Simplified m_strn() per Ralph's suggestions.

[nmh] / man / mh-sequence.man

diff --git a/man/mh-sequence.man b/man/mh-sequence.man
index c47b02b7c43a3e0a944e8e9d1c23a662bcaa396f..dd14973ac58eef8d0f72b75d45abd205f91daaba 100644 (file)
--- a/man/mh-sequence.man
+++ b/man/mh-sequence.man
@@ -1,42 +1,45 @@
-.TH MH-SEQUENCE %manext5% "January 9, 2001" "%nmhversion%"
-.\"
+.TH MH-SEQUENCE %manext5% 2013-10-17 "%nmhversion%"
+.

 .\" %nmhwarning%
 .\" %nmhwarning%

-.\"
+.

 .SH NAME
 mh-sequence \- sequence specification for nmh message system
 .SH NAME
 mh-sequence \- sequence specification for nmh message system

-.SH SYNOPSIS
-most
-.B nmh
-commands

 .SH DESCRIPTION
 A sequence (or sequence set) is a symbolic name representing a
 message or collection of messages.
 .B nmh
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 A sequence (or sequence set) is a symbolic name representing a
 message or collection of messages.
 .B nmh

-has several internally
-defined sequences, as well as allowing users to define their own
-sequences.
-.SS "Message Specification and Pre\-Defined Message Sequences"
+has several internally defined sequences, as well as allowing
+users to define their own sequences.
+.SS "Message Specification and Pre-Defined Message Sequences"

 Most
 .B nmh
 Most
 .B nmh

-commands accept a `msg' or `msgs' specification, where
-`msg' indicates one message and `msgs' indicates one or more messages.
+commands accept a `msg' or `msgs' specification, where `msg'
+indicates one message and `msgs' indicates one or more messages.

 To designate a message, you may use either its number (e.g., 1, 10, 234)
 or one of these \*(lqreserved\*(rq message names:
 .PP
 .RS 5
 To designate a message, you may use either its number (e.g., 1, 10, 234)
 or one of these \*(lqreserved\*(rq message names:
 .PP
 .RS 5

-.nf
-.ta +\w'\fIName\fP      'u
-.I "Name       Description"
-first  the first message in the folder
-last   the last message in the folder
-cur    the most recently accessed message
-prev   the message numerically preceding \*(lqcur\*(rq
-next   the message numerically following \*(lqcur\*(rq
-.fi
+.PD 0
+.TP
+.B first
+the first message in the folder
+.TP
+.B last
+the last message in the folder
+.TP
+.B cur
+the most recently accessed message
+.TP
+.B prev
+the message numerically preceding \*(lqcur\*(rq
+.TP
+.B next
+the message numerically following \*(lqcur\*(rq

 .RE
 .RE

+.PD

 .PP
 In commands that take a `msg' argument, the default is \*(lqcur\*(rq.
 .PP
 In commands that take a `msg' argument, the default is \*(lqcur\*(rq.

-As a shorthand, \*(lq\&.\*(rq is equivalent to \*(lqcur\*(rq.
+As a shorthand, \*(lq.\*(rq is equivalent to \*(lqcur\*(rq.

 .PP
 For example: In a folder containing five messages numbered 5, 10, 94, 177
 and 325, \*(lqfirst\*(rq is 5 and \*(lqlast\*(rq is 325.  If \*(lqcur\*(rq
 .PP
 For example: In a folder containing five messages numbered 5, 10, 94, 177
 and 325, \*(lqfirst\*(rq is 5 and \*(lqlast\*(rq is 325.  If \*(lqcur\*(rq


@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@ is 94, then \*(lqprev\*(rq is 10 and \*(lqnext\*(rq is 177.
 .PP
 The word `msgs' indicates that one or more messages may be specified.
 Such a specification consists of one message designation or of several
 .PP
 The word `msgs' indicates that one or more messages may be specified.
 Such a specification consists of one message designation or of several

-message designations separated by spaces.  A message designation consists
+message designations, as separate arguments.  A message designation consists

 either of a message name as defined above, or a message range.
 .PP
 A message range is specified as \*(lqname1\-name2\*(rq or
 either of a message name as defined above, or a message range.
 .PP
 A message range is specified as \*(lqname1\-name2\*(rq or


