From: bvaughan@sheps.Princeton.EDU (Barbara Vaughan)
Subject: Re: List of enhancements
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 16:50:50 GMT

In article <9212290918.AA12334@SERVER.uwindsor.ca> ophof@SERVER.uwindsor.ca (Scott Ophof) writes:
>
>
>On 28 Dec 1992 17:39:25 GMT bvaughan@sheps.Princeton.EDU (Barbara Vaughan) said:
>>In article <9212280932.AA14332@SERVER.uwindsor.ca> ophof@SERVER.uwindsor.ca (Scott Ophof) writes:
>>>  [ much deleted]
>>>A more friendly built-in browser when reading items would also be
>>>appreciated.  One where paging commands are supported, both
>>>forwards, but especially BACKwards!  And at least per screen and
>>>half-screen, preferably in any increment the user wishes.
>>>And NOT automatically "run off the end",...
>
>>less supports all of these wishes.
>
>*INCLUDING* not "running off the end of the file"???

Less doesn't automatically end when the end of file is reached, although
it can be configured to do so.  Actually, even if you use more, if you
edit your .elm/elmrc file so that "promptafter = ON", you will be asked at
the end of a letter if you want to return to the mail index.  At this
point, hitting "enter" will return you to the beginning of the letter. 
However, you still won't be able to back up while reading the letter.

>====================================================
>If so, then please tell me where to get a copy; it isn't available
>*here*...  But it's useless to me if I need a sys admin to install
>it for my own personal use.  

less is available at most ftp archive sites.  At least some of them have
binaries for various platforms.  Try "archie less |more" to find one near
you.  If you don't have archie, cac.washington.edu has binaries and
wuarchive.wustl.edu has a less directory, which probably has lots of stuff.

Most software can be installed for your personal use without a systems
administrator.  I even installed elm in a private directory and used it
for a while before approaching our system administrator about installing
it for public consumption.  You don't have to be a unix wizard to do it,
either.  At the time I installed elm, I had a total of about 4 months of
unix exposure and didn't even understand all the questions I was being
asked by the Congfigure script; when in doubt, I chose the default.  But it
worked.  90% of the software I've seen can be installed by a total novice
if you carefully read the instructions.

>
>Of course, using a pager not default with "elm" creates a problem; 
>one cannot issue "elm"-related commands from within non-default
>pagers.  So one needs to quit the pager to even issue a "reply"
>command...  :-(
>Same kind of problem when using an other editor than which comes with
>"elm".   :-(

This is true, but you can't have everything.  I know Syd has mentioned in
the past his plan to include a pico-like editor in release 3.0 that will
understand elm commands.  Perhaps he will also consider a less-like
browser that understands elm commands.  It would be nice to have similar
keystroke mnenomics for the editor, browser and elm index.  This is one
reason why I'm disturbed by the decision in the latest release to only use
the user's chosen browser for letters longer than one page and to always
use "builtin" for short letters.  This confuses the hell out of infrequent
and novice users, and judging from net questions, a lot of other people agree.

All in all, elm is one of the most widely accepted and appreciated pieces
of software I've encountered.  Even if we complain, Syd et.al., we applaud
what you've done for us.  I nearly choked when I first got a unix account
in April of last year and somebody showed me Berkeley mail!  

Barbara Vaughan