text:
vm / vm.texinfo
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\input texinfo @comment -*-Text-*-
@setfilename vm.info
@settitle VM User's Manual
@c @direntry
@c * VM:: A mail reader.
@c @end direntry
@end iftex
@c @setchapternewpage odd % For book style double sided manual.
@c @smallbook
%\global\baselineskip 30pt % For printing in double spaces
@end tex
This file documents the VM mail reader.
Copyright (C) 1989, 1991, 1999 Kyle E. Jones
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
are preserved on all copies.
Permission is granted to process this file through Tex and print the
results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
@end ignore
@end ifinfo
@sp 6
@center @titlefont{VM User's Manual}
@sp 4
@center Second Edition, VM Version 6
@sp 1
@center January 1999
@sp 5
@center Kyle E. Jones
@center @t{kyle_jones@@wonderworks.com}
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
Copyright @copyright{} 1989, 1991, 1999 Kyle E. Jones
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
are preserved on all copies.
@end titlepage
@node Top, Introduction,, (DIR)
This manual documents the VM mail reader, a Lisp program which runs as a
subsystem under Emacs. The manual is divided into the following
* Introduction:: Overview of the VM interface.
* Starting Up:: What happens when you start VM.
* Selecting Messages:: How to select messages for reading.
* Reading Messages:: Previewing and paging through a message.
* Sending Messages:: How to send messages from within VM.
* Saving Messages:: How to save messages.
* Deleting Messages:: How to delete, undelete and expunge messages.
* Editing Messages:: How to alter the text and headers of a message.
* Message Marks:: Running VM commands on arbitrary sets of messages.
* Message Attributes:: How to change and undo changes to message attributes.
* Sorting Messages:: How to make VM present similar messages together.
* Reading Digests:: How to read digests under VM.
* Summaries:: How to view and customize the summary of a folder.
* Virtual Folders:: Blurring the boundaries of different physical folders.
* Frames and Windows:: How to customize VM's use of windows and frames.
* Toolbar:: How to configure VM's toolbar.
* Menus:: How to configure VM's menus.
* Faces:: How to configure VM's use of faces.
* Using the Mouse:: Understanding the VM mouse interface.
* Hooks:: How you can make VM run your code at certain times.
* License:: Copying and distribution terms for VM.
* Key Index:: Menus of command keys and their references.
* Command Index:: Menus of commands and their references.
* Variable Index:: Menus of variables and their references.
@end menu
@end ifinfo
@node Introduction, Starting Up, Top, Top
@unnumbered Introduction
VM (View Mail) is an Emacs subsystem that allows UNIX mail to be read
and disposed of within Emacs. Commands exist to do the normal things
expected of a mail user agent, such as generating replies, saving
messages to folders, deleting messages and so on. There are other more
advanced commands that do tasks like bursting and creating digests,
message forwarding, and organizing message presentation according to
various criteria.
To invoke VM, type @kbd{M-x vm}. VM gathers any mail that has
arrived in your system mailbox and appends it to a file known as your
@dfn{primary inbox}, and visits that file for reading. @xref{Starting Up}.
A file visited for reading by VM is called the @dfn{current folder}.
@findex vm-scroll-forward
@findex vm-scroll-backward
@kindex SPC
@kindex b
@kindex DEL
If there are any messages in the primary inbox, VM selects the first new
or unread message, and previews it. @dfn{Previewing} is VM's way of
showing you part of a message and allowing you to decide whether you want
to read it. @xref{Previewing}. By default VM shows you the message's
sender, recipient, subject and date headers. Typing @key{SPC}
(@code{vm-scroll-forward}) exposes the body of the message and flags the
message as read. Subsequent @key{SPC}'s scroll forward through the
message, @kbd{b} or @key{DEL} scrolls backward. When you reach the end
of a message, typing @key{SPC} or @kbd{n} moves you forward to preview
the next message. @xref{Paging}.
If you do not want to read a message that's being previewed, type
@kbd{n} and VM will move to the next message (if there is one).
@xref{Selecting Messages}.
To save a message to a mail folder use @kbd{s} (@code{vm-save-message}).
VM will prompt you for the folder name in the minibuffer.
@xref{Saving Messages}.
Messages are deleted by typing @kbd{d} (@code{vm-delete-message}) while
previewing or reading them. The message is not removed right away; VM
makes a note that you want the message to be removed later. If you
change your mind about deleting a message, select it and type @kbd{u}
(@code{vm-undelete-message}), and the message will be undeleted.
@xref{Deleting Messages}. The actual removal of deleted messages from
the current folder is called @dfn{expunging} and it is accomplished by
typing @kbd{###} (@code{vm-expunge-folder}). The message is still present
in the on-disk version of the folder until the folder is saved.
Typing @kbd{h} (@code{vm-summarize}) causes VM to display a window
containing a summary of the contents of the current folder. The summary is
presented one line per message, by message number, listing each message's
author, date sent, line and byte count, and subject. Also, various
letters appear beside the message number to indicate that a message is
new, unread, flagged for deletion, etc. An arrow @samp{->} appears to
the left of the line summarizing the current message. The summary
format is user configurable, @pxref{Summaries}.
@findex vm-save-folder
@kindex S
When you are finished reading mail the current folder must be saved, so
that the next time the folder is visited VM will know which messages
have been already read, replied to and so on. Typing @kbd{S}
(@code{vm-save-folder}) saves the folder. Note that deleted messages are
@emph{not} expunged automatically when you save a folder; this is a change from
version 4 of VM. The next time you visit the folder any deleted
messages will still be flagged for deletion.
@vindex vm-folder-file-precious-flag
When a folder is first visited, the value of the variable
@code{vm-folder-file-precious-flag} is used to initialize a
buffer-local instance of @code{file-precious-flag}, which
determines how folders are saved. A non-nil value causes
folders to be saved by writing to a temporary file and then
replacing the folder with that file. A nil value causes
folders to be saved by writing directly to the folder without
the use of a temporary file.
@vindex vm-delete-empty-folders
If the folder is empty at the time you save it and the variable
@code{vm-delete-empty-folders} is non-@code{nil}, VM will remove
the zero length folder after saving it.
@findex vm-quit
@findex vm-quit-no-change
@kindex q
@kindex x
To quit visiting a folder you can type @kbd{q} (@code{vm-quit}) or
@kbd{x} (@code{vm-quit-no-change}). Typing @kbd{q} saves the current
folder before quitting. Also, any messages flagged new are changed to
be flagged as old and unread, before saving. The @kbd{x} command quits
a folder without changing the status of new messages, saving or
otherwise modifying the current folder.
@vindex vm-confirm-quit
If the variable @code{vm-confirm-quit} is set to @code{t}
VM will always ask for confirmation before ending a VM
visit of a folder. A @code{nil} value means VM will ask only
when messages will be lost unwittingly by quitting, i.e. not
removed by intentional delete and expunge. A value that is
neither @code{nil} nor @code{t} causes VM to ask only when
there are unsaved changes to message attributes or when messages
will be lost.
@findex vm-quit-just-bury
You do not have to quit a folder to continue using Emacs for other
purposes. (@code{vm-quit-just-bury}) buries the buffers associated with
the current folder deep in Emacs' stack of buffers, but otherwise leaves
the folder visited so that you can resume reading messages quickly. You
can locate the folder's buffers again by using @code{list-buffers},
which is normally bound to @kbd{C-x C-b}.
@findex vm-quit-just-iconify
Another command you can use if you are using a window system like X
Windows is @code{vm-quit-just-iconify}. This command buries the
folder's buffers like @code{vm-quit-just-bury} and also iconifies the
current frame.
@findex vm-get-new-mail
@kindex g
At any time while reading mail in any folder you can type @kbd{g}
(@code{vm-get-new-mail}) to check to see if new mail for that folder has
arrived. If new mail has arrived it will be moved from the spool file
or spool files associated with the current folder and merged into the
folder. If you are not in the middle of another message, VM will also
move to the first new or unread message.
If @code{vm-get-new-mail} is given a prefix argument, it will prompt for
another file from which to gather messages instead of the usual spool
files. In this case the source folder is copied but no messages are
deleted from it as they would be for a spool file.
By default your primary inbox has your system mailbox associated with
it, e.g. @file{/var/spool/mail/kyle}, and so typing @kbd{g} will retrieve
mail from this file. Your system mailbox is one example of a @dfn{spool
file}, a file that the mail transport system delivers messages into.
You can associate other spool files with your primary inbox and spool
files with other folders by setting the variable
@code{vm-spool-files}. @xref{Spool Files}.
@node Starting Up, Selecting Messages, Introduction, Top
@chapter Starting Up
@findex vm-load-init-file
@vindex vm-init-file
@kindex L
The first time VM is started in an Emacs session, it attempts to load
the file specified by the variable @code{vm-init-file}, normally
@file{~/.vm}. If present this file should contain Lisp code, much like
the @file{.emacs} file. Since VM has well over one hundred
configuration variables, use of the @file{~/.vm} can considerably reduce
clutter in the @file{.emacs} file. You can reload this file
by typing @kbd{L} (@code{vm-load-init-file}) from within VM.
@findex vm
@vindex vm-primary-inbox
@vindex vm-auto-get-new-mail
@kbd{M-x vm} causes VM to visit a file known as your @dfn{primary
inbox}. If the variable @code{vm-auto-get-new-mail} is set
non-@code{nil}, VM will gather any mail present in your system mailbox
and integrate it into your primary inbox. The default name of your
primary inbox is @file{~/INBOX}, but VM will use whatever file is named
by the variable @code{vm-primary-inbox}.
@vindex vm-crash-box
VM transfers the mail from the system mailbox to the primary inbox via a
temporary file known as the @dfn{crash box}. The variable
@code{vm-crash-box} names the crash box file. VM first copies the mail
to the crash box, truncates the system mailbox to zero messages, merges
the crash box contents into the primary inbox, and then deletes the
crash box. If the system or Emacs should crash in the midst of this
activity, any message not present in the primary inbox will be either in
the system mailbox or the crash box. Some messages may be duplicated
but no mail will be lost.
If the file named by @code{vm-crash-box} already exists when VM is
started up, VM will merge that file with the primary inbox before
retrieving any new messages from the system mailbox.
@findex vm-visit-folder
@kindex v
@kbd{M-x vm-visit-folder} (@kbd{v} from within VM) allows you to visit
some other mail folder than the primary inbox. The folder name will be
prompted for in the minibuffer.
Once VM has read the folder, any spool files associated with the folder
are checked for new messages if @code{vm-auto-get-new-mail} is
non-@code{nil}. @xref{Spool Files}. After this, the first new or
unread message will be selected, if any. If there is no such message,
VM will select whatever the selected message was when this folder was last
saved. If this folder has never been visited and saved by VM, then the
first message in the folder is selected.
@findex vm-mode
@kbd{M-x vm-mode} can be used on a buffer already loaded into Emacs
to put it into the VM major mode so that VM commands can be executed
on it. This command is suitable for use in Lisp programs, and for
inclusion in @code{auto-mode-alist} to automatically start VM on a
file based on a particular filename suffix. @code{vm-mode} skips
some of VM's startup procedures (e.g. starting up a summary) to make
non-interactive use easier.
@vindex vm-startup-with-summary
The variable @code{vm-startup-with-summary} controls whether VM
automatically displays a summary of the folder's contents at startup. A
value of @code{nil} gives no summary; a value of @code{t} always gives a
summary. A value that is a positive integer @var{n} means that VM
should generate a summary on if there are @var{n} or more messages in
the folder. A negative value @var{-n} means generate a summary only if
there are @var{n} or fewer messages. The default value of
@code{vm-startup-with-summary} is @code{t}.
* Spool Files:: Linking folders and mailboxes.
* Getting New Mail:: Retrieving mail from spool files.
* Crash Recovery:: Recovering changes after Emacs or your system dies.
@end menu
@node Spool Files, Getting New Mail, Starting Up, Starting Up
@section Spool Files
@vindex vm-spool-files
A @dfn{spool file} is a file where the mail transport system delivers
messages intended for you. Typically a program called @file{/bin/mail}
or @file{/bin/mail.local} does this delivery, although agents such as
@file{procmail}, @file{filter} and @file{slocal} can be invoked from a
user's @file{~/.forward} or @file{~/.qmail} files. No matter what the
delivery agent, what all spool files have in common is that mail is
delivered into them by one or more entities apart from VM and that all
access to spool files must therefore be accompanied by the use of
some file locking protocol.
@vindex vm-movemail-program
@vindex vm-movemail-program-switches
VM leaves the task of accessing spool files to @file{movemail}, a
program distributed with Emacs that is written for this purpose.
The variable @code{vm-movemail-program} specifies the name of the
movemail program and defaults to @samp{"movemail"}. The variable
@code{vm-movemail-program-switches} lets you specify some initial
command line argument to pass to the movemail program.
Every folder, including the primary inbox, can have one or more spool
files associated with it. You make these associations known to VM by
setting the variable @code{vm-spool-files}.
If you only want to associate spool files with your primary inbox, you
can set @code{vm-spool-files} to a list of strings. By default, the location
of your system mailbox (the spool file that is associated with your
primary inbox) is determined heuristically based on what type of system
you're using. VM can be told explicitly where the system mailbox is by
setting @code{vm-spool-files} like this:
(setq vm-spool-files '("/var/spool/mail/kyle" "~/Mailbox"))
@end example
With this setting, VM will retrieve mail for the primary inbox from
first @file{/var/spool/mail/kyle} and then @file{~/Mailbox}.
If the value of @code{vm-spool-files} is @code{nil}, a default value for
@code{vm-spool-files} will be inherited from the shell environmental
variables MAILPATH or MAIL if either of these variables are defined.
This inheritance happens before your init file is loaded, so setting
@code{vm-spool-files} in your init file will override any environmental
If you want to associate spool files with folders other than or in
addition to the primary inbox, the value of @code{vm-spool-files} must be a
list of lists. Each sublist specifies three entities, a folder, a spool
file and a crash box. When retrieving mail for a particular folder, VM
will scan @code{vm-spool-files} for folder names that match the current
folder's name. The spool file and crash box found in any matching
entries will be used to gather mail for that folder.
For example, you can set @code{vm-spool-files} like this
(setq vm-spool-files
("~/INBOX" "/var/spool/mail/kyle" "~/INBOX.CRASH")
("~/INBOX" "~/Mailbox" "~/INBOX.CRASH")
("~/Mail/bugs" "/var/spool/mail/answerman" "~/Mail/bugs.crash")
@end group
@end example
The folder @file{~/INBOX} has two spool files associated with it in this
example, @file{/var/spool/mail/kyle} and @file{~/Mailbox}. Another
folder, @file{"~/Mail/bugs"} has one folder
@file{/var/spool/mail/answerman} associated with it. Note that both of
the @file{~/INBOX} entries used the same crash box. The crash box can be
the same if the folder name is the same. Different folders should use
different crashboxes.
@vindex vm-crash-box-suffix
@vindex vm-spool-file-suffixes
An alternate way of specifying folder/spool file associations
is to use the variables @code{vm-spool-file-suffixes} and
The value of @code{vm-spool-file-suffixes} should be a list of string suffixes
to be used to create possible spool file names for folders. Example:
(setq vm-spool-file-suffixes '(".spool" "-"))
@end group
@end example
With @code{vm-spool-file-suffixes} set this way, if you visit a
folder @file{~/mail/beekeeping}, when VM attempts to retrieve new mail for
that folder it will look for mail in @file{~/mail/beekeeping.spool}
and @file{~/mail/beekeeping-} in addition to scanning @code{vm-spool-files}
for matches. The value of @code{vm-spool-files-suffixes} will not be used
unless @code{vm-crash-box-suffix} is also defined, since a crash box is
required for all mail retrieval from spool files.
The value of @code{vm-crash-box-suffix} should be a string suffix used to
create possible crash box file names for folders. When VM uses
@code{vm-spool-file-suffixes} to create a spool file name, it will append
the value of @code{vm-crash-box-suffix} to the folder's file name to
create a crash box name. If the value of @code{vm-spool-files-suffixes}
is @code{nil}, then the value of @code{vm-crash-box-suffix} is not used
by VM.
@vindex vm-make-crash-box-name
@vindex vm-make-spool-file-name
The idea behind @code{vm-spool-file-suffixes} and
@code{vm-crash-box-suffix} is to give you a way to have many
folders with individual spool files associated with them, without
having to list them all in @code{vm-spool-files}. If you need
even more control of spool file and crash box names, use
@code{vm-make-spool-file-name} and @code{vm-make-crash-box-name}.
The value of both of these should be a function or the name of a
function. When VM visits a folder, it will call the function
with the name of the folder as an argument, and the function
should return the spool file name or crash box name to be used
for that folder.
