컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Jun'99 v3.25 (c) Heimo Claasen REVOBILD 35 Rue du Marteau B-1000 BRUXELLES 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 ============================================================================== !!!!!!!!!!!!! TWO known *DANGEROUS* bugs in ReRead v3.25: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ============================================================================== 1. With Index services with FILE SERIES only: --------------------------------------------- Do *not* use ReRead v3.25 (dated March'99) to compound a series of single-mails-per-file - like the ones you get with NetMail Pro -, into a *.DLU type folder: the "delete" marked files are duely erased, but the copying of the others is not done correctly. USE ReRead v3.12 - at the same WWW place to download - together with NetMail/Netmail Pro ! 2. With copying "whole (mail) items", and only with the LAST item of a mailbag/*.DLU file: -------------------------------------------------------------------- Under *some* condition, the last item of a mailbag/folder will not be copied/appended if that is wanted *IN* *WHOLE* and from the file display mode, and if there is some anormality in its downloaded format (an additional empty line at the beginning of the last item, or between the end-of-item marker of a mail and the EOF of the file); the item might not be sucessfully copy-appended, and [DEL]ete-marking it without control may cause loosing it later with re-indexing. Copy/append a *last* item in the mailbag with lines marked from the top to the bottom (the one-dot-on-a-line end marker included) ! Use this alternative - with the last item of the folder only - to be sure of the saving when you intend to delete the item from the original folder with the indexing services later. (All indexing services work well even with copy/joining that last item to another file when it's not delete-marked.) 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Mar'99 v3.25 (c) Heimo Claasen REVOBILD 35 Rue du Marteau B-1000 BRUXELLES 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 RE-READ.exe is a DOS text mode reader for mail and usenet files, Html pages =========== and just any text files: to browse items or files series, copy or edit copied text, to reply mail or to save (parts of) files. It offers directory listing to change between files and to do housekeeping with downloaded mail/news items and files easily, and to decode parts of, or attached, files directly (external decoding utilities are needed for decoding though, as well as an external editor). This file is an overview of the program functions and lists the available DOS command line switches, the sets of command (or "hot") keys in using the program, and some basic explanations of the core features like copy-pasting of mail/text, indexing, naming conventions etc. WHAT IT DOES: - first of all "reading": listing mail and text (or HTML) files, ============= including "digests" from mail/newsgroups (separating mail items which are stuffed together without the standard header/end-of- mail markings), or digesting numbers of files downloaded from mailboxes and stored separately (e.g., with Netmail Pro). It tries to leave a maximum of screen space for the contents of text to read, and does not occupy more than an utmost minumum of just a line for its own behalf. Scrolling and moving around on the displayed text is as intuitive and functional as you would expect it - rather similar to V.Buerg's LIST. Then, "housekeeping" -- stuffing mail items, text, files into their right place comfortaly, with highly flexible copy/paste routines; reply to, or create mail to send (with Nettamer, Netmail Pro, and other mailer clients); to apply utilities for decoding received mail or dowloads; do some tidying up (even purging unwanted ^Z from mailbags, for instance); and indexing mail items from the mailbags/folders. !!! The indexing services have been completely reworked and largely inproved with ReRead's v3.2+ onward: index information is not taken into (DOS-)memory any more which allows even huge mailbag files to be handled. Once indexed - the time for this depends almost entirely on the speed of the disk which holds he file - it allows nearly immediate access to items in large files. Index files are rather small (two lines of 80 characters p.item contained in the mail folder) and are readable and searchable with any text file lister. Please see the doc-file RR-INDEX.txt for details (which are not contained here), especially on the logical choices available, and on file naming conventions ! !!! NEW from v3.21: ReRead will "expand" a digest file found inside a mailbag automatically now, provided it has been given the specific start-mark of items in this digest; mails/news then are presented singularly like any other mail in the folder. But there sure is a prompt to maintain the digest as one file to be copied and treated separately. (See the doc-file RR-INDEX) Overall you can use RE-READ well as a "shell" program for all mail and Net related tasks: call a mailer, do up- and downloads with FTP and WWW/the web, then easily digest things, read, edit and keep order with all the files offline. HOW IT WORKS The program has two basic working modes, DIRECTORY LISTING and ============ FILE DISPLAY, with their own - and, where meaningfull, same - functions to be invoked with hotkeys: these command keys are either unshifted [Fnn] function keys or [CONTROL]-shifted such, ie. [CTRL] + [Fnn] used together. Only F-Keys 1 to 10 are used, and certainly the arrow keys, PageUp/Down etc. The description how they work is the subject of this