@@ -64,6 +67,14 @@ The interpretation of `n' may be overridden by preceding `n' with a
 plus or minus sign; `+n' always means up to `n' messages starting with
 `name', and `\-n' always means up to `n' messages ending with `name'.
 .PP
 plus or minus sign; `+n' always means up to `n' messages starting with
 `name', and `\-n' always means up to `n' messages ending with `name'.
 .PP

+Substituting `=' for `:' (i.e., \*(lqname=n\*(rq) will reduce the
+selection from a range of up to `n' messages, to a selection of
+just the `n'th message.  So for example, while \*(lqname:-3\*(rq
+selects the 3 messages ending with `name', \*(lqname=-3\*(rq selects
+just the 2nd previous message.  It is an error if the requested
+message does not exist (i.e., there aren't enough messages in the
+folder).
+.PP

 In commands which accept a `msgs' argument, the default is either
 \*(lqcur\*(rq or \*(lqall\*(rq, depending on which makes more sense
 for each command (see the individual man pages for details).  Repeated
 In commands which accept a `msgs' argument, the default is either
 \*(lqcur\*(rq or \*(lqall\*(rq, depending on which makes more sense
 for each command (see the individual man pages for details).  Repeated


@@ -78,12 +89,11 @@ command.
 In addition to the \*(lqreserved\*(rq (pre-defined) message names given
 above,
 .B nmh
 In addition to the \*(lqreserved\*(rq (pre-defined) message names given
 above,
 .B nmh

-supports user-defined sequence names.  User-defined
-sequences allow the
+supports user-defined sequence names.  User-defined sequences allow the

 .B nmh
 .B nmh

-user a tremendous amount of power in dealing
-with groups of messages in the same folder by allowing the user to bind
-a group of messages to a meaningful symbolic name.
+user a tremendous amount of power in dealing with groups of messages
+in the same folder by allowing the user to bind a group of messages
+to a meaningful symbolic name.

 .PP
 The name used to denote a message sequence must consist of an alphabetic
 character followed by zero or more alphanumeric characters, and can not
 .PP
 The name used to denote a message sequence must consist of an alphabetic
 character followed by zero or more alphanumeric characters, and can not


@@ -107,13 +117,21 @@ specification \*(lqname:cur\*(rq is not allowed (use just \*(lqcur\*(rq
 instead).  The syntax of these message range specifications is subject
 to change in the future.
 .PP
 instead).  The syntax of these message range specifications is subject
 to change in the future.
 .PP

+Single messages (as opposed to ranges) may also be selected by
+substituting `=' for `:', as in \*(lqname=n\*(rq.  This will reduce
+the selection from being a range of up to `n' messages, to being a
+selection of just the `n'th message.  So while \*(lqseq:5\*(rq
+selects the first 5 messages of sequence `seq', \*(lqseq=5\*(rq
+selects just the 5th message of the sequence.  It is
+an error if the requested message does not exist (i.e., there aren't
+at least `n' messages in the sequence).
+.PP

 User-defined sequence names are specific to each folder.  They are
 defined using the
 .B pick
 and
 .B mark
 commands.
 User-defined sequence names are specific to each folder.  They are
 defined using the
 .B pick
 and
 .B mark
 commands.

-.PP

 .SS "Public and Private User-Defined Sequences"
 There are two varieties of user-defined sequences:
 public and private.  Public sequences of a folder are accessible to any
 .SS "Public and Private User-Defined Sequences"
 There are two varieties of user-defined sequences:
 public and private.  Public sequences of a folder are accessible to any


@@ -121,7 +139,7 @@ public and private.  Public sequences of a folder are accessible to any
 user that can read that folder.  They are kept in each folder
 in the file determined by the \*(lqmh\-sequences\*(rq profile entry
 (default is
 user that can read that folder.  They are kept in each folder
 in the file determined by the \*(lqmh\-sequences\*(rq profile entry
 (default is

-.IR \&.mh\(rusequences ).
+.IR \&.mh_sequences ).

 Private sequences are accessible
 only to the
 .B nmh
 Private sequences are accessible
 only to the
 .B nmh


@@ -142,7 +160,7 @@ For most commands, this can be overridden by using the switches
 .B \-public
 and
 .BR \-private .
 .B \-public
 and
 .BR \-private .