If your spool file is on another host, VM supports accessing
spool files on remote hosts using the POP and IMAP protocols.
@end ifinfo
* POP Spool Files:: How to use a POP maildrop as a spool file
* IMAP Spool Files:: How to use an IMAP maildrop as a spool file
@end menu
@node POP Spool Files,,, Spool Files
@section POP Spool Files
@cindex POP
VM supports accessing spool files on remote hosts via the Post
Office Protocol (POP). Instead of a spool file name as in the
examples above, you would use a string that tells VM how to
access the POP mailbox. The format of this string is:
@end example
Replace @samp{pop} in the example with @samp{pop-ssl} to have
VM speak POP over an SSL connection. Use @samp{pop-ssh} to use
POP over an SSH connection.
For SSL, you must have the stunnel program installed and the
variable @code{vm-stunnel-program} must name it in order for
POP over SSL to work. The default value of this variable,
@samp{"stunnel"}, should be sufficient if the program is
installed in your normal command search path.
For SSH, you must have the ssh program installed and the variable
@code{vm-ssh-program} must name it in order for POP over SSH to
work. When VM makes the SSH connection it must run a command on
the remote host so that the SSH session is maintained long enough
for the POP connection to be established. By default that command
is @samp{"echo ready; sleep 10"}, but you can specify another
command by setting @code{vm-ssh-remote-command}. Whatever
command you use must produce some output and hold the connection
open long enough for VM to establish a port-forwarded connection
to the POP server.
@var{HOST} is the host name of the POP server. @var{PORT} is the
TCP port number to connect to (should normally be 110). For POP
over SSL connections the standard port is 995. @var{USER}
is the user name sent to the server. @var{PASSWORD} is the secret
shared by you and the server for authentication purposes. How it is
used depends on the value of the @var{AUTH} parameter. If the
@var{PASSWORD} is @samp{*}, VM will prompt you for the password the
first time you try to retrieve mail from the maildrop. If the password
is valid, VM will not ask you for the password again during this
Emacs session.
@vindex vm-pop-md5-program
@var{AUTH} is the authentication method used to convince the
server you should have access to the maildrop. Acceptable
values are @samp{pass}, @samp{rpop} and @samp{apop}. For
@samp{pass}, the @var{PASSWORD} is sent to the server with
the POP PASS command. For @samp{rpop}, the @var{PASSWORD}
should be the string to be sent to the server via the RPOP
command. In this case the string is not really a secret;
authentication is done by other means. For @samp{apop}, an
MD5 digest of the @var{PASSWORD} appended to the server
timestamp will be sent to the server with the APOP command.
If Emacs does not have bulit in MD5 support, you will have
to set the value of @code{vm-pop-md5-program} appropriately
to point at the program that will generate the MD5 digest
that VM needs.
@vindex vm-pop-max-message-size
By default VM will retrieve all the messages from a POP maildrop
before returning control of Emacs to you. If the maildrop is
large, the wait could be considerable. If you set
@code{vm-pop-max-message-size} to a positive numeric value, VM will not
automatically retrieve messages larger than this size. If VM is
retrieving messages because you invoked @code{vm-get-new-mail}
interactively, then VM will ask whether it should retrieve the
large message. If VM is retrieving messages automatically
(e.g. @code{vm-auto-get-new-mail} is set non-@code{nil}) then VM will skip the
large message and you can retrieve it later.
@vindex vm-pop-bytes-per-session
@vindex vm-pop-messages-per-session
The variable @code{vm-pop-messages-per-session} controls how many messages
VM will retrieve from a POP maildrop before returning control to
you. Similarly, the variable @code{vm-pop-bytes-per-session} limits the
number of bytes VM will retrieve from a POP maildrop before returning
control to you. By default, the value of both variables is nil, which
tells VM to retrieve all the messages in the POP maildrop regardless
of how many messages there are and how large the maildrop is.
@vindex vm-pop-expunge-after-retrieving
After VM retrieves messages from the maildrop, the default action
is to delete the messages from there. If you want VM to leave
messages in the remote maildrop until you explicitly request
their removal, set @code{vm-pop-expunge-after-retrieving} to
@code{nil}. Messages will not be removed from the maildrop until you
run @code{vm-expunge-pop-messages}; only those messages that VM has
retrieved into the current folder will be expunged.
@vindex vm-pop-auto-expunge-alist
The variable @code{vm-pop-auto-expunge-alist} gives you a way to specify
on a per-maildrop basis which POP maildrops have messages
automatically removed when retrieved and which ones leave the
messages on the POP server. The value of
@code{vm-pop-auto-expunge-alist} should be a list of POP mailboxes and
values specifying whether messages should be automatically
deleted from the mailbox after retrieval. The format of the list
((@var{MAILBOX} . @var{VAL}) (@var{MAILBOX} . @var{VAL}) ...)
@end example
@var{MAILBOX} should be an POP maildrop specification as described
in the documentation for the variable @code{vm-spool-files}. If
you have the POP password specified in the @code{vm-spool-files}
entry, you do not have to specify it here as well. Use @samp{*}
instead; VM will still understand that this mailbox is the same as
the one in @code{vm-spool-files} that contains the password.
@var{VAL} should be @code{nil} if retrieved messages should be left in the
corresponding POP mailbox, @code{t} if retrieved messages should be
removed from the mailbox immediately after retrieval.
Here is an example:
(setq vm-pop-auto-expunge-alist
("odin.croc.net:110:pass:kyle:*" . nil) ;; leave message on the server
("hilo.harkie.org:110:pass:kyle:*" . t) ;; expunge immediately
@end example
@node IMAP Spool Files,,, Spool Files
@section IMAP Spool Files
@cindex IMAP
VM can also use the IMAP protocol to access a mailbox on a remote
host. As with POP, instead of specifying a spool file name in
the @code{vm-spool-files} definition, you would give a string that tells
VM how to access to remote maildrop.
An IMAP maildrop specification has the following format:
@end example
Replace @samp{imap} in the example with @samp{imap-ssl} to have
VM speak IMAP over an SSL connection. Use @samp{imap-ssh} to use
IMAP over an SSH connection.
For SSL, you must have the stunnel program installed and the
variable @code{vm-stunnel-program} must name it in order for
IMAP over SSL to work. The default value of this variable,
@samp{"stunnel"}, should be sufficient if the program is
installed in your normal command search path.
For SSH, you must have the ssh program installed and the variable
@code{vm-ssh-program} must name it in order for IMAP over SSH to
work. When VM makes the SSH connection it must run a command on
the remote host so that the SSH session is maintained long
enough for the POP connection to be established. By default that command
is @samp{"echo ready; sleep 10"}, but you can specify another
command by setting @code{vm-ssh-remote-command}. Whatever
command you use must produce some output and hold the connection
open long enough for VM to establish a port-forwarded connection
to the IMAP server. SSH must be able to authenticate without a password,
which means you must be using .shosts authentication or RSA.
@var{HOST} is the host name of the IMAP server.
@var{PORT} is the TCP port number to connect to (should normally be 143).
For IMAP over SSL connections the standard port is 993.
@var{MAILBOX} is the name of the mailbox on the IMAP server. This should
be @samp{"inbox"}, to access your default IMAP maildrop on the
@var{AUTH} is the authentication method used to convince the
server you should have access to the maildrop. Acceptable values
are @samp{"preauth"}, @samp{"cram-md5"}, and @samp{"login"}.
@samp{"preauth"} causes VM to skip the authentication stage of
the protocol with the assumption that the session was
authenticated in some way external to VM. The hook
@code{vm-imap-session-preauth-hook} is run, and it is expected to
return a process connected to an authenticated IMAP session.
@samp{"cram-md5} tells VM to use the CRAM-MD5 authentication
method as specificed in RFC 2195. The advantage of this method
over the @samp{"login"} method is that it avoids sending your
password over the net unencrypted. Not all IMAP servers support
@samp{"cram-md5"}; if you're not sure, ask your mail
administrator or just try it. The other value, @samp{"login"},
tells VM to use the IMAP LOGIN command for authentication, which
sends your username and password in cleartext to the server.
@var{USER} is the user name used in authentication methods that
require such an identifier. @samp{"login"} and @samp{"cram-md5"}
use it currently.
@var{PASSWORD} is the secret shared by you and the server for
authentication purposes. If the @var{PASSWORD} is @samp{*}, VM
will prompt you for the password the first time you try to
retrieve mail from the maildrop. If the password is valid, VM
will not ask you for the password again during this Emacs
@vindex vm-imap-max-message-size
By default VM will retrieve all the messages from an IMAP maildrop
before returning control of Emacs to you. If the maildrop is
large, the wait could be considerable. If you set
@code{vm-imap-max-message-size} to a positive numeric value, VM will not
automatically retrieve messages larger than this size. If VM is
retrieving messages because you invoked @code{vm-get-new-mail}
interactively, then VM will ask whether it should retrieve the
large message. If VM is retrieving messages automatically
(e.g. @code{vm-auto-get-new-mail} is set non-@code{nil}) then VM will skip the
large message and you can retrieve it later.
@vindex vm-imap-bytes-per-session
@vindex vm-imap-messages-per-session
The variable @code{vm-imap-messages-per-session} controls how many messages
VM will retrieve from an IMAP maildrop before returning control to
you. Similarly, the variable @code{vm-imap-bytes-per-session} limits the
number of bytes VM will retrieve from an IMAP maildrop before returning
control to you. By default, the value of both variables is nil, which
tells VM to retrieve all the messages in the IMAP maildrop regardless
of how many messages there are and how large the maildrop is.
@vindex vm-imap-expunge-after-retrieving
After VM retrieves messages from the maildrop, the default action
is to delete the messages from there. If you want VM to leave
messages in the remote maildrop until you explicitly request
their removal, set @code{vm-imap-expunge-after-retrieving} to
@code{nil}. Messages will not be removed from the maildrop until you
run @code{vm-expunge-imap-messages}; only those messages that VM has
retrieved into the current folder will be expunged.
@vindex vm-imap-auto-expunge-alist
The variable @code{vm-imap-auto-expunge-alist} gives you a way to specify
on a per-maildrop basis which IMAP maildrops have message
automatically removed when retrieved and which ones leave the
messages on the IMAP server. The value of
@code{vm-imap-auto-expunge-alist} should be a list of IMAP mailboxes and
values specifying whether messages should be automatically
deleted from the mailbox after retrieval. The format of the list
((@var{MAILBOX} . @var{VAL}) (@var{MAILBOX} . @var{VAL}) ...)
@end example
@var{MAILBOX} should be an IMAP maildrop specification as described
in the documentation for the variable @code{vm-spool-files}. If
you have the IMAP password specified in the @code{vm-spool-files}
entry, you do not have to specify it here as well. Use @samp{*}
instead; VM will still understand that this mailbox is the same as
the one in @code{vm-spool-files} that contains the password.
@var{VAL} should be @code{nil} if retrieved messages should be left in the
corresponding IMAP mailbox, @code{t} if retrieved messages should be
removed from the mailbox immediately after retrieval.
Here is an example:
(setq vm-imap-auto-expunge-alist
;; leave message on the server
("imap:odin.croc.net:143:inbox:login:kyle:*" . nil)
;; expunge immediately
("imap:hilo.harkie.org:143:inbox:login:kyle:*" . t)
@end example
@node Getting New Mail, Crash Recovery, Spool Files, Starting Up
@section Getting New Mail
@findex vm-get-new-mail
Pressing @kbd{g} runs @code{vm-get-new-mail}, which will retrieve mail
from all the spool files associated with the current folder.
@xref{Spool Files}.
@vindex vm-auto-get-new-mail
If the value of the variable @code{vm-auto-get-new-mail} is non-@code{nil} VM
will retrieve mail for a folder whenever the folder is visited. If the
value is a positive integer @var{n}, VM will also check for new mail
every @var{n} seconds for all folders currently being visited. If new
mail is present, VM will retrieve it.
@vindex vm-mail-check-interval
If the value of the variable @code{vm-mail-check-interval} is a
positive integer @var{n}, VM will check for new mail every @var{n}
seconds, but instead of retrieving mail, the word ``Mail'' will
appear on the Emacs mode line of folders that have mail waiting.
@node Crash Recovery,, Getting New Mail, Starting Up
@section Crash Recovery
When Emacs crashes, its last action before dying is to try to
write out an autosave file that contains changes to files that
you were editing. VM folders are file buffers inside Emacs, so
folders are autosaved also. Changes, with regard to VM folders,
means attribute changes, label additions and deletions, message
edits, and expunges. VM keeps track of whether a message is new
or old, whether it has been replied to, whether it is flagged
for deletion and so on, by writing special headers into the
folder buffer. These headers are saved to disk when you save
the folder. If Emacs crashes before the folder has been saved,
VM may forget some attribute changes unless they were written to
the autosave file.
Note that when VM retrieves mail from spool files it @emph{always}
writes them to disk immediately and at least one copy of the message is
on disk at all times. So while you can lose attribute changes from
crashes, you should not lose messages unless the disk itself is
When you visit a folder, VM checks for the existence of an
autosave file that has been modified more recently than the
folder file. If such an autosave file exists, there is a good
chance that Emacs or your operating system crashed while VM
was visiting a folder. VM will then write a message to the echo
area informing you of the existence of the autosave file and
visit the folder in read-only mode. Visiting the folder in
read-only mode prevents you from modifying the folder, which
in turn prevents Emacs from wanting to write new changes to
the autosave file. VM will not retrieve new mail for a folder
that is in read-only mode. VM also skips summary
generation and MIME decoding to help catch your attention.
If you want to recover the lost changes, run @kbd{M-x recover-file} or
use the Recover toolbar button. At the
@samp{Recover File: } prompt press @kbd{RET}. Emacs will then
display a detailed directory listing showing the folder file and the
autosave file and ask if you want to recover from the autosave file. A
good rule of thumb is to answer ``yes'' if the autosave file is larger
than the folder file. If the autosave file is significantly smaller,
Emacs may not have completed writing the autosave file. Or it could be
that the smaller autosave file reflects the results of an expunge that
you had not yet committed to disk before the crash. If so, answering
``no'' means you might have to do that expunge again, but this is better
than not knowing whether the autosave file was truncated.
Assuming you answered ``yes'', the folder buffer's contents will be
replaced by the contents of the autosave file and VM will reparse the
folder. At this point the contents of the folder buffer and the disk
copy of the folder are different. Therefore VM will not get new mail
for this folder until the two copies of the folder are synchronized.
When you are satisfied that the recovered folder is whole and intact,
type @kbd{S} to save it to disk. After you do this, VM will allow you
to use @kbd{g} to retrieve any new mail that has arrived in the spool
files for the folder.
Assuming you answered ``no'' to the recovery question, you should type
@kbd{C-x C-q}, which is bound to @code{vm-toggle-read-only} in VM folder
buffers. The folder will be taken out of read-only mode and you can
read and retrieve your mail normally.
@node Selecting Messages, Reading Messages, Starting Up, Top
@chapter Selecting Messages
@findex vm-next-message
@findex vm-previous-message
@kindex n
@kindex p
@vindex vm-skip-deleted-messages
@vindex vm-skip-read-messages
In order to read, delete, or do anything to a message, you need to
select it. In other words, make the message the @dfn{current message}.
The primary commands for selecting messages in VM are @kbd{n}
(@code{vm-next-message}) and @kbd{p}
(@code{vm-previous-message}). These commands move forward and
backward through the current folder. By default, these commands
skip messages flagged for deletion. This behavior can be
disabled by setting the value of the variable
@code{vm-skip-deleted-messages} to @code{nil}. These commands
can also be made to skip messages that have been read; set
@code{vm-skip-read-messages} to @code{t} to do this.
The commands @kbd{n} and @kbd{p} also take prefix arguments that
specify the number of messages to move forward or backward. If
the magnitude of the prefix argument is greater than 1, no
message skipping will be done regardless of the settings of the
skip variables.
@vindex vm-circular-folders
The variable @code{vm-circular-folders} determines whether VM folders
will be considered circular by various commands. @dfn{Circular} means VM
will wrap from the end of the folder to the start and vice versa when
moving the message pointer, deleting, undeleting or saving messages
before or after the current message.
A value of @code{t} causes all VM commands to consider folders circular.
A value of @code{nil} causes all VM commands to signal an error if
the start or end of the folder would have to be passed to complete the
command. For movement commands, this occurs after the message pointer
has been moved as far as it can go. For other commands the error occurs
before any part of the command has been executed, i.e. no deletions, saves,
etc. will be done unless they can be done in their entirety. A value
other than @code{nil} or @code{t} causes only VM's movement
commands to consider folders circular. Saves, deletes and undeletes
will behave as if the value is @code{nil}. The default value of
@code{vm-circular-folders} is @code{nil}.