file. There is no *own* mouse/trackball support in the program; but you can well use them if you (re-)run a mouse-setter program like MOUSEKEY first. However, as the left-right movement of a pointer device may browse back/forth to easily, I find this less practical; ReRead is done for easy an quick keyboard use. RE-READ adapts to FOUR different TYPES of SOURCE FILES to read: 1. Regularly formatted Newsgroups or eMail downloads in folders or "mailbags", like Nettamer's "MAIL.DLU" (or Netscape mail folders). This is the default mode, and it will in principle read/display any (text) file, though then without recognizing if it is HTML or otherwise (or badly) formatted; 2. irregular, non-standard formatted mailbags containing a number of mail items, especially the digest files from mailing lists and newsgroups; 3. series of (mail) files with either same rootname or file extension (like the numbered "MAILnnnn.IN" files from dowloads with Netmail), 4. all text files without any specific (mail) formatting; it checks with such files if they are HTML formatted and can invoke any appropriate, EXTERNAL utility to strip HTML mark-up and to display the plain text. Please select the appropriate source type at the opening - with some badly formatted HTML files downloaded, RE-READ may choke if set to read mail or undecoded plain text. Use [F2] from any screen with a directory listing before selecting to open a file to read, or use the DOS command line switches to select the appropriate type of file. HOW TO RUN IT Call the program from the DOS commandline simply with its name, ============= D:\DIR> re-read (or any other/shorter you rename it to), from any DIRectory you are currently in; RE-READ should either be stored in that DIR or in another one on the DOS "PATH", so DOS can find it automatically. In principle it would not need any other parameters nor the "ini-file" RE-READ.USR with any of the specific settings that can be stored in this configuration file. The opening screen will ask if you want to list the files of this or another drive:\directory. You then get a listing of the files in the chosen DIR. The status/bottom lines indicate available functions, among them selection, by using [F2], of the FILE TYPE to read. Move the cursor to the file to read, and press ENTER. Almost all settings - file type, screen colours, width/height, mail header filtering, etc - can be set or changed inside the program. All can be defined permanently trough entries in the config-file RE-READ.USR; you can override settings given there with command line switches, or arguments, given together with the program name on the DOS command line. This file gives a summary of the functions he program provides, and discribes how the corresponding command keys work. Several aspect cannot be treated here, e.g. the instricacies of eMail(ing)/(formats) or the logic of housekeeping with memory and files - please look at the joined "MAIL-HOW.TO" and "INDEX" text files joined here or with the last "stable" release (v3.21 is definitely a trial edition!) There is a rather verbose (and earlier) doc file too with the former which tries to address some of the questions raised at the Nettamer and other mailing lists and newsgroups. ================================================= DOS COMMAND LINE SWITCHES to call ReRead from the DOS prompt or in a batch: ================================================= Normally the program would not need any parameters when called from DOS, and almost all settings can be changed from within. The preferred settings can be made permanent in a configuration RE-READ.USR file. Command line switches will override defaults and settings from that file. For use in batch programs the following command line switches are applicable: -- for different screen types: ------------------------------ /i = re-/invert screen video /v-nn = to set screen height; default is 25 lines /w-nn = to set width (length of lines) of text displayed on screen -- for different file/folder formats to read/list: -------------------------------------------------- /n = News/Mail reads standard formatted eMail/Newsgroups message files, and defaults to plain "text" reading of the file otherwise (DEFAULT) /m = fuzzy formatted eMail-files (e.g., "digests"): force item separation /h = Html-Page, or Text if no mark-up found (no Header information is read) /sX- File-Series with either "LoadFile.*" or "*.Ext" given with the DOS call: /se-[d:\path\]*.EXT will use the same ".EXTension" to read all these files in the directory specifeed (or the current as default), /sr-[d:\path\]Filename.* will use the root filename for all it finds there. ! Do not give a separate target path\filename with this /sX-switch ! /t = sets Reply filenames for Netmail (Default is Nettamer's MAIL.$nn) /L-nn = to set length of lines for quotes to be re-formatted and copied into a Reply file /q = sets (or leaves) the sharp around eMail addresses /z = cleans a mailfile/folder of undue ^Z (or ASC 27, end-of-file markers) !!! Use with care, and NEVER on a binary, non-text file !!! It will replace ^Z (ASC 26) with space (ASC 32) in the FIRST file read ONLY. No internal setting possible, must be used with calling RE-READ from the DOS prompt, and will be inactivated after any first file read. -- to change printer port: -------------------------- /p-N (with N = 2, 3, or 4 with other than the "LPT1" or "PRN" as the default) -- to give a target path and/of filename: ----------------------------------------- d:\path\LoadFile.Ext = Source filename to read, or directory to be listed No command line switch char ("/") needed nor allowed with it. Path names should contain the trailing