmtoxbm > %s"
-gnus-picons-x-face-file-name)}
-(NOTE: @code{x-face} is used in the variable name, not @code{xface})
-
-@item gnus-picons-x-face-file-name
-@vindex gnus-picons-x-face-file-name
-Names a temporary file to store the @code{X-Face} bitmap in. Defaults
-to @code{(format "/tmp/picon-xface.%s.xbm" (user-login-name))}.
-(NOTE: @code{x-face} is used in the variable name, not @code{xface})
-
-@item gnus-picons-has-modeline-p
-@vindex gnus-picons-has-modeline-p
-If you have set @code{gnus-picons-display-where} to @code{picons}, your
-XEmacs frame will become really cluttered. To alleviate this a bit you
-can set @code{gnus-picons-has-modeline-p} to @code{nil}; this will
-remove the mode line from the Picons buffer. This is only useful if
-@code{gnus-picons-display-where} is @code{picons}.
-
-@item gnus-picons-refresh-before-display
-@vindex gnus-picons-refresh-before-display
-If non-nil, display the article buffer before computing the picons.
-Defaults to @code{nil}.
-
-@item gnus-picons-display-as-address
-@vindex gnus-picons-display-as-address
-If @code{t} display textual email addresses along with pictures.
-Defaults to @code{t}.
-
-@item gnus-picons-file-suffixes
-@vindex gnus-picons-file-suffixes
-Ordered list of suffixes on picon file names to try. Defaults to
-@code{("xpm" "gif" "xbm")} minus those not builtin your XEmacs.
-
-@item gnus-picons-setup-hook
-@vindex gnus-picons-setup-hook
-Hook run in the picon buffer, if that is displayed.
-
-@item gnus-picons-display-article-move-p
-@vindex gnus-picons-display-article-move-p
-Whether to move point to first empty line when displaying picons. This
-has only an effect if `gnus-picons-display-where' has value `article'.
-
-If @code{nil}, display the picons in the @code{From} and
-@code{Newsgroups} lines. This is the default.
-
-@item gnus-picons-clear-cache-on-shutdown
-@vindex gnus-picons-clear-cache-on-shutdown
-Whether to clear the picons cache when exiting gnus. Gnus caches every
-picons it finds while it is running. This saves some time in the search
-process but eats some memory. If this variable is set to @code{nil},
-Gnus will never clear the cache itself; you will have to manually call
-@code{gnus-picons-clear-cache} to clear it. Otherwise the cache will be
-cleared every time you exit Gnus. Defaults to @code{t}.
-
-@iftex
-@iflatex
-\margindex{}
-@end iflatex
-@end iftex
-
-@end table
-
-@node Smileys
-@subsection Smileys
-@cindex smileys
-
-@iftex
-@iflatex
-\gnusfig{-3cm}{0.5cm}{\epsfig{figure=ps/BigFace,height=20cm}}
-\input{smiley}
-@end iflatex
-@end iftex
-
-@dfn{Smiley} is a package separate from Gnus, but since Gnus is
-currently the only package that uses Smiley, it is documented here.
-
-In short---to use Smiley in Gnus, put the following in your
-@file{.gnus.el} file:
-
-@lisp
-(setq gnus-treat-display-smileys t)
-@end lisp
-
-Smiley maps text smiley faces---@samp{:-)}, @samp{:-=}, @samp{:-(} and
-the like---to pictures and displays those instead of the text smiley
-faces. The conversion is controlled by a list of regexps that matches
-text and maps that to file names.
-
-@vindex smiley-nosey-regexp-alist
-@vindex smiley-deformed-regexp-alist
-Smiley supplies two example conversion alists by default:
-@code{smiley-deformed-regexp-alist} (which matches @samp{:)}, @samp{:(}
-and so on), and @code{smiley-nosey-regexp-alist} (which matches
-@samp{:-)}, @samp{:-(} and so on).
-
-The alist used is specified by the @code{smiley-regexp-alist} variable,
-which defaults to the value of @code{smiley-deformed-regexp-alist}.
-
-The first item in each element is the regexp to be matched; the second
-element is the regexp match group that is to be replaced by the picture;
-and the third element is the name of the file to be displayed.
-
-The following variables customize where Smiley will look for these
-files, as well as the color to be used and stuff:
-
-@table @code
-
-@item smiley-data-directory
-@vindex smiley-data-directory
-Where Smiley will look for smiley faces files.
-
-@item smiley-flesh-color
-@vindex smiley-flesh-color
-Skin color. The default is @samp{yellow}, which is really racist.
-
-@item smiley-features-color
-@vindex smiley-features-color
-Color of the features of the face. The default is @samp{black}.
-
-@item smiley-tongue-color
-@vindex smiley-tongue-color
-Color of the tongue. The default is @samp{red}.
-
-@item smiley-circle-color
-@vindex smiley-circle-color
-Color of the circle around the face. The default is @samp{black}.
-
-@item smiley-mouse-face
-@vindex smiley-mouse-face
-Face used for mouse highlighting over the smiley face.
-
-@end table
-
-
-@node X-Face
-@subsection X-Face
-@cindex x-face
-
-@code{X-Face} headers describe a 48x48 pixel black-and-white (1 bit
-depth) image that's supposed to represent the author of the message.
-It seems to be supported by an ever-growing number of mail and news
-readers.
-
-@cindex x-face
-@findex gnus-article-display-x-face
-@findex gnus-article-x-face-command
-@vindex gnus-article-x-face-command
-@vindex gnus-article-x-face-too-ugly
+@cindex x-face
+@findex gnus-article-display-x-face
+@findex gnus-article-x-face-command
+@vindex gnus-article-x-face-command
+@vindex gnus-article-x-face-too-ugly
@iftex
@iflatex
\include{xface}
friends.@footnote{On a GNU/Linux system look for packages with names
like @code{netpbm}, @code{libgr-progs} and @code{compface}.})
-(NOTE: @code{x-face} is used in the variable/function names, not
+(Note: @code{x-face} is used in the variable/function names, not
@code{xface}).
Gnus provides a few convenience functions and variables to allow
easier insertion of X-Face headers in outgoing messages.
@findex gnus-random-x-face
-@code{gnus-random-x-face} goes through all the @samp{pbm} files
-in @code{gnus-x-face-directory} and picks one at random, and then
+@vindex gnus-convert-pbm-to-x-face-command
+@vindex gnus-x-face-directory
+@code{gnus-random-x-face} goes through all the @samp{pbm} files in
+@code{gnus-x-face-directory} and picks one at random, and then
converts it to the X-Face format by using the
@code{gnus-convert-pbm-to-x-face-command} shell command. The
-@samp{pbm} files should be 48x48 pixels big.
+@samp{pbm} files should be 48x48 pixels big. It returns the X-Face
+header data as a string.
+@findex gnus-insert-random-x-face-header
+@code{gnus-insert-random-x-face-header} calls
+@code{gnus-random-x-face} and inserts a @samp{X-Face} header with the
+randomly generated data.
+
+@findex gnus-x-face-from-file
+@vindex gnus-convert-image-to-x-face-command
@code{gnus-x-face-from-file} takes a GIF file as the parameter, and then
converts the file to X-Face format by using the
@code{gnus-convert-image-to-x-face-command} shell command.
-Here's how you would typically use the former function. Put something
-like the following in your @file{.gnus.el} file:
+Here's how you would typically use the first function. Put something
+like the following in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file:
@lisp
(setq message-required-news-headers
(list '(X-Face . gnus-random-x-face))))
@end lisp
-Using the latter function would be something like this:
+Using the last function would be something like this:
@lisp
(setq message-required-news-headers
@end lisp
-@node Toolbar
-@subsection Toolbar
-
-@table @code
-
-@iftex
-@iflatex
-\margindex{}
-@end iflatex
-@end iftex
-
-@item gnus-use-toolbar
-@vindex gnus-use-toolbar
-If @code{nil}, don't display toolbars. If non-@code{nil}, it should be
-one of @code{default-toolbar}, @code{top-toolbar}, @code{bottom-toolbar},
-@code{right-toolbar}, or @code{left-toolbar}.
-
-@item gnus-group-toolbar
-@vindex gnus-group-toolbar
-The toolbar in the group buffer.
-
-@item gnus-summary-toolbar
-@vindex gnus-summary-toolbar
-The toolbar in the summary buffer.
-
-@item gnus-summary-mail-toolbar
-@vindex gnus-summary-mail-toolbar
-The toolbar in the summary buffer of mail groups.