@vindex vm-follow-summary-cursor
You can also select messages by using the summary window.
@xref{Summaries}. Move the cursor to the summary line for the message
you want to select and press @kbd{RET}. VM will select this message.
Instead of pressing @kbd{RET} you could run some other VM command that
operates based on the notion of a `current message'. VM will select the
message under the cursor in the summary window before executing such
commands. Example, if you type @kbd{d}, VM will select the message
under the cursor and then delete it. Note that this occurs @emph{only}
when you execute a command when the cursor is in the summary buffer
window and only if the variable @code{vm-follow-summary-cursor} is
@vindex vm-jump-to-unread-messages
@vindex vm-jump-to-new-messages
When a folder is visited or when you type @kbd{g} and VM retrieves some
mail, the default action is to move to the first new or unread message
in the folder. New messages are favored over old but unread messages.
If you set @code{vm-jump-to-new-messages} to @code{nil}, VM will favor old,
unread messages over new messages if the old, unread message appears
earlier in the folder. If you set @code{vm-jump-to-unread-messages} to
@code{nil} also, VM will not search for new or unread messages.
Other commands to select messages:
@table @kbd
@findex vm-goto-message
@kindex RET
@item RET (@code{vm-goto-message})
Go to message number @var{n}. @var{n} is the prefix argument, if
provided, otherwise it is prompted for in the minibuffer.
@findex vm-goto-message
@kindex TAB
@item TAB (@code{vm-goto-message-last-seen})
Go to message last previewed or read.
@findex vm-next-message-no-skip
@findex vm-previous-message-no-skip
@kindex N
@kindex P
@item N (@code{vm-next-message-no-skip})
@itemx P (@code{vm-previous-message-no-skip})
Go to the next (previous) message, ignoring the settings of the skip
control variables.
@findex vm-next-unread-message
@findex vm-previous-unread-message
@kindex M-n
@kindex M-p
@item M-n (@code{vm-next-unread-message})
@itemx M-p (@code{vm-previous-unread-message})
Move forward (backward) to the nearest new or unread message. If no
such message exists then these commands work like @kbd{n} and @kbd{p}.
@findex vm-isearch-forward
@findex vm-isearch-backward
@kindex M-s
@comment @kindex M-r
@vindex vm-search-using-regexps
@item M-s (@code{vm-isearch-forward})
@item M-x vm-isearch-backward
These work just like Emacs' normal forward and backward incremental
search commands, except that when the search ends, VM selects the
message containing point. If the value of the variable
@code{vm-search-using-regexps} is non-@code{nil}, a regular expression
may be used instead of a fixed string for the search pattern; VM
defaults to the fixed string search. If a prefix argument is given,
the value of @code{vm-search-using-regexps} is temporarily reversed for
the search.
@xref{Incremental Search,,,emacs, the GNU Emacs Manual}.
@end table
@node Reading Messages, Sending Messages, Selecting Messages, Top
@chapter Reading Messages
Once a message has been selected, VM will show it to you. By default,
presentation is done in two stages: @dfn{previewing} and @dfn{paging}.
* Previewing:: Customizing message previews.
* Paging:: Scrolling through the current message.
* Reading MIME Messages:: Using VM's MIME display features.
@end menu
@node Previewing, Paging, Reading Messages, Reading Messages
@section Previewing
@dfn{Previewing} means showing you a small portion of a message
and allowing you to decide whether you want to read it. Typing
@key{SPC} exposes the body of the message, and from there you can
repeatedly type @key{SPC} to page through the message.
By default, the sender, recipient, subject and date headers are shown
when previewing; the rest of the message is hidden. This behavior may
be altered by changing the settings of three variables:
@code{vm-visible-headers}, @code{vm-invisible-header-regexp} and
@vindex vm-preview-lines
If the value of @code{vm-preview-lines} is a number, it tells VM how
many lines of the text of the message should be visible. The default
value of this variable is 0. If @code{vm-preview-lines} is @code{nil},
then previewing is not done at all; when a message is first presented it
is immediately exposed in its entirety and is flagged as read. If
@code{vm-preview-lines} is @code{t}, the message body is displayed fully
but the message is not flagged as read until you type @key{SPC}.
@vindex vm-visible-headers
The value of @code{vm-visible-headers} should be a list of regular
expressions matching the beginnings of headers that should be made
visible when a message is presented. The regexps should be listed in
the preferred presentation order of the headers they match.
@vindex vm-invisible-header-regexp
If non-@code{nil}, the variable @code{vm-invisible-header-regexp}
specifies what headers should @emph{not} be displayed. Its value should
be a string containing a regular expression that matches all headers you
do not want to see. Setting this variable non-@code{nil} implies that
you want to see all headers not matched by it; therefore the value of
@code{vm-visible-headers} is only used to determine the order of the
visible headers in this case. Headers not matched by
@code{vm-invisible-header-regexp} or @code{vm-visible-headers} are
displayed last.
If you change the value of either @code{vm-visible-headers} or
@code{vm-invisible-header-regexp} in the middle of a VM session the
effects will not be immediate. You will need to use the command
@code{vm-discard-cached-data} on each message (bound to @kbd{j} by
default) to force VM to rearrange the message headers. A good way to do
this is to mark all the messages in the folder and apply
@code{vm-discard-cached-data} to the marked messages. @xref{Message
@vindex vm-highlighted-header-regexp
@vindex vm-highlighted-header-face
Another variable of interest is @code{vm-highlighted-header-regexp}.
The value of this variable should be a single regular expression that
matches the beginnings of any header that should be presented in inverse
video when previewing. For example, a value of
@samp{"^From\\|^Subject"} causes the From and Subject headers to be
highlighted. Highlighted headers will be displayed using the face
specified by @code{vm-highlighted-header-face}, which defaults to
@vindex vm-preview-read-messages
By default, VM will not preview messages that are flagged as read. To
have VM preview all messages, set the value of
@code{vm-preview-read-messages} to @code{t}.
@findex vm-expose-hidden-headers
Typing @kbd{t} (@code{vm-expose-hidden-headers}) makes VM toggle
between exposing and hiding headers that would ordinarily be hidden.
@node Paging, Reading MIME Messages, Previewing, Reading Messages
@section Paging
@vindex vm-auto-next-message
Typing @key{SPC} during a message preview exposes the body of the
message. If the message was new or previously unread, it will be
flagged ``read''. At this point you can use @key{SPC} to scroll
forward, and @kbd{b} or @key{DEL} to scroll backward a windowful of
text at a time. A prefix argument @var{n} applied to these commands
causes VM to scroll forward or backward @var{n} lines. Typing space
at the end of a message moves you to the next message. If the value
of @code{vm-auto-next-message} is @code{nil}, @key{SPC} will not
move to the next message; you must type @kbd{n} explicitly.
If the value of @code{vm-honor-page-delimiters} is non-@code{nil}, VM
will recognize and honor page delimiters. This means that when you
scroll through a document, VM will display text only up to the next page
delimiter. Text after the delimiter will be hidden until you type
another @key{SPC}, at which point the text preceding the delimiter will
become hidden. The Emacs variable @code{page-delimiter} determines what
VM will consider to be a page delimiter.
You can ``unread'' a message (so to speak) by typing @kbd{U}
(@code{vm-unread-message}). The current message will be flagged
@vindex vm-paragraph-fill-column
@vindex vm-fill-paragraphs-containing-long-lines
Sometimes you will receive messages that contain lines that are
too long to fit on your screen without wrapping. If you set
@code{vm-fill-paragraphs-containing-long-lines} to a positive
numeric value @var{N}, VM will call @code{fill-paragraph} on all
paragraphs that contain lines spanning @var{N} columns or more.
As with other things VM does that modifies the way the
message looks on the screen, this does not change message
contents. VM copies the message contents to a ``presentation''
buffer before altering them. The fill column that VM uses is
controlled by @code{vm-paragraph-fill-column}. Unlike the Emacs
variable @code{fill-column}, this variable is not buffer-local
by default.
@node Reading MIME Messages,, Paging, Reading Messages
@chapter Reading MIME Messages
@vindex vm-display-using-mime
If the variable @code{vm-display-using-mime} is non-@code{nil} VM will display
messages using Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME). @dfn{MIME}
is a set of extensions to the standard Internet message format that
allows reliable transmission of arbitrary data including
images, audio and video, as well as ordinary text. A non-@code{nil} value for
this variable means that VM will recognize MIME encoded messages and
display them as specified by the various MIME standards specifications.
A nil value means VM will display MIME messages as plain text messages.
@vindex vm-mime-base64-decoder-program
@vindex vm-mime-base64-encoder-program
@vindex vm-mime-base64-decoder-switches
@vindex vm-mime-base64-encoder-switches
@vindex vm-mime-qp-decoder-program
@vindex vm-mime-qp-decoder-switches
@vindex vm-mime-qp-encoder-program
@vindex vm-mime-qp-encoder-switches
@vindex vm-mime-uuencode-decoder-program
@vindex vm-mime-uuencode-decoder-switches
At its most basic MIME is a set of transfer encodings used to ensure
error free transport, and a set of content types. VM understands the
two standard MIME transport encodings, Quoted-Printable and BASE64, and
will decode messages that use them as necessary. VM also will
try to recognize and decode messages using the UNIX ``uuencode''
encoding system. While this is not an official MIME transfer
encoding and never will be, enough old mailers still use it
that it is worthwile to attempt to decode it.
VM has Emacs-Lisp based Quoted-Printable and BASE64 encoders and
decoders, but you can have VM use external programs to perform
these tasks and the process will almost certainly be faster.
The variables @code{vm-mime-qp-decoder-program},
tell VM which programs to use
and what command line switches to pass to them. There are C
programs at VM's distribution sites on the Internet to handle BASE64
and Quoted-Printable. VM does not have a builtin ``uuencode''
decoder, so @code{vm-mime-uuencode-decoder-program} must be set
non-@code{nil} for VM to decode uuencoded MIME objects.
By default VM will display as many content types as possible
within Emacs. Images and audio are also supported if
support for images and audio has been compiled in. Types that
cannot be displayed internally within Emacs can be converted to a
type that can, or be displayed using an external viewer.
@vindex vm-auto-decode-mime-messages
@vindex vm-mime-decode-for-preview
The first step in displaying a MIME message is decoding it to
determine what object types it contains. The variable
@code{vm-auto-decode-mime-messages} controls when this happens.
A value of @code{t} means VM should decode the message as soon as
the message body is exposed, or during previewing if
@code{vm-mime-decode-for-preview} is also set non-@code{nil}. A
@code{nil} value means wait until decoding is explicitly
requested. Type @kbd{D} (@code{vm-decode-mime-message}) to
manually initiate MIME decoding.
@kindex $ |
@kindex $ d
@kindex $ RET
@kindex $ s
@kindex $ w
@kindex $ p
@kindex $ d
@kindex $ e
@vindex vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types
After decoding you will see either the decoded MIME objects or
button lines that must be activated to attempt display of the
MIME object. The variable
@code{vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types} specifies the types
that are displayed immediately. Its value should be a list of
MIME content types that should be displayed immediately after
decoding. Other types will be displayed as a button that you
must activate to display the object. To activate a button,
either click the middle mouse button over it, or move the cursor
to the line and press RET. If you are running under a window
system, you can use the right mouse button over a MIME button to
display a menu of actions you can take on the MIME object. If
you prefer using keyboard commands, you can save the MIME object
with @kbd{$ w}, print it with @kbd{$ p}, or pipe it to a shell
command with @kbd{$ |}. Use @kbd{$ s} to append an encapsulated
message or USENET news article to a folder. If you want to
display the object with its characters displayed using Emacs'
default face, use @kbd{$ RET}. To display the object using an
external viewer, type @kbd{$ e}.
@vindex vm-mime-confirm-delete
Sometimes MIME objects are large and you may not want to save
them along with the message that contains them. If so, use
@kbd{$ d} (@code{vm-delete-mime-object}) while the cursor is on
the MIME button. The object will be deleted and replaced with
an object that indicates what the old object was and the fact
that it is gone. This is not an undoable operation, so use this
command with care. If you inadvertently delete an object, the
only way to get it back is to quit visiting the current folder
without saving and then revisit the folder. This works because
the object isn't removed from the disk copy of the folder until
you save the folder. By default VM will ask if you're sure
about deleting an object before doing the deletion. You can
make VM not ask this question by setting
@code{vm-mime-confirm-delete} to @code{nil}.
@vindex vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types
A value of t for @code{vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types} means that
all types should be displayed immediately. A nil value means
never display MIME objects immediately; only use buttons. If
the value of @code{vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types} is a list, it
should be a list of strings, which should all be MIME types or
type/subtype pairs. Example:
(setq vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types '("text" "image/jpeg"))
@end example
If a top-level type is listed without a subtype, all subtypes of that
type are assumed to be included. The example above specifies that all
text types are displayed immediately, but only JPEG images are displayed
this way.
@vindex vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-type-exceptions
The variable @code{vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-type-exceptions}
should be a list of MIME content types that should not be
displayed immediately after decoding. This variable acts as
an exception list for @code{vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types};
all types listed there will be auto-displayed except those in
the exception list.
The value of @code{vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-type-exceptions}
should be either nil or a list of strings. The strings should
all be types or type/subtype pairs. Example:
(setq vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-type-exceptions '("text/html"))
@end example
Again, if a top-level type is listed without a subtype, all subtypes of
that type are assumed to be included.
@vindex vm-mime-internal-content-types
The variable @code{vm-mime-internal-content-types} specifies
which types should be displayed internally within Emacs. Like
@code{vm-auto-displayed-mime-content-types} its value should be a
list of MIME content types. A value of t means that VM
should always display an object internally if possible. VM
knows which object types can be displayed internally, so you
can specify the types you want without worrying about errors
if Emacs can't handle them. A @code{nil} value means never
display MIME objects internally, which means VM will have to
run an external viewer to display all MIME objects.
If the value is a list, it should be a list of strings. Example:
(setq vm-mime-internal-content-types '("text" "image/jpeg"))
@end example
If a top-level type is listed without a subtype, all subtypes of that
type are assumed to be included. Note that multipart types are always
handled internally regardless of the setting of this variable.
@vindex vm-mime-internal-content-type-exceptions
The variable @code{vm-mime-internal-content-type-exceptions} serves as
the exception list for @code{vm-mime-internal-content-types}. Its value
should be a list of types that should not be displayed internally.
@vindex vm-mime-external-content-types-alist
For types that you want displayed externally, set the value
of @code{vm-mime-external-content-types-alist} to specify external
viewers for the types. The value of this variable should be an
associative list of MIME content types and the external programs
used to display them. If VM cannot display a type internally or
a type is not listed in @code{vm-mime-internal-content-types} VM will
try to launch an external program to display that type.
The alist format is a list of lists, each sublist having the form
(@var{TYPE} @var{PROGRAM} @var{ARG} @var{ARG} ... )
@end example
(@var{TYPE} @var{COMMAND-LINE})
@end example
@var{TYPE} is a string specifying a MIME type or type/subtype pair.
For example ``text'' or ``image/jpeg''. If a top-level type is
listed without a subtype, all subtypes of that type are assumed
to be included.
In the first form, @var{PROGRAM} is a string naming a program to
run to display an object. Any @var{ARG}s will be passed to the
program as arguments. The octets that compose the object will be
written into a temporary file and the name of the file can be
inserted into an @var{ARG} string by writing @samp{%f} in the
@var{ARG} string. In earlier versions of VM the filename was
always added as the last argument; as of VM 6.49 this is only done
if @samp{%f} does not appear in any of the @var{ARG} strings.
If the @var{COMMAND-LINE} form is used, the program and its
arguments are specified as a single string and that string is
passed to the shell ("sh -c" typically) for execution. Since
the command line will be passed to the shell, you can use shell
variables and input/output redirection if needed. As with the
@var{PROGRAM/ARGS} form, the name of the temporary file that
contains the MIME object will be appended to the command line if
@samp{%f} does not appear in the command line string.
In either the @var{PROGRAM/ARG} or @var{COMMAND-LINE} forms, all the
program and argument strings will have any %-specifiers in
them expanded as described in the documentation for the
variable @code{vm-mime-button-format-alist}. The only difference
is that @samp{%f} refers to the temporary file VM creates to store
the object to be displayed, not the filename that the sender
may have associated with the attachment.
(setq vm-mime-external-content-types-alist
("text/html" "netscape")
("image/gif" "xv")
("image/jpeg" "xv")
("video/mpeg" "mpeg_play")
("video" "xanim")
@end example
The first matching list element will be used.
No multipart message will ever be sent to an external viewer.
