Subj : don't cry for me I have vi To : Russell Tiedt From : Maurice Kinal Date : Tue Mar 29 2005 08:00 am Hey Russell! RT> Well, "mbox" or "news spool" are native Linux message storage formats, RT> that work for large "message bases" and editors for both are RT> plentifull, there is a news2mail and a mail to news filter already RT> available, so you just need to ad a FidoNet one, and you have most RT> bases covered. They may be native but didn't originate with Linux. They are ports. After playing with them, albiet at a very low level, I think I'd prefer coming up with a suitable internal format that is condusive to reformatting to what any individual user desires and keeping the archives minimalized to the bare essentials. Speaking as a user the "offline" would be something I coud use with vi, such as what I am doing as we speak. However my neighbour was more impressed with the email idea and we'll try that and seee if we can roust some action out of him. RT> Knowing exactly what you want to do, helps matters no end. For sure. RT> Well, the fact that most of it originated on DOS systems, and their RT> limitations, keeping that in mind, will give one grounds for RT> "extenuating circumstances" I used to use DOS and managed to keep the few archives that were truly mine in a format that would go the distance. The reason I found it so "easy", relatively speaking, to ditch DOS for Linux was that I understood beforehand the benefits of tcpip networking and the multi-everything nature of a Unix enviroment. The ability to bring that to all sorts of PC's, 486's are still nice, is what sold me on the idea of Linux and officially killed DOS here, although it happened a tad sooner then that. Speaking for myself DOS died then though. Using DOS as an excuse for all this doesn't really wash. I used to be able to get DOS to behave more Unixie ages ago. It was the multi parts where DOS was crippled. A BBS truly belongs in an Unix enviroment, not DOS. It can't handle it. - Maurice --- Hacked v0.1b * Origin: Coffin Point (1:261/38.9) .