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

    Deletes all the messages in the WASTEBASKET folder. When you
    EXIT from Mail or enter a SET FILE command (to select a new mail
    file), an implicit PURGE is done to empty the WASTEBASKET folder,
    unless you have entered the SET NOAUTO_PURGE command. The PURGE
    command overrides the SET AUTO_PURGE command.

    Purged message space is not available for reuse by OpenVMS Record
    Management Services (OpenVMS RMS) until you enter the PURGE
    /RECLAIM command. An automatic PURGE/RECLAIM is done when the
    amount of deleted space in a mail file exceeds 32,767 bytes.
    (Mail uses the Convert/Reclaim utility to reclaim space.)

    Format

      PURGE

1 - Qualifiers

 1.1 - /RECLAIM

    Releases deleted message space back to OpenVMS RMS for reuse.

    Because your mail file is locked while PURGE/RECLAIM is running,
    you cannot receive new mail. Users attempting to send you
    mail while PURGE/RECLAIM is running receive an error message
    indicating that their message has not been sent successfully. You
    cannot access your own Mail files while a PURGE/RECLAIM command
    is running.

 1.2 - /STATISTICS

    Indicates the amount of released deleted message space in a short
    statistics display when you use it with PURGE/RECLAIM.

2 - Examples

    1.MAIL> PURGE/RECLAIM

      MAIL>

      This example shows how to enter the PURGE/RECLAIM command to
      delete all the messages in the WASTEBASKET folder and release
      the deleted message space back to OpenVMS RMS for reuse.

    2.MAIL> PURGE/RECLAIM/STATISTICS
      %MAIL-I-RECLPLSWAIT, reclaiming deleted file space. Please wait...
      Reclaim statistics:

              Messages deleted:        3
              Data buckets scanned:    31
              Data buckets reclaimed:  1
              Index buckets reclaimed: 0
              Total buckets reclaimed: 1

      MAIL>

      This example shows the kind of information that the /STATISTICS
      qualifier displays about the reclaimed deleted message space.