backslash ("\"); if this is followed by a single asterix (like in " d:\this\dir\* ") there is no additional prompt before listing that directory. The licensed version reads all settings (and the licensing key) from the file RE-READ.USR somewhere in the DOS Path, thus makes switches (mostly) obsolete. But switches set at the command line will then override stored settings. Throughout the program, the [ENTER] key is used to confirm some command - for some critical ones it is [y]es/[n]o or likewise - and [ESC], the ESCAPE key, will exit menues or a specific task. The status line, the last line on the screen (or the one set to it with re- sized display measures) is used for all inputs and messages from the program, and shows command keys available, with submenues that toggle then onto the status line. Except for just this one line taken, all the screen surface is available for displaying file contents (and not program gimmicks). Directory listing defaults to three colums onscreen, fully scrollable, with indications of current path, free disk place and space used in the presently displayed directory. (Number of columns displayed is adjustable in Settings.) Both in Directory Listing and File Listing mode, DOS can be accessed directly by using [^F1] - this "shells out" to DOS; a number of other program tasks offer "hook-on" possibilities for any type of external programs - the most important of which would be an editor, and for various decoding utilities: see the naming convention below. These hook-on facilities can as well be used for other tasks, and RE-READ can serve well as a general shell program. It tries to occupy as little memory it needs, with not too large files loaded about 185 KB - thus you can easily run Nettamer, and certainly Netmail Pro and other mailer clients, from inside RE-READ directly. ======================= DIRECTORY LISTING mode: ======================= [ESC] from this screen will exit to DOS. The CURSOR is on the filename highlighted, [ENTER] selects a file to read. If in a (sub)directory, moving the cursor to one of the lines with a dot only, and pressing [ENTER] will change the dispay to the next higher (sub-) directory. Moving the cursor to the upmost left position brings up a prompt in the bottom (status) line to input any drive:\path\[filename] to got to. [PgUp] in 1st column brings the cursor there, [HOME] to the dot-line. [^x] - i.e. [CTRL] + [letter-key x] changes listing to the drive designed by "letter" x and to the root directory there. Command keys: [F1] - see bottom/status line of the screen: changes reading/filtering ON/OFF HEADer lines when the selected file (or mail folder) will be read-in. [^F1]- i.e. [CTRL] hold and [F1] pressed, will go out of RE-READ to the DOS prompt ("shell" to DOS); type "exit" there to get back into RE-READ ! [F2] - changes the TYPE OF SOURCE FILE to be read, and toggles through the four of them defined: - MAIL/NEWS for regularly formatted mailbags/mail folders (like MAIL.DLU) - FUZZY MAIL for "digest" type files of mail items, or for badly formatted mail items (parts of the standard eMail header missing, no single-dot single line as las one of mail items.) - FILE SERIES for reading all files with a same file rootname, or a same file extension, or even all files in a subdirectory, as a series of separate mail items. (NetMail stores incoming mail like that as numbered files with a same extension, MAILnnnn.IN.) - HTML/ASCII for just reading any text file. [^F2]- TOGGLEs the character replacement ON/OFF for text to be displayed. The replacement list must be defined in RE-READ.USR (see below). If changed when already displayed, an item/mail must be re-read in: just type the mail [msg.no] - shown at the status line - and [ENTER]. (This function is unlocked with the registration key.) [^F3]- Hook-in to run another program named "HOOK" with the filename under the cursor (and its path) as first argumen, *and* two additional argument to input. ReRead 'shells' to DOS with "HOOK2 filename %2 %3". [F8] - a small setup submenu on the bottom (status) line to change settings. Adjustable are: -- Text display width (number of character positions used on screen) -- Text display height (number of rows used on screen) -- Word wrap (on/off) with text display -- Number of columns for directory listing display (1, 2, or 3) -- Printer port -- Mailer format (Nettamer or Netmail, and comparable header formats) -- Bracket setting/stripping with reply addresses for the mailer -- Reply line length for copied lines to be quoted in replies *- Colour settings for text screen and status lines *- Measures and placement of the window to list buffer files The registering number sent with the RE-READ.USR configuration file (to be stored somewhere in the DOS PATH) will unlock some of the less important but pleasant display setting features, like full colour setting instead of being restricted to black-on-white and invers in the free distribution, and sizing and moving of the text windows uses to display the index and the buffer file lists (marked * above). Do *NOT* use the setting entries for colour and window size/position without the configuration file, and without the license number in it, and stored in the directory where ReRead is called, or at a place in the DOS PATH available for RE-READ: input to these sub-submenues will drop straight out from the program to DOS otherwise. There are some most current DOS-functions for FILE HANDLING available in the Directory Listing mode: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SORT:[F3], COPY:[F4], EDIT:[F5], KILL/DELETE:[DEL], RENAME:[F7], PRINT:[F9] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [F3] - Sorts