I use the archives all the time. I use an "offline news/mail reader"
(software that runs on my DOS machine at home) to read the archive files
which I keep on my fixed drive. After trimming out all the headers from
the archives, using a wordprocesser to search for the "CUT HERE" lines, I
save the parts of the archive as a single file (by the month). Using my
offline reader I can then search through the archives for key words in
individual msgs and then call those messages forth for reading. The
program I use can also group the msgs by subject line (like "gum
problems") or by sender. Very handy. The program that I use was written
for DOS and is called READMAIL (it used to be freeware-now it's
shareware). I'm sure similar programs are available for MACS, UNIX, etal.
following is some info I found for READMAIL (took about 15 seconds) by
doing a WEB search (used LYCOS search services):
Info from-
http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/infosys/newsreaders/dos/offline/readmail/
--------------------------------------------
INDEX OF /INFOSYS/NEWSREADERS/DOS/OFFLINE/READMAIL
Name Last modified Size Description
__________________________________________________________________________
[DIR] Parent Directory 07-Sep-95 07:32 -
[TXT] ghindex.html 17-Mar-96 08:18 1K
[ ] rm50b73.zip 20-Oct-94 00:00 152K
_________________________________________________________________
From: Jeroen Schipper <jschipper@hvu.nl>
Subject: What is ReadMail?
Date: 12 September 1994
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: READMAIL 5.0 BETA ::
:: INFO SHEET ::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Thank you for trying this beta version of ReadMail 5.0. This program is
not yet finished and can still crash at unexpected times (but I hope not).
I'm working hard to fix any problems and finish the program! Also there are
no docs and no helpscreens available yet. I'm working on that as well.
What is ReadMail? ReadMail is an offline mailer program that will give
you a friendly interface for all your offline mail activities, no matter
which offline mailer you now use. One mailer for all your mail! ReadMail
has been around since 1989, but until 5.0 is was only an offline reader.
This message describes some of the unique features of ReadMail:
- 100% mouse controlled interface, but everything can also quickly be
accessed by using the keyboard. The interface has lots of pulldown menu's
and dialog boxes with scrolling lists, radio buttons, check boxes and
push buttons.
- Runs in a fast, text-based windows interface. Also runs in a DOS box under
MS-Windows and OS/2. The interface is SAA/CUA compliant.
- NO SETUP REQUIRED! ReadMail will assume defaults and only ask for setup
information if really necessary. If you still need to make changes to
setup, you can access all information from within the program. There is
no need to hassle with external .INI files.
- ReadMail can read mail in almost any format available. If your mail format
is not yet supported, you can easily set up a new header definition so
you can read your mail anyway. Also read news packages, at this moment
SOUP is the only supported news format.
- Offline mailer support: ReadMail supports a several ways of composing
offline mail. Either create a new file for each message (you choose the
filename), call an external program that processes the message or store
the message in SOUP format. The header format of outgoing mail is fully
customizable.
- Unique open digest feature: do you receive digest mail with many concatenated
messages in it? (usually Internet RFC1153 format) -> ReadMail can open a
new window and present all articles in the digest message. It is then even
possible to reply to or forward an individual message from the digest!
- Manage multiple signatures! Just create a file with all your sigs in it,
prefix each sig with a ">DESCRIPTION: <description goes here>" line and
ReadMail will let you pick a signature from a list! Optionally ReadMail
can pick a random signature each time.
- Write combined replies: Ever wanted to send a reply in which you quote
multiple message bodies? With ReadMail you can.
- Support for threads: either based on subject or on sender, it depends on
what you sort on. ReadMail does not thread on message Id's.
- A number of predefined color sets, choose your favorite one, or modify
the colors the way you want them.
- And of course all basic options: save/print/delete mail (delete does not
yet work from SOUP packets), context sensitive help (but I still need to
write 99% of the helpscreens).
- Options to be added: hooks to a UUdecoder, a PGP decoder and a spell checker.
- Shareware notice: To cover the costs of creating ReadMail I must make it
shareware. The registration fee will be very low, probably around USD $15.
All that in ONE program? Yes! Try it now! Let me know what you think of
it! (press "R")
------------------------------
From: Jeroen Schipper <jschipper@hvu.nl>
Subject: Some notes on ReadMail 5.0 BETA
Date: 12 September 1994
Latest versions of the ReadMail beta can be downloaded from:
ftp.winternet.com:/pub/ReadMail/rm50bn.zip
^
Where n is the beta version number. The address for the ReadMail beta
discussion list is: readmail@mailbox.age.msu.edu (only for official
beta testers).
This file is not a doc file, it is a summary of changes between the
various BETA's I distributed. But there's lots of stuff in it that will
make it to the docs anyway, so reading it won't hurt.
------------------------------
On Mon, 18 Mar 1996, Risa S. Horowitz wrote:
> Judy, ( and everyone who's been around this list for a while)
>
> about the archives
> stop makin' me giggle so much!!!
>
> Really, I've downloaded the first month, but ran out of darned printer paper
> today!
> This may take a while, but I am working on it :)
> The only thing I can do now is take a hint (laughter) and to keep on keeping
> on until I know it all :)
> Maybe then even I can walk on water
>
> Have a great day all
> Risa
>
>===for PGP Key finger Greg Schmitz <gws1@cunix.cc.columbia.edu>===
:: ::
Key fingerprint = 73 D3 91 15 96 69 74 E5 14 51 71 44 C8 ED 01 11
Key ID: A7026B1D Key Size: 1024 bits Created: 1994/11/10
==================================================================<