-
-@end table
-
-
@node XVarious
@subsection Various XEmacs Variables
A glyph displayed in all Gnus mode lines. It is a tiny gnu head by
default.
+@end table
+
+@subsubsection Toolbar
+
+@table @code
+
+@item gnus-use-toolbar
+@vindex gnus-use-toolbar
+If @code{nil}, don't display toolbars. If non-@code{nil}, it should be
+one of @code{default-toolbar}, @code{top-toolbar}, @code{bottom-toolbar},
+@code{right-toolbar}, or @code{left-toolbar}.
+
+@item gnus-group-toolbar
+@vindex gnus-group-toolbar
+The toolbar in the group buffer.
+
+@item gnus-summary-toolbar
+@vindex gnus-summary-toolbar
+The toolbar in the summary buffer.
+
+@item gnus-summary-mail-toolbar
+@vindex gnus-summary-mail-toolbar
+The toolbar in the summary buffer of mail groups.
+
+@end table
+
@iftex
@iflatex
\margindex{}
@end iflatex
@end iftex
-@end table
-
-
-
@node Fuzzy Matching
@section Fuzzy Matching
* Anti-Spam Basics:: Simple steps to reduce the amount of spam.
* SpamAssassin:: How to use external anti-spam tools.
* Hashcash:: Reduce spam by burning CPU time.
-* Filtering Spam Using spam.el::
-* Filtering Spam Using Statistics (spam-stat.el)::
+* Filtering Spam Using The Spam ELisp Package::
+* Filtering Spam Using Statistics with spam-stat::
@end menu
@node The problem of spam
and processing.
The simplest approach to filtering spam is filtering. If you get 200
-spam messages per day from @email{random-address@@vmadmin.com}, you
+spam messages per day from @samp{random-address@@vmadmin.com}, you
block @samp{vmadmin.com}. If you get 200 messages about
@samp{VIAGRA}, you discard all messages with @samp{VIAGRA} in the
message. This, unfortunately, is a great way to discard legitimate
@code{N} systems around the world agree that a machine @samp{X} in
China, Ghana, or California is sending out spam e-mail, and these
@code{N} systems enter @samp{X} or the spam e-mail from @samp{X} into
-a database. The criteria for spam detection vary - it may be the
+a database. The criteria for spam detection vary---it may be the
number of messages sent, the content of the messages, and so on. When
a user of the distributed processing system wants to find out if a
message is spam, he consults one of those @code{N} systems.
header, it's probably ok. All the rest goes to the @samp{spam} group.
(This idea probably comes from Tim Pierce.)
-In addition, many mail spammers talk directly to your @sc{smtp} server
+In addition, many mail spammers talk directly to your @acronym{SMTP} server
and do not include your email address explicitly in the @code{To}
header. Why they do this is unknown---perhaps it's to thwart this
thwarting scheme? In any case, this is trivial to deal with---you just
@item hashcash-payment-alist
@vindex hashcash-payment-alist
Some receivers may require you to spend burn more CPU time than the
-default. This variable contains a list of @samp{(ADDR AMOUNT)} cells,
-where ADDR is the receiver (email address or newsgroup) and AMOUNT is
-the number of bits in the collision that is needed. It can also
-contain @samp{(ADDR STRING AMOUNT)} cells, where the STRING is the
-string to use (normally the email address or newsgroup name is used).
+default. This variable contains a list of @samp{(@var{addr}
+@var{amount})} cells, where @var{addr} is the receiver (email address
+or newsgroup) and @var{amount} is the number of bits in the collision
+that is needed. It can also contain @samp{(@var{addr} @var{string}
+@var{amount})} cells, where the @var{string} is the string to use
+(normally the email address or newsgroup name is used).
@item hashcash
@vindex hashcash
customized mail filtering scripts. Improvements in this area would be
a useful contribution, however.
-@node Filtering Spam Using spam.el
-@subsection Filtering Spam Using spam.el
+@node Filtering Spam Using The Spam ELisp Package
+@subsection Filtering Spam Using The Spam ELisp Package
@cindex spam filtering
-@cindex spam.el
+@cindex spam
The idea behind @code{spam.el} is to have a control center for spam detection
and filtering in Gnus. To that end, @code{spam.el} does two things: it
-filters incoming mail, and it analyzes mail known to be spam.
+filters incoming mail, and it analyzes mail known to be spam or ham.
+@emph{Ham} is the name used throughout @code{spam.el} to indicate
+non-spam messages.
So, what happens when you load @code{spam.el}? First of all, you get
the following keyboard commands:
@findex gnus-summary-mark-as-spam
@code{gnus-summary-mark-as-spam}.
-Mark current article as spam, showing it with the @samp{H} mark.
+Mark current article as spam, showing it with the @samp{$} mark.
Whenever you see a spam article, make sure to mark its summary line
-with @kbd{M-d} before leaving the group.
+with @kbd{M-d} before leaving the group. This is done automatically
+for unread articles in @emph{spam} groups.
@item M s t
@itemx S t
@findex spam-bogofilter-score
@code{spam-bogofilter-score}.
-You must have bogofilter processing enabled for that command to work
-properly.
+You must have Bogofilter installed for that command to work properly.
@xref{Bogofilter}.
@end table
-Gnus can learn from the spam you get. All you have to do is collect
-your spam in one or more spam groups, and set the variable
-@code{spam-junk-mailgroups} as appropriate. In these groups, all messages
-are considered to be spam by default: they get the @samp{H} mark. You must
-review these messages from time to time and remove the @samp{H} mark for
-every message that is not spam after all. When you leave a spam
-group, all messages that continue with the @samp{H} mark, are passed on to
-the spam-detection engine (bogofilter, ifile, and others). To remove
-the @samp{H} mark, you can use @kbd{M-u} to "unread" the article, or @kbd{d} for
-declaring it read the non-spam way. When you leave a group, all @samp{H}
-marked articles, saved or unsaved, are sent to Bogofilter or ifile
-(depending on @code{spam-use-bogofilter} and @code{spam-use-ifile}), which will study
-them as spam samples.
+Also, when you load @code{spam.el}, you will be able to customize its
+variables. Try @code{customize-group} on the @samp{spam} variable
+group.
+
+The concepts of ham processors and spam processors are very important.
+Ham processors and spam processors for a group can be set with the
+@code{spam-process} group parameter, or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. Ham processors take
+mail known to be non-spam (@emph{ham}) and process it in some way so
+that later similar mail will also be considered non-spam. Spam
+processors take mail known to be spam and process it so similar spam
+will be detected later.
+
+Gnus learns from the spam you get. You have to collect your spam in
+one or more spam groups, and set or customize the variable
+@code{spam-junk-mailgroups} as appropriate. You can also declare
+groups to contain spam by setting their group parameter
+@code{spam-contents} to @code{gnus-group-spam-classification-spam}, or
+by customizing the corresponding variable
+@code{gnus-spam-newsgroup-contents}. The @code{spam-contents} group
+parameter and the @code{gnus-spam-newsgroup-contents} variable can
+also be used to declare groups as @emph{ham} groups if you set their
+classification to @code{gnus-group-spam-classification-ham}. If
+groups are not classified by means of @code{spam-junk-mailgroups},
+@code{spam-contents}, or @code{gnus-spam-newsgroup-contents}, they are
+considered @emph{unclassified}. All groups are unclassified by
+default.
+
+In spam groups, all messages are considered to be spam by default:
+they get the @samp{$} mark when you enter the group. You must review
+these messages from time to time and remove the @samp{$} mark for
+every message that is not spam after all. To remove the @samp{$}
+mark, you can use @kbd{M-u} to ``unread'' the article, or @kbd{d} for
+declaring it read the non-spam way. When you leave a group, all
+spam-marked (@samp{$}) articles are sent to a spam processor which
+will study them as spam samples.
Messages may also be deleted in various other ways, and unless
-@code{spam-ham-marks-form} gets overridden below, marks @samp{R} and @samp{r} for
-default read or explicit delete, marks @samp{X} and @samp{K} for automatic or
-explicit kills, as well as mark @samp{Y} for low scores, are all considered
-to be associated with articles which are not spam. This assumption
-might be false, in particular if you use kill files or score files as
-means for detecting genuine spam, you should then adjust
-@code{spam-ham-marks-form}. When you leave a group, all _unsaved_ articles
-bearing any the above marks are sent to Bogofilter or ifile, which
-will study these as not-spam samples. If you explicit kill a lot, you
-might sometimes end up with articles marked @samp{K} which you never saw,
-and which might accidentally contain spam. Best is to make sure that
-real spam is marked with @samp{H}, and nothing else.
