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From: daniel@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Daniel Pommert)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.mh
Subject: alias file generalized to phone book
Summary: Generalize alias format to allow fuller phonebook functionality
Keywords: alias, phonebook
Message-ID: <1990Dec5.173010.10913@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 5 Dec 90 17:30:10 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Lines: 31

On micro based mail systems, I frequently see the ability to store
added information about an individual besides their alias and email
address.

It would be nice if such database-compatible features could be added to
the MH structure; particularly to the alias file format.  This would
allow more powerful applications to hook into the MH mail system.  In
particular, if the fcc: parameter could be present, inc could be asked
to refile that matching mail in the specified folder as could send.
Descriptive, human readable comments could also be included.  The alias
file syntax could be augmented (for example) as follows:

    Each normal alias entry line could be followed by a line beginning
    with a tab character.  All successive lines beginning with a tab
    character would be considered option lines for that primary alias
    line.  If the first non-white space character was a ; the rest of
    the line could be considered a comment.  Fields such as fcc:,
    organization:, and comment: could also be honored on separate
    lines.

Such mailbook features could be incorporated into a more powerful xmh
system.  mhook and/or rcvstore could also be modified to take some of
these fields (particularly fcc:) into account.

Comments?  (Thanks for the comments on my last note!)

-- 
-- Daniel Pommert
email.internet:	pommert@uiuc.edu	email.bitnet:	daniel@uiucvmd
phone:	(217) 333-8629
post:	DCL MC-256; 1304 W. Springfield; Urbana, IL  61801-2987


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