From eliot@u.washington.edu Tue Jul 26 17:21:04 PDT 1994 >From eliot@u.washington.edu Tue Jul 26 17:21:04 1994 Return-Path: Received: from homer09.u.washington.edu by wells.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW94.4/UW-NDC Revision: 2.30 ) id AA05028; Tue, 26 Jul 94 17:21:04 -0700 Received: by homer09.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW94.4/UW-NDC Revision: 2.30 ) id AA27668; Tue, 26 Jul 94 17:21:03 -0700 From: Eliot Lim Message-Id: <9407270021.AA27668@homer09.u.washington.edu> X-Sender: eliot@homer09.u.washington.edu Subject: 08/10 all unix uniform access machines: rewritten msgs routine to be installed To: change-l@u.washington.edu Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 17:21:03 -0700 (PDT) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] Content-Type: text Content-Length: 2119 The rewritten msgs program is scheduled for installation on Wednesday 10th August 1994. All UNIX uniform access machines will be affected. Some highlights of the rewrite: - separate routine for posting, with much improved security - improved performance by doing less disk i/o for the same functions - better algorithm and data structures for tracking read and unread messages The new programs have been installed on a few machines for this testing period. The reading routine is currently called "uwmsgs" but will be renamed to "msgs" after testing and debugging, hence replacing the old executable. This program will continue to use the .msgsrc file and will automatically clean up corrupted files caused by the old program. The posting routine is currently called "Puwmsgs". The programs have been built on dynix, ultrix, osf/1 and aix. I have manually installed them on carson, stein1, saul2 and mead2 for the time being in /usr/local/bin. There will be an accompanying directory called /usr/local/uwmsgs (already created in the above machines) which will contain all future messages posted by this program. Command syntax: "uwmsgs" inherits the switch set of the old "msgs" with a few modifications: -p (pager) is enabled by default. it will look at the PAGER environment variable for alternative pagers. currently tested only with "more" and "less" -l (local) option has been removed because it is not applicable -f (quiet if no new messages). this is now the default behavior -v (verbose) new option added. opposite of -f Puwmsgs does not take command line arguments. It will prompt for a message subject, invoke the editor specified by the EDITOR environment variable and post the message. uwmsgs subcommands (when reading a message): "-" is now a decrement command rather than a toggle. i.e. if you are reading msg #3, "-" will take you back to #2 and another "-" will take you back to #1 and so on. "m" will send a copy of the current message to the user's mailbox where it can be manipulated as a mail message. Please send all comments and/or bug reports to eliot@cac. .