ELECTRONIC MAIL AT WESLEYAN

	An MM type mail interface which is somewhat similar to DEC20 mail
but runs on VAX.


  1. OVERVIEW

                 MINT (Mail INTerface) is the new electronic mail program used
                 on VAX systems at Wesleyan. MINT was written at Wesleyan  and
                 is  still  under  development.   (Please send suggestions and
                 problem reports to Joseph Deck, Wesleyan Computing Center, or
                 via  MINT TO: JDECK@EAGLE.) A second mail program, MM remains
                 in use  on  the  administrative  DEC-20,  but  will  soon  be
                 replaced by MINT on VAX systems.
                 Using  MINT,  members  of  the  Wesleyan  community  with VAX
                 computing accounts can  send  and  receive  messages  between
                 users  at  Wesleyan  and  hundreds of sites around the world.
                 This guide, intended for both new and experienced VAX  users,
                 is organized into five sections:

                    - A  typical MINT session: This section will give you
                      an idea of what your computing interaction will  be
                      when  you  use  MINT  to  read  and  send messages.
                      Browse through it quickly initially. You  may  wish
                      to return to this section when you are ready to try
                      the MINT program for the first time.

                    - Basic  Concepts:  This  section  explains   several
                      concepts  basic to using MINT. The structure of the
                      MINT  program,  and  addressing   and   referencing
                      messages are among the topics covered.

                    - Getting  Started  with  MINT: This section explains
                      the MINT commands needed by most users to  use  the
                      MINT   program.   Topics   include:  getting  help,
                      listing, reading and sending messages.

                    - Expanding your capabilities: This section  includes
                      topics  that  will facilitate your use of MINT. For
                      example, it discusses how to create a mailing  list
                      that  includes  abbreviations for addresses you use
                      frequently. It will be most useful  to  people  who
                      use the mail system frequently, or who send/receive
                      many messages.

                    - Command Dictionary: The dictionary includes a brief
                      explanation   of   MINT   commands,   options,  and
                      concepts. It is intended primarily as a  reference;
                      however,  if you browse through it you may discover
                      just the option for which you've been looking.

                      MINT MANAGERS MANUAL

Manual last modified on 4 May 1989 at 15:57
by JDECK
Source is MGR-MANUAL.MSS, 03100/1
Comments to Joseph Deck (JDeck@Eagle.Wesleyan.Edu)

  Note:  To install MINT you must have previously installed PMDF.
Read  the  section titled "MINT and PMDF" for more information on
PMDF.

  A mail system requires a delivery agent as well as a  user  in-
terface.    MINT interfaces with PMDF which may be acquired from:
The Clearinghouse for Academic Software, Computation Center,  104
Computer  Science  Building,  Iowa  State  University, Ames, Iowa
50011: (515) 294-0323.  The last time I checked it  cost  between
$80 and $105 depending upon the distribution media.

2.1.2. Spelling Checker

  Mint  invokes  the  spelling  checker written by Mark Resmer at
Vassar. The Spelling checker made publically available via  DECUS
library  is  installed  separately  from Mint. If you have a dif-
ferent spelling checker Mint will be able to use it if it can  be
invoked with the command line "spell filename".

2.1.3. New Mail Notification

  The  program  CNTNEW can be put in the user's startup LOGIN.COM
file or the system wide login command file  SYSLOGIN.COM.    This
program  counts the new (unread) messages.  Mail is delivered via
PMDF-DELIVER.EXE.  If mail is delivered to a user while he/she is
logged on a message is sent to his/her terminal.

2.2.2. Mailing Lists

  There are two types of mailing lists available with MINT.   One
is  maintained by the user as a personal list; the other is main-
tained by the system postmaster.  Mint uses an  indexed  form  of
the  mailing  lists.  The program MLIST.EXE is used to create the
indexed form.  The system mailing list text and index files  must
be  located  in  the  directory  pointed  to  by the logical name
SYS$MINT.  An example of a system mailing list is supplied in the
distribution.    Use that as a template for your MAILING-LIST.TXT
file.