the directory listing according to file root name, extension, or date. Defauts to ASCII-alphanumeric order; given order scheme is kept until an new one is selected. [F4] - COPY is the DOS-like function of copying the entire file elsewhere. RE-READ does check against inadvertent overwriting of an existing file in a target directory. [F4] prompts for a target PATH to copy the file to, and adds the name which is under the cursor in the directory listing displayed. The file under the cursor is copied to this path, with its own name; if you give a full target name including and without a trailing backslash, then the file will be copied to this new name (which can as well be in the same directory). There are some command keys then indicated on the status line: -- [F4] pressed again brings up a point-&-select window to chose for target fileames from PATHLIST.RER, see below. (From ReRead v3.1+ on) -- [TAB] brings up a first target path from a buffer file PATHLIST.RER: this is an ASCII file kept (or eventually created) in the directory which RE-READ accesses at that instant. Cycle through the entries there with any key, select any path\(filenam) with [ENTER]; -- [ENTER] accepts the target path (and perhaps a different filename) quoted there; -- [BACKSPACE], as key indicated by "[<--]", allows to EDIT this name of a shown; -- [SPACEBAR], indicated as "[SP]" key, will prompt for an input of a new, eventually fully specified target path\filename - DOS rules do apply with that, you need not type a drive name if the presently displayed directory is the same (but well the preceding "\"), and you can use ".\subdir\" if the target path goes to a subdirectory of the presently displayed one. You can rename the copied file in the targeted path by typing a (new) filename after the target path. -- [+] will add a new or edited) target name to the buffer file. The buffer file, PATHLIST.RER may contain any DOS path (and even file) specification. Remember though, if you give a file specification, that the copy will overwrite an existing file with that name (there is a safety prompt though). [F5] - Edit, invoked the editor (defined by the name "edit" without extension) with the filename under the cursor as file to edit. [DEL]- to DELETE the file under the cursor. There is a "security prompt". [F7] - Rename the file under the cursor. [F9] - Selects the file under the cursor for printing and sends the ENTIRE file - as it is - to the printer. Use the print function in FILE DISPLAY mode to print only selected (marked) parts of a file. ================== FILE DISPLAY mode: ================== SCROLL DISPLAY: -- Arrow [Up] or [Down] will scroll the SCREEN display 1 line up or down. -- [Page Up] or [PgDn] scroll the screen display 1 page each time. -- [CTRL]-[PgUp] and [CTRL]-[PgDn] will move to the start or end of the item currently displayed (or to start and end of a file if it's one item only). MOVE CURSOR: -- [Home] and [End] move the CURSOR up/down 1 line on the screen. -- [CTRL]+[Home] and [CTRL]+[End] move the CURSOR to the first or to the last screenline respectively. CHANGE ITEM (No.): -- [Left] and [Right] will bring up the PREVIOUS or the FOLLOWING message, if the File Type is NEWS/MAIL (with several items), or the previous and next file of a FILE SERIES with the appropriate root or extension of selected series of filenames given. -- Normal NUMBERs - typed with keys [0] to [9] and concluded by [ENTER] - will bring up the corresponding news/mail items if there are several. Thus [1] or [0] goes to the start of the file containing several messages, a number given of the total number of messages (or any higher) will bring up the last item, some number in-between the item number of those contained in a bulk file. The number of the message presently displayed entered will read it in anew (e.g. with header switched on/off, or char-replacement switched). In File Display mode, the status or command line (the last line on the screen) displays the file currently loaded, the message number, and the total number of messages of a Mail/Newsgroup file (or the total number of files if the File-Type handled is a group or File Series with a same root filename or extension). [ESC] - exits from file display to directory listing. [^F1] - shells out to DOS; type "exit" at the DOS promt to re-enter RE-READ. [F10] - and thereafter any non-[Fxx] key toggle a line of help for the AVAILABLE FUNCTION KEYs in FILE DISPLAY MODE: [F1],[F2] - MARK start/end line of any displayed text to copy/edit/print: [F1] sets start or top mark at the line of the cursor, [F2] set end mark after, and including, the preceeding line. [F3] - UNMARK. [^F2] - TOGGLEs character interpretation ON/OFF (both from File Display and from Directory Listing) as defined in the char.-list in RE-READ.USR. Type the current mail "Msg.no" to read-in the the item anew ! Note that the character replacement list (at the anchor "Liststart" there) must not be commented out ! - This function is unlocked with the registration key only - [^F3] - presents a prompt to decode (UU/XX-, Base64-, HTML-encoded parts of) files displayed: first mark with [F1] the line from where on, in the original, the file should be decoded ! The auxiliary EXTERNAL UTILITIES needed for decoding various formats must be available in the directory from where RE-READ was called: not necessary the presently addressed directory thus. (See below !) [F4] - COPY MARKED text - or *ALL* of the item, if nothing is marked ! - to the "save" or copy file (see below). The status line will ask for confirmation of a filename presently used as target, or allows input of any new such. (A more