External viewer processes are normally killed when you select a
a new message in the current folder. If you want viewer
processes to not be killed, set
@code{vm-mime-delete-viewer-processes} to a non-@code{nil} value.
Any type that cannot be displayed internally or externally will
be displayed as a button that allows you to save the body to a
@vindex vm-mime-external-content-type-exceptions
As with the internal type list, there is an exception list that
you can use to specify types that you do not want displayed
externally. When VM is considering whether it should
automatically launch an external viewer, it will consult the
variable @code{vm-mime-external-content-type-exceptions}. If the
type to be displayed is listed, VM will not launch a viewer.
This allows you to setup viewers for types that ordinarily you
would not want VM to display or for types that you norally want
to convert to some other type using @code{vm-mime-type-converter-alist}.
You can still display such a type with anexternal viewer by using
@kbd{$ e}.
@vindex vm-mime-attachment-auto-suffix-alist
When a MIME object is displayed using an external viewer VM must
first write the object to a temporary file. The external viewer
thne opens and displays that file. Some viewers will not open a
file unless the filename ends with some extention that it
recognizes such as @samp{.html} or @samp{.jpg}. You can use the
variable @code{vm-mime-attachment-auto-suffix-alist} to map MIME
types to extensions that your external viewers will recognize.
The value of this variable should be a list of type and suffix
pairs. The list format is:
((@var{TYPE} . @var{SUFFIX}) ...)
@end example
@var{TYPE} is a string specifying a MIME top-level type or a type/subtype pair.
If a top-level type is listed without a subtype, all subtypes of
that type are matched.
@var{SUFFIX} is a string specifying the suffix that shoul be used for
the accompanying type.
(setq vm-mime-attachment-auto-suffix-alist
("image/jpeg" . ".jpg")
("image/gif" . ".gif")
("image/png" . ".png")
("text" . ".txt")
@end example
VM will search the list for a matching type. The suffix
associated with the first type that matches will be used for the
temporary filename.
For text type messages, MIME also requires that a character set
be specified, so that the recipient's mail reader knows what
character glyphs to use to display each character code. To
display a message properly VM needs to know how to choose a font
for a given character set.
@vindex vm-mime-default-face-charsets
The variable @code{vm-mime-default-face-charsets} tells VM what character
sets your default face can display. For most American and European
users using X Windows, Emacs' default face displays the ISO-8859-1
and US-ASCII characters, US-ASCII being a subset of ISO-8859-1. The
value of @code{vm-mime-default-face-charsets} must be a list of strings
specifying the character sets that your default face can display.
This variable is useful for making bogus, unregistered character sets
that are slight variants of ISO-8859-1 visible.
(add-to-list 'vm-mime-default-face-charsets "Windows-1251")
(add-to-list 'vm-mime-default-face-charsets "Windows-1252")
(add-to-list 'vm-mime-default-face-charsets "Windows-1257")
@end example
Messages sent using such character sets would normally be
considered undisplayable by VM, and a button would be displayed
that offers to save the message body to a file.
@vindex vm-mime-charset-font-alist
The variable @code{vm-mime-charset-font-alist} tells VM what font to use
to display a character set that cannot be displayed using
the default face. The value of this variable should be an
assoc list of character sets and fonts that can be used to display
them. The format of the list is:
( (@var{CHARSET} . @var{FONT}) ...)
@var{CHARSET} is a string naming a MIME registered character set such
as @samp{"iso-8859-5"}.
@var{FONT} is a string naming a font that can be used to display
An example setup might be:
(setq vm-mime-charset-font-alist
. "-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-160-72-72-c-80-iso8859-5")
@end example
This variable is only useful for character sets whose characters
can all be encoded in single 8-bit bytes. Also multiple fonts
can only be displayed if you're running under a window system
e.g. X Windows. So this variable will have no effect if you're
running Emacs on a tty.
Note that under FSF Emacs 19 and Emacs 20 any fonts you use must
be the same height as your default font. XEmacs and Emacs 21 do
not have this limitation.
MIME allows a message to be sent with its content encoded in multiple
formats, simultaneously, in the same message. Such messages have a
content type of multipart/alternative. The idea is that the sender
might have different MIME decoding or display capabilities than some
of his recipients. For instance, the sender may be able to compose a
message using fancy text formatting constructs like tables, italics
and equations but some of the recipients may only be able to display
plain text. The multipart/alternative type message is the solution
to this dilemma. Such a message would contain at least two text
subparts, one in plaintext and the other in the full featured text
formatting language that the sender used.
@vindex vm-mime-alternative-select-method
To control how VM displays multipart/alternative messages, you must
set the variable @code{vm-mime-alternative-select-method}. Its value must be
a symbol. A value of @code{best} tells VM to display the message
using the subpart closest in appearance to what the sender used to
compose the message. In the example above this would mean displaying
the fully featured text subpart, if VM knows how to display that type.
VM will display the type either internally or externally. A
value of @code{best-internal} tells VM to use the closest subpart that
it can display internally. External viewers won't be used in this
@vindex vm-infer-mime-types
Some mailers incorrectly use the generic
@samp{application/octet-stream} type when sending files that
really have a specific MIME type. For example, a JPEG image
might be sent using @samp{application/octet-stream} type instead
of @samp{image/jpeg}, which would be the correct type. In many
cases the filename sent along with the mistyped file
(e.g. @file{foo.jpg}) suggests the correct type. If the variable
@code{vm-infer-mime-types} is set non-@code{nil}, VM will attempt to use
the filename sent with a MIME attachment to guess an attachment's
type if the attachment is of type @samp{application/octet-stream}.
@node Sending Messages, Saving Messages, Reading Messages, Top
@chapter Sending Messages
When sending messages from within VM, you will be using the
standard Mail major mode provided with GNU Emacs, plus some
extensions added by VM. @xref{Mail Mode,,,emacs, the GNU Emacs
Manual}. However, mail composition buffers created by VM have some
extra command keys.
@table @kbd
@findex vm-yank-message
@findex vm-yank-message-other-folder
@kindex C-c C-y
@item C-c C-y (@code{vm-yank-message})
Copies a message from the folder that is the parent of this
composition into the mail composition buffer.
The message number is read from the minibuffer. By default, each line of
the copy is prepended with the value of the variable
@code{vm-included-text-prefix}. All message headers are yanked along
with the text. Point is left before the inserted text, the mark after.
Any hook functions bound to @code{mail-yank-hooks} are run, after inserting
the text and setting point and mark. If a prefix argument is given,
this tells VM to ignore @code{mail-yank-hooks}, don't set the mark, don't prepend the
value of @code{vm-included-text-prefix} to every yanked line, and don't yank
any headers other than those specified in
@code{vm-visible-headers} and @code{vm-invisible-headers}. To yank a message from
a different folder than the parent of this composition, use
@key{M-x vm-yank-message-other-buffer}.
@kindex C-c C-v
@item C-c C-v <Any VM command key>
All VM commands may be accessed in a VM Mail mode buffer by prefixing them
with C-c C-v.
@kindex C-c C-a
@vindex vm-send-using-mime
@item C-c C-a (@code{vm-mime-attach-file})
Attaches a file to the composition. When you send the message, VM
will insert the file and MIME encode it. The variable
@code{vm-send-using-mime} must be set non-@code{nil} for this command to work.
You will be asked for the file's type, and a brief description of
the attachment. The description is optional. If the file's type
is a text type, you will also be asked for the character set
in which the text should be displayed.
The new attachment will appear as a highlighted tag in the
composition buffer. You can use mouse button 3 on this tag
to set the default content disposition of the attachment. The
content disposition gives a hint to the recipient's mailer how to
treat the attachment. Specifically the disposition will indicate
whether the attachment should be displayed along with the message
or saved to a file. Any text in the composition that appears
before the tag will appear in a MIME text part before the
attachment when the message is encoded and sent. Similarly, any
text after the tag will appear after the attachment in the
encoded message. If you change your mind about using the
attachment, you can remove it from the composition with @key{C-k}.
If you want to move the attachment to some other part of the message,
you can kill it @key{C-k} and yank it back with @key{C-y}.
@kindex C-c C-m
@item C-c C-m (@code{vm-mime-attach-message})
Attaches a mail message to the composition. If invoked with a
prefix arg, the name of a folder read from the minibuffer and
the message or messages to be attached are copied from that
folder. You will be prompted for the message number of the
message to be attached. If you invoke the command on marked
messages by running
@code{vm-next-command-uses-marks} first, the marked messages in
the selected folder will be attached as a MIME digest.
@kindex C-c C-b
@item C-c C-b (@code{vm-mime-attach-buffer})
Attaches an Emacs buffer to the composition.
@findex vm-mime-encode-composition
@kindex C-c C-e
@item C-c C-e (@code{vm-mime-encode-composition})
Encodes the composition using MIME, but does not send it. This
is useful if you want to use PGP to sign a message before sending
it. After signing the message, you would use C-c C-c as usual to
send the message. Emacs' @code{undo} command can be used to undo
the encoding, so that you can continue composing the unencoded
@findex vm-preview-composition
@kindex C-c C-p
@item C-c C-p (@code{vm-preview-composition})
Previews the current composition. The message is copied into a
temporary folder and you can read the message and interact with
it using normal VM mode commands to see how it might look to a
recipient. Type @key{q} to quit the temporary folder and resume
composing your message.
@end table
@findex vm-mail
@kindex m
The simplest command is @kbd{m} (@code{vm-mail}) which sends a mail
message much as @kbd{M-x mail} does but allows the added commands
described above.
@code{vm-mail} can be invoked outside of VM by typing @kbd{M-x vm-mail}.
However, only (@code{vm-yank-message-other-folder}) will work; all the
other commands require a parent folder.
If you send a message and it is returned by the mail system
because it was undeliverable, you can resend the message by
typing @kbd{M-r} (@code{vm-resend-bounced-message}). VM will
extract the old message and its pertinent headers from the
returned message, and place you in a VM Mail mode buffer. A
Resent-To header will be added, which you can fill in with
the corrected addresses of the recipients that bounced. You
can also added a Resent-Cc header, which has the same meaning
as a Cc header in a normal message. Mail will only be sent to
the addresses in the Resent-To and Resent-Cc headers unless
you delete both of those headers. In that case the To and Cc
headers will be used.
* MIME Composition:: Sending a message using MIME attachments.
* Replying:: Describes the various ways to reply to a message.
* Forwarding Messages:: How to forward a message to a third party.
@end menu
@node MIME Composition, Replying, Sending Messages, Sending Messages
@section MIME Composition
@vindex vm-send-using-mime
To use VM's MIME composition features, you must have
@code{vm-send-using-mime} set to a non-@code{nil} value. With MIME composition
enabled, VM will allow you to add file attachments to your
composition and will analyze your message when you send it and
MIME encode it as necessary.
@kindex C-c C-a
To attach a file to your composition, use @kbd{C-c C-a}
(@code{vm-mime-attach-file}). VM will ask you for the name of the file,
its type, a brief description and its character set if it is a
text attachment. The attachment will be represented in the
composition as a tag line like this
[ATTACHMENT ~/sounds/chronophasia_scream.au, audio/basic]
You can type text before and after this tag and it will appear
before or after the text in the final MIME message when VM encodes
it. You can kill the tag with @kbd{C-k} and yank it back with
@kbd{C-y} to move it to another place in the message. You can
yank back the tag multiple times to duplicate the attachment in
the message. Or you can leave the tag killed and the attachment
won't appear in the message when it is sent.
If you click the right mouse button on the attachment tag, a menu
will appear that allows you to change the content disposition of
the attachment. The @dfn{content disposition} of a MIME object
gives a mail reader a hint as to whether an object should be
displayed inline or as an inert tag or button that you must
activate in some fashion. @dfn{Inline} display usually means
that the object will be display within or alongside the message
text, if that is possible. @dfn{Attachment}, when used as a
content disposition, means that the object will likely be
displayed as a tag. By default, VM specifies an inline
disposition for all MIME types except @samp{application} and
@samp{model} types.
@kindex C-c C-b
To attach a buffer instead of a file, use @kbd{C-c C-b} (normally
bound to @code{vm-mime-attach-buffer}. You must not kill the
buffer that you attach until after the message has been sent.
@kindex C-c C-p
To preview what a MIME message will look like to a recipient,
use @kbd{C-c C-p} (@code{vm-mime-preview-composition}). VM
will encode a copy of the message and present it to you in a
temporary mail folder. You can scroll through the message
using normal VM mail reading commands. Typing @kbd{q} in this
folder will return you to your composition where you can make
further changes.
@kindex C-c C-e
To encode a MIME message without sending it, use @kbd{C-c C-e}
(@code{vm-mime-encode-composition}). This is useful if you use
PGP and want to sign a message before sending it. VM will encode
the message for transport, inserting all necessary headers and
boundary markers. You can then sign the message and send it with
C-c C-c and be confident that VM won't invalidate the signature
by making further modifications to the message. Or if you want
to resume editing the message you can run the Emacs @code{undo}
(normally bound to @kbd{C-x u}) command which will revert the
encoded MIME bodies back to tags and you can continue entering
your composition.
@vindex vm-mime-7bit-composition-charset
By default, when you type text into a composition buffer VM
assumes that if all the character codes are less than 128, you
are using the US-ASCII character set and that is the character
set declared in the encoding of the message when it is sent. If
you are using some other character set, you must specify it by
setting the variable @code{vm-mime-7bit-composition-charset}. The
value of this variable should be a string specifying the character
@vindex vm-mime-8bit-composition-charset
If there are character codes in the composition greater than 128, the
variable @code{vm-mime-8bit-composition-charset} tells VM what character
set to assume when encoding the message. The default is
Character codes greater than 128 may not be transported reliably
across the Internet in mail messages. Some machines will refuse
to accept messages containing such characters and some will accept
them but zero the eighth bit, garbling the message. To avoid
these problems, VM transfer encodes 8-bit text by default.
MIME has two transfer encodings that convert 8-bit data to 7-bit data
for safe transport. @dfn{Quoted-printable} leaves the text mostly
readable even if the recipient does not have a MIME-capable mail
reader. @dfn{BASE64} is unreadable without a MIME-capable mail
@vindex vm-mime-8bit-text-transfer-encoding
VM's text transfer encoding behavior is controlled by the
variable @code{vm-mime-8bit-text-transfer-encoding}. Its value should
be a symbol that specifies what kind of transfer encoding to do
for 8-bit text. A value of @samp{quoted-printable}, means to use
quoted-printable encoding. A value of @samp{base64} means to use
BASE64 encoding. A value of @samp{8bit} means to send the message as
is. Note that this variable usually only applies to textual MIME
content types. Images, audio, video, etc. typically will have
some attribute that makes VM consider them to be ``binary'',
which moves them outside the scope of this variable. For
example, messages with line lengths of 1000 characters or more
are considered binary, as are messages that contain carriage
returns (ASCII code 13) or NULs (ASCII code 0).
@node Replying, Forwarding Messages, MIME Composition, Sending Messages
@section Replying
@vindex vm-reply-subject-prefix
VM has special commands that make it easy to reply to a message. When a
reply command is invoked, VM fills in the subject and recipient headers
for you, since it is apparent to whom the message should be sent and
what the subject should be. There is an old convention of prepending
the string @samp{``Re: ''} to the subject of replies if the string isn't
present already. VM supports this indirectly by providing the variable
@code{vm-reply-subject-prefix}. Its value should be a string to prepend
to the subject of replies, if the string isn't present already. A
@code{nil} value means don't prepend anything to the subject (this is
the default). In any case you can edit any of the message headers
manually, if you wish.
@vindex vm-included-text-prefix
VM also helps you quote material from a message to which you are
replying by providing @dfn{included text} as a feature of some of the
commands. @dfn{Included text} is a copy of the message being replied to with
some fixed string prepended to each line so that included text can be
distinguished from the text of the reply. The variable
@code{vm-included-text-prefix} specifies what the prepended string will
@vindex vm-included-text-attribution-format
The variable @code{vm-included-text-attribution-format} specifies the
format for the attribution of included text. This attribution is a line
of text that tells who wrote the text that is to be included; it will be
inserted before the included text. If non-@code{nil}, the value of
@code{vm-included-text-attribution-format} should be a string format
specification similar to @code{vm-summary-format}. @xref{Summaries}. A
@code{nil} value causes the attribution to be omitted.
@vindex vm-in-reply-to-format
The variable @code{vm-in-reply-to-format} specifies the format of the
In-Reply-To header that is inserted into the header section of the reply
buffer. Like @code{vm-included-text-attribution-format},
@code{vm-in-reply-to-format} should be a string similar to that of
@code{vm-summary-format}. A @code{nil} value causes the In-Reply-To
header to be omitted.