-
-All other marks do not contribute to Bogofilter or ifile
-pre-conditioning. In particular, ticked, dormant or souped articles
-are likely to contribute later, when they will get deleted for real,
-so there is no need to use them prematurely. Explicitly expired
-articles do not contribute, command @kbd{E} is a way to get rid of an
-article without Bogofilter or ifile ever seeing it.
-
-@strong{TODO: @code{spam-use-ifile} does not process spam articles on group exit.
-I'm waiting for info from the author of @code{ifile-gnus.el}, because I think
-that functionality should go in @code{ifile-gnus.el} rather than @code{spam.el}.}
+@code{spam-ham-marks} gets overridden below, marks @samp{R} and
+@samp{r} for default read or explicit delete, marks @samp{X} and
+@samp{K} for automatic or explicit kills, as well as mark @samp{Y} for
+low scores, are all considered to be associated with articles which
+are not spam. This assumption might be false, in particular if you
+use kill files or score files as means for detecting genuine spam, you
+should then adjust the @code{spam-ham-marks} variable.
+
+@defvar spam-ham-marks
+You can customize this variable to be the list of marks you want to
+consider ham. By default, the list contains the deleted, read,
+killed, kill-filed, and low-score marks.
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-spam-marks
+You can customize this variable to be the list of marks you want to
+consider spam. By default, the list contains only the spam mark.
+@end defvar
+
+When you leave @emph{any} group, regardless of its
+@code{spam-contents} classification, all spam-marked articles are sent
+to a spam processor, which will study these as spam samples. If you
+explicit kill a lot, you might sometimes end up with articles marked
+@samp{K} which you never saw, and which might accidentally contain
+spam. Best is to make sure that real spam is marked with @samp{$},
+and nothing else.
+
+When you leave a @emph{spam} group, all spam-marked articles are
+marked as expired after processing with the spam processor. This is
+not done for @emph{unclassified} or @emph{ham} groups. Also, any
+@strong{ham} articles in a spam group will be moved to a location
+determined by either the @code{ham-process-destination} group
+parameter or a match in the @code{gnus-ham-process-destinations}
+variable, which is a list of regular expressions matched with group
+names (it's easiest to customize this variable with
+@code{customize-variable gnus-ham-process-destinations}). The ultimate
+location is a group name. If the @code{ham-process-destination}
+parameter is not set, spam articles are only expired.
+
+When you leave a @emph{ham} group, all ham-marked articles are sent to
+a ham processor, which will study these as non-spam samples.
+
+When you leave a @emph{ham} or @emph{unclassified} group, all
+@strong{spam} articles are moved to a location determined by either
+the @code{spam-process-destination} group parameter or a match in the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-destinations} variable, which is a list of
+regular expressions matched with group names (it's easiest to
+customize this variable with @code{customize-variable
+gnus-spam-process-destinations}). The ultimate location is a group
+name. If the @code{spam-process-destination} parameter is not set,
+the spam articles are only expired.
To use the @code{spam.el} facilities for incoming mail filtering, you
must add the following to your fancy split list
@code{nnimap-split-fancy}, depending on whether you use the nnmail or
nnimap back ends to retrieve your mail.
-The @code{spam-split} function will process incoming mail and send the mail
-considered to be spam into the group name given by the variable
-@code{spam-split-group}. Usually that group name is @samp{spam}.
+The @code{spam-split} function will process incoming mail and send the
+mail considered to be spam into the group name given by the variable
+@code{spam-split-group}. By default that group name is @samp{spam},
+but you can customize it.
+
+@emph{Note for IMAP users}
+
+The boolean variable @code{nnimap-split-download-body} needs to be
+set, if you want to split based on the whole message instead of just
+the headers. By default, the nnimap backend will only retrieve the
+message headers. If you use @code{spam-check-bogofilter},
+@code{spam-check-ifile}, or @code{spam-check-stat} (the splitters that
+can benefit from the full message body), you should set this variable.
+It is not set by default because it will slow @acronym{IMAP} down.
+
+@xref{Splitting in IMAP}.
+
+@emph{TODO: Currently, spam.el only supports insertion of articles
+into a backend. There is no way to tell spam.el that an article is no
+longer spam or ham.}
+
+@emph{TODO: spam.el needs to provide a uniform way of training all the
+statistical databases. Some have that functionality built-in, others
+don't.}
The following are the methods you can use to control the behavior of
-@code{spam-split}:
+@code{spam-split} and their corresponding spam and ham processors:
@menu
* Blacklists and Whitelists::
* BBDB Whitelists::
* Blackholes::
+* Regular Expressions Header Matching::
* Bogofilter::
-* Ifile spam filtering::
-* Extending spam.el::
+* ifile spam filtering::
+* spam-stat spam filtering::
+* Extending the spam elisp package::
@end menu
@node Blacklists and Whitelists
@cindex spam filtering
@cindex whitelists, spam filtering
@cindex blacklists, spam filtering
-@cindex spam.el
+@cindex spam
@defvar spam-use-blacklist
-Set this variables to t (the default) if you want to use blacklists.
+
+Set this variable to @code{t} if you want to use blacklists when
+splitting incoming mail. Messages whose senders are in the blacklist
+will be sent to the @code{spam-split-group}. This is an explicit
+filter, meaning that it acts only on mail senders @emph{declared} to
+be spammers.
+
@end defvar
@defvar spam-use-whitelist
-Set this variables to t if you want to use whitelists.
+
+Set this variable to @code{t} if you want to use whitelists when
+splitting incoming mail. Messages whose senders are not in the
+whitelist will be sent to the next spam-split rule. This is an
+explicit filter, meaning that unless someone is in the whitelist, their
+messages are not assumed to be spam or ham.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-use-whitelist-exclusive
+
+Set this variable to @code{t} if you want to use whitelists as an
+implicit filter, meaning that every message will be considered spam
+unless the sender is in the whitelist. Use with care.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar gnus-group-spam-exit-processor-blacklist
+
+Add this symbol to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter by
+customizing the group parameters or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. When this symbol is
+added to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter, the senders of
+spam-marked articles will be added to the blacklist.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar gnus-group-ham-exit-processor-whitelist
+
+Add this symbol to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter by
+customizing the group parameters or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. When this symbol is
+added to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter, the senders of
+ham-marked articles in @emph{ham} groups will be added to the
+whitelist. Note that this ham processor has no effect in @emph{spam}
+or @emph{unclassified} groups.
+
@end defvar
Blacklists are lists of regular expressions matching addresses you
consider to be spam senders. For instance, to block mail from any
sender at @samp{vmadmin.com}, you can put @samp{vmadmin.com} in your
-blacklist. Since you start out with an empty blacklist, no harm is
-done by having the @code{spam-use-blacklist} variable set, so it is
-set by default. Blacklist entries use the Emacs regular expression
-syntax.
+blacklist. You start out with an empty blacklist. Blacklist entries
+use the Emacs regular expression syntax.
Conversely, whitelists tell Gnus what addresses are considered
-legitimate. All non-whitelisted addresses are considered spammers.
-This option is probably not useful for most Gnus users unless the
-whitelists is very comprehensive. Also see @ref{BBDB Whitelists}.
-Whitelist entries use the Emacs regular expression syntax.
-
-The Blacklist and whitelist location can be customized with the
-@code{spam-directory} variable (@file{~/News/spam} by default). The whitelist
-and blacklist files will be in that directory, named @file{whitelist} and
+legitimate. All messages from whitelisted addresses are considered
+non-spam. Also see @ref{BBDB Whitelists}. Whitelist entries use the
+Emacs regular expression syntax.
+
+The blacklist and whitelist file locations can be customized with the
+@code{spam-directory} variable (@file{~/News/spam} by default), or
+the @code{spam-whitelist} and @code{spam-blacklist} variables
+directly. The whitelist and blacklist files will by default be in the
+@code{spam-directory} directory, named @file{whitelist} and
@file{blacklist} respectively.
@node BBDB Whitelists
@cindex spam filtering
@cindex BBDB whitelists, spam filtering
@cindex BBDB, spam filtering
-@cindex spam.el
+@cindex spam
-@defvar spam-use-bbdb
+@defvar spam-use-BBDB
Analogous to @code{spam-use-whitelist} (@pxref{Blacklists and
-Whitelists}), but uses the BBDB as the source of whitelisted addresses,
-without regular expressions. You must have the BBDB loaded for
-@code{spam-use-bbdb} to work properly. Only addresses in the BBDB
-will be allowed through; all others will be classified as spam.