extensive section on buffers for these file- names, KEEPLIST.RER and its use is in the general doc file.) =================================== There is a short SUB-MENU available as with Directory Listing: =================================== -- [F4] pressed again pops up a text window which lists target path and file names from the buffer file to select from - if there is any such KEEPLIST.RER in the presently accessed directory; a warning beep signals that there's none (yet). -- If [F4] is pressed once AGAIN, the presently accessed directory is listed in the target names window. Practical if current threads are kept there - no need to put them into the buffer. !OBS! As it is, this will not work if ReRead has not read-in the directory yet, e.g. when started with the command from the DOS command line to directly read-in a mail folder; it will drop out to DOS directly with an error message. -- [TAB] enters the names from that list to the input line too, and allows to toggle through a list (with pressing any key but ENTER) -- [SPACEbar] empties the input line and a new target can be written in there directly; -- [+] adds that target name from the status line to the buffer file -- [<--] BACKSPACE starts editing mode for this name shown. Since ReRead v3.1 there is a point-&-select window to chose target fileames from KEEPLIST.RER, with another keying of [F4], more below. This is an "APPEND", and non-destructive, copy routine: marked text, or all(!) of the item if nothing is marked, will be ADDED to the named target file. !OBS! If you append a mail item to an already indexed folder, that file will not longer correspond to the length and number of items previously indexed and registered in the joined index file ! It has to be indexed anew, with the old index file has to be deleted before that.- Joining mail items, or pasting *parts* of them to a folder type of file (e.g. a thread) which you want to read then as a proper file of this sort, must be done with a minimum of the folder-type mail "format", including the "essential" header lines (Date:, To: or From:, Subjet: lines, *and* the item separator, usually the single one-dot line (or the "digest" item separator, the case being). Please see the specific documentation on indexing, RR-INDEX.vXX ! [F5] - EDIT (marked parts/whole item copied before to) the "target" file: the key invokes an *external* editor program, with as argument the filename present in the immediate buffer of the Copy/APPEND function; or if you just have created a reply-mail, that filename will appear as target in the status line. Press SPACEbar to empty that target name and to input another. (You can as well use [F4] first to pick any target name from the buffer file, or from the directory - go back with [ESC] to the file display, and then select [F5] to edit.) The NAME of an EDITOR Prog. you want to use is conditioned ("hard- wired") to "EDIT" - without any extenstion; so this can be any editor program found first in the current directory or on the DOS-Path, or a batch file to call the editor to be used, with a placeholder ("%1") for the file to be edited (RE-READ passes the full DOS denomination of drive:\path\filename.ext to it). When you leave the editor you get back directly to where you were before with RE-READ, thus switching back and forth is just one keystroke. The "target" file for the editor - the same name as the one for any copy to append to - will stay the same as long as you do not change it expressedly. Thus you can move around in a mailbag or thread of mails or between just any text files to assemble bits and quotes for some work in progress, and go back and forth between editing. [^F5] - [CTRL]+[F5], from this display mode for mail files, will create a new mail REPLY file: it takes the address from the presently displayed mail item, and the "subject" from there. If the mail header contains a line with a "Reply-To:" address, then his one is taken in the first hand. (If the "From:" address is different from the "Reply-To:", e.g. in the case of a mailing list you can mark and pass the line with the address "From:", and then subsitute it with editing as address to reply to, or add it as a "/CC" to the reply mail header.) You can "override" an automatic selection of the "Reply-To:"/"From;" address by marking any line which contains a useable eMail address with [F1] *only* (i.e. the "top line" marker for copies; do NOT use any end-mark by [F2]). If such a line is marked/highlighted, [^F5] takes any first valid eMail address from there, instead of from the "From:" or "Reply-To:" lines. In reply to a usenet/Newsgroups item a "post"ing mail head is created with the name(s) from the "Newsgroups:" line of the displayed item. Hint: If you do NOT want to use any "Reply-To:" address, you can mark any line by [F1] with an eMail address displayed, and use [^F5] to extract this address and thus create a new reply mail. The "Subject:" line is from the original and a prefix "Re: " is added to header line created; but you can edit this sure in changing to the editor directly just with [F5] If the text mode is set (HTML/ASCII) for a file to read - and thus no header information from the displayed one is available - you can mark with [F1] any text line containing an eMail address (i.e., any word with the characteristic "@" in it) which is then extracted from that line and placed into the Reply file as address to use. This way you can start to write any new eMail directly from an address list, or from reading any text. Please refer to RE-READ.DOC, to MAIL-HOW.TO, and to the Nettamer.DOC files for more extensive descriptions of the (reply-)mail headers and the various ways to address multiple copies and /CCs of mail. Format of the mailfile is the same but there are two different types of filenames depending of if you want to send it with NETTAMER or with NETMAIL ("mail.