5 .TH MSH %manext1% "%nmhdate%" MH.6.8 [%nmhversion%]
7 msh \- nmh shell (and BBoard reader)
13 .RB [ \-scan " | " \-noscan ]
14 .RB [ \-topcur " | " \-notopcur ]
20 is an interactive program that implements a subset of the normal
22 commands operating on a single file in
26 is used to read a file that contains a number
27 of messages, as opposed to the standard
30 a number of files, each file being a separate message in a folder.
32 chief advantage is that the normal
35 allow a file to have more than one message in it. Hence,
38 ideal for reading BBoards, as these files are delivered by the
39 transport system in this format. In addition,
42 other files, such as message archives which have been
51 As the only commands available to the user are
56 beginners to concentrate on how commands to
58 are formed and (more or less) what they mean.
62 reads the named file, and enters a command loop.
63 The user may type most of the normal
65 commands. The syntax and
66 semantics of these commands typed to
68 are identical to their
70 counterparts. In cases where the nature of
73 inconsistent (e.g., specifying a
77 will duly inform the user. The commands that
80 (in some slightly modified or restricted forms) are:
115 command which gives a
116 brief overview. To terminate
118 type CTRL\-D, or use the
122 is being invoked from
124 then typing CTRL\-D will also tell
126 to exit as well, while
129 command will return control to
133 will continue examining the list of BBoards that it is scanning.
135 If the file is writable and has been modified, then using
137 will query the user if the file should be updated.
142 switch sets the prompting string for
145 You may wish to use an alternate
147 profile for the commands that
151 for details about the
153 environment variable.
157 two special features are enabled:
165 on start\-up if new items are present in the BBoard. This feature is
168 which correctly sets the stage. Second, the
172 acts specially when you are reading a
175 will consult the sequence \*(lqunseen\*(rq in
176 determining what messages you have actually read. When
179 it reports this information to
181 In addition, if you give the
183 command with no arguments,
193 all of the messages in the current BBoard you're reading, just use the
195 command with no arguments.
199 command is identical to the
209 to mark all messages as seen and then
211 For speedy type\-in, this command is often abbreviated as just
216 another special feature is enabled:
217 The `topcur' switch directs
219 to have the current message
220 \*(lqtrack\*(rq the top line of the
222 scan window. Normally,
224 has the current message \*(lqtrack\*(rq the center of the window
227 which is the default).
230 supports an output redirection facility. Commands may be
235 .ta \w'| \fIcommand\fR 'u
236 ^> \fIfile\fR~^write output to \fIfile\fR
237 ^>> \fIfile\fR~^append output to \fIfile\fR
238 ^| \fIcommand\fR~^pipe output to UNIX \fIcommand\fR
244 starts with a \*(lq\~\*(rq (tilde), then a
247 takes place. Note that
253 does NOT support history substitutions, variable
254 substitutions, or alias substitutions.
256 When parsing commands to the left of any redirection symbol,
258 will honor `\\' (back\-slash) as the quote next\-character symbol, and
259 `\*(lq' (double\-quote) as quote\-word delimiters. All other input tokens
260 are separated by whitespace (spaces and tabs).
265 .ta \w'/usr/local/nmh/etc/ExtraBigFileName 'u
266 ^$HOME/\&.mh\(ruprofile~^The user profile
267 ^%etcdir%/mts.conf~^nmh mts configuration file
270 .SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"
274 .ta \w'ExtraBigProfileName 'u
275 ^Path:~^To determine the user's nmh directory
276 ^Msg\-Protect:~^To set mode when creating a new `file'
277 ^fileproc:~^Program to file messages
278 ^showproc:~^Program to show messages
286 .RB ` file "' defaults to \*(lq./msgbox\*(rq"
287 .RB ` "\-prompt\ (msh)\ "'
298 switch must be interpreted as a single
299 token by the shell that invokes
301 Therefore, one must usually
302 place the argument to this switch inside double\-quotes.
304 There is a strict limit of messages per file in
308 can handle. Usually, this limit is 1000 messages.
312 is not the C\-Shell, and that a lot of
313 the nice facilities provided by the latter are not present in the former.
317 does not understand back\-quoting, so the only
325 switch. Clever users of
330 pick:\0\-seq\0select\0\-list
337 works equally well from both the shell and
352 program inherits most (if not all) of the bugs from the
354 commands it implements.