+Whitelists}), but uses the BBDB as the source of whitelisted
+addresses, without regular expressions. You must have the BBDB loaded
+for @code{spam-use-BBDB} to work properly. Messages whose senders are
+not in the BBDB will be sent to the next spam-split rule. This is an
+explicit filter, meaning that unless someone is in the BBDB, their
+messages are not assumed to be spam or ham.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-use-BBDB-exclusive
+
+Set this variable to @code{t} if you want to use the BBDB as an
+implicit filter, meaning that every message will be considered spam
+unless the sender is in the BBDB. Use with care. Only sender
+addresses in the BBDB will be allowed through; all others will be
+classified as spammers.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar gnus-group-ham-exit-processor-BBDB
+
+Add this symbol to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter by
+customizing the group parameters or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. When this symbol is
+added to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter, the senders of
+ham-marked articles in @emph{ham} groups will be added to the
+BBDB. Note that this ham processor has no effect in @emph{spam}
+or @emph{unclassified} groups.
@end defvar
@subsubsection Blackholes
@cindex spam filtering
@cindex blackholes, spam filtering
-@cindex spam.el
+@cindex spam
@defvar spam-use-blackholes
The blackhole check uses the @code{dig.el} package, but you can tell
@code{spam.el} to use @code{dns.el} instead for better performance if
-you set @code{spam-use-dig} to nil. It is not recommended at this
-time to set @code{spam-use-dig} to nil despite the possible
-performance improvements, because some users may be unable to use it,
-but you can try it and see if it works for you.
+you set @code{spam-use-dig} to @code{nil}. It is not recommended at
+this time to set @code{spam-use-dig} to @code{nil} despite the
+possible performance improvements, because some users may be unable to
+use it, but you can try it and see if it works for you.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-blackhole-servers
+
+The list of servers to consult for blackhole checks.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-blackhole-good-server-regex
+
+A regular expression for IPs that should not be checked against the
+blackhole server list. When set to @code{nil}, it has no effect.
@end defvar
+@defvar spam-use-dig
+
+Use the @code{dig.el} package instead of the @code{dns.el} package.
+The default setting of @code{t} is recommended.
+
+@end defvar
+
+Blackhole checks are done only on incoming mail. There is no spam or
+ham processor for blackholes.
+
+@node Regular Expressions Header Matching
+@subsubsection Regular Expressions Header Matching
+@cindex spam filtering
+@cindex regular expressions header matching, spam filtering
+@cindex spam
+
+@defvar spam-use-regex-headers
+
+This option is disabled by default. You can let Gnus check the
+message headers against lists of regular expressions when you set this
+option. The variables @code{spam-regex-headers-spam} and
+@code{spam-regex-headers-ham} hold the list of regular expressions.
+Gnus will check against the message headers to determine if the
+message is spam or ham, respectively.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-regex-headers-spam
+
+The list of regular expressions that, when matched in the headers of
+the message, positively identify it as spam.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-regex-headers-ham
+
+The list of regular expressions that, when matched in the headers of
+the message, positively identify it as ham.
+
+@end defvar
+
+Regular expression header checks are done only on incoming mail.
+There is no specific spam or ham processor for regular expressions.
+
@node Bogofilter
@subsubsection Bogofilter
@cindex spam filtering
@cindex bogofilter, spam filtering
-@cindex spam.el
+@cindex spam
@defvar spam-use-bogofilter
-Set this variable if you want to use Eric Raymond's speedy Bogofilter.
-This has been tested with a locally patched copy of version 0.4. Make
-sure to read the installation comments in @code{spam.el}.
+Set this variable if you want @code{spam-split} to use Eric Raymond's
+speedy Bogofilter.
-With a minimum of care for associating the @samp{H} mark for spam
+With a minimum of care for associating the @samp{$} mark for spam
articles only, Bogofilter training all gets fairly automatic. You
should do this until you get a few hundreds of articles in each
-category, spam or not. The shell command @command{head -1
-~/.bogofilter/*} shows both article counts. The command @kbd{S t} in
-summary mode, either for debugging or for curiosity, triggers
-Bogofilter into displaying in another buffer the @emph{spamicity}
-score of the current article (between 0.0 and 1.0), together with the
-article words which most significantly contribute to the score.
+category, spam or not. The command @kbd{S t} in summary mode, either
+for debugging or for curiosity, shows the @emph{spamicity} score of
+the current article (between 0.0 and 1.0).
+
+Bogofilter determines if a message is spam based on an internal
+threshold, set at compilation time. That threshold can't be
+customized.
+
+If the @code{bogofilter} executable is not in your path, Bogofilter
+processing will be turned off.
+
+You should not enable this if you use @code{spam-use-bogofilter-headers}.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-use-bogofilter-headers
+
+Set this variable if you want @code{spam-split} to use Eric Raymond's
+speedy Bogofilter, looking only at the message headers. It works
+similarly to @code{spam-use-bogofilter}, but the @code{X-Bogosity} header
+must be in the message already. Normally you would do this with a
+procmail recipe or something similar; consult the Bogofilter
+installation documents for details.
+
+You should not enable this if you use @code{spam-use-bogofilter}.
+
+@end defvar
+@defvar gnus-group-spam-exit-processor-bogofilter
+Add this symbol to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter by
+customizing the group parameters or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. When this symbol is
+added to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter, spam-marked articles
+will be added to the Bogofilter spam database.
@end defvar
-@node Ifile spam filtering
-@subsubsection Ifile spam filtering
+@defvar gnus-group-ham-exit-processor-bogofilter
+Add this symbol to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter by
+customizing the group parameters or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. When this symbol is
+added to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter, the ham-marked
+articles in @emph{ham} groups will be added to the Bogofilter database
+of non-spam messages. Note that this ham processor has no effect in
+@emph{spam} or @emph{unclassified} groups.
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-bogofilter-database-directory
+
+This is the directory where Bogofilter will store its databases. It
+is not specified by default, so Bogofilter will use its own default
+database directory.
+
+@end defvar
+
+The Bogofilter mail classifier is similar to ifile in intent and
+purpose. A ham and a spam processor are provided, plus the
+@code{spam-use-bogofilter} and @code{spam-use-bogofilter-headers}
+variables to indicate to spam-split that Bogofilter should either be
+used, or has already been used on the article. The 0.9.2.1 version of
+Bogofilter was used to test this functionality.
+
+@node ifile spam filtering
+@subsubsection ifile spam filtering
@cindex spam filtering
@cindex ifile, spam filtering
-@cindex spam.el
+@cindex spam
@defvar spam-use-ifile
-Enable this variable if you want to use Ifile, a statistical analyzer
-similar to Bogofilter. Currently you must have @code{ifile-gnus.el}
-loaded. The integration of Ifile with @code{spam.el} is not finished
-yet, but you can use @code{ifile-gnus.el} on its own if you like.
+Enable this variable if you want @code{spam-split} to use ifile, a
+statistical analyzer similar to Bogofilter.
@end defvar
-@node Extending spam.el
-@subsubsection Extending spam.el
+@defvar spam-ifile-all-categories
+
+Enable this variable if you want @code{spam-use-ifile} to give you all
+the ifile categories, not just spam/non-spam. If you use this, make
+sure you train ifile as described in its documentation.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-ifile-spam-category
+
+This is the category of spam messages as far as ifile is concerned.
+The actual string used is irrelevant, but you probably want to leave
+the default value of @samp{spam}.
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar spam-ifile-database-path
+
+This is the filename for the ifile database. It is not specified by
+default, so ifile will use its own default database name.
+
+@end defvar
+
+The ifile mail classifier is similar to Bogofilter in intent and
+purpose. A ham and a spam processor are provided, plus the
+@code{spam-use-ifile} variable to indicate to spam-split that ifile
+should be used. The 1.2.1 version of ifile was used to test this
+functionality.
+
+@node spam-stat spam filtering
+@subsubsection spam-stat spam filtering
@cindex spam filtering
-@cindex spam.el, extending
-@cindex extending spam.el
+@cindex spam-stat, spam filtering
+@cindex spam-stat
+@cindex spam
+
+@xref{Filtering Spam Using Statistics with spam-stat}.
-Say you want to add a new back end called blackbox. Provide the following:
+@defvar spam-use-stat
+
+Enable this variable if you want @code{spam-split} to use
+spam-stat.el, an Emacs Lisp statistical analyzer.