-But if the folder is read\-only, or if
+But if the folder is read-only, or if

 the \*(lqmh\-sequences\*(rq profile entry is defined but empty, then
 \fIprivate\fR sequences will be created instead.
 .SS "Sequence Negation"
 the \*(lqmh\-sequences\*(rq profile entry is defined but empty, then
 \fIprivate\fR sequences will be created instead.
 .SS "Sequence Negation"


@@ -161,7 +179,7 @@ the profile entry is:
 Sequence\-Negation: not
 .RE
 .PP
 Sequence\-Negation: not
 .RE
 .PP

-then anytime an
+then any time an

 .B nmh
 command is given \*(lqnotfoo\*(rq as a `msg' or
 `msgs' argument, it would substitute all messages that are not elements
 .B nmh
 command is given \*(lqnotfoo\*(rq as a `msg' or
 `msgs' argument, it would substitute all messages that are not elements


@@ -178,12 +196,12 @@ command.  The entry \*(lqPrevious\-Sequence\*(rq
 should be defined in the
 .B nmh
 profile; its value should be a sequence
 should be defined in the
 .B nmh
 profile; its value should be a sequence

-name or multiple sequence names separated by spaces.  If this entry
-is defined, when when an
+name or multiple sequence names, as separate arguments.  If this entry
+is defined, when an

 .B nmh
 .B nmh

-command finishes, it will define the
-sequence(s) named in the value of this entry to be those messages that
-were specified to the command.  Hence, a profile entry of
+command finishes, it will define the sequence(s) named in the value
+of this entry to be those messages that were specified to the command.
+Hence, a profile entry of

 .PP
 .RS 5
 Previous\-Sequence: pseq
 .PP
 .RS 5
 Previous\-Sequence: pseq


@@ -191,8 +209,8 @@ Previous\-Sequence: pseq
 .PP
 directs any
 .B nmh
 .PP
 directs any
 .B nmh

-command that accepts a `msg' or `msgs' argument to
-define the sequence \*(lqpseq\*(rq as those messages when it finishes.
+command that accepts a `msg' or `msgs' argument to define the sequence
+\*(lqpseq\*(rq as those messages when it finishes.

 .PP
 .BR Note :
 there can be a performance penalty in using the
 .PP
 .BR Note :
 there can be a performance penalty in using the


@@ -200,32 +218,30 @@ there can be a performance penalty in using the
 .B all
 .B nmh
 programs have to write the sequence information to the
 .B all
 .B nmh
 programs have to write the sequence information to the

-.I \&.mh\(rusequences
+.I \&.mh_sequences

 file for the folder each time they run.  If the
 \*(lqPrevious\-Sequence\*(rq profile entry is not included, only
 .B pick
 and
 .B mark
 will write to the
 file for the folder each time they run.  If the
 \*(lqPrevious\-Sequence\*(rq profile entry is not included, only
 .B pick
 and
 .B mark
 will write to the

-.B \&.mh\(rusequences
+.B \&.mh_sequences

 file.
 .SS "The Unseen Sequence"
 Finally, many users like to indicate which messages have not been
 previously seen by them.  The commands
 file.
 .SS "The Unseen Sequence"
 Finally, many users like to indicate which messages have not been
 previously seen by them.  The commands

+.BR flist ,

 .BR inc ,
 .BR inc ,

-.BR rcvstore ,
-.BR show ,

 .BR mhshow ,
 .BR mhshow ,

+.BR rcvstore ,

 and
 and

-.B flist
-honor the profile entry
-\*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq to support this activity.  This entry
-in the
-.I \&.mh\(ruprofile
-should be defined as one or more sequence
-names separated by spaces.  If there is a value for
-\*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq in the profile, then whenever new messages
-are placed in a folder (using
+.B show
+honor the profile entry \*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq to support this
+activity.  This entry in the
+.I \&.mh_profile
+should be defined as one or more sequence names, as separate arguments.
+If there is a value for \*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq in the profile,
+then whenever new messages are placed in a folder (using

 .B inc
 or
 .BR rcvstore ),
 .B inc
 or
 .BR rcvstore ),


@@ -241,7 +257,7 @@ directs
 to add new messages to the sequence \*(lqunseen\*(rq.
 Unlike the behavior of the \*(lqPrevious\-Sequence\*(rq entry in the
 profile, however, the sequence(s) will
 to add new messages to the sequence \*(lqunseen\*(rq.
 Unlike the behavior of the \*(lqPrevious\-Sequence\*(rq entry in the
 profile, however, the sequence(s) will

