5 .TH MSH %manext1% "%nmhdate%" MH.6.8 [%nmhversion%]
7 msh \- nmh shell (and BBoard reader)
14 .RB [ \-scan " | " \-noscan ]
15 .RB [ \-topcur " | " \-notopcur ]
22 is an interactive program that implements a subset of the normal
24 commands operating on a single file in
28 is used to read a file that contains a number
29 of messages, as opposed to the standard
32 a number of files, each file being a separate message in a folder.
34 chief advantage is that the normal
37 allow a file to have more than one message in it. Hence,
40 ideal for reading BBoards, as these files are delivered by the
41 transport system in this format. In addition,
44 other files, such as message archives which have been
53 As the only commands available to the user are
58 beginners to concentrate on how commands to
60 are formed and (more or less) what they mean.
64 reads the named file, and enters a command loop.
65 The user may type most of the normal
67 commands. The syntax and
68 semantics of these commands typed to
70 are identical to their
72 counterparts. In cases where the nature of
75 inconsistent (e.g., specifying a
79 will duly inform the user. The commands that
82 (in some slightly modified or restricted forms) are:
117 command which gives a
118 brief overview. To terminate
120 type CTRL\-D, or use the
124 is being invoked from
126 then typing CTRL\-D will also tell
128 to exit as well, while
131 command will return control to
135 will continue examining the list of BBoards that it is scanning.
137 If the file is writable and has been modified, then using
139 will query the user if the file should be updated.
144 switch sets the prompting string for
147 You may wish to use an alternate
149 profile for the commands that
153 for details about the
155 environment variable.
159 two special features are enabled:
167 on start\-up if new items are present in the BBoard. This feature is
170 which correctly sets the stage. Second, the
174 acts specially when you are reading a
177 will consult the sequence \*(lqunseen\*(rq in
178 determining what messages you have actually read. When
181 it reports this information to
183 In addition, if you give the
185 command with no arguments,
195 all of the messages in the current BBoard you're reading, just use the
197 command with no arguments.
201 command is identical to the
211 to mark all messages as seen and then
213 For speedy type\-in, this command is often abbreviated as just
218 another special feature is enabled:
219 The `topcur' switch directs
221 to have the current message
222 \*(lqtrack\*(rq the top line of the
224 scan window. Normally,
226 has the current message \*(lqtrack\*(rq the center of the window
229 which is the default).
232 supports an output redirection facility. Commands may be
237 .ta \w'| \fIcommand\fR 'u
238 ^> \fIfile\fR~^write output to \fIfile\fR
239 ^>> \fIfile\fR~^append output to \fIfile\fR
240 ^| \fIcommand\fR~^pipe output to UNIX \fIcommand\fR
246 starts with a \*(lq\~\*(rq (tilde), then a
249 takes place. Note that
255 does NOT support history substitutions, variable
256 substitutions, or alias substitutions.
258 When parsing commands to the left of any redirection symbol,
260 will honor `\\' (back\-slash) as the quote next\-character symbol, and
261 `\*(lq' (double\-quote) as quote\-word delimiters. All other input tokens
262 are separated by whitespace (spaces and tabs).
267 .ta \w'%etcdir%/ExtraBigFileName 'u
268 ^$HOME/\&.mh\(ruprofile~^The user profile
269 ^%etcdir%/mts.conf~^nmh mts configuration file
272 .SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"
276 .ta \w'ExtraBigProfileName 'u
277 ^Path:~^To determine the user's nmh directory
278 ^Msg\-Protect:~^To set mode when creating a new `file'
279 ^fileproc:~^Program to file messages
280 ^showproc:~^Program to show messages
288 .RB ` file "' defaults to \*(lq./msgbox\*(rq"
289 .RB ` "\-prompt\ (msh)\ "'
300 switch must be interpreted as a single
301 token by the shell that invokes
303 Therefore, one must usually
304 place the argument to this switch inside double\-quotes.
306 There is a strict limit of messages per file in
310 can handle. Usually, this limit is 1000 messages.
314 is not the C\-Shell, and that a lot of
315 the nice facilities provided by the latter are not present in the former.
319 does not understand back\-quoting, so the only
327 switch. Clever users of
332 pick:\0\-seq\0select\0\-list
339 works equally well from both the shell and
354 program inherits most (if not all) of the bugs from the
356 commands it implements.