+
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar gnus-group-spam-exit-processor-stat
+Add this symbol to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter by
+customizing the group parameters or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. When this symbol is
+added to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter, the spam-marked
+articles will be added to the spam-stat database of spam messages.
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar gnus-group-ham-exit-processor-stat
+Add this symbol to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter by
+customizing the group parameters or the
+@code{gnus-spam-process-newsgroups} variable. When this symbol is
+added to a group's @code{spam-process} parameter, the ham-marked
+articles in @emph{ham} groups will be added to the spam-stat database
+of non-spam messages. Note that this ham processor has no effect in
+@emph{spam} or @emph{unclassified} groups.
+@end defvar
+
+This enables spam.el to cooperate with spam-stat.el. spam-stat.el
+provides an internal (Lisp-only) spam database, which unlike ifile or
+Bogofilter does not require external programs. A spam and a ham
+processor, and the @code{spam-use-stat} variable for @code{spam-split}
+are provided.
+
+@node Extending the spam elisp package
+@subsubsection Extending the spam elisp package
+@cindex spam filtering
+@cindex spam elisp package, extending
+@cindex extending the spam elisp package
+
+Say you want to add a new back end called blackbox. For filtering
+incoming mail, provide the following:
@enumerate
-@item
-documentation
@item
code
-@example
+@lisp
(defvar spam-use-blackbox nil
"True if blackbox should be used.")
-@end example
+@end lisp
Add
@example
Write the @code{spam-check-blackbox} function. It should return
@samp{nil} or @code{spam-split-group}. See the existing
@code{spam-check-*} functions for examples of what you can do.
+
+Make sure to add @code{spam-use-blackbox} to
+@code{spam-list-of-statistical-checks} if Blackbox is a statistical
+mail analyzer that needs the full message body to operate.
+
@end enumerate
-@node Filtering Spam Using Statistics (spam-stat.el)
-@subsection Filtering Spam Using Statistics (spam-stat.el)
+For processing spam and ham messages, provide the following:
+
+@enumerate
+
+@item
+code
+
+Note you don't have to provide a spam or a ham processor. Only
+provide them if Blackbox supports spam or ham processing.
+
+@lisp
+(defvar gnus-group-spam-exit-processor-blackbox "blackbox"
+ "The Blackbox summary exit spam processor.
+Only applicable to spam groups.")
+
+(defvar gnus-group-ham-exit-processor-blackbox "blackbox"
+ "The whitelist summary exit ham processor.
+Only applicable to non-spam (unclassified and ham) groups.")
+
+@end lisp
+
+@item
+functionality
+
+@lisp
+(defun spam-blackbox-register-spam-routine ()
+ (spam-generic-register-routine
+ ;; @r{the spam function}
+ (lambda (article)
+ (let ((from (spam-fetch-field-from-fast article)))
+ (when (stringp from)
+ (blackbox-do-something-with-this-spammer from))))
+ ;; @r{the ham function}
+ nil))
+
+(defun spam-blackbox-register-ham-routine ()
+ (spam-generic-register-routine
+ ;; @r{the spam function}
+ nil
+ ;; @r{the ham function}
+ (lambda (article)
+ (let ((from (spam-fetch-field-from-fast article)))
+ (when (stringp from)
+ (blackbox-do-something-with-this-ham-sender from))))))
+@end lisp
+
+Write the @code{blackbox-do-something-with-this-ham-sender} and
+@code{blackbox-do-something-with-this-spammer} functions. You can add
+more complex code than fetching the message sender, but keep in mind
+that retrieving the whole message takes significantly longer than the
+sender through @code{spam-fetch-field-from-fast}, because the message
+senders are kept in memory by Gnus.
+
+@end enumerate
+
+
+@node Filtering Spam Using Statistics with spam-stat
+@subsection Filtering Spam Using Statistics with spam-stat
@cindex Paul Graham
@cindex Graham, Paul
@cindex naive Bayesian spam filtering
@file{~/Mail/mail/misc} (this usually corresponds the the group
@samp{nnml:mail.misc}).
+When you are using @acronym{IMAP}, you won't have the mails available
+locally, so that will not work. One solution is to use the Gnus Agent
+to cache the articles. Then you can use directories such as
+@file{"~/News/agent/nnimap/mail.yourisp.com/personal_spam"} for
+@code{spam-stat-process-spam-directory}. @xref{Agent as Cache}.
+
@defvar spam-stat
-This variable holds the hash-table with all the statistics -- the
+This variable holds the hash-table with all the statistics---the
dictionary we have been talking about. For every word in either
collection, this hash-table stores a vector describing how often the
word appeared in spam and often it appeared in non-spam mails.
+@end defvar
If you want to regenerate the statistics from scratch, you need to
reset the dictionary.
-@end defvar
-
@defun spam-stat-reset
Reset the @code{spam-stat} hash-table, deleting all the statistics.
+@end defun
When you are done, you must save the dictionary. The dictionary may
be rather large. If you will not update the dictionary incrementally
can reduce the size of the dictionary by deleting all words that did
not appear often enough or that do not clearly belong to only spam or
only non-spam mails.
-@end defun
@defun spam-stat-reduce-size
Reduce the size of the dictionary. Use this only if you do not want
@subsubsection Splitting mail using spam-stat
In order to use @code{spam-stat} to split your mail, you need to add the
-following to your @file{~/.gnus} file:
+following to your @file{~/.gnus.el} file:
-@example
+@lisp
(require 'spam-stat)
(spam-stat-load)
-@end example
+@end lisp
This will load the necessary Gnus code, and the dictionary you
created.
Next, you need to adapt your fancy splitting rules: You need to
-determine how to use @code{spam-stat}. In the simplest case, you only have
-two groups, @samp{mail.misc} and @samp{mail.spam}. The following expression says
-that mail is either spam or it should go into @samp{mail.misc}. If it is
-spam, then @code{spam-stat-split-fancy} will return @samp{mail.spam}.
+determine how to use @code{spam-stat}. The following examples are for
+the nnml back end. Using the nnimap back end works just as well. Just
+use @code{nnimap-split-fancy} instead of @code{nnmail-split-fancy}.
-@example
+In the simplest case, you only have two groups, @samp{mail.misc} and
+@samp{mail.spam}. The following expression says that mail is either
+spam or it should go into @samp{mail.misc}. If it is spam, then
+@code{spam-stat-split-fancy} will return @samp{mail.spam}.
+
+@lisp
(setq nnmail-split-fancy
`(| (: spam-stat-split-fancy)
"mail.misc"))
-@end example
+@end lisp
@defvar spam-stat-split-fancy-spam-group
The group to use for spam. Default is @samp{mail.spam}.
@end defvar
If you also filter mail with specific subjects into other groups, use
-the following expression. It only the mails not matching the regular
+the following expression. Only mails not matching the regular
expression are considered potential spam.
-@example
+@lisp
(setq nnmail-split-fancy
`(| ("Subject" "\\bspam-stat\\b" "mail.emacs")
(: spam-stat-split-fancy)
"mail.misc"))
-@end example
+@end lisp
If you want to filter for spam first, then you must be careful when
creating the dictionary. Note that @code{spam-stat-split-fancy} must
non-spam, therefore both should be in your collection of non-spam
mails, when creating the dictionary!
-@example
+@lisp
(setq nnmail-split-fancy
`(| (: spam-stat-split-fancy)
("Subject" "\\bspam-stat\\b" "mail.emacs")
"mail.misc"))
-@end example
+@end lisp
You can combine this with traditional filtering. Here, we move all
HTML-only mails into the @samp{mail.spam.filtered} group. Note that since
nor in your collection of non-spam mails, when creating the
dictionary!
-@example
+@lisp
(setq nnmail-split-fancy
`(| ("Content-Type" "text/html" "mail.spam.filtered")
(: spam-stat-split-fancy)
("Subject" "\\bspam-stat\\b" "mail.emacs")
"mail.misc"))
-@end example
+@end lisp
@node Low-level interface to the spam-stat dictionary
The main interface to using @code{spam-stat}, are the following functions:
@defun spam-stat-buffer-is-spam
-called in a buffer, that buffer is considered to be a new spam mail;
-use this for new mail that has not been processed before
-
+Called in a buffer, that buffer is considered to be a new spam mail.
