This is RSX Network Mail, a midnite hack done to provide communications
between RSX Systems and to communicate with VMS Mail.

RSX Mail and VMS Mail are collectively called Mail-11.

Unlike the VMS version, RSX Mail-11 requires DECNET, even for local
mail delivery.

This file is called README.TXT on the DECUS tape to correspond with
normal DECUS practices.  The remainder of the files are all contained
in MAIL.ULB, a universal library.  Inside that library this file is
known as "MAIRLS" or "MAIL.RLS."

These programs are written primarily in FORTRAN and BASIC-Plus II.
Task images are provided so that they can be used at sites without
licenses for these language products.

For those users who have the compilers, you are welcome to make your
own modifications.  The programs could use much additional human
engineering; they are provided on an as is basis to DECUS.  No SPRs,
inquiries, or complaints, please.

Mail Sender	Mail Reader	Help files	Mail Server (Network Object)
NETSND.FTN	MAIL.CMD	UNSSEND.HLP	MAILSRV.B2S
NETSND.OBJ	MAIL.FTN	UNSMAIL.HLP	MAILRSX.B2S
NETSND.CMD	MAIL.OBJ			MAILARC.B2S
GINUAB.MAC	MPT.MAC		Mail Notify	MAILSRV.OBJ
GINUAB.OBJ	MPT.OBJ		MAINOT.FTN	MAILSRV.ODL
				MAINOT.OBJ	MAILSRV.CMD
				MAINOT.CMD

*****NOTE: Due to ongoing development on our system, some UICs for
Language OTSs in some command files may have to be altered.

Configuration Options:

1)	RSX Group format - all incoming mail is placed in LB:[1,7]uic.TXT
	The Mail Reader is used to check for and read mail.
	*** THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED FORMAT. ***

2)	ARC Mail Format - all incoming mail is placed in LB:[1,7]uic.TXT
	Use Alberta Research Council Mail to check for and read mail.
	*** OBSOLETE, YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO USE. ***

3)	First RSX format - incoming mail is placed in individual MAIL.TXT
	files in each user's own directory.  Mail is read by processing
	the individual files with standard RSX utilities or with an indirect
	command file reader, NOT SUPPLIED HERE.
	*** OBSOLETE, YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO USE. ***

Choosing your configuration:
The MAILSRV.OBJ in the ULB will be in RSX Group Format.  To compile mail
you get option 3 by simply compiling MAILSRV.B2S; you get the other options
by APPENDING (with the BP2 compiler) either MAILARC.B2S or MAILRSX.B2S
before compiling.

For example, to compile RSX Group Format (the normal configuration):

RUN $BASIC2
OLD MAILSRV
APPEND MAILRSX
COMPILE
^Z

Building Mail:

Unless you want to modify Mail, you should not have to build it.  The
four task images in the Universal Library will run on any machine which
has EIS.  (Due to the use of F4P, EIS is a minimum requirement for Mail.)
You should be able to skip reading the rest of this section, and go on
to "Installing Mail"

The four .CMD files provided contain enough information to enable building
the four programs.  Be sure and use MAILSRV.ODL and .CMD, and not a file
produced by the BP2 compiler.

The Fortran-IV-Plus code does not generate FPP instructions; thus it may
be used on any machine which has EIS (most PDP-11s have EIS).  If you do
not have floating point, check local procedures for using F4P.

Installing Mail:
Simply install the four Tasks.
Also issue the command: NCP SET OBJ 27 NAM MAL$$$ USE DEF VER OFF COP 20

Creating the Routing File and the Forwarding/Filter File:

1. LB:[1,2]MAILNODE.DAT is the routing file and contains lines of the form:
   nodename poor::mans::routing::to::nodename::
   e.g.
   ARK BABEL::GALAXY::STAR::VAX4::ARK::

   If you wish, you may initially create a null file:

	PIP LB:[1,2]MAILNODE.DAT=NL:

2. LB:[1,2]MAILUSER.DAT is the Forwarding/Filter File and has lines like:
   localname->nodename::nodefurther::distantname
   localalias->localnameoraccount
   localname->(Error message)
   e.g.
   LUSER->CORRECT::NODE::LUSER
   SYSTEMMANAGER->WATSON
   SMITH->(Smith - Send to J_SMITH or G_SMITH or B_SMITH)
   B_SMITH->B_SMITH
   J WILSON->[231,277]
   M PORTER->M_PORTER
   COMMENT LINE

   (Any line which does not contain "->" is a comment.)

   A SPACE AFTER THE INITIAL MEANS THAT IT IS OPTIONAL.  AN UNDERSCORE
   MAKES IT REQUIRED.

   An optional feature (called ABSOLUTE filter) requires that all users who
   will receive mail on this node be entered in the Filter File.  An entry
   of the form NAME->NAME is sufficient if no translation is required.  To
   activate this feature, a line BEGINNING with "->" (in column one) is
   placed at the END of the Filter file.  This line contains the message to
   be returned to the person trying to send mail.

   e.g.
   -> does not read mail on THSNOD
   The user's name, followed by the message will be returned as an error.

   I STRONGLY RECOMMEND USING THE ABSOLUTE FILTER, SO THAT OTHER USERS
   DON'T SEND MAIL TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCOUNTS ON YOUR SYSTEM, BUT DON'T
   USE YOUR SYSTEM OFTEN ENOUGH TO CHECK FOR MAIL.

Mail Notification has now been documented in the help files.  Users turn it
on for a particular terminal by typing MAIL ? NOTIFY and turn it off by
typing MAIL ? NONOTIFY.  The system must take care of shutting it off when
a user signs off; this is currently done for RSX-11M-PLUS systems with a
file in LB:[1,10]LOGOUT.CMD which contains a MAIL ? NONOTIFY command.  For
RSX-11M systems, the BYE program must be rebuilt using the "USER Subroutine"
provided.  See BYEMAI.MAC and your own system's BYEBLD.CMD.  Note that
the RSX group intends to implement a "MAIL Subroutine" similar to the
"USER Subroutine" which will eventually replace both methods.

The ? command may be qualified with a /BRIEF.  This speeds up checking for
mail.

Your startup procedure should issue a PIP LB:[1,7]LOGDATA.DAT;*/DE in order
to delete old notification information.  It may also be desirable to issue
a MAIL ? NONOTIFY after the delete; this will assure that the owner of the
file is SYSTEM rather than the first user who types MAI ? NOTIFY.

NOTES ON THE MAIL READER:

I wrote this very quickly (2 1/2 days) and intend to do some additional
work on it.  In particular:

	The READ command will eventually be modified to accept a file
	name.  (Currently you must switch to a file you have filed mail
	into with the DIRECTORY command).

	Mail will be modified so that it doesn't exit when you try to
	read an empty Mailbox, allowing you to issue another command.

	The format of the "POSTOFFICE" will be changed so that Mail is
	aware of what you have read, so that it can begin with new mail.
	For now, users may file mail in other mailboxes to get it out of
	the postoffice.

Some of these features may be provided on future RSX-Sig Tapes, but no
promise of future versions of this submission are implied.
