Subject: Saving from composer

From: Richard Lee <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 08:31:25 -0500 (CDT)

David Miller wrote in response to another query:

> . . . A workaround is to export the first message to a file, . . .

	Speaking of this:  is it possible when composing a message in the 
pine composer easily to save that message in a file and return to it later.
	I know there is the postpone feature--and that is very handy--but 
it is limited.  I have situations in which I start to write to someone, 
get a good letter going, but then decide I want to wait (for more 
information, for a cooler moment, whatever) before deciding whether to 
send it.  If I simply postpone it, then I'm stuck answering "no"-- 
possibly for weeks--whenever I use the composer, and not being able to 
postpone any other messages in the meantime (or so I believe--correct me 
if I'm wrong).
	What I'd like is a "write to file" command in the pine editor.  I
*think* there is not currently such a feature.  Again, correct me if I'm
wrong. 
	I'm sure there are work arounds--e.g., use the postpone feature,
find the file that is saved as a result, and copy that file to a filename
of my choice.  Another work around would be to change the header to send
the mail to myself, send it, and then export it from my INBOX.  But maybe
there could be a more straightforward way?  I haven't tried slipping into 
an "alternate editor" (e.g. emacs or even pico) and saving from there.
	If I'm unusual in wanting this "write out" feature, then, since
there are work arounds, there is no point in adding it.  But maybe there 
is a more widespread interest in such a feature in an easy to use manner.
	I know--no more free control keys.  Is it time to add an extra 
layer of command keys--you know, using one control key as an emacs-like 
"prefix."  Complicates things, I know.
	By the way, David, thanks for your quick and clear responses to
everything. 

--

Dr. Richard Lee                         [email-masked]
Department of Philosophy Old Main 318   [email-masked]
University of Arkansas                  phone: 501-575-5826
Fayetteville, AR 72701

---

From: Bob Gregory <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 19:03:04 +0200 (IST)

> pine composer easily to save that message in a file and return to it later.

A number of awkward work-arounds have been suggested for this
functionality.  This solution works well for me: 

  - delete all the recipients.
  - set Fcc: postponed
  - "send" the message (no recipients, only a file copy)

...so there is folder named "postponed", containing one or more messages.
Later, when you want to resume composing...

  - enter the "postponed" folder.
  - forward the messages (not as MIME, to continue composing).

Hint

If recipient addresses are complex, and not in the address book, then
"undelete" them into the message body as you delete them from the headers,
and reverse the process later when you are editing the forwarded message. 

Why this is good

 - It's file system independent, and works the same way on any platform. 
 - It keeps mail in mail folders, where mail belongs, IMHO.
 - Location independence (it should work fine with IMAP).

Even if the composer allowed saves, addresses are still a problem. A more
elaborate solution would be a special (to Pine) "postponed" folder, where
such messages would be squirreled away, and the only operation would be
"resume composing".  The down side of this is complexity.  Consider the
novice who accidentally postpones a message -- the way it works now, it's
impossible to forget about postponed messages.  This is worth keeping. 

 -- Bob Gregory 	<[email-masked]>

---

From: David L Miller <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 10:01:23 -0800 (PST)

We have an item on our requested enhancements list to add support for 
multiple postponed messages.  Beyond that, I think you have pretty well 
enumerated the workarounds.  I can think of another workaround that will 
be available when we get the bounce command implemented as well...

|\ |  |\/|  David L. Miller    [email-masked]  (206) 685-6240
|/ |_ |  |  Software Engineer, Pine Development Team   (206) 685-4045 (FAX)
University of Washington, Networks & Distributed Computing
4545 15th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105, USA

---

From: David Wall <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 11:00:54 -0800 (PST)

Bob,
Interesting that you use (reply or forward? you didn't mention which) 
the Fcc: line only to postpone, ie to save to a folder.

Yesterday I had a complaint from a user who used "F"orward, deleted the 
addresses and used Fcc just to save to another folder.  (The person had 
found this technique, but not a simple "S"ave.)  The problem is that only 
the From line in the mail header was getting saved, not the message.

Since the person claimed that this had worked in the past, I'm guessing 
that it might be a problem with 3.87.  The problem was reported on a 
Sequent Dynix/ptx system and I duplicated it on Ultrix.

The bottom line is:  check to make sure this is still working for you!!

(I'm presuming David Miller will see this and get it to pine-bugs if 
appropriate.)

--David Wall    Computing & Communications...Client Services  3-8491
                Univ. of Washington  HG-45   [email-masked]

On Thu, 18 Nov 1993, Bob Gregory wrote:

> Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 19:03:04 +0200 (IST)
> From: Bob Gregory <[email-masked]>
> To: [email-masked]
> Subject: Re: Saving from composer
>

---

From: David L Miller <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 11:37:08 -0800 (PST)

David,

That bug is fixed in the upcoming Pine 3.88.  Thanks for pointing it out!

--DLM