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

    Displays your messages.

    The READ command can be entered with or without parameters.
    Pressing the Return key is the same as entering the READ command
    without parameters. If you press Return immediately after Mail
    is invoked, Mail displays the first unread message in your
    NEWMAIL folder. If all messages have been read or you have no
    new messages, Mail displays the first message in the MAIL folder.
    Each time you enter the READ command without parameters or press
    Return, Mail displays the next message.

    If a new message arrives while you are in Mail, enter the READ
    /NEW command to read the message and then return to the previous
    Mail activity.

    You create a new set of selected messages every time you use any
    of the following qualifiers:

       /BEFORE
       /CC_SUBSTRING
       /FROM_SUBSTRING
       /MARKED or /NOMARKED
       /NEW
       /SINCE
       /SUBJECT_SUBSTRING
       /TO_SUBSTRING

    If no folder selection has been made when you enter one of these
    qualifiers, Mail will select messages from the MAIL folder.

    Format

      READ  [foldername] [message-number]

1 - Parameters

 foldername

    Specifies the name of the folder from which to select messages.

    If you omit the foldername, the folder to be used is determined
    in the following order:

    1. The current folder is used, if any (unless the /NEW qualifier
       is specified)

    2. The NEWMAIL folder is used if:

       o  You specify the /NEW qualifier

       o  You omit selection qualifiers and you have new mail

    3. The MAIL folder is used.

 message-number

    Indicates the number of the message to be read. The message
    number represents the position of a message in a folder. If
    you specify a number greater than the number of messages in the
    folder, Mail displays the last message in the folder. Therefore,
    to read the latest message in a folder, specify a large message
    number or enter the LAST command.

2 - Qualifiers

 2.1 - /BEFORE

       /BEFORE=date

    Selects all the mail messages received before the specified
    date. If you do not specify a date, Mail selects all of the
    mail messages received before the current day (today). You can
    also specify the keywords YESTERDAY and TODAY. For example, the
    command READ/BEFORE=YESTERDAY would select all mail messages
    received before yesterday.

 2.2 - /CC_SUBSTRING

       /CC_SUBSTRING=text

    Selects messages containing the specified text in the CC: field
    of the message, where the specified text is usually a node name
    or user name.

 2.3 - /EDIT

    Invokes a text editor. Unless you have selected a different
    editor by entering the SET EDITOR command, the DECTPU-based EVE
    editor is invoked. Use your editor to peruse the current message.
    When you are done, enter the appropriate command to quit from
    your selected editor. If you decide to edit the message and want
    to keep a copy of the newly edited message, enter the appropriate
    command to exit (use the EXIT command in EVE) and supply a file
    name.

 2.4 - /FROM_SUBSTRING

       /FROM_SUBSTRING=text

    Selects messages containing the specified text in the From: field
    of the message, where the specified text is usually a node name
    or user name. This command searches only the node name and user
    name of the sender; it does not search the personal name field.

 2.5 - /MARKED

       /MARKED
       /NOMARKED

    Selects messages that have been marked. The /NOMARKED qualifier
    selects messages that are not marked.

 2.6 - /NEW

    Selects the NEWMAIL folder and displays new mail messages
    received while you are in Mail. If there are no new messages,
    Mail displays the message "%MAIL-W-NONEWMAIL, no new messages".
    When a mail file other than your default mail file is open, Mail
    closes the file and opens your default mail file.

 2.7 - /PAGE

       /PAGE[=keyword]
       /NOPAGE (default)

    Controls the display of information on the screen.

    You can use the following keywords with the /PAGE qualifier:

    CLEAR_SCREEN   Clears the screen before each page is displayed.

    SCROLL         Displays information one line at a time.

    SAVE[=n]       Enables screen navigation of information, where n
                   is the number of pages to store.

    The /PAGE qualifier allows you to navigate through a maximum of 5
    screens containing up to 255 columns of information. When you use
    the /PAGE qualifier, you can use the following keys as well:

    Key Sequence              Description

    Up arrow (^  ), Ctrl/B    Scroll up one line.
    Down arrow (v  )          Scroll down one line.
    Left arrow (< - )         Scroll left one column.
    Right arrow (- > )        Scroll right one column.
    Find (E1)                 Specify a string to find where the
                              information is displayed.
    Insert Here (E2)          Scroll right one half screen.
    Remove (E3)               Scroll left one half screen.
    Select (E4)               Toggle 80/132 column mode.
    Prev Screen (E5)          Get the previous page of information.
    Next Screen (E6),         Get the next page of information.
    Return, Enter, Space
    F10, Ctrl/Z               Exit.
    Do (F16)                  Toggle the display to oldest/newest
                              page.
    Ctrl/W                    Refresh the display.

 2.8 - /REPLIED

       /REPLIED
       /NOREPLIED

    Selects messages that have been replied to with the REPLY
    command. The /NOREPLIED qualifier selects messages to which you
    have not replied.

 2.9 - /SINCE

       /SINCE=date

    Selects all of the mail messages received on or after the
    specified date. The format for the date is dd-mmm-yyyy. If
    you do not specify a date, Mail selects all of the mail
    messages received on the current day. You can also specify the
    keywords YESTERDAY and TODAY. For example, the command READ
    /SINCE=YESTERDAY would select all mail messages received since
    yesterday.

 2.10 - /SUBJECT_SUBSTRING

       /SUBJECT_SUBSTRING=text

    Selects messages containing the specified text in the Subj: field
    of the message.

 2.11 - /TO_SUBSTRING

       /TO_SUBSTRING=text

    Selects messages containing the specified text in the To: field
    of the message, where the specified text is usually a node name
    or user name. The /TO_SUBSTRING qualifier will not search the
    personal name field.

3 - Examples

    1.MAIL> READ/SUBJECT_SUBSTRING= MEETINGS
      MAIL
      #   From    Date             Subject

      1   BILL    11-DEC-1994        Future Meetings

      This example shows how to use the /SUBJECT_SUBSTRING qualifier
      with the READ command to find messages that contain the
      substring MEETINGS.

    2.MAIL> READ/BEFORE=11-DEC-1994

      This example shows how to use the /BEFORE qualifier with the
      READ command to display all the mail messages in the current
      folder received before December 11, 1994.

    3.MAIL> READ/SINCE=11-DEC-1994

      This example shows how to use the /SINCE qualifier with the
      READ command to display all the mail messages in the current
      folder received on or after December 11, 1994.

    4.MAIL> READ/NEW

      This example shows how to read new mail received while you are
      in Mail.