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From: buclin%CLSEPF51.bitnet@relay.eu.NET
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.iso.x400
Subject: Re: Sending mail from internet to x400 networks
Message-ID: <1991Jan16.100948.1@sic.epfl.ch>
Date: 17 Jan 91 01:59:49 GMT
References: <8321.663971302@nma> <910115165030*@MHS>
Organization: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
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ReSent-From: Jerry Sweet <mhsnews-request@ICS.UCI.EDU>
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> The only implementation independent "standard"
> covering this issue, that I know about, is the RARE document
> (I forgot the name) written by Ruediger Grimm and Denise Heagerty
> about X.400 address notation. This document says ; Therfore I am
> using it in my examples. The document also says: ADMD instead of
> A and PRMD instead of P.

The document reference is ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 18/WG N1042, "Recommendation
for a short hand notation for X.400 address notation". It is aimed to
define in implementation independant notation to help exchanging X.400
OR/addresses, like for example on business cards.  The document clearly
says :

"The short hand notation described here is intended for communities of
experienced X.400 users. When exchanging addresses with those unfamiliar
with X.400 O/R-addresses, a longer self-explanatory form is more appropriate
."

So, this document must not be used to make statement about X.400 user
interfaces (although it could be useful to have the same notation for
business cards and user interfaces).

>
> I am not sure what RFC 987/1148 says, but that is just a technical
> mapping document, and the formats described there, is not a recommendation
> intended for exchange of addresses between human beings.
>

RFC987 defines the mapping between RFC 822 and X.400. It your user interface
(on most unix systems the sendmail/mail pair) uses RFC822 notation, then
you MUST use RFC987 notation to specify your addresses. Furthermore, since
on Internet, the official mail protocol is SMTP with RFC 822, it is more
appropriate to show "real world example" using the defined RFC 822 mapping,
which is RFC 987. In other word, on Internet, the preferred notation should
be the slash (/) instead of the semi-colon (;). It also has the advantage
to prevent the use of quotes around the local-part.

Our users already have a lot of trouble to understand the mixture of
X.400 and RFC 822, and I think it is not the time to add more confusion
when giving them not accurate examples...

Bertrand Buclin
SWITCH Mail WG Chairman