4 .TH MSH %manext1% "%nmhdate%" MH.6.8 [%nmhversion%]
6 msh \- nmh shell (and BBoard reader)
13 .RB [ \-scan " | " \-noscan ]
14 .RB [ \-topcur " | " \-notopcur ]
21 is an interactive program that implements a subset of the normal
23 commands operating on a single file in
27 is used to read a file that contains a number
28 of messages, as opposed to the standard
31 a number of files, each file being a separate message in a folder.
33 chief advantage is that the normal
36 allow a file to have more than one message in it. Hence,
39 ideal for reading BBoards, as these files are delivered by the
40 transport system in this format. In addition,
43 other files, such as message archives which have been
52 As the only commands available to the user are
57 beginners to concentrate on how commands to
59 are formed and (more or less) what they mean.
63 reads the named file, and enters a command loop.
64 The user may type most of the normal
66 commands. The syntax and
67 semantics of these commands typed to
69 are identical to their
71 counterparts. In cases where the nature of
74 inconsistent (e.g., specifying a
78 will duly inform the user. The commands that
81 (in some slightly modified or restricted forms) are:
116 command which gives a
117 brief overview. To terminate
119 type CTRL\-D, or use the
123 is being invoked from
125 then typing CTRL\-D will also tell
127 to exit as well, while
130 command will return control to
134 will continue examining the list of BBoards that it is scanning.
136 If the file is writable and has been modified, then using
138 will query the user if the file should be updated.
143 switch sets the prompting string for
146 You may wish to use an alternate
148 profile for the commands that
152 for details about the
154 environment variable.
158 two special features are enabled:
166 on start\-up if new items are present in the BBoard. This feature is
169 which correctly sets the stage. Second, the
173 acts specially when you are reading a
176 will consult the sequence \*(lqunseen\*(rq in
177 determining what messages you have actually read. When
180 it reports this information to
182 In addition, if you give the
184 command with no arguments,
194 all of the messages in the current BBoard you're reading, just use the
196 command with no arguments.
200 command is identical to the
210 to mark all messages as seen and then
212 For speedy type\-in, this command is often abbreviated as just
216 supports an output redirection facility. Commands may be
221 .ta \w'| \fIcommand\fR 'u
222 ^> \fIfile\fR~^write output to \fIfile\fR
223 ^>> \fIfile\fR~^append output to \fIfile\fR
224 ^| \fIcommand\fR~^pipe output to UNIX \fIcommand\fR
230 starts with a \*(lq\~\*(rq (tilde), then a
233 takes place. Note that
239 does NOT support history substitutions, variable
240 substitutions, or alias substitutions.
242 When parsing commands to the left of any redirection symbol,
244 will honor `\\' (back\-slash) as the quote next\-character symbol, and
245 `\*(lq' (double\-quote) as quote\-word delimiters. All other input tokens
246 are separated by whitespace (spaces and tabs).
251 .ta \w'%etcdir%/ExtraBigFileName 'u
252 ^$HOME/\&.mh\(ruprofile~^The user profile
253 ^%etcdir%/mts.conf~^nmh mts configuration file
256 .SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"
260 .ta \w'ExtraBigProfileName 'u
261 ^Path:~^To determine the user's nmh directory
262 ^Msg\-Protect:~^To set mode when creating a new `file'
263 ^fileproc:~^Program to file messages
264 ^showproc:~^Program to show messages
272 .RB ` file "' defaults to \*(lq./msgbox\*(rq"
273 .RB ` "\-prompt\ (msh)\ "'
284 switch must be interpreted as a single
285 token by the shell that invokes
287 Therefore, one must usually
288 place the argument to this switch inside double\-quotes.
290 There is a strict limit of messages per file in
294 can handle. Usually, this limit is 1000 messages.
298 is not the C\-Shell, and that a lot of
299 the nice facilities provided by the latter are not present in the former.
303 does not understand back\-quoting, so the only
311 switch. Clever users of
316 pick:\0\-seq\0select\0\-list
323 works equally well from both the shell and
338 program inherits most (if not all) of the bugs from the
340 commands it implements.