$nn" for the first, "MAILnnnn.OUT" for the latter.) Default is for Nettamer - change from case to case, in the setting menu or permanently in RE-READ.USR. Using [^F5] changes the "target" file name in the buffer (used last for to append to, or to edit) and places the appropriate mail file name there as target - you can immediately mark-and-copy lines from the original message to the Reply file, then go go directly into editing the reply, with [F5]. Note that reply files are created in, and reside in, the "base" DIR from which RE-READ was called, and their name placed in the buffer of targets to append to, will have the whole path to that DIR too - this allows to move around through different (sub)directories and files to mark/paste lines to this reply file: any immediate subsequent use of [F4] will bring up this target path\filename in the first hand. This is different from using the coppy-append routine without having first created a reply file - [F4] will create a new input copy-file in the directory which is currently read, not in the directory where RE-READ was started from. Marked lines for copy-append from the original are LINE FORMATTED as "replies" (if this is switched on), that is, with "> " as first signs on a line and a line length of max 76 chars (as default; this can be changed in Settings via the [F8] command key, or in RE-READ.USR). [^F4] - [CTRL]+[F4] TOGGELs this reply formatting OFF/ON. Also any change to another message item will toggle off the reply-formatting (but will not change automatically the name, in the buffer, of the target file for copies, until another use of [^F5] or an own input via [F4] of a target-file name). [F6] - displays the INDEX list of mail/news items in the folder or of the separate mail items read as files series. There is a sub-menu at the status line for different functions to use from index display; [SPACE]-bar toggles the menu/indications lines: =========================================== KEYS USED IN THE SUB-MENU OF INDEX LISTING: =========================================== ! the F-keys are quite differently used in this submenu ! [ESC] Exits from index listing back to the mail item just read; when switching from mail reading to the index listing, the mail item read is at the top row of the index page shown. [Up]/[Down] Arrow keys move the pointer/cursor (line is invers video) [PageUp]/[PageDown] scroll index page-wise with 20 lines each time [ENTER] selects the mail/news in the cursor line to read (or go to) [nnn] does the same: input any number and hit [ENTER] to go there [DEL] toggles ON/OFF for DELeting ("=d=") the msg under the cursor [INS] toggles ON/OFF a bookMARK ("**") which serves as "keeper" too [F2] update the present index list (rewrites index file) [F6] toggles to show either To: or From: field on the index line. [F3] DELETES all DEL-marked items and exits to DIR listing, [F4] appends all not delete-marked items to another file so select, and DELETES the old, original file and its eventual index file. [F5] rewrites the mailbag without delete-marked items and reloads it. [F7] extracts ONLY bookmrked items under the old filename and exits, [F8] extracts and appends bookmarked items to another file to select, and KEEPs all other non-deletable items in the original file. [F9] rewrites the mailbag with ONLY the bookmarked items and reloads it - this does DELETE the old file (and its index). ==== ! See seperate text RR-INDEX.V3x on indexing routines ! ======== ==== ! Be careful with, and aware of their use as these functions === ==== ! can discard mail items irrecuperably ! ======================= When switching from File Display to Index Listing, the presently shown mail item is always the one at the top of the index list, with the cursor placed there. [DEL] - from File display directly: SET a DELETE mark in the index [INS] - from File display directly: SET a bookmark/KEEPer mark in the index These keys only SET the respective marks, when text is displayed; to change these marks, go into Index Listing (with [F6]), where the same keys TOGGLE the markings. [F7] - FIND the line with a searched string of characters in displayed text. This is a rather crude search function, looking only for EXCACT matches; length of search string may not excede 80 chars. There's a beep if nothing is found else the display moves the line with a match found to the current cursor position. Repeat a following search for the same searchword with [F7], and [ENTER]; or input another. The routine cycles through all lines of the item/file displayed, and will eventually get to the line from where it was started if no match is found (with the "higher" beep in this case). [F8] - SETTINGS submenue: Toggles, with [F1] for HEADer, [F2] for FILE TYPE, [F3] for word wrapping ON/OFF, and once more with [F8] goes to change a number of other settings - the number of screen lines to display, screen width (line length), the printer port to use, line length for Reply-formatted lines, toggle use (or not) of sharp with eMail addresses, buffer file window measures/placement, etc. See the general doc RR-HOW.TO and the definitions in the RE-READ.USR configuration file. [F9] - PRINT marked part - or ALL if nothing is marked ! - of a displayed item. To print just one line, marking with [F1] is enough, you need not use key [F2] to mark an end. (This is valid to for the copy-APPEND routine using [F4] too.) [F10] - HELP submenu for the F-keys: lists functions available