@vindex vm-strip-reply-headers
The recipient headers generated for reply messages are created by
copying the appropriate headers from the message to which you are
replying. This includes any full name information, comments, etc. in
these headers. If the variable @code{vm-strip-reply-headers} is
non-@code{nil}, the recipient headers will be stripped of all information
except the actual addresses.
The reply commands are:
@table @kbd
@findex vm-reply
@kindex r
@item r (@code{vm-reply})
Replies to the author of the current message.
@findex vm-reply-include-text
@kindex R
@item R (@code{vm-reply-include-text})
Replies to the author of the current message and provides included text.
@findex vm-followup
@kindex f
@item f (@code{vm-followup})
Replies to the all recipients of the current message.
@findex vm-followup-include-text
@kindex F
@item F (@code{vm-followup-include-text})
Replies to the all recipients of the current message and provides
included text.
@end table
These commands all accept a numeric prefix argument @var{n}, which if
present, causes VM to reply to the next (or previous if the argument is
negative) @var{n-1} messages as well as the current message. Also, all
the reply commands set the ``replied'' attribute of the messages to
which you are responding, but only when the reply is actually sent. The
reply commands can also be applied to marked messages,
@pxref{Message Marks}.
@vindex vm-reply-ignored-addresses
If you are one of multiple recipients of a message and you use @kbd{f}
and @kbd{F}, your address will be included in the recipients of the
reply. You can avoid this by judicious use of the variable
@code{vm-reply-ignored-addresses}. Its value should be a list of
regular expressions that match addresses that VM should automatically
remove from the recipient headers of replies.
@node Forwarding Messages,, Replying, Sending Messages
@section Forwarding Messages
VM has three commands to forward messages: @kbd{z}
(@code{vm-forward-message}), @key{@@} (@code{vm-send-digest}) and
@kbd{B} (@code{vm-resend-message}).
@findex vm-forward-message
@kindex z
@vindex vm-forwarding-digest-type
@vindex vm-forwarding-subject-format
Typing @kbd{z} puts you into a VM Mail mode buffer just like @kbd{m},
except the current message appears as the body of the message in the VM
Mail mode buffer. The forwarded message encapsulated as specified by the
variable @code{vm-forwarding-digest-type}. Recognized values are
@samp{"rfc934"}, @samp{"rfc1153"} and @samp{"mime"}. If the variable
@code{vm-forwarding-subject-format} is non-@code{nil} it should specify
the format of the Subject header of the forwarded message. A @code{nil}
value causes the Subject header to be left blank. The forwarded message
is flagged ``forwarded'' when the message is sent.
@findex vm-send-digest
@vindex vm-digest-send-type
@kindex @@
The command @key{@@} (@code{vm-send-digest}) works like @kbd{z} except
that a digest of all the messages in the current folder is made and
inserted into the VM Mail mode buffer. Also, @code{vm-send-digest} can
be applied to just marked messages. @xref{Message Marks}. When applied
to marked messages, @code{vm-send-digest} will only bundle marked
messages, as opposed to the usual bundling of all messages in the
current folder. The message encapsulation method is specified by the
variable @code{vm-digest-send-type}, which accepts the same values as
@code{vm-forwarding-digest-type}. All the messages included in the digest will
be flagged ``forwarded'' when the digest message is sent.
@vindex vm-digest-preamble-format
@vindex vm-digest-center-preamble
If you give @code{vm-send-digest} a prefix argument, VM will insert a
list of preamble lines at the beginning of the digest, one line per
digestified message. The variable @code{vm-digest-preamble-format}
determines the format of the preamble lines. If the value of
@code{vm-digest-center-preamble} is non-@code{nil}, the preamble lines
will be centered.
@findex vm-resend-message
@kindex B
If you wish to forward a message and want to send it without the
encapsulation used by @code{vm-forward-message}, use @kbd{B}
(@code{vm-resend-message}). Instead of encapsulating the message, VM
will use essentially the same message and headers and add a Resent-To
header that you should fill in with the new recipients. Use @kbd{C-c
C-c} as usual to send the message. The resent message will be flagged
as ``redistributed''.
@node Saving Messages, Deleting Messages, Sending Messages, Top
@chapter Saving Messages
Mail messages are normally saved to files that contain only mail
messages. Such files are called @dfn{folders}. Folders are
distinguished from spool files in that VM does not expect other
programs to modify them while VM is visiting them. This is
important to remember. VM does no locking of folders when
visiting them. If the disk copy of a folder is modified behind
VM's back, Emacs will complain with the dreaded ``File changed
on disk'' message when you try to save the folder.
@findex vm-save-message
@kindex s
The VM command to save a message to a folder is @kbd{s}
(@code{vm-save-message}); invoking this command causes the current
message to be saved to a folder whose name you specify in the
minibuffer. If @code{vm-save-message} is given a prefix argument
@var{n}, the current message plus the next @var{n-1} messages are saved.
If @var{n} is negative, the current message and the previous @var{n-1}
messages are saved. Messages saved with @code{vm-save-message} are
flagged ``filed''.
@vindex vm-confirm-new-folders
If the value of the variable @code{vm-confirm-new-folders} is
non-@code{nil}, VM will ask for confirmation before creating a new
folder on interactive saves.
@vindex vm-folder-directory
If you have a directory where you keep all your mail folders, you should
set the variable @code{vm-folder-directory} to point to it. If this
variable is set, @code{vm-save-message} will insert this directory name
into the minibuffer before prompting you for a folder name; this will save
you some typing.
@vindex vm-auto-folder-alist
Another aid to selecting folders in which to save mail is the variable
@code{vm-auto-folder-alist}. The value of this variable should be a
list of the form:
(@var{regexp} . @var{folder-name}) ...)
@end display
where @var{header-name} and @var{regexp} are strings, and
@var{folder-name} is a string or an s-expression that evaluates to a
If any part of the contents of the message header named by
@var{header-name} is matched by the regular expression
@var{regexp}, VM will evaluate the corresponding
@var{folder-name} and use the result as the default when
prompting for a folder to save the message in. If the resulting
folder name is a relative pathname it resolves to the directory
named by @code{vm-folder-directory}, or the
@code{default-directory} of the currently visited folder if
@code{vm-folder-directory} is @code{nil}.
When @var{folder-name} is evaluated, the current buffer will contain only
the contents of the header named by @var{header-name}. It is safe to
modify this buffer. You can use the match data from any @samp{\( @dots{}
\)} grouping constructs in @var{regexp} along with the function
@code{buffer-substring} to build a folder name based on the header information.
If the result of evaluating @var{folder-name} is a list, then the list will
be treated as another auto-folder-alist and will be descended
@vindex vm-auto-folder-case-fold-search
Whether matching is case sensitive depends on the value of the variable
@code{vm-auto-folder-case-fold-search}. A non-@code{nil} value makes
matching case insensitive. The default value is @code{t}, which means
matching is case insensitive. Note that the matching of header names is
always case insensitive because the Internet message standard RFC 822
specifies that header names are case indistinct.
@vindex vm-visit-when-saving
VM can save messages to a folder in two distinct ways. The message can be
appended directly to the folder on disk, or the folder can be visited as
Emacs would visit any other file and the message appended to that
buffer. In the latter method you must save the buffer yourself to change
the on-disk copy of the folder. The variable @code{vm-visit-when-saving}
controls which method is used. A value of @code{t} causes VM to always
visit a folder before saving message to it. A @code{nil} value causes VM
to always append directly to the folder file. In this case VM will not
save messages to the disk copy of a folder that is being visited. This
restriction is necessary to insure that the buffer and on-disk copies of
the folder are consistent. If the value of @var{vm-visit-when-saving} is
not @code{nil} and not @code{t} (e.g. 0, the default), VM will append to
the folder's buffer if the buffer is currently being visited, otherwise VM
will append to the file itself.
@vindex vm-delete-after-saving
@vindex vm-delete-after-archiving
After a message is saved to a folder, the usual thing to do next is to
delete it. If the variable @code{vm-delete-after-saving} is
non-@code{nil}, VM will flag messages for deletion automatically after
saving them. This applies only to saves to folders, not for the @kbd{w}
or @kbd{A} commands (see below). The variable @code{vm-delete-after-archiving}
works like @code{vm-delete-after-saving} but applies to the @kbd{A}
(@code{vm-auto-archive-messages}) command instead.
Other commands:
@table @kbd
@findex vm-save-message-sans-headers
@kindex w
@item w (@code{vm-save-message-sans-headers})
Saves a message or messages to a file without their headers. This
command responds to a prefix argument exactly as @code{vm-save-message}
does. Messages saved this way are flagged ``written''.
@findex vm-auto-archive-messages
@kindex A
@item A (@code{vm-auto-archive-messages})
Save all unfiled messages that auto-match a folder via
@code{vm-auto-folder-alist} to their appropriate folders. Messages that
are flagged for deletion are not saved by this command. If invoked with a
prefix argument, confirmation will be requested for each save.
@findex vm-pipe-message-to-command
@kindex |
@item | (@code{vm-pipe-message-to-command})
Runs a shell command with some or all of the current message as input.
By default, the entire message is used.@*
If invoked with one @t{C-u} the text portion of the message is used.@*
If invoked with two @t{C-u}'s the header portion of the message is used.@*
If the shell command generates any output, it is displayed in a
@samp{*Shell Command Output*} buffer. The message itself is not altered.
@end table
@vindex vm-berkeley-mail-compatibility
A non-@code{nil} value of @var{vm-berkeley-mail-compatibility}
means to read and write BSD @i{Mail(1)} style Status: headers.
This makes sense if you plan to use VM to read mail archives
created by @i{Mail}.
@node Deleting Messages, Editing Messages, Saving Messages, Top
@chapter Deleting Messages
In VM, messages are flagged for deletion, and then are subsequently
@dfn{expunged} or removed from the folder. The messages are not removed
from the on-disk copy of the folder until the folder is saved.
@table @kbd
@findex vm-delete-message
@kindex d
@item d (@code{vm-delete-message})
Flags the current message for deletion. A prefix argument @var{n}
causes the current message and the next @var{n-1} messages to be flagged.
A negative @var{n} causes the current message and the previous @var{n-1}
messages to be flagged.
@findex vm-undelete-message
@kindex u
@item u (@code{vm-undelete-message})
Removes the deletion flag from the current message. A prefix argument @var{n}
causes the current message and the next @var{n-1} messages to be undeleted.
A negative @var{n} causes the current message and the previous @var{n-1}
messages to be undeleted.
@findex vm-kill-subject
@kindex k
@item k (@code{vm-kill-subject})
Flags all messages with the same subject as the current message (ignoring
``Re:'') for deletion.
@findex vm-expunge-folder
@kindex ###
@item ### (@code{vm-expunge-folder})
Does the actual removal of messages flagged for deletion in the current
@end table
@vindex vm-move-after-deleting
@vindex vm-move-after-killing
@vindex vm-move-after-undeleting
Setting the variable @code{vm-move-after-deleting} non-@code{nil} causes
VM to move past the messages after flagging them for deletion. Setting
@code{vm-move-after-undeleting} non-@code{nil} causes similar movement
after undeletes. Setting @code{vm-move-after-killing} non-@code{nil}
causes VM to move after killing messages with @code{vm-kill-subject}.
Note that the movement is done by calling @code{vm-next-message} which
means that the value of @code{vm-circular-folders} applies to the
post-command motion as for a motion command, not as for a non-motion
@node Editing Messages, Message Marks, Deleting Messages, Top
@chapter Editing Messages
To edit a message, type @kbd{e} (@code{vm-edit-message}). The current
message is copied into a temporary buffer, and this buffer is selected
for editing. The major mode of this buffer is controlled by the
variable @code{vm-edit-message-mode}. The default is Text mode.
Use @kbd{C-c ESC} (@code{vm-edit-message-end}) when you have finished
editing the message. The message will be inserted into its folder,
replacing the old version of the message. If you want to quit the edit
without your edited version replacing the original, use @kbd{C-c C-]}
(@code{vm-edit-message-abort}), or you can just kill the edit buffer
with @kbd{C-x k} (@code{kill-buffer}).
If you give a prefix argument to @code{vm-edit-message}, then the
current message will be flagged unedited.
As with VM Mail mode buffers, all VM commands can be accessed from
the edit buffer through the command prefix @kbd{C-c C-v}.
@node Message Marks, Message Attributes, Editing Messages, Top
@chapter Message Marks
VM provides general purpose @dfn{marks} that may be applied to any and
all messages within a given folder. Certain VM commands can be
subsequently invoked only on those messages that are marked.
To mark the current message, type @kbd{M M}
(@code{vm-mark-message}). If you give a numeric prefix argument
@var{n}, the next @var{n-1} messages will be marked as well. A negative
prefix argument means mark the previous @var{n-1}. An asterisk
(@samp{*}) will appear to the right of the message numbers of all marked
messages in the summary window.
To remove a mark from the current message, use @kbd{M U}
(@code{vm-unmark-message}). Prefix arguments work as with
Use @kbd{M m} to mark all messages in the current folder; @kbd{M u}
removes marks from all messages.
Other marking commands:
@table @kbd
@findex vm-mark-matching-messages
@kindex M C
@item M C (@code{vm-mark-matching-messages})
Mark all messages matched by a virtual folder selector.
@xref{Virtual Folders}.
@findex vm-unmark-matching-messages
@kindex M c
@item M c (@code{vm-unmark-matching-messages})
Unmark all messages matched by a virtual folder selector.
@findex vm-mark-thread-subtree
@kindex M T
@item M T (@code{vm-mark-thread-subtree})
Mark all messages in the thread tree rooted at current message.
@findex vm-unmark-thread-subtree
@kindex M t
@item M t (@code{vm-unmark-thread-subtree})
Unmark all messages in the thread tree rooted at current message.
@findex vm-mark-messages-same-subject
@kindex M S
@item M S (@code{vm-mark-same-subject})
Mark messages with the same subject as the current message.
@findex vm-unmark-messages-same-subject
@kindex M s
@item M s (@code{vm-unmark-same-subject})
Unmark messages with the same subject as the current message.
@findex vm-mark-messages-same-author
@kindex M A
@item M A (@code{vm-mark-same-author})
Mark messages with the same author as the current message.
@findex vm-unmark-messages-same-author
@kindex M a
@item M a (@code{vm-unmark-same-author})
Unmark messages with the same author as the current message.
@end table
To apply a VM command to all marked messages you must prefix it with the
key sequence @kbd{M N} (@code{vm-next-command-uses-marks}). The next VM
command will apply to all marked messages, provided the command can be
applied to such messages in a meaningful and useful way.
@node Message Attributes, Sorting Messages, Message Marks, Top
@chapter Message Attributes
Each message in a folder has a set of attributes that VM will remember
from session to session. Various VM commands set and unset these
attributes. Here are the attributes maintained by VM.
@table @code
@item new
The message was retrieved from a spool file during this
visit of the current folder.
@item unread
The message was retrieved from a spool file during some
past visit of the folder but is still unread.
@item filed
The message has been saved to some folder.
@item written
The body of the message has been saved to a file.
@item edited
The message has been altered (with @code{vm-edit-message}) since it arrived.
@item deleted
The message is deleted and will be removed from the folder
at the next expunge.
@item forwarded
The message has been forwarded with either
@code{vm-forward-message} or @code{vm-send-digest}.
@item redistributed
The message has been forwarded with the
@code{vm-resend-message} command.
@item replied
The message has been replied to.
@end table
You can set and unset these attributes directly by using @kbd{a}
(@code{vm-set-message-attributes}). You will be prompted in the
minibuffer for names of the attributes and you can enter them with
completion. Every attribute has an ``un-'' prefixed name you can use
to unset the attribute, excepting ``new'' and ``unread'', which are both
negated by ``read''. You can use a prefix argument with this command to
affect multiple messages, and you can apply this command to marked
messages with @kbd{M N}.
@findex vm-undo
@kindex C-x u
@kindex C-_
@cindex undo
VM provides a special form of undo which allows changes to message
attributes to be undone. Typing @kbd{C-x u} or @key{C-_}
(@code{vm-undo}) undoes the last attribute change. Consecutive
@code{vm-undo}'s undo further and further back. Any intervening command
breaks the undo chain, after which the undo's themselves become undoable
by subsequent invocations of @code{vm-undo}.
Note that expunges, saves and message edits are @emph{not} undoable.