+Use this for new mail that has not been processed before.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-buffer-is-no-spam
-called in a buffer, that buffer is considered to be a new non-spam
-mail; use this for new mail that has not been processed before
-
+Called in a buffer, that buffer is considered to be a new non-spam
+mail. Use this for new mail that has not been processed before.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-buffer-change-to-spam
-called in a buffer, that buffer is no longer considered to be normal
-mail but spam; use this to change the status of a mail that has
-already been processed as non-spam
-
+Called in a buffer, that buffer is no longer considered to be normal
+mail but spam. Use this to change the status of a mail that has
+already been processed as non-spam.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-buffer-change-to-non-spam
-called in a buffer, that buffer is no longer considered to be spam but
-normal mail; use this to change the status of a mail that has already
-been processed as spam
-
+Called in a buffer, that buffer is no longer considered to be spam but
+normal mail. Use this to change the status of a mail that has already
+been processed as spam.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-save
-save the hash table to the file; the filename used is stored in the
-variable @code{spam-stat-file}
-
+Save the hash table to the file. The filename used is stored in the
+variable @code{spam-stat-file}.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-load
-load the hash table from a file; the filename used is stored in the
-variable @code{spam-stat-file}
-
+Load the hash table from a file. The filename used is stored in the
+variable @code{spam-stat-file}.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-score-word
-return the spam score for a word
-
+Return the spam score for a word.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-score-buffer
-return the spam score for a buffer
-
+Return the spam score for a buffer.
@end defun
@defun spam-stat-split-fancy
-for fancy mail splitting; add the rule @samp{(: spam-stat-split-fancy)} to
-@code{nnmail-split-fancy}
+Use this function for fancy mail splitting. Add the rule @samp{(:
+spam-stat-split-fancy)} to @code{nnmail-split-fancy}
+@end defun
-This requires the following in your @file{~/.gnus} file:
+Make sure you load the dictionary before using it. This requires the
+following in your @file{~/.gnus.el} file:
-@example
+@lisp
(require 'spam-stat)
(spam-stat-load)
-@end example
-
-@end defun
+@end lisp
Typical test will involve calls to the following functions:
@table @code
@item gnus-home-directory
-All Gnus path variables will be initialized from this variable, which
-defaults to @file{~/}.
+@vindex gnus-home-directory
+All Gnus file and directory variables will be initialized from this
+variable, which defaults to @file{~/}.
@item gnus-directory
@vindex gnus-directory
-Most Gnus storage path variables will be initialized from this variable,
-which defaults to the @samp{SAVEDIR} environment variable, or
-@file{~/News/} if that variable isn't set.
+Most Gnus storage file and directory variables will be initialized from
+this variable, which defaults to the @env{SAVEDIR} environment
+variable, or @file{~/News/} if that variable isn't set.
-Note that Gnus is mostly loaded when the @file{.gnus.el} file is read.
+Note that Gnus is mostly loaded when the @file{~/.gnus.el} file is read.
This means that other directory variables that are initialized from this
variable won't be set properly if you set this variable in
-@file{.gnus.el}. Set this variable in @file{.emacs} instead.
+@file{~/.gnus.el}. Set this variable in @file{.emacs} instead.
@item gnus-default-directory
@vindex gnus-default-directory
@samp{:} in a group name, which is normally used to delimit method and
group).
-@sc{imap} users might want to allow @samp{/} in group names though.
+@acronym{IMAP} users might want to allow @samp{/} in group names though.
@end table
whatever packages the Gnus XEmacs package requires. The current
requirements are @samp{gnus}, @samp{w3}, @samp{mh-e},
@samp{mailcrypt}, @samp{rmail}, @samp{eterm}, @samp{mail-lib},
-@samp{xemacs-base}, and @samp{fsf-compat}. The @samp{misc-games}
-package is required for Morse decoding.
+@samp{xemacs-base}, @samp{sh-script} and @samp{fsf-compat}. The
+@samp{misc-games} package is required for Morse decoding.
@node History
@cindex Pterodactyl Gnus
@cindex Oort Gnus
@cindex No Gnus
+@cindex Gnus versions
The first ``proper'' release of Gnus 5 was done in November 1995 when it
was included in the Emacs 19.30 distribution (132 (ding) Gnus releases
In addition to the versions of Gnus which have had their releases
coordinated by Lars, one major development has been Semi-gnus from
Japan. It's based on a library called @sc{semi}, which provides
-@sc{mime} capabilities.
+@acronym{MIME} capabilities.
These Gnusae are based mainly on Gnus 5.6 and Pterodactyl Gnus.
Collectively, they are called ``Semi-gnus'', and different strains are
called T-gnus, ET-gnus, Nana-gnus and Chaos. These provide powerful
-@sc{mime} and multilingualization things, especially important for
+@acronym{MIME} and multilingualization things, especially important for
Japanese users.
@item MIME - RFC 2045-2049 etc
@cindex MIME
-All the various @sc{mime} RFCs are supported.
+All the various @acronym{MIME} RFCs are supported.
@item Disposition Notifications - RFC 2298
Message Mode is able to request notifications from the receiver.
@item PGP - RFC 1991 and RFC 2440
@cindex RFC 1991
@cindex RFC 2440
-RFC 1991 is the original PGP message specification, published as a
-Information RFC. RFC 2440 was the follow-up, now called Open PGP, and
-put on the Standards Track. Both document a non-@sc{mime} aware PGP
-format. Gnus supports both encoding (signing and encryption) and
-decoding (verification and decryption).
+RFC 1991 is the original @acronym{PGP} message specification,
+published as a Information RFC. RFC 2440 was the follow-up, now
+called Open PGP, and put on the Standards Track. Both document a
+non-@acronym{MIME} aware @acronym{PGP} format. Gnus supports both
+encoding (signing and encryption) and decoding (verification and
+decryption).
@item PGP/MIME - RFC 2015/3156
RFC 2015 (superseded by 3156 which references RFC 2440 instead of RFC
-1991) describes the @sc{mime}-wrapping around the RF 1991/2440 format.
+1991) describes the @acronym{MIME}-wrapping around the RF 1991/2440 format.
Gnus supports both encoding and decoding.
@item S/MIME - RFC 2633
-RFC 2633 describes the @sc{s/mime} format.
+RFC 2633 describes the @acronym{S/MIME} format.
@item IMAP - RFC 1730/2060, RFC 2195, RFC 2086, RFC 2359, RFC 2595, RFC 1731
-RFC 1730 is @sc{imap} version 4, updated somewhat by RFC 2060 (@sc{imap} 4
-revision 1). RFC 2195 describes CRAM-MD5 authentication for @sc{imap}. RFC
-2086 describes access control lists (ACLs) for @sc{imap}. RFC 2359
-describes a @sc{imap} protocol enhancement. RFC 2595 describes the proper
-TLS integration (STARTTLS) with @sc{imap}. RFC 1731 describes the
-GSSAPI/Kerberos4 mechanisms for @sc{imap}.
+RFC 1730 is @acronym{IMAP} version 4, updated somewhat by RFC 2060
+(@acronym{IMAP} 4 revision 1). RFC 2195 describes CRAM-MD5
+authentication for @acronym{IMAP}. RFC 2086 describes access control
+lists (ACLs) for @acronym{IMAP}. RFC 2359 describes a @acronym{IMAP}
+protocol enhancement. RFC 2595 describes the proper @acronym{TLS}
+integration (STARTTLS) with @acronym{IMAP}. RFC 1731 describes the
+GSSAPI/Kerberos4 mechanisms for @acronym{IMAP}.
@end table
Micro$oft---bah. Amateurs. I'm @emph{much} worse. (Or is that
``worser''? ``much worser''? ``worsest''?)
-I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Academy for... oops,
+I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Academy for@dots{} oops,
wrong show.
@itemize @bullet
@item
Shenghuo Zhu---uudecode.el, mm-uu.el, rfc1843.el, webmail.el,
-nnwarchive and many, many other things connected with @sc{mime} and
+nnwarchive and many, many other things connected with @acronym{MIME} and
other types of en/decoding, as well as general bug fixing, new
functionality and stuff.
Joe Reiss---creator of the smiley faces.
@item
-Justin Sheehy--the FAQ maintainer.
+Justin Sheehy--the @acronym{FAQ} maintainer.
@item
Erik Naggum---help, ideas, support, code and stuff.
Christopher Davis,
Andrew Eskilsson,
Kai Grossjohann,
+Kevin Greiner,
+Jesper Harder,
+Paul Jarc,
+Simon Josefsson,
David Kågedal,
Richard Pieri,
Fabrice Popineau,
Daniel Quinlan,
+Michael Shields,
+Reiner Steib,
Jason L. Tibbitts, III,
+Jack Vinson,
+Katsumi Yamaoka, @c Yamaoka
and
-Jack Vinson.
