All About Internet Mail
Software Summaries

Elm (Unix)

Introduction

Elm is another Unix host-based email program. I have heard (but cannot prove) that the PINE email program is based upon Elm. The similarities, including the tree name theme, make this conjecture a strong possibility. Elm is considered to be more sophisticated, powerful, and more complicated. On systems where both PINE and Elm are offered, users with a heavy mail load are steered towards Elm and others are steered towards PINE.

In many ways the features, operations, style of the two packages is similar. As a host-based email program, Elm runs on a central computer to which users connect in order to conduct email transactions. Your incoming mail arrives and remains on the host computer. Similarly, outgoing mail is composed on the host system from which it is transmitted to other users. Your workstation, no matter how powerful and capable, only serves as a simple terminal allowing you to run Elm on the host system.

A disadvantage in Elm, is that emacs or vi are the editors used for composing messages. These programs are popular with Unix regulars, but not appropriate for new users.

Command Summary

from the Unix prompt (%)

`% elm`	Start the Elm program. A summary list of incoming mail will be displayed with a menu of available commands.
`% elm -h`	Show help screen for Elm.
`% elm -f +foldername`	Open Elm viewing specified folder.
`% elm -z`	Begin Elm only if there is new mail.
`% elm -s "subject" addresses`	Start Elm and begin to create message with specified addressees and subject.

from within Elm

Elm uses different menus depending on the indicated skill level of the user. The following options are taken from the Beginning menus.

`d)elete`	Mark the highlighted message for deletion. A "D" will be placed at the far left margin. If the message is already marked for deletion, this option will be u)ndelete, allowing you reverse the earlier command before the item is actually removed.
`m)ail`	Create a new outgoing message. You will be asked to supply the addresses of recipients in the To: field, then the subject, then the recipients in the Cc: field. The editor will then be opened to allow you to compose the message. When you are done editing the message, give the editor's exit commands and you will have the choice of:
`e`	return to editing the message
`h`	edit the headers
`c`	keep a file copy of the message
`s`	send the message
`f`	abandon (forget) the message
`r)eply`	Respond to the sender of an incoming message. The outgoing address and subject are taken from the incoming message header. Elm will then open the editor for you to compose your reply message.
`f)orward`	Send an incoming message to a third party. You will be asked whether you want to edit the message before sending and then prompted for the forwarding address.
`q)uit`	Close and leave the Elm program. You will be asked whether you wish to remove messages marked for deletion. It will then ask whether you want to move messages read, but not deleted, to a "received" file.
	View the highlighted message. The full header and text of the selected message will be displayed one screen (24 lines) at a time. Press the to see the next screen.

Within a Message

Within a message you have the following options:

`s`	Save the message in a folder you will name.
`r`	Reply to the current message.
`f`	Forward the current message.
`q` or `i`	Quit the current message and return to the summary list.
`j`	Move down to the next item. (Down-arrow key may also work.)
`k`	Move up to the previous item. (Up-arrow key may also work.)
`?`	Display help.