@findex vm-add-message-labels
@findex vm-delete-message-labels
@kindex l a
@kindex l d
@cindex labels
@dfn{Labels} are user-defined message attributes. They can have any
name and be assigned any meaning by you. Labels are added with
@kbd{l a} (@code{vm-add-message-labels} and @kbd{l e}
(@code{vm-add-existing-message-labels}, and are removed by @kbd{l d}
(@code{vm-delete-message-labels}). BABYL format folders use labels to
store basic attributed like ``deleted'' and ``unread''. When visiting a
BABYL folder VM uses these labels also in order to be compatible with
other BABYL mailers. The labels used are ``recent'', ``unseen'',
``deleted'', ``answered'', ``forwarded'', ``redistributed'', ``filed'',
``edited'' and ``written''. If (and only if) you are using BABYL format
folders, you should not use these label names for your own purposes.
@vindex vm-flush-interval
All message attributes are stored in the folder. In order for
attribute changes to be saved to disk, they must be written to
the folder's buffer prior to the buffer being saved. The
variable @code{vm-flush-interval} controls how often that is done. A
value of @code{t} means write the new attributes to the folder
buffer whenever a change occurs. A value of @code{nil} means
wait until just before the folder is saved before writing out the
attributes. VM will work faster with this setting, but if Emacs
or your system crashes, the autosave file will contain no useful
data pertaining to message attribute changes. The autosave file
will still reflect message edits and expunges. @xref{Crash
Recovery}. A positive integer value @var{n} instructs VM to write
out attribute changes every @var{n} seconds. The default value
of this variable is @code{t}.
@node Sorting Messages, Reading Digests, Message Attributes, Top
@chapter Sorting Messages
@cindex sorting
@findex vm-sort-messages
@vindex vm-move-messages-physically
@kindex G
In order to make numerous related messages easier to cope with, VM
provides the command @kbd{G} (@code{vm-sort-messages}), which sorts
all messages in a folder using one or more sort keys.
By default the actual order of the messages in the folder is not
altered; that is, if you looked at the folder file outside of VM the
message order would be unchanged. VM numbers and presents the messages
in a different order internally. If you want the message order to be
changed in the folder so that other programs can see the change, you
can either invoke @code{vm-sort-messages} with a prefix argument, or
you can set @code{vm-move-message-physically} non-@code{nil} before
sorting. Either way, VM will shift the actual messages around in the
folder buffer, and when you save the folder, the order change will be
visible to other programs.
Valid sort keys are: ``date'', ``reversed-date'', ``author'',
``reversed-author'', ``subject'', ``reversed-subject'', ``recipients'',
``reversed-recipients'', ``line-count'', ``reversed-line-count'',
``byte-count'', ``reversed-byte-count'', ``physical-order'', and
@vindex vm-subject-ignored-prefix
@vindex vm-subject-ignored-suffix
When sorting by subject (or threading using subjects, or killing
messages by subject) the subject of the message is
@dfn{normalized} before comparisons are done. A @dfn{normalized}
subject has uninteresting prefixes and suffixes stripped off, and
multiple consecutive whitespace characters are collapsed to a single
space. The variable @code{vm-subject-ignored-prefix} should be
a regular expression that matches all strings at the beginning of
a subject that you do not want to be considered when message
subjects are compared. A @code{nil} value means VM should not ignore
any prefixes. The analogous variable for subject suffixes is
@vindex vm-subject-significant-chars
Once the subject has been normalized, the variable
@code{vm-subject-significant-chars} controls how much of what
remains is considered significant for matching purposes. The
first @code{vm-subject-significant-chars} will be considered
significant. Characters beyond this point in the subject string
will be ignored. A @code{nil} value for this variable means all
characters in the subject are significant.
If you want to move messages around by hand, use @kbd{C-M-n}
(@code{vm-move-message-forward}) and @kbd{C-M-p}
(@code{vm-move-message-backward}). The default is to move the current
message forward or backward by one message in the message list. A
prefix argument @var{n} can specify a longer move. The value of
@code{vm-move-messages-physically} applies to these commands.
* Threading:: Using subjects and message IDs to group messages.
@end menu
@node Threading,,, Sorting Messages
@section Threading
@cindex threading
A @dfn{thread} is a group of messages that are either related by subject
or that have a common ancestor. @dfn{Threading} is the process of
determining the relationship between such messages and displaying them so
that those relationships are evident.
@findex vm-toggle-threads-display
@vindex vm-summary-thread-indent-level
To enable and disable threading, type @kbd{C-t}
(@code{vm-toggle-threads-display}. In the summary buffer related
messages are grouped together and the subject part of the summary
listings of messages are indented to show hierarchical relationships.
Parent messages are displayed before their children and children are
indented a default two spaces to the right for each level of descendence
from their ancestors. The amount of indentation per level is controlled by the
variable @code{vm-summary-thread-indent-level}.
@vindex vm-thread-using-subject
Message relationships are discovered by examining References,
In-Reply-To, and Subject headers. The first two headers are more
reliable sources of information but not all mailers provide them.
If you don't want VM to use Subject headers, set the variable
@code{vm-thread-using-subject} to @code{nil}.
If you want VM to always display messages using threads, you should set
the default value of the variable @code{vm-summary-show-threads}
non-@code{nil} in your VM init file. Exmaple:
(setq-default vm-summary-show-threads t)
@end example
Do not use @code{setq}, as this will only set the value of the variable in
a single buffer. Once you've started VM you should not change the value
of this variable. Rather you should use @kbd{C-t} to control the thread
Note that threading is really a specialized form of sorting, and so the
value of the variable @code{vm-move-messages-physically} applies.
@node Reading Digests, Summaries, Sorting Messages, Top
@chapter Reading Digests
A @dfn{digest} is one or more mail messages encapsulated within another
VM supports digests by providing a command to ``burst'' them into their
individual messages. These messages can then be handled like any other
messages under VM.
@findex vm-burst-digest
@kindex *
The command @kbd{*} (@code{vm-burst-digest}) bursts a digest into its
individual messages and appends them to the current folder. These
messages are then assimilated into the current folder as new messages.
The original digest message is not altered, and the messages extracted
from it are not part of the on-disk copy of the folder until a save is
done. You will be prompted for the type of digest to burst. VM
understands three formats, ``rfc934'', ``rfc1154'' and ``mime''. If you
don't know what kind of digest you've received, type ``guess'' and VM
will try to figure out the digest type on its own. VM is pretty smart
about digests and will usually make the correct choice if the digest is
properly formatted.
@node Summaries, Virtual Folders, Reading Digests, Top
@chapter Summaries
@findex vm-summarize
@vindex vm-auto-center-summary
@vindex vm-summary-arrow
@kindex h
Typing @kbd{h} (@code{vm-summarize}) causes VM to display a summary of
contents of the current folder. The information in the summary is
automatically updated as changes are made to the current folder. An
arrow @samp{->} appears to the left of the line summarizing the current
message. The variable @code{vm-auto-center-summary} controls whether VM
will keep the summary arrow vertically centered within the summary
window. A value of @code{t} causes VM to always keep the arrow
centered. A value of @code{nil} (the default) means VM will never
bother centering the arrow. A value that is not @code{nil} and not
@code{t} causes VM to center the arrow only if the summary window is not
the only existing window. You can change what the summary arrow looks
like by setting vm-summary-arrow to a string depicting the new arrow.
You should set this variable before VM creates the summary buffer.
@vindex vm-summary-format
The variable @code{vm-summary-format} controls the format of each
message's summary. Its value should be a string. This string should
contain printf-like ``%'' conversion specifiers which substitute
information about the message into the final summary.
Recognized specifiers are:
@table @code
@item a
attribute indicators (always four characters wide)
The first char is `D', `N', `U' or ` ' for deleted, new, unread
and read messages respectively.
The second char is `F', `W' or ` ' for filed (saved) or written
The third char is `R', `Z' or ` ' for messages replied to,
and forwarded messages.
The fourth char is `E' if the message has been edited, ` ' otherwise.
@item A
longer version of attributes indicators (seven characters
The first char is `D', `N', `U' or ` ' for deleted, new, unread
and read messages respectively.
The second is `r' or ` ', for message replied to.
The third is `z' or ` ', for messages forwarded.
The fourth is `b' or ` ', for messages redistributed.
The fifth is `f' or ` ', for messages filed.
The sixth is `w' or ` ', for messages written.
The seventh is `e' or ` ', for messages that have been edited.
@item c
number of characters in message (ignoring headers)
@item d
numeric day of month message sent
@item f
author's address
@item F
author's full name (same as f if full name not found)
@item h
hour:min:sec message sent
@item H
hour:min message sent
@item i
message ID
@item I
thread indentation
@item l
number of lines in message (ignoring headers)
@item L
labels (as a comma list)
@item m
month message sent
@item M
numeric month message sent (January = 1)
@item n
message number
@item s
message subject
@item t
addresses of the recipients of the message, in a comma-separated list
@item T
full names of the recipients of the message, in a comma-separated list
If a full name cannot be found, the corresponding address is used
@item U
user defined specifier. The next character in the format
string should be a letter. VM will call the function
vm-summary-function-<letter> (e.g. vm-summary-function-A for
``%UA'') in the folder buffer with the message being summarized
bracketed by (point-min) and (point-max). The function
will be passed a message struct as an argument.
The function should return a string, which VM will insert into
the summary as it would for information from any other summary
@item w
day of the week message sent
@item y
year message sent
@item z
timezone of date when the message was sent
@item *
`*' if the message is marked, ` ' otherwise
@end table
Use ``%%'' to get a single ``%''.
A numeric field width may be specified between the ``%'' and the
specifier; this causes right justification of the substituted string. A
negative field width causes left justification. The field width may be
followed by a ``.'' and a number specifying the maximum allowed length
of the substituted string. If the string is longer than this value, it
is truncated.
@vindex vm-summary-uninteresting-senders
@vindex vm-summary-uninteresting-senders-arrow
If you save copies of all your outbound messages in a folder and
later visit that folder, the @samp{%F} format specifier will normally
display your own name. If you would rather see the recipient
addresses in this case, set the variable
@code{vm-summary-uninteresting-senders}. This variable's value,
if non-@code{nil}, should be a regular expression that matches
addresses that you don't consider interesting enough to appear in
the summary. When such senders would be displayed by the @samp{%F} or
@samp{%f} summary format specifiers VM will substitute the value of
@code{vm-summary-uninteresting-senders-arrow} (default "To: ")
followed by what would be shown by the @samp{%T} and @samp{%t} specifiers
The summary format need not be one line per message but it must end with
a newline, otherwise the message pointer will not be displayed correctly
in the summary window.
You can have a summary generated automatically at VM startup
by setting the variable @code{vm-startup-with-summary} non-nil.
@xref{Starting Up}.
@vindex vm-follow-summary-cursor
All VM commands are available in the summary buffer just as they are in
the folder buffer itself. If you set @code{vm-follow-summary-cursor}
non-@code{nil}, VM will select the message under the cursor in the
summary window before executing commands that operate on the current
message. Note that this occurs @emph{only} when executing a command
from the summary buffer window.
@vindex vm-gargle-uucp
A non-@code{nil} value of @var{vm-gargle-uucp} means to use a crufty
regular expression that does surprisingly well at beautifying UUCP
addresses that are substituted for @samp{%f} and @samp{%t} as part
of summary and attribution formats.
@node Virtual Folders, Frames and Windows, Summaries, Top
@chapter Virtual Folders
A @dfn{virtual folder} is a mapping of messages from one or more
real folders into a container that in most ways acts like a
real folder but has no real existence outside of VM. You can have a
virtual folder that contains a subset of messages in a real folder
or several real folders. A virtual folder can also contain a
subset of messages from another virtual folder.
A virtual folder is defined by its name, the folders that it contains
and its selectors. The variable @code{vm-virtual-folder-alist} is a list of
the definitions of all named virtual folders. In order to visit a
virtual folder with the @code{vm-visit-virtual-folder} (@kbd{V V}) command,
a virtual folder must have an entry in vm-virtual-folder-alist.
Each virtual folder definition should have the following form:
( (@var{FOLDER-NAME} ...)
(@var{SELECTOR} [@var{ARG} ...]) ... )
... )
@end example
@var{VIRTUAL-FOLDER-NAME} is the name of the virtual folder being defined.
This is the name by which you and VM will refer to this folder.
@var{FOLDER-NAME} should be the name of a real folder. There may
be more than one @var{FOLDER-NAME} listed, the @var{SELECTOR}s within
that sublist will apply to them all. If @var{FOLDER-NAME} is a
directory, VM will assume this to mean that all the folders in
that directory should be searched.
The @var{SELECTOR} is a Lisp symbol that tells VM how to
decide whether a message from one of the folders specified by
the @var{FOLDER-NAME}s should be included in the virtual
folder. Some @var{SELECTOR}s require an argument @var{ARG};
unless otherwise noted @var{ARG} may be omitted.
@table @code
@item author
matches message if @var{ARG} matches the author; @var{ARG} should be a
regular expression.
@item author-or-recipient
matches message if @var{ARG} matches the author of
the message or any of its recipients; @var{ARG}
should be a regular expression.
@item and
matches the message if all its argument
selectors match the message. Example:
(and (author "Derek McGinty") (new))
@end example
matches all new messages from Derek McGinty.
@code{and} takes any number of arguments.
@item any
matches any message.
@item deleted
matches message if it is flagged for deletion.
@item edited
matches message if it has been edited.
@item filed
matches message if it has been saved with its headers.
@item forwarded
matches message if it has been forwarded using
a variant of @code{vm-forward-message} or @code{vm-send-digest}.
@item header
matches message if @var{ARG} matches any part of the header
portion of the message; @var{ARG} should be a
regular expression.
@item header-or-text
matches message if @var{ARG} matches any part of the
headers or the text portion of the message;
@var{ARG} should be a regular expression.
@item label
matches message if message has a label named @var{ARG}.
@item less-chars-than
matches message if message has less than @var{ARG}
characters. @var{ARG} should be a number.
@item less-lines-than
matches message if message has less than @var{ARG}
lines. @var{ARG} should be a number.
@item more-chars-than
matches message if message has more than @var{ARG}
characters. @var{ARG} should be a number.
@item more-lines-than
matches message if message has more than @var{ARG}
lines. @var{ARG} should be a number.
@item marked
matches message if it is marked, as with
@item new
matches message if it is new.
@item not
matches message only if its selector argument
does NOT match the message. Example:
(not (deleted))
@end example
matches messages that are not deleted.
@item or
matches the message if any of its argument
selectors match the message. Example:
(or (author "Dave Weckl") (subject "drum"))
@end example
matches messages from Dave Weckl or messages
with the string ``drum'' in their Subject header.
@code{or} takes any number of arguments.
@item read
matches message if it is neither new nor unread.
@item recent
matches message if it is new.
@item recipient
matches message if @var{ARG} matches any part of the recipient
list of the message. @var{ARG} should be a regular expression.
@item redistributed
matches message if it has been redistributed using
@item replied
matches message if it has been replied to.
@item sent-after
matches message if it was sent after the date @var{ARG}.
A fully specified date looks like this:
``31 Dec 1999 23:59:59 GMT''
@end example
although the parts can appear in any order.
You can leave out any part and it will
default to the current date's value for that
part, with the exception of the @samp{hh:mm:ss}
part which defaults to midnight.
@item sent-before
matches message if it was sent before the date @var{ARG}.
A fully specified date looks like this:
``31 Dec 1999 23:59:59 GMT''
@end example
although the parts can appear in any order.
You can leave out any part and it will
default to the current date's value for that
part, with the exception of the hh:mm:ss
part which defaults to midnight.
@item subject
matches message if @var{ARG} matches any part of the message's
subject; @var{ARG} should be a regular expression.
@item text
matches message if @var{ARG} matches any part of the text
portion of the message; @var{ARG} should be a
regular expression.
@item unanswered
matches message if it has not been replied to.
Same as the @code{unreplied} selector.
@item undeleted
matches message if it has not been deleted.
@item unedited
matches message if it has not been edited.
@item unfiled
matches message if it has not been saved with its
@item unforwarded
matches message if it has not been forwarded using
@code{vm-forward-message} or @code{vm-send-digest} or one
of their variants.
@item unread
matches message if it is not new and hasn't been read.
@item unseen
matches message if it is not new and hasn't been read.
Same as the @code{unread} selector.
@item unredistributed
matches message if it has not been redistributed using
@item unreplied
matches message if it has not been replied to.
@item virtual-folder-member
matches message if the message is already a
member of some virtual folder currently
being visited.
@item written
matches message if it has been saved without its headers.
@end table
Here is an example that you may find useful as a template to
create virtual folder definitions.
(setq vm-virtual-folder-alist
;; start virtual folder definition
(("/path/to/folder" "/path/to/folder2")
(header "foo")
(header "bar")
(("/path/to/folder3" "/path/to/folder4")
(and (header "baz") (header "woof"))
;; end of virtual folder definition
@end example
Again, you visit virtual folders you have defined in
@code{vm-virtual-folder-alist} with @kbd{V V}. Once you've
visited a virtual folder most VM commands work as they do in a
normal folder. There are exceptions. If you use @kbd{S}
(@code{vm-save-folder}, the folder save command will be invoked
on each real folder in turn. Similarly if you use @kbd{g}
(@code{vm-get-new-mail} in a virtual folder, mail is retrieved
from the spool files associated with each of the real folders.
