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Date: March 09, 1984 11:29
From: KIM::RUBIN
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
In response to a number of requests for info on the lazy man's entry to mail, here is the procedure. If you already have this working you should read the warnings section only. This feature is currently NOT on SNEEZY or GRUMPY, and Im not sure if I put it on BEEZ or not. If anyone on those systems has an interest, let me know and Ill add the needed changes! This "feature" will take you directly to mail at login time (or restart) if you have received new mail since the last time you ENTERED mail. ( See Warnings below). 1). Near the end of your LOGIN.COM file (I suggest AFTER everything that types stuff is completed), add the following line: $ @SYS$SYSDEVICE:[UTILITIES.COM]MAILCK 2). Near the top of LOGIN.COM (BUT at least before the above line) add the following line: $ MAIL :==@SYS$SYSDEVICE:[UTILITIES.COM]MAIDIR Now, every time you login, if new mail has been received, you will be placed directly in MAIL. ALWAYS leave mail with an 'EX' (normal exit, not CTRL-Y) Note: It is possible that after you have added all this that you will enter mail on your next login even if no new messages have been received. This is normal and will happen only once! WARNINGS: A). This does not really check for new mail, it simply looks to see if the revision number of the current mail file matches the number from the last time you were in mail. If you enter mail then leave without reading anything, the revision is updated and you will NOT enter MAIL even if your are told you have new messages, unless additional messages have been received! B). If you use BATCH, then a conditional branch must be made about line 1 which calls MAILCK. If you never use BATCH, skip to item C. If you already have an area of LOGIN.COM for "INTERACTIVE" items only, put the line in that section. If the last sentence appears to be GREEK to you, then add line 1 (from above) as follows: $ IF "''F$MODE()'" .NES. "INTERACTIVE" THEN GOTO SKIP_CHECK $ @SYS$SYSDEVICE:[UTILITIES.COM]MAICK $ SKIP_CHECK: C). Note that this re-defines the word MAIL to call a special COM file. Mail will still work as it always has, however, this COM file will display a list of all your mail files when you type MAIL. To skip the list, simply add anything after the word MAIL. (ie: MAIL N) D). Since this ONLY re-defines the word MAIL, it you try to get to mail in any other way (ie: MAI, MAILS), then the COM file is NOT executed. In this case, you will enter mail on next login even if no new mail was received! E). These additions in no way effect LETTERBOM. If you have made that change, it will still work as expected. If you have not made that change, you probably dont care what this means anyway! F). When using this, a new "file" will appear in your directory. It will be called MAIL.RVN. Do not remove this file. It uses only 1 to 3 blocks. If you do remove it, MAIL will simply put it back and you will enter mail on your next login even if no new messages. Problems should be mailed back to me! Thanks Owen
Mar 09, 1984