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From: GERLAND@UBVMS.BITNET.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.computers.vax
Subject: Re: Making MAIL.MAI Smaller
Message-ID: <8702010854.AA09290@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Sat, 31-Jan-87 15:19:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8702010854.AA09290
Posted: Sat Jan 31 15:19:00 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Feb-87 15:36:22 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
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>After consulting our system manager I learned that MAIl can only extend
>MAIL.MAI, but it can't shorten it after deleting messages. In my case it
>was no problem, as I only had to delete MAIL.MAI, but what do you have to
>do if you want to keep some messages (so you can't just delete MAIL.MAI).
 
Three slaps with a wet noodle to your system manager for such poor advice.
MAIL can indeed reduce the size of MAIL.MAI.  In MAIL type COMPRESS and watch
it work.  MAIL will create a new MAIL.MAI;1 file and a MAIL.OLD;1 file which
you can delete.  You will notice a large reduction in block size if this is
the first time you do it.  I COMPRESS my MAIL.MAI file daily.
 
       Jim Gerland ( UCS POSTMASTER )
 
       Computer Center          Room 226
       University Computing Services
       State University of New York at Buffalo
       Buffalo, NY   14260      (716) 636-3557
 
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