via F-keys, and accesses (via [F8] again) to change settings. Exit from the menu with [ESC] or [ENTER], toggle helplines/key lists with [SPACEbar]. ====================================================== BUFFER/STORAGE FILES "KEEPLIST.RER" AND "PATHLIST.RER" ====================================================== With its COPY/APPEND functions RE-READ can make use of stored target names for pathes to copy whole files to - from DIRECTORY LISTING -, and for filenames (plus their pathes) for to append marked parts, or whole mails, to a file from FILE DISPLAY mode. You can store in, and call up from, buffer files any number of target path or path\file names. From DIRECTORY LISTING, you can use (or create) a buffer file with path names to copy files to, with [F4]: enter a drive:\path\ specification - include the trailing "\" ! - and then add this target to the list pressing the [+] key, to the file PATHLIST.RER (this will be created if it does not exist). Any time you use [F4] to copy a file from the listed directory to somewhere else you can access the stored path list by using the [TAB] key at the sub-menu given - this will bring up the first path name stored in PATHLIST.RER, and any further keypress will toggle through all the pathnames listed there - or [F4] again to pop up a window listing the target path-names: [ENTER] to select one. The file highlighted under the cursor will be copied to this location. Note that this is the DOS-like copy routine which may overwrite an existing file with the same name in the target path. (There is a security prompt against this, the case being.) From FILE DISPLAY mode a similar routine applies to copy-APPEND to targets, which are FILES: the names are stored in a buffer file, KEEPLIST.RER, which can be accessed with the same sequence - first [F4], then [TAB] (and then any key to toggle through) or [F4] again to show a window with the target names to scroll through and select from. Remember that the copy routine from reading a FILE or mail/news in RE-READ will append to, not overwrite, a target file. Target filenames in that buffer file should be complete "filespec", i.e. the drive:\path\filename.ext - input accordingly if it's a new target. Both buffer files, PATHLIST.RER and KEEPLIST.RER, are specific for the (sub-) directory handled at the moment, and reside there: you can maintain different buffer files of target names in various directories, depending on the tasks to do - housekeeping for instance with directory maintenance, or ordering mail and usenet items from mailbags downloaded to different directories with using different ISP accounts. PATHLIST.RER and KEEPLIST.RER are plain-text files and can be edited with any clean editor. Format is simply one path or [path\]filename per line, resp. ============================== CHARACTER REPLACEMENT (TABLES) ============================== With reading-in single mail items you can switch on/off (with [^F2]) remapping of characters and strings for display. This does NOT change the original mail but only the display on screen (and the way ReRead keeps the read item in memory) - correspondingly, if you copy-paste the whole item (without marking a line) elswhere, the original char.set is copied; if you paste marked lines, then the displayed format is copied. The translation list must be included in RE-READ.USR, the configuration file. Define any number of characters or of strings (max length 8 positions) between the "Liststart" and "Listend" lines there (max number of exchanges is 256). there may be several substitution lists but only the first one where the key word "Liststart" is not commented out (i.e. by a semicolon like: ";Liststart") is used in the actual run. The char-list must be the last valid entry in the config.-file, RE-READ ends reading-in RE-READ.USR after that. [Further versions may offer means to change between char.-lists on the fly.] The replacement logic is simply to replace what is left on each line, before the equals sign "=", by what is right of it. Thus it's one list-line per character, or per string: the "entities" may indeed be up to 8 char.s long. (Leading and trailing spaces are cut but there may be spaces surrounded by other char.s). Single char.s can be written "as is", or in round brackets using their ASC no. (i.e. the position from 000 to 255 in the usual 8-bit char. set). For instance the following lines give the same result of exchanging a backslash in a text file to a forward slash displayed in RE-READ: \ = / (092) = / \ = (047) Character translation is done with reading-in of items; replaced char.s are only contained in the DISPLAYED lines, thus not changed in the original. Accordingly, the changed char.s are only preserved in a copy if this copy is done from the lines displayed, i.e. from copies of "marked lines". To use the feature to reformat a whole text, first mark from the top to the last lines displayed, and then copy(-append) to a file. ========================= PROMPTS AND SOUND SIGNALS ========================= Where reasonable there are visual confirmations of sorts, for any action from selected routines: the status line (last line at the bottom of the screen) goes back to its former state, or shows some symbol for actions that takes time (with copying for instance). There are some - few - sound signals where this seems not feasable or where special attention is requested: a lower key "A" (400 Hz) for a positive con- firmation (with creating a Reply mail with header, for instance), or in order to make attent of a waiting prompt for confirmation (e.g., to delete a file). A high pitched "A" (800 Hz) is used as a warning sound: with invalid filenames for