+Teodor Zlatanov.
Also thanks to the following for patches and stuff:
Magnus Hammerin,
Kenichi Handa, @c Handa
Raja R. Harinath,
-Yoshiki Hayashi, @c ?
+Yoshiki Hayashi, @c Hayashi
P. E. Jareth Hein,
Hisashige Kenji, @c Hisashige
Scott Hofmann,
Brad Howes,
Miguel de Icaza,
François Felix Ingrand,
-Tatsuya Ichikawa, @c ?
+Tatsuya Ichikawa, @c Ichikawa
Ishikawa Ichiro, @c Ishikawa
Lee Iverson,
Iwamuro Motonori, @c Iwamuro
Randell Jesup,
Fred Johansen,
Gareth Jones,
-Simon Josefsson,
Greg Klanderman,
Karl Kleinpaste,
Michael Klingbeil,
Christoph Wedler,
Joe Wells,
Lee Willis,
-Katsumi Yamaoka @c Yamaoka
and
Lloyd Zusman.
(@pxref{Group Buffer Format} and @pxref{Summary Buffer Format}).
@item
-Local spool and several @sc{nntp} servers can be used at once
+Local spool and several @acronym{NNTP} servers can be used at once
(@pxref{Select Methods}).
@item
read if your machine should go down (@pxref{Auto Save}).
@item
-Gnus now has its own startup file (@file{.gnus}) to avoid cluttering up
-the @file{.emacs} file.
+Gnus now has its own startup file (@file{~/.gnus.el}) to avoid
+cluttering up the @file{.emacs} file.
@item
You can set the process mark on both groups and articles and perform
glitches (@pxref{Finding the Parent}).
@item
-Gnus can fetch FAQs and group descriptions (@pxref{Group Information}).
+Gnus can fetch @acronym{FAQ}s and group descriptions (@pxref{Group Information}).
@item
Digests (and other files) can be used as the basis for groups
Marks}).
@item
-A new mail-to-news back end makes it possible to post even when the @sc{nntp}
+A new mail-to-news back end makes it possible to post even when the @acronym{NNTP}
server doesn't allow posting (@pxref{Mail-To-News Gateways}).
@item
New element in @code{gnus-boring-article-headers}---@code{long-to}.
@item
- @kbd{M-i} symbolic prefix command. See the section "Symbolic
-Prefixes" in the Gnus manual for details.
+ @kbd{M-i} symbolic prefix command. See the section ``Symbolic
+Prefixes'' in the Gnus manual for details.
@item
@kbd{L} and @kbd{I} in the summary buffer now take the symbolic prefix
-@kbd{a} to add the score rule to the "all.SCORE" file.
+@kbd{a} to add the score rule to the @file{all.SCORE} file.
@item
@code{gnus-simplify-subject-functions} variable to allow greater
@item
@code{nntp} now uses @file{~/.authinfo}, a @file{.netrc}-like file, for
-controlling where and how to send @sc{authinfo} to @sc{nntp} servers.
+controlling where and how to send @sc{authinfo} to @acronym{NNTP} servers.
@item
A command for editing group parameters from the summary buffer
@code{gnus-adaptive-word-minimum} variable.
@item
- The "lapsed date" article header can be kept continually
+ The ``lapsed date'' article header can be kept continually
updated by the @code{gnus-start-date-timer} command.
@item
Getting Mail -> Mail Sources
@item
-Gnus is now a @sc{mime}-capable reader. This affects many parts of
+Gnus is now a @acronym{MIME}-capable reader. This affects many parts of
Gnus, and adds a slew of new commands. See the manual for details.
@item
@item
The user can now decide which extra headers should be included in
-summary buffers and @sc{nov} files.
+summary buffers and @acronym{NOV} files.
@item
@code{gnus-article-display-hook} has been removed. Instead, a number
again, to keep up with ever-changing layouts.
@item
-Gnus can now read @sc{imap} mail via @code{nnimap}.
+Gnus can now read @acronym{IMAP} mail via @code{nnimap}.
@end itemize
@item news
@cindex news
This is what you are supposed to use this thing for---reading news.
-News is generally fetched from a nearby @sc{nntp} server, and is
+News is generally fetched from a nearby @acronym{NNTP} server, and is
generally publicly available to everybody. If you post news, the entire
world is likely to read just what you have written, and they'll all
snigger mischievously. Behind your back.
@cindex back end
Gnus considers mail and news to be mostly the same, really. The only
difference is how to access the actual articles. News articles are
-commonly fetched via the protocol NNTP, whereas mail messages could be
-read from a file on the local disk. The internal architecture of Gnus
-thus comprises a `front end' and a number of `back ends'. Internally,
-when you enter a group (by hitting @key{RET}, say), you thereby invoke
-a function in the front end in Gnus. The front end then `talks' to a
-back end and says things like ``Give me the list of articles in the foo
-group'' or ``Show me article number 4711''.
-
-So a back end mainly defines either a protocol (the @code{nntp} back end
-accesses news via NNTP, the @code{nnimap} back end accesses mail via
-IMAP) or a file format and directory layout (the @code{nnspool} back end
-accesses news via the common `spool directory' format, the @code{nnml}
-back end access mail via a file format and directory layout that's
-quite similar).
+commonly fetched via the protocol @acronym{NNTP}, whereas mail
+messages could be read from a file on the local disk. The internal
+architecture of Gnus thus comprises a `front end' and a number of
+`back ends'. Internally, when you enter a group (by hitting
+@key{RET}, say), you thereby invoke a function in the front end in
+Gnus. The front end then `talks' to a back end and says things like
+``Give me the list of articles in the foo group'' or ``Show me article
+number 4711''.
+
+So a back end mainly defines either a protocol (the @code{nntp} back
+end accesses news via @acronym{NNTP}, the @code{nnimap} back end
+accesses mail via @acronym{IMAP}) or a file format and directory
+layout (the @code{nnspool} back end accesses news via the common
+`spool directory' format, the @code{nnml} back end access mail via a
+file format and directory layout that's quite similar).
Gnus does not handle the underlying media, so to speak---this is all
done by the back ends. A back end is a collection of functions to
@item headers
@cindex headers
A collection of such lines, or a collection of heads. Or even a
-collection of @sc{nov} lines.
+collection of @acronym{NOV} lines.
-@item @sc{nov}
+@item @acronym{NOV}
@cindex nov
When Gnus enters a group, it asks the back end for the headers of all
unread articles in the group. Most servers support the News OverView
@item ephemeral groups
@cindex ephemeral groups
+@cindex temporary groups
Most groups store data on what articles you have read. @dfn{Ephemeral}
groups are groups that will have no data stored---when you exit the
group, it'll disappear into the aether.
If you run Emacs on a machine locally, and get your news from a machine
over some very thin strings, you want to cut down on the amount of data
-Gnus has to get from the @sc{nntp} server.
+Gnus has to get from the @acronym{NNTP} server.
@table @code
@item gnus-nov-is-evil
This one has to be @code{nil}. If not, grabbing article headers from
-the @sc{nntp} server will not be very fast. Not all @sc{nntp} servers
+the @acronym{NNTP} server will not be very fast. Not all @acronym{NNTP} servers
support @sc{xover}; Gnus will detect this by itself.
@end table
flee}, you have some old @file{.el} files lying around. Delete these.
@item
-Read the help group (@kbd{G h} in the group buffer) for a FAQ and a
-how-to.
+Read the help group (@kbd{G h} in the group buffer) for a
+@acronym{FAQ} and a how-to.
@item
@vindex max-lisp-eval-depth
@cindex slow
Sometimes, a problem do not directly generate a elisp error but
manifests itself by causing Gnus to be very slow. In these cases, you
-can use @kbd{M-x toggle-debug-on-quit} and press C-j when things are
+can use @kbd{M-x toggle-debug-on-quit} and press @kbd{C-g} when things are
slow, and then try to analyze the backtrace (repeating the procedure
helps isolating the real problem areas). A fancier approach is to use
the elisp profiler, ELP. The profiler is (or should be) fully
documented elsewhere, but to get you started there are a few steps
that need to be followed. First, instrument the part of Gnus you are
interested in for profiling, e.g. @kbd{M-x elp-instrument-package RET
-gnus} or @kbd{M-x elp-instrument-packagre RET message}. Then perform
+gnus} or @kbd{M-x elp-instrument-package RET message}. Then perform
the operation that is slow and press @kbd{M-x elp-results}. You will
then see which operations that takes time, and can debug them further.