-.B not
+.I not

 be zeroed by
 .BR inc .
 .PP
 be zeroed by
 .BR inc .
 .PP


@@ -251,9 +267,30 @@ Similarly, whenever
 .BR next ,
 or
 .B prev
 .BR next ,
 or
 .B prev

-displays a message, that message will be removed from
-any sequences named by the \*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq entry in the
-profile.
+displays a message, that message will be removed from any sequences
+named by the \*(lqUnseen\-Sequence\*(rq entry in the profile.
+.SS Sequence File Format
+The sequence file format is based on the RFC 5322 message format.  Each line
+of the sequence file corresponds to one sequence.  The line starts with the
+sequence name followed by a `:', then followed by a space-separated list of
+message numbers that correspond to messages that are part of the named sequence.
+A contiguous range of messages can be represented as \*(lqlownum\-highnum\*(rq.
+.PP
+.B Sample sequence file
+.PP
+.RS 5
+.nf
+work: 3 6 8 22-33 46
+unseen: 47 49-51 54
+cur: 46
+.fi
+.RE
+.PP
+.B Nmh
+commands that modify the sequence file will silently remove sequences for
+nonexistent messages when the sequence file is updated.  The exception to
+this is the \*(lqcur\*(rq sequence, which is allowed to point to a
+nonexistent message.

 .SS Sequence File Locking
 The \*(lqdatalocking\*(rq profile entry controls the type of locking used
 when reading and writing sequence files.  The locking mechanisms supported
 .SS Sequence File Locking
 The \*(lqdatalocking\*(rq profile entry controls the type of locking used
 when reading and writing sequence files.  The locking mechanisms supported


@@ -266,7 +303,7 @@ commands are run simultaneously.
 commands that modify the sequence file use transactional locks; the lock
 is held from the time the sequence file is read until it it written out.
 This ensures that modifications to the sequence file will not be lost
 commands that modify the sequence file use transactional locks; the lock
 is held from the time the sequence file is read until it it written out.
 This ensures that modifications to the sequence file will not be lost

-if multiple commands are run simultaneously.  Long\-running
+if multiple commands are run simultaneously.  Long-running

 .B nmh
 commands, such as
 .B inc
 .B nmh
 commands, such as
 .B inc


@@ -276,32 +313,39 @@ will release the sequence lock during the bulk of their runtime and reread
 the sequence file after their processing is complete to reduce lock
 contention time.
 .PP
 the sequence file after their processing is complete to reduce lock
 contention time.
 .PP

-.B Note:
-Currently transactional locks are
-.B only
-supported for public sequences; private sequences will not get corrupted, but
-the possibility exists that two
+Note:
+Currently transactional locks are only supported for public sequences;
+private sequences will not get corrupted, but the possibility exists that two

 .B nmh
 commands run simultaneously that add messages to a private sequence could result in
 one command's messages not appearing on the requested sequence.
 .SH FILES
 .B nmh
 commands run simultaneously that add messages to a private sequence could result in
 one command's messages not appearing on the requested sequence.
 .SH FILES

-.fc ^ ~
-.nf
-.ta \w'%etcdir%/ExtraBigFileName  'u
-^$HOME/\&.mh\(ruprofile~^The user profile
-^<mh\-dir>/context~^The user context
-^<folder>/\&.mh\(rusequences~^File for public sequences
-.fi
+.PD 0
+.TP 20
+$HOME/.mh\-profile
+The user's profile.
+.TP 20
+<mh-dir>/context
+The user's context.
+.TP 20
+<folder>/.mh\-sequences
+File for public sequences.
+.PD

 .SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"
 .SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"

-.fc ^ ~
-.nf
-.ta 2.4i
-.ta \w'ExtraBigProfileName  'u
-^mh-sequences:~^Name of file to store public sequences
-^Sequence\-Negation:~^To designate messages not in a sequence
-^Previous\-Sequence:~^The last message specification given
-^Unseen\-Sequence:~^Those messages not yet seen by the user
-.fi
+.PD 0
+.TP 20
+mh-sequences:
+Name of file to store public sequences.
+.TP 20
+Sequence\-Negation:
+To designate messages not in a sequence.
+.TP 20
+Previous\-Sequence:
+The last message specification given.
+.TP 20
+Unseen\-Sequence:
+Those messages not yet seen by the user.
+.PD

 .SH "SEE ALSO"
 .IR flist (1),
 .IR mark (1),
 .SH "SEE ALSO"
 .IR flist (1),
 .IR mark (1),