copies, pathes to change to, or other error conditions. ======================== AUXILIARY PROGRAMS USED: ======================== As for editing and HTML decoding, RE-READ needs external utilities to decode transfer-encoded files, like UU/XX-, Base64-encoded attachments, or parts of files, when using [^F3] to decode "on the fly". The names for these programs are fixed inside RE-READ to their root filename: HTMSTRIP -- for decoding of HTML marked-up text UXDECODE -- for UU/XXdecoding B64DCODE -- for Base64 (MIME) decoding QUOTPRNT -- for reformatting MIME "Quoted Printable" text. You can use any appropriate utility program for these respective tasks, which may be even batch files with commands to call these utilities with their proper name and specific arguments. RE-READ calls the utility with the fixed name mentioned, and creates a copy, a temporary input-file "RER-TEMP.$$$", as well as the name of an output file; both names are given as arguments to the utility to be called: the temporary input file is where the marked part of the original is copied to - or the whole message (with mail reading, or the whole file with one text read) -, and thus the original mail-file remains unchanged. The decoding utiliy will be use this RER-TEMP.$$$ as its input file to work with. MIME/Base_64 decoders mostly take the name for their output file from the "name=..." line of the MIME header, and would give an error message to any other (given) output filename; best thus to use that name (which is in plain text in the header) as output file to read then - dont't bother about any error messages from the decoder regarding output filenames: you can always adjust the target filename for decoded items, to be read with the editor, in a following step. In fact you can "hook in" just any utility (or batch file to run) with one of these fixed root-names; it is called with the temporary copy file as name as an argument, regarless if that is needed or not (and the temporary file will be deleted afterwrds in any case). =================== Further Development =================== Bugs -- there are and must be some -- and inconveniencies of handling have to be dealt with first; the author will be grateful for any critical feedback especially about ergonomical aspects; many key bindings for instance can be easily changed. The licensed edition comprises an "ini" file, to be put once and for all somewhere into the DOS PATH, which defines all settings and function/command keys bindings, and unlocks a few, lately added features which are not yet functional in the free distriution (other colour setting than the black/white inversion, placing of the buffer files window, use of character remapping). A major revision of the complete lay-out (which will not be finished very soon though) will dissolve the hitherto fixed status line(s), and make the whole display adaptive to any number of columns/rows, leaving the whole display for either text or directory listings. (Which implies moving the indications of available function/hot keys into pop-up windows; at the same time, these key assignments will be completle re-mappable.) If there is any demand for it, at least the doc/explanation could be written in another language too (German, French). It would demand *very* much work to change all English indications inside the programm; however, you can order your licenced edition with pop-up HELP screens containing short definitions of command words and terms in a specific language - German, French, Dutch, Swedish, perhaps even Portuguese or Spanish - if needed: please write ! ============================================================================== If you try out this version of RE-READ I would be interested to get critical feedback - and I would be glad if you decided to order a user license and find it useful to work with. To remember: A Program is Just a (Big) Bug that Happened to Work. 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Mar'99 (c) Heimo Claasen REVOBILD 35 Rue du Marteau B-1000 BRUXELLES 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 =========== RE-READ.exe is (c) COPYRIGHTED and may only be used under licence to =========== the conditions specified therewith. No warranty is given. The programme develops continuously and the author would be only too glad to receive suggestions or to adapt it to special requests: write to the address or eMail to Heimo Claasen at ==> hammer@inti.be ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This SHAREWARE distribution of RE-READ.exe is fully functional - except for some minor and recent additions: THE LICENSED version is an up-to-date copy and contains the newest features, with an up- dated manual ! To order: FROM: REVOBILD SEND: DEM 25,- or BEF 500 or 12:75 EUR, Heimo Claasen by giro/transfer (net!)or cheque (if in 35, Rue du Marteau GB� add 5 � for bank fees and thank all B - 1000 BRUSSELS the Thatcherites) to: POSTAL ACCOUNTs: Belgium: 000-1136823-80 Germany: 0240744506 / BLZ 370 100 50 PROCEDURE: ADD DEM 5,- (BEF 100 or equiv.) for SHIPPING AS DISKETTE (and *DO* mention format: "360", "720", "1.2", or "1.44", as well as READABLE address!). Normal procedure: A licensed "ini-file" will be sent by eMail, which unlocks the free available version. A full package can be sent encoded by eMail too. That file - after eMailed convention about its name - could as well be set up and downloaded from http://www.inti.be/hammer/(specific- filename.zip) - ask ! Best via eMail, please, to ! 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Mar'99 (c) Heimo Claasen REVOBILD 35 Rue du Marteau B-1000 BRUXELLES 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