If any of the retrieved messages are matched by the virtual
folder's selector, they will be added to the virtual folder.
These commands will signal an error when invoked if the current
folder is a virtual folder:
@end display
Normally messages in a virtual folder share attributes with the
underlying real messages. For example, if you delete a message
in a virtual folder, it is also flagged as deleted in the real
folder. If you then run @code{vm-expunge-folder} in the virtual folder,
the deleted message is expunged from the virtual folder and from
the real folder. Labels are shared between virtual and real
messages. However virtual folders have their own set of message
To make virtual folders not share message attributes with real
folders by default, set the variable @code{vm-virtual-mirror} to nil.
This should be done in your VM init file and you should use
@code{setq-default}, as this variable is automatically local to all
(setq-default vm-virtual-mirror nil)
@end example
If you want to change whether the currently visited virtual
folder shares attributes with the underlying real folders, use the
command @code{vm-toggle-virtual-mirror} (bound to @kbd{V M}). If the
virtual folder is currently sharing attributes it will no longer
be. If it is not sharing attributes with the underlying folders
then it will be.
The command @code{vm-create-virtual-folder} (bound to @kbd{V C}) lets
you interactively create a virtual folder from the messages of
the current folder, using exactly one selector to choose the
messages. If you type @kbd{V C header RET pigs}, VM will create
a folder containing only those messages that contain the string
@samp{pigs} in the header.
The command @code{vm-apply-virtual-folder} (bound to @kbd{V X}) tries
the selectors of a named virtual folder against the messages of
the current folder and creates a virtual folder containing the
matching messages.
The keys @kbd{V S} and @kbd{V A} invoke
@code{vm-create-virtual-folder-same-subject} and
@code{vm-create-virtual-folder-same-author} which create virtual folders
containing all the messages in the current folder with the same
subject or author as the current message.
@node Frames and Windows, Toolbar, Virtual Folders, Top
@chapter Frames and Windows
VM uses Emacs frames and windows to display messages and summaries
and to provide a place for you to compose messages. Using VM's
frame configuration facilities you can control when VM creates new
frames and the size and attributes associated with new frames.
Inside each frame you can associate different window setups with
commands and classes of commands by using VM's window configuration
@vindex vm-mutable-frames
To use VM's frame configuration features, the variable
@code{vm-mutable-frames} must be set non-@code{nil}. This is the default. If
@code{vm-mutable-frames} is set to nil VM will only use the current
frame, and VM will not create, delete or resize frames.
@vindex vm-mutable-windows
To use window configurations, the variable @code{vm-mutable-windows}
must be set non-@code{nil}. If @code{vm-mutable-windows} is set to nil, VM
will only use the selected window, and will not create, delete or
resize windows.
* Frame Configuration:: How to configure frame use and appearance.
* Window Configuration:: How to configure window use and appearance.
@end menu
@node Frame Configuration, Window Configuration, Frames and Windows, Frames and Windows
@section Frame Configuration
VM has a set of variables that let you specify when VM creates
frames and what attributes the new frames will have.
@vindex vm-frame-per-folder
If @code{vm-frame-per-folder} is set non-@code{nil}, when you visit a folder,
VM will create a new frame and display that folder in the new
frame. When you quit the folder, VM will delete the frame.
@vindex vm-frame-per-summary
If @code{vm-frame-per-summary} is set non-@code{nil}, the @code{vm-summarize}
command will create a new frame in which to display a folder's summary
buffer. This works best if a full-screen window configuration has
been assigned to the @code{vm-summarize} command. When you quit the folder
or kill the summary, VM will delete the frame.
@vindex vm-frame-per-composition
Setting @code{vm-frame-per-composition} non-@code{nil} causes VM to create a
new frame for the composition buffer when you run any of VM's
message composition commands. E.g. @code{vm-reply-include-text},
@code{vm-mail}, @code{vm-forward-message}. When you finish editing the
composition and send it, or when you kill the composition buffer,
the frame will be deleted.
@vindex vm-frame-per-edit
The variable @code{vm-frame-per-edit}, if non-@code{nil}, tells VM to create a
new frame when the vm-edit-message command is run. When you
finish editing the message, or abort the edit, the frame will be
@vindex vm-frame-per-help
If @code{vm-frame-per-help} is set non-@code{nil}, VM will create a new frame
to display any help buffer produced by the vm-help command.
@vindex vm-frame-per-completion
If @code{vm-frame-per-completion} is set non-@code{nil}, VM will create a new
frame on mouse initiated completing reads. A mouse initiated
completing read occurs when you invoke a VM command using the
mouse, either with a menu or a toolbar button. That command
must then prompt you for information, and there must be a
limited set of valid responses. If these conditions are met
and @code{vm-frame-per-completion}'s value is non-@code{nil}, VM will
create a new frame containing a list of responses that you can
select with the mouse.
@vindex vm-search-other-frames
When VM is deciding whether to create a new frame, it checks
other existing frames to see if a buffer that it wants to display in a
frame is already being displayed somewhere. If so, then VM will
not create a new frame. If you don't want VM to search other
frames, set the variable @code{vm-search-other-frames} to @code{nil}. VM will
still search the currently selected frame and will not create a
new frame if the buffer that it wants to display is visible there.
@vindex vm-frame-parameter-alist
The variable @code{vm-frame-parameter-alist} allows you to specify the
frame parameters for newly created frames.
The value of @code{vm-frame-parameter-alist} should be of this form
((@var{SYMBOL} @var{PARAMLIST}) (@var{SYMBOL2} @var{PARAMLIST2}) ...)
@end example
@var{SYMBOL} must be one of ``completion'', ``composition'', ``edit'',
``folder'', ``primary-folder'' or ``summary''. It specifies the type
of frame that the following @var{PARAMLIST} applies to.
@table @code
@item completion
specifies parameters for frames that display lists of
choices generated by a mouse-initiated completing read.
(See @code{vm-frame-per-completion}.)
@item composition
specifies parameters for mail composition frames.
@item edit
specifies parameters for message edit frames
(e.g. created by @code{vm-edit-message-other-frame})
@item folder
specifies parameters for frames created by `vm' and the
@code{vm-visit-} commands.
@item primary-folder
specifies parameters for the frame created by running
@code{vm} without any arguments.
@item summary
specifies parameters for frames that display a summary buffer
(e.g. created by @code{vm-summarize-other-frame})
@end table
@var{PARAMLIST} is a list of pairs as described in the documentation for
the function @code{make-frame}.
@node Window Configuration,, Frame Configuration, Frames and Windows
@section Window Configuration
Window configurations allow you to specify how the windows within
a frame should look for a particular command or class of
commands. Each command can have a configuration associated with
it and you can also associate a configuration with command
classes like ``reading-message'' or ``composing-message''. To
setup a window configuration, first use Emacs' window management
commands (@code{split-window}, @code{enlarge-window}, etc.) to make the
windows in the frame look the way you want. Then use the
switch-to-buffer command to put the buffers you want to see into
the windows. Next type @kbd{W S}, which invokes the
@code{vm-save-window-configuration} command. Type the name of the
command or class of commands to which you want the configuration
to apply. Nearly all VM commands can be entered here. Valid
classes are:
@end display
When a VM command is executed, window configurations are searched
for as follows. First, a command specific configuration is
searched for. If one is found, it is used. Next a class
configuration is searched for. Not all commands are in command
classes. Message composition commands are in the
``composing-message'' class. All the @code{vm-quit*} commands are in the
``quitting'' class. All the VM commands that set and clear
message marks are in the ``marking-message'' class, and so on.
If such a class configuration is found it is used. If no
matching class configuration is found, the ``default'' class
configuration is used, if it is defined.
Note that when a window configuration is saved the selected
window at that time will be the selected window when that window
configuration is used. So if you prefer for the cursor to be in
a particular window, make sure you invoke
@code{vm-save-window-configuration} window from that window. Remember
that you can invoke the command with @kbd{M-x} if VM's normal
keymap is not in effect.
To delete a window configuration, use @kbd{W D} which is bound to
@code{vm-delete-window-configuration}. You will be prompted for the
name of the configuration to delete.
To see what an existing configuration looks like, type @kbd{W W}
which invokes @code{vm-apply-window-configuration}.
@vindex vm-window-configuration-file
VM saves information about your window configurations in the file
named by the variable @code{vm-window-configuration-file}. The default
location of the configuration file is @samp{"~/.vm.windows"}.
Do not make @code{vm-window-configuration-file} point to the same
location as @code{vm-init-file}, as the window configuration save
commands will then overwrite the content of your init file.
@node Toolbar, Menus, Frames and Windows, Top
@chapter Toolbar
VM can display a toolbar that allows you to run VM commands with
a single mouse click. By default the toolbar is displayed on the
left of the Emacs frame and is only visible if you're running
under a window system like X Windows or Microsoft Windows.
@vindex vm-use-toolbar
To make VM not display the toolbar, set @code{vm-use-toolbar} to nil.
To configure what buttons are displayed on the toolbar, you must
change the value of @code{vm-use-toolbar}. If non-@code{nil}, the value of
@code{vm-use-toolbar} should be a list of symbols and integers, which
specify which buttons appear on the toolbar and the layout of the
buttons. These are the allowed symbols along with the buttons
they represent.
@table @code
@item autofile
The AutoFile button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-autofile-message}. This command will save the current
message into the folder matched by @code{vm-auto-folder-alist}, if there
is a match.
@item compose
The Compose button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-compose-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-mail} command. If you want the Compose button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-compose-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item delete/undelete
The Delete/Undelete button. If the current message is marked for
deletion, this button displays as an Undelete button. Otherwise
it displays as a Delete button.
@item file
The File button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-file-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-mail} command. If you want the File button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-file-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item getmail
The Get Mail button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-getmail-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-get-new-mail} command. If you want the
Get Mail button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-getmail-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item help
The Helper button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-helper-command}. This command normally just runs
@code{vm-help}, but it also does context specific things under certain
conditions. If the current message is a MIME message that needs
decoding, the Helper button becomes the Decode MIME button. If the
current folder has an autosave file that appears to be the result
of an Emacs or system crash, the Helper button becomes the Recover
button. Clicking on the Recover button runs @code{recover-file},
so you can recover your folder from an existing autosave file.
@item mime
The Decode MIME button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-mime-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-decode-mime-message} command.
@item next
The Next button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-next-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-next-message} command. If you want the Next button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-next-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item previous
The Previous button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-previous-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-previous-message} command. If you want the Previous button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-previous-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item print
The Print button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-print-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-print-message} command. If you want the
Print button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-print-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item quit
The Quit button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-quit-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-quit} command. If you want the Quit button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-quit-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item reply
The Reply button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-reply-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-reply-include-text} command. If you want
the Reply button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-reply-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item visit
The Visit button. Clicking on this button runs the command
@code{vm-toolbar-visit-command}. This command is normally just an
alias for the @code{vm-visit-folder} command. If you want the Visit button to
do something else, redefine @code{vm-toolbar-visit-command} using
either @code{fset} or @code{defun}.
@item nil
If nil appears in the list, it must appear exactly once. The
buttons associated with symbols that appear after nil in the
list will be display flushright for top and bottom toolbars, and
flushbottom for left and right toolbars.
@end table
If an positive integer appears in the the @code{vm-use-toolbar} list, it
specifies the number of pixels of blank space to display between
the button that comes before and the button that comes after the
@vindex vm-toolbar-orientation
The variable @code{vm-toolbar-orientation} controls on which side of the
frame the toolbar is displayed. E.g.
(setq vm-toolbar-orientation 'top)
@end example
causes the toolbar to be displayed at the top of the frame. The
@code{top} in the example can be replaced with @code{bottom},
@code{right} and @code{left} to make the toolbar appear in those
places instead.
@vindex vm-toolbar-pixmap-directory
VM finds the images for the toolbar in the directory specified by
@code{vm-toolbar-pixmap-directory}. This variable should already be set
properly by whoever installed VM on your system, so you should
not need to set it.
@node Menus, Faces, Toolbar, Top
@chapter Menus
@vindex vm-popup-menu-on-mouse-3
VM uses Emacs' menubar and popup menus when they are available to
give you access to more of VM's commands. By default VM puts a
context sensitive popup menu on mouse button 3 (usually the
rightmost mouse button). If you don't want this menu, set the
variable @code{vm-popup-menu-on-mouse-3} to nil.
@vindex vm-use-menus
If you set @code{vm-use-menus} to nil, VM will not generate a menubar
for VM folder buffers and VM won't use popup menus either. If
you set @code{vm-use-menus} to @samp{1}, VM will add a single @samp{VM}
entry to the existing menubar instead of using the whole menubar
for its purposes. That single entry will have all the VM command
submenus under it.
To make VM use the whole menubar, you must set variable @code{vm-use-menus}
to a list of symbols. The symbols and the order in which they are listed
determine which menus will be in the menubar and how they are ordered.
Valid symbol values are:
@table @code
@item dispose
This is menu of commands that are commonly used to dispose of a
message. E.g. reply, print, save, delete.
@item emacs
This is actually a menu button that causes the menubar to change
to the global Emacs menubar. On that menubar you will find
a VM button that will return you to the VM menubar.
@item folder
This is a menu of folder related commands. You can visit a
folder, save a folder, quit a folder and so on.
@item help
This is a menu of commands that provide information for you if
you don't know what to do next.
@item label
This is a menu of commands that let you add and remove message
labels from messages.
@item mark
This is a menu of commands that you can use to mark and unmark
messages based on various criteria. @xref{Message Marks}.
@item motion
This is a menu of commands to move around inside messages and
inside folders.
@item send
This is a menu of commands you use to compose and send messages.
@item sort
This is a menu of commands to sort a folder by various criteria.
@item undo
This is a menu button that invokes the @code{vm-undo} command.
@item virtual
This is a menu of commands that let you visit and create virtual
@item nil
If nil appears in the list, it should appear exactly once. All
menus after nil in the list will be displayed flushright in
the menubar.
@end table
@node Faces, Using the Mouse, Menus, Top
@chapter Faces
VM uses Emacs faces to emphasize text in the folder and summary
buffers. Instead of defining VM specific faces, VM's face usage
is controlled by customization variables that can point to faces.
This allows you to use standard Emacs faces, or to create your
own. So when you want to change which face is used, write code
like this:
(setq vm-summary-highlight-face 'bold-italic)
@end example
In the summary buffer, VM displays the summary entry for the current
message using the face specified by the @code{vm-summary-highlight-face}
variable. The value of this variable should be a symbol that names a
face, or nil which means don't display the summary entry of the
current message in a special way.
@vindex vm-mouse-track-summary
The variable @code{vm-mouse-track-summary} controls whether summary
entries are highlighted when the mouse pointer passes over
them. The highlighting is done using the standard Emacs
@code{highlight} face.
@vindex vm-highlighted-header-regexp
@vindex vm-highlighted-header-face
In the folder buffer, the header contents of headers matched by
the @code{vm-highlighted-header-regexp} variable are displayed using
the face named by @code{vm-highlighted-header-face}. This variable is
ignored under XEmacs if @code{vm-use-lucid-highlighting} is non-@code{nil}.
The XEmacs @code{highlight-headers} package is used instead. See the
documentation for the function @code{highlight-headers} to find out
how to customize header highlighting using this package.
@vindex vm-highlight-url-face
@vindex vm-url-search-limit
URL's that occur in message bodies are displayed using the face
named by @code{vm-highlight-url-face}. Searching for URLs in a
large message can take a long time. Since URLs often occur near
the beginning and near the end of messages, VM offers a way to
search just those parts of a message for URLs. The variable
@code{vm-url-search-limit} specifies how much of a message to search.
If @code{vm-url-search-limit} has a positive numeric value @var{N}, VM
will search the first @math{@var{N} / 2} characters and the last
@math{@var{N} / 2} characters in the message for URLs.
@vindex vm-mime-button-face
The face named by @code{vm-mime-button-face} is used to display the
textual buttons that trigger the display of MIME objects.
@node Using the Mouse, Hooks, Faces, Top
@chapter Using the Mouse
VM uses the following layout for the mouse buttons in the folder
and summary buffers.
@table @asis
@item button-1 (left button usually)
@item button-2 (middle button usually)
Activate. If you click on a summary entry, that message will be
selected and become the current message. If you click on a
highlighted URL in the body of a message, that URL will be sent
to the browser specified by @code{vm-url-browser}.
