Library /sys$common/syshlp/mailhelp.hlb COMPRESS  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    Makes an indexed mail file smaller by recovering space that is
    left by deleted mail messages. When you compress a file, the
    following steps occur:

    1. A temporary file named MAIL_nnnn_COMPRESS.TMP is created.
       (nnnn is a hexadecimal, 4- or 8-digit number.)

    2. The contents of the file to be compressed are copied to the
       temporary file, and the temporary file is then compressed.

    3. The original uncompressed file is renamed with a file type
       .OLD.

    4. The newly compressed file is renamed from
       MAIL_nnnn_COMPRESS.TMP back to its original name.

    Format

      COMPRESS  [file-spec]

1 - Parameter

 file-spec

    The name of the mail file to be compressed. If a file name is not
    specified, Mail compresses the mail file that is currently open.
    If there is no open file, Mail opens and compresses the default
    mail file.

2 - Qualifier

 2.1 - /OUTPUT

       /OUTPUT=out-file-spec

    The name of the compressed file. Note that if you specify an
    output file, the mail file is compressed and renamed. This leaves
    you with 2 copies of your mail file: the original uncompressed
    version and the new compressed version that has the name that you
    specified when you entered the /OUTPUT qualifier.

3 - Examples

    1.$ MAIL
      MAIL> COMPRESS
      %MAIL-S-CREATED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]MAIL_08C8_COMPRESS.TMP;1 created
      %MAIL-S-COPIED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]MAIL.MAI;1 copied to DISK$FUN:[SMITH]
      MAIL_08C8_COMPRESS.TMP;1 (2 records)
      %MAIL-S-RENAMED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]MAIL.MAI;1 renamed to DISK$FUN:[SMITH]
      MAIL.OLD;2
      %MAIL-S-RENAMED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]MAIL_08C8_COMPRESS.TMP;1 renamed to
      DISK$FUN:[SMITH]MAIL.MAI;1

      This example shows how to compress the contents of your default
      mail file (MAIL.MAI).

    2.MAIL> COMPRESS trips.mai
      %MAIL-S-CREATED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]MAIL_08C8_COMPRESS.TMP;1 created
      %MAIL-S-COPIED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]TRIPS.MAI;1 copied to DISK$FUN:[SMITH]
      MAIL_08C8_COMPRESS.TMP;1 (2 records)
      %MAIL-S-RENAMED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]TRIPS.MAI;1 renamed to DISK$FUN:[SMITH]
      TRIPS.OLD;2
      %MAIL-S-RENAMED, DISK$FUN:[SMITH]MAIL_08C8_COMPRESS.TMP;1 renamed to
      DISK$FUN:[SMITH]TRIPS.MAI;1

      This example shows how to compress the contents of a file named
      TRIPS.MAI.