Columbia MM
MM Manual

MESSAGE SEQUENCES

Many commands, at Top Level (MM> prompt), can take a message sequence to describe what messages to act on. Most default to current if you do not specify a message sequence. The following commands take message sequences: answer, browse, copy, count, delete, edit, flag, headers, jump, keyword, list, literal, mark, move, print, read, remail, reply, review, spell, type, unanswer, undelete, unflag, unkeyword, unmark.


NUMBERS

nmessage number n
n:mmessages numbered n to m inclusive
n-mmessages numbered n to m inclusive
n,mmessages numbered n and m only
n+mm messages starting with message number n
.the current message: the message most recently read, or otherwise acted on
*the last message


DESCRIPTIONS

after datemessages after a specified date or day
allall messages starting with the oldest
answeredmessages marked as answered (A), meaning you sent a reply
before datemessages before a specified date or day
currentthe message most recently read, or otherwise acted on
deletedmessages marked as deleted (D), meaning you deleted them
flaggedmessages marked as flagged (F), meaning you used the flag command
from stringmessages from a specified user name or userid
inverseall messages starting with the most recent
keyword stringmessages with a specified keyword
lastthe last message
last numberthe last number messages
longer numbermessages containing at least number characters
newmessages marked as new (N), meaning both recent and unseen
on datemessages on a specified date or day
previous-sequencethe last message sequence used
recentmessages marked as recent (R), meaning arrived during the current session
seenmessages considered seen, meaning you read them or used the mark command
shorter numbermessages containing less than number characters
since datemessages on or after a certain date or day
subject stringmessages with certain wording in the subject field
text stringmessages with certain wording in the text
to namemessages to a specified user name or user id (to or cc)
unansweredmessages not marked as answered (A)
undeletedmessages not marked as deleted (D)
unflaggedmessages not marked as flagged (F)
unkeyword stringmessages not containing a specified keyword
unseenmessages marked as unseen (U), meaning you never read them

date: Either a calendar date, or a day of the week. A calendar date can be written in many forms: June 18 1992; June 18, 1992; 18 June 1992; 18-jun-92; 6/18/1992; 6/18/92. A day of the week always refers to today and the last six days. A time can be added after the date or day, written in a format like 9am or 9:00am, without periods or spaces.

name: Any part of an address field: the user name, user id, host name, and so on. Put the name inside double quote marks (") if it includes blank space.

string: Any string of characters. Put the string inside double quote marks (") if it contains blank space (strings containing certain punctuation marks like / also require quotes).


USAGE

Message-sequences can be combined, like from howie since tues, or before august 6 1992 subject meeting, or recent from sue, or 30:*, or even 1:40 text "basic mail" from maur.

Abbreviate message sequences to one or two letters.

Use previous-sequence, abbreviating to p, to avoid retyping the same message sequence you just used.

Use command history (control-p) to avoid retyping a message sequence you used earlier in the session. You can use command history and then command line editing to give a command similar to one you used earlier.


READ MODE AND SEND MODE

Message sequences cannot be used in Read or Send Modes.

In Read Mode, commands apply to the current message, which is the one you just read, unless you use the jump command to make a different message current.

In Send Mode, commands apply either to the current message, or to the outgoing message you just wrote, depending on the command. Be careful. For example, copy, list and print refer to the current message and not the outgoing message; save-draft does refer to the outgoing message.


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