@item button-3 (right button usually)
Context Menu. If the mouse pointer is over the contents of the
From header, button-3 pops up a menu of actions that can be taken
using the author of the message as a parameter. For instance,
you may want to create a virtual folder containing all the
messages in the current folder written by this author. If the
mouse pointer is over the contents of the Subject header, a menu
of actions to be performed on the current message's subject is
produced. If button-3 is clicked over a highlighted URL, a menu
of Web browsers is produced. Otherwise the normal VM mode
specific menu is produced.
@end table
In mail composition buffers only mouse button-3 is affected.
Context sensitive menus are produced when that button is clicked.
@node Hooks, Key Index, Using the Mouse, Top
@chapter Hooks
VM has many hook variables that allow you to run functions when
certain events occur. Here is a list of the hooks and when they
are run. (If you don't write Emacs-Lisp programs you
can skip this chapter.)
@table @code
@vindex vm-select-new-message-hook
@item vm-select-new-message-hook
List of hook functions called every time a message with the ``new''
attribute is made to be the current message. When the hooks are run, the
current buffer will be the folder containing the message and the
start and end of the message will be bracketed by (point-min) and
@item vm-select-unread-message-hook
@vindex vm-select-unread-message-hook
List of hook functions called every time a message with the ``unread''
attribute is made to be the current message. When the hooks are run, the
current buffer will be the folder containing the message and the
start and end of the message will be bracketed by (point-min) and
@item vm-select-message-hook
@vindex vm-select-message-hook
List of hook functions called every time a message
is made to be the current message. When the hooks are run, the
current buffer will be the folder containing the message and the
start and end of the message will be bracketed by (point-min) and
@item vm-arrived-message-hook
@vindex vm-arrived-message-hook
List of hook functions called once for each message gathered from the
system mail spool, or from another folder with @code{vm-get-new-mail},
or from a digest with @code{vm-burst-digest}. When the hooks are run,
the current buffer will be the folder containing the message and the
start and end of the message will be bracketed by (point-min) and
@item vm-spooled-mail-waiting-hook
@vindex vm-spooled-mail-waiting-hook
List of functions called when VM first notices mail is spooled
for a folder. The folder buffer will be current when the hooks are
@item vm-arrived-messages-hook
@vindex vm-arrived-messages-hook
List of hook functions called after VM has gathered a group
of messages from the system mail spool, or from another
folder with @code{vm-get-new-mail}, or from a digest with
@code{vm-burst-digest}. When the hooks are run, the new
messages will have already been added to the message list
but may not yet appear in the summary. When the hooks are
run the current buffer will be the folder containing the
@item vm-reply-hook
@vindex vm-reply-hook
List of hook functions to be run after a Mail mode composition
buffer has been created for a reply. VM runs this hook and then
runs @code{vm-mail-mode-hook} before leaving you in the Mail
mode buffer.
@item vm-forward-message-hook
@vindex vm-forward-message-hook
List of hook functions to be run after a Mail mode
composition buffer has been created to forward a message. VM
runs this hook and then runs @code{vm-mail-mode-hook} before leaving the
user in the Mail mode buffer.
@item vm-resend-bounced-message-hook
@vindex vm-resend-bounced-message-hook
List of hook functions to be run after a Mail mode
composition buffer has been created to resend a bounced message.
VM runs this hook and then runs @code{vm-mail-mode-hook} before leaving
you in the Mail mode buffer.
@item vm-resend-message-hook
@vindex vm-resend-message-hook
List of hook functions to be run after a Mail mode composition
buffer has been created to resend a message. VM runs this hook
and then runs @code{vm-mail-mode-hook} before leaving you in
the Mail mode buffer.
@item vm-send-digest-hook
@vindex vm-send-digest-hook
List of hook functions to be run after a Mail mode composition
buffer has been created to send a digest. VM runs this hook and
then runs @code{m-mail-mode-hook} before leaving you in the Mail
mode buffer.
@item vm-mail-hook
@vindex vm-mail-hook
List of hook functions to be run after a Mail mode
composition buffer has been created to send a non specialized
message, i.e. a message that is not a reply, forward, digest,
etc. VM runs this hook and then runs @code{vm-mail-mode-hook} before
leaving you in the Mail mode buffer.
@item vm-summary-update-hook
@vindex vm-summary-update-hook
List of hook functions called just after VM updates an existing
entry in a folder summary buffer.
@item vm-summary-redo-hook
@vindex vm-summary-redo-hook
List of hook functions called just after VM adds or deletes
entries from a folder summary buffer.
@item vm-visit-folder-hook
@vindex vm-visit-folder-hook
List of hook functions called just after VM visits a folder.
It doesn't matter if the folder buffer already exists, this hook
is run each time @code{vm} or @code{vm-visit-folder} is called interactively.
It is @emph{not} run after @code{vm-mode} is called.
@item vm-retrieved-spooled-mail-hook
@vindex vm-retrieved-spooled-mail-hook
List of hook functions called just after VM has retrieved
a group of messages from your system mailbox(es). When these
hooks are run, the messages have been added to the folder buffer
but not the message list or summary. When the hooks are run, the
current buffer will be the folder where the messages were
@item vm-edit-message-hook
@vindex vm-edit-message-hook
List of hook functions to be run just before a message is edited.
This is the last thing @code{vm-edit-message} does before leaving you
in the edit buffer.
@item vm-mail-mode-hook
@vindex vm-mail-mode-hook
List of hook functions to be run after a Mail mode
composition buffer has been created. This is the last thing VM
does before leaving you in the Mail mode buffer.
@item vm-mode-hook
@vindex vm-mode-hook
List of hook functions to run when a buffer enters @code{vm-mode}.
These hook functions should generally be used to set key bindings
and local variables.
@item vm-mode-hooks
@vindex vm-mode-hooks
Old name for @code{vm-mode-hook}.
Supported for backward compatibility.
You should use the new name.
@item vm-summary-mode-hook
@vindex vm-summary-mode-hook
List of hook functions to run when a VM summary buffer is created.
The current buffer will be that buffer when the hooks are run.
@item vm-summary-mode-hooks
@vindex vm-summary-mode-hooks
Old name for @code{vm-summary-mode-hook}.
Supported for backward compatibility.
You should use the new name.
@item vm-virtual-mode-hook
@vindex vm-virtual-mode-hook
List of hook functions to run when a VM virtual folder buffer is created.
The current buffer will be that buffer when the hooks are run.
@item vm-presentation-mode-hook
@vindex vm-presentation-mode-hook
List of hook functions to run when a VM presentation buffer is
created. The current buffer will be the new presentation buffer
when the hooks are run. Presentation buffers are used to display
messages when some type of decoding must be done to the message
to make it presentable. E.g. MIME decoding.
@item vm-quit-hook
@vindex vm-quit-hook
List of hook functions to run when you quit VM.
This applies to any VM quit command.
@item vm-summary-pointer-update-hook
@vindex vm-summary-pointer-update-hook
List of hook functions to run when the VM summary pointer is updated.
When the hooks are run, the current buffer will be the summary buffer.
@item vm-display-buffer-hook
@vindex vm-display-buffer-hook
List of hook functions that are run every time VM wants to
display a buffer. When the hooks are run, the current buffer will
be the buffer that VM wants to display. The hooks are expected
to select a window and VM will display the buffer in that
If you use display hooks, you should not use VM's builtin window
configuration system as the result is likely to be confusing.
@item vm-undisplay-buffer-hook
@vindex vm-undisplay-buffer-hook
List of hook functions that are run every time VM wants to
remove a buffer from the display. When the hooks are run, the
current buffer will be the buffer that VM wants to disappear.
The hooks are expected to do the work of removing the buffer from
the display. The hook functions should not kill the buffer.
If you use undisplay hooks, you should not use VM's builtin
window configuration system as the result is likely to be
@item vm-iconify-frame-hook
@vindex vm-iconify-frame-hook
List of hook functions that are run whenever VM iconifies a frame.
@item vm-menu-setup-hook
@vindex vm-menu-setup-hook
List of hook functions that are run just after all menus are initialized.
@item vm-mime-display-function
@vindex vm-mime-display-function
If non-@code{nil}, this should name a function to be called inside
@code{vm-decode-mime-message} to do the MIME display of the current
message. The function is called with no arguments, and at the
time of the call the current buffer will be the @dfn{presentation
buffer} for the folder, which is a temporary buffer that VM uses
for the display of MIME messages. A copy of the current message
will be in the presentation buffer at that time. The normal work
that @code{vm-decode-mime-message} would do is not done, because this
function is expected to subsume all of it.
@item vm-mail-send-hook
@vindex vm-mail-send-hook
List of hook functions to call just before sending a message.
The hooks are run after confirming that you want to send the
message (see @code{vm-confirm-mail-send} but before MIME encoding
and FCC processing.
@item mail-yank-hooks
@vindex mail-yank-hooks
Hooks called after a message is yanked into a mail composition buffer.
(This hook is deprecated, you should use mail-citation-hook instead.)
The value of this hook is a list of functions to be run. Each
hook function can find the newly yanked message between point
and mark. Each hook function should return with point and mark
around the yanked message.
See the documentation for @code{vm-yank-message} to see when VM will run
these hooks.
@item mail-citation-hook
@vindex mail-citation-hook
Hook for modifying a citation just inserted in the mail buffer.
Each hook function can find the citation between (point) and (mark t).
And each hook function should leave point and mark around the citation
text as modified.
If this hook is entirely empty, i.e. @code{nil}, a default action is taken
instead of no action.
@end table
@node Key Index, Command Index, Hooks, Top
@unnumbered Key Index
@printindex ky
@node Command Index, Variable Index, Key Index, Top
@unnumbered Command Index
@printindex fn
@node Variable Index, License, Command Index, Top
@unnumbered Variable Index
@printindex vr
@node License,, Variable Index, Top
@unnumbered GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
@center Version 2, June 1991
Copyright @copyright{} 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
@end display
@unnumberedsec Preamble
The licenses for most software are designed to take away your
freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public
License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free
software---to make sure the software is free for all its users. This
General Public License applies to most of the Free Software
Foundation's software and to any other program whose authors commit to
using it. (Some other Free Software Foundation software is covered by
the GNU Library General Public License instead.) You can apply it to
your programs, too.
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not
price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you
have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for
this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it
if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it
in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.
To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid
anyone to deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights.
These restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you
distribute copies of the software, or if you modify it.
For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether
gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that
you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the
source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their
We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and
(2) offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy,
distribute and/or modify the software.
Also, for each author's protection and ours, we want to make certain
that everyone understands that there is no warranty for this free
software. If the software is modified by someone else and passed on, we
want its recipients to know that what they have is not the original, so
that any problems introduced by others will not reflect on the original
authors' reputations.
Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software
patents. We wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free
program will individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the
program proprietary. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any
patent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all.
The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and
modification follow.
@unnumberedsec TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION
@end iftex
@center TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION
@end ifinfo
@enumerate 0
This License applies to any program or other work which contains
a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed
under the terms of this General Public License. The ``Program'', below,
refers to any such program or work, and a ``work based on the Program''
means either the Program or any derivative work under copyright law:
that is to say, a work containing the Program or a portion of it,
either verbatim or with modifications and/or translated into another
language. (Hereinafter, translation is included without limitation in
the term ``modification''.) Each licensee is addressed as ``you''.
Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not
covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of
running the Program is not restricted, and the output from the Program
is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the
Program (independent of having been made by running the Program).
Whether that is true depends on what the Program does.
You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's
source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you
conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate
copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the
notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty;
and give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License
along with the Program.
You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and
you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee.
You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion
of it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and
distribute such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1
above, provided that you also meet all of these conditions:
@enumerate a
You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices
stating that you changed the files and the date of any change.
You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in
whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any
part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third
parties under the terms of this License.
If the modified program normally reads commands interactively
when run, you must cause it, when started running for such
interactive use in the most ordinary way, to print or display an
announcement including an appropriate copyright notice and a
notice that there is no warranty (or else, saying that you provide
a warranty) and that users may redistribute the program under
these conditions, and telling the user how to view a copy of this
License. (Exception: if the Program itself is interactive but
does not normally print such an announcement, your work based on
the Program is not required to print an announcement.)
@end enumerate
These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If
identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program,
and can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in
themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those
sections when you distribute them as separate works. But when you
distribute the same sections as part of a whole which is a work based
on the Program, the distribution of the whole must be on the terms of
this License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the
entire whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it.
Thus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest
your rights to work written entirely by you; rather, the intent is to
exercise the right to control the distribution of derivative or
collective works based on the Program.
In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program
with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of
a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under
the scope of this License.
You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of
Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
@enumerate a
Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable
source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections
1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three
years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your
cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete
machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be
distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium
customarily used for software interchange; or,
Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer
to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is
allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you
received the program in object code or executable form with such
an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.)
@end enumerate
The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for
making modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source
code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any
associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to
control compilation and installation of the executable. However, as a
special exception, the source code distributed need not include
anything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary
form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the
operating system on which the executable runs, unless that component
itself accompanies the executable.
If distribution of executable or object code is made by offering
access to copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent
access to copy the source code from the same place counts as
distribution of the source code, even though third parties are not
compelled to copy the source along with the object code.
You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program
except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt
otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is
void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License.
However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under
this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such
parties remain in full compliance.
You are not required to accept this License, since you have not
signed it. However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or
distribute the Program or its derivative works. These actions are
prohibited by law if you do not accept this License. Therefore, by
modifying or distributing the Program (or any work based on the
Program), you indicate your acceptance of this License to do so, and
all its terms and conditions for copying, distributing or modifying
the Program or works based on it.
Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the
Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the
original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to
these terms and conditions. You may not impose any further
restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein.
You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to
this License.
If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent
infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues),
conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or
otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not
excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot
distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this
License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you
may not distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent
license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by
all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then
the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to
refrain entirely from distribution of the Program.
If any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under
any particular circumstance, the balance of the section is intended to
apply and the section as a whole is intended to apply in other
It is not the purpose of this section to induce you to infringe any
patents or other property right claims or to contest validity of any
such claims; this section has the sole purpose of protecting the
integrity of the free software distribution system, which is
implemented by public license practices. Many people have made
generous contributions to the wide range of software distributed
through that system in reliance on consistent application of that
system; it is up to the author/donor to decide if he or she is willing
to distribute software through any other system and a licensee cannot
impose that choice.
This section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is believed to
be a consequence of the rest of this License.
If the distribution and/or use of the Program is restricted in
certain countries either by patents or by copyrighted interfaces, the
original copyright holder who places the Program under this License
may add an explicit geographical distribution limitation excluding
those countries, so that distribution is permitted only in or among
countries not thus excluded. In such case, this License incorporates
the limitation as if written in the body of this License.
The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions
of the General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will
be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to
address new problems or concerns.
Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program
specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and ``any
later version'', you have the option of following the terms and conditions
either of that version or of any later version published by the Free
Software Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of
this License, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software
If you wish to incorporate parts of the Program into other free
programs whose distribution conditions are different, write to the author
to ask for permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free
Software Foundation, write to the Free Software Foundation; we sometimes
make exceptions for this. Our decision will be guided by the two goals
of preserving the free status of all derivatives of our free software and
of promoting the sharing and reuse of software generally.
@heading NO WARRANTY
@end iftex
@center NO WARRANTY
@end ifinfo
@end enumerate
@heading END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
@end iftex
@center END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
@end ifinfo
@unnumberedsec How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs
If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest
possible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it
free software which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms.
To do so, attach the following notices to the program. It is safest
to attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively
convey the exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least
the ``copyright'' line and a pointer to where the full notice is found.
@var{one line to give the program's name and an idea of what it does.}
Copyright (C) 19@var{yy} @var{name of author}
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE@. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
@end smallexample
Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail.
If the program is interactive, make it output a short notice like this
when it starts in an interactive mode:
Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) 19@var{yy} @var{name of author}
Gnomovision comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details
type `show w'. This is free software, and you are welcome
to redistribute it under certain conditions; type `show c'
for details.
@end smallexample
The hypothetical commands @samp{show w} and @samp{show c} should show
the appropriate parts of the General Public License. Of course, the
commands you use may be called something other than @samp{show w} and
@samp{show c}; they could even be mouse-clicks or menu items---whatever
suits your program.
You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or your
school, if any, to sign a ``copyright disclaimer'' for the program, if
necessary. Here is a sample; alter the names:
Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright
interest in the program `Gnomovision'
(which makes passes at compilers) written
by James Hacker.
@var{signature of Ty Coon}, 1 April 1989
Ty Coon, President of Vice
@end group
@end smallexample
This General Public License does not permit incorporating your program into
proprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you may
consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with the
library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Library General
Public License instead of this License.