If the entire operation takes much longer than the time spent in the
@cindex gnu.emacs.gnus
@cindex ding mailing list
-You can also ask on the ding mailing list---@samp{ding@@gnus.org}.
-Write to @samp{ding-request@@gnus.org} to subscribe.
+You can also ask on the ding mailing list---@email{ding@@gnus.org}.
+Write to @email{ding-request@@gnus.org} to subscribe.
@page
@node Back End Interface
@subsection Back End Interface
-Gnus doesn't know anything about @sc{nntp}, spools, mail or virtual
+Gnus doesn't know anything about @acronym{NNTP}, spools, mail or virtual
groups. It only knows how to talk to @dfn{virtual servers}. A virtual
server is a @dfn{back end} and some @dfn{back end variables}. As examples
of the first, we have @code{nntp}, @code{nnspool} and @code{nnmbox}. As
Some back ends could be said to be @dfn{server-forming} back ends, and
some might be said not to be. The latter are back ends that generally
only operate on one group at a time, and have no concept of ``server''
--- they have a group, and they deliver info on that group and nothing
+---they have a group, and they deliver info on that group and nothing
more.
Gnus identifies each message by way of group name and article number. A
sequences (lists) of article numbers, and most back ends do not support
retrieval of @code{Message-ID}s. But they should try for both.
-The result data should either be HEADs or @sc{nov} lines, and the result
+The result data should either be HEADs or @acronym{NOV} lines, and the result
value should either be @code{headers} or @code{nov} to reflect this.
This might later be expanded to @code{various}, which will be a mixture
-of HEADs and @sc{nov} lines, but this is currently not supported by Gnus.
+of HEADs and @acronym{NOV} lines, but this is currently not supported by Gnus.
-If @var{fetch-old} is non-@code{nil} it says to try fetching "extra
-headers", in some meaning of the word. This is generally done by
+If @var{fetch-old} is non-@code{nil} it says to try fetching ``extra
+headers'', in some meaning of the word. This is generally done by
fetching (at most) @var{fetch-old} extra headers less than the smallest
article number in @code{articles}, and filling the gaps as well. The
presence of this parameter can be ignored if the back end finds it
header = <text> eol
@end example
+@cindex BNF
+(The version of BNF used here is the one used in RFC822.)
+
If the return value is @code{nov}, the data buffer should contain
@dfn{network overview database} lines. These are basically fields
separated by tabs.
@example
nov-buffer = *nov-line
-nov-line = 8*9 [ field <TAB> ] eol
+nov-line = field 7*8[ <TAB> field ] eol
field = <text except TAB>
@end example
@item (nnchoke-request-update-info GROUP INFO &optional SERVER)
A Gnus group info (@pxref{Group Info}) is handed to the back end for
-alterations. This comes in handy if the back end really carries all the
-information (as is the case with virtual and imap groups). This
+alterations. This comes in handy if the back end really carries all
+the information (as is the case with virtual and imap groups). This
function should destructively alter the info to suit its needs, and
-should return a non-nil value.
+should return a non-@code{nil} value.
There should be no result data from this function.
Set/remove/add marks on articles. Normally Gnus handles the article
marks (such as read, ticked, expired etc) internally, and store them in
-@code{~/.newsrc.eld}. Some back ends (such as @sc{imap}) however carry
+@file{~/.newsrc.eld}. Some back ends (such as @acronym{IMAP}) however carry
all information about the articles on the server, so Gnus need to
propagate the mark information to the server.
-ACTION is a list of mark setting requests, having this format:
+@var{action} is a list of mark setting requests, having this format:
@example
(RANGE ACTION MARK)
@end example
-RANGE is a range of articles you wish to update marks on. ACTION is
-@code{add} or @code{del}, used to add marks or remove marks
-(preserving all marks not mentioned). MARK is a list of marks; where
-each mark is a symbol. Currently used marks are @code{read},
-@code{tick}, @code{reply}, @code{expire}, @code{killed},
+@var{range} is a range of articles you wish to update marks on.
+@var{action} is @code{add} or @code{del}, used to add marks or remove
+marks (preserving all marks not mentioned). @var{mark} is a list of
+marks; where each mark is a symbol. Currently used marks are
+@code{read}, @code{tick}, @code{reply}, @code{expire}, @code{killed},
@code{dormant}, @code{save}, @code{download}, @code{unsend},
@code{forward} and @code{recent}, but your back end should, if
possible, not limit itself to these.
This function may be called at any time (by Gnus or anything else) to
request that the back end check for incoming articles, in one way or
-another. A mail back end will typically read the spool file or query the
-POP server when this function is invoked. The @var{group} doesn't have
-to be heeded---if the back end decides that it is too much work just
-scanning for a single group, it may do a total scan of all groups. It
-would be nice, however, to keep things local if that's practical.
+another. A mail back end will typically read the spool file or query
+the @acronym{POP} server when this function is invoked. The
+@var{group} doesn't have to be heeded---if the back end decides that
+it is too much work just scanning for a single group, it may do a
+total scan of all groups. It would be nice, however, to keep things
+local if that's practical.
There should be no result data from this function.
There should be no result data returned.
-@item (nnchoke-request-move-article ARTICLE GROUP SERVER ACCEPT-FORM
-&optional LAST)
+@item (nnchoke-request-move-article ARTICLE GROUP SERVER ACCEPT-FORM &optional LAST)
This function should move @var{article} (which is a number) from
@var{group} by calling @var{accept-form}.
The function should return a cons where the @code{car} is the group name and
the @code{cdr} is the article number that the article was entered as.
+The group should exist before the backend is asked to accept the
+article for that group.
+
There should be no data returned.
This macro defines some common functions that almost all back ends should
have.
-@example
+@lisp
(nnoo-define-basics nndir)
-@end example
+@end lisp
@item deffoo
This macro is just like @code{defun} and takes the same parameters. In
This macro allows mapping of functions from the current back end to
functions from the parent back ends.
-@example
+@lisp
(nnoo-map-functions nndir
(nnml-retrieve-headers 0 nndir-current-group 0 0)
(nnmh-request-article 0 nndir-current-group 0 0))
-@end example
+@end lisp
This means that when @code{nndir-retrieve-headers} is called, the first,
third, and fourth parameters will be passed on to
last thing in the source file, since it will only define functions that
haven't already been defined.
-@example
+@lisp
(nnoo-import nndir
(nnmh
nnmh-request-list
nnmh-request-newgroups)
(nnml))
-@end example
+@end lisp
This means that calls to @code{nndir-request-list} should just be passed
on to @code{nnmh-request-list}, while all public functions from
Below is a slightly shortened version of the @code{nndir} back end.
@lisp
-;;; nndir.el --- single directory newsgroup access for Gnus
-;; Copyright (C) 1995,96 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+;;; @r{nndir.el --- single directory newsgroup access for Gnus}
+;; @r{Copyright (C) 1995,96 Free Software Foundation, Inc.}
-;;; Code:
+;;; @r{Code:}
(require 'nnheader)
(require 'nnmh)
(defvoo nndir-status-string "" nil nnmh-status-string)
(defconst nndir-version "nndir 1.0")
-;;; Interface functions.
+;;; @r{Interface functions.}
(nnoo-define-basics nndir)
@subsection Headers
Internally Gnus uses a format for storing article headers that
-corresponds to the @sc{nov} format in a mysterious fashion. One could
-almost suspect that the author looked at the @sc{nov} specification and
+corresponds to the @acronym{NOV} format in a mysterious fashion. One could
+almost suspect that the author looked at the @acronym{NOV} specification and
just shamelessly @emph{stole} the entire thing, and one would be right.
@dfn{Header} is a severely overloaded term. ``Header'' is used in
This function (really ``special form'') @code{setq} is the one that can
set a variable to some value. This is really all you need to know. Now
-you can go and fill your @code{.emacs} file with lots of these to change
+you can go and fill your @file{.emacs} file with lots of these to change
how Gnus works.
-If you have put that thing in your @code{.emacs} file, it will be read
+If you have put that thing in your @file{.emacs} file, it will be read
and @code{eval}ed (which is lisp-ese for ``run'') the next time you
start Emacs. If you want to change the variable right away, simply say
@kbd{C-x C-e} after the closing parenthesis. That will @code{eval} the
projects / elisp / gnus.git- / blobdiff