Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!ucsd!ucsdhub!jack!nusdhub!rwhite
From: rwhite@nusdhub.UUCP (Robert C. White Jr.)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.att
Subject: Re: Does anyybody know anything about PMX/Term from AT&T?
Message-ID: <1085@nusdhub.UUCP>
Date: 1 Jul 88 18:18:14 GMT
References: <1261@neoucom.UUCP>
Organization: National University, San Diego
Lines: 64

in article <1261@neoucom.UUCP>, wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) says:
> Can anybody elaborate on PMX/Term?...

Yes, "gag, ack! uck... pffttffh, arrrg, pant pant pant, aaaaaaaaa,
	chougt, blat.....!"

In the immortal words of someone:  "build a system that even a fool
can use and only a fool will use it."

Basically it is _very_ expensive for what it does.  I will throw
away mail which comes form another machine name, but has the same
serial number (to prevent copying.)  It has features such as
doccument attach and the like, but once you have run it on your
mailbox, you are stuck with it for that mail.

On startup it removes all the mail from you mailbox, breaks the
mail into individual files and store them in a subdirectory
tree of it's own creation.  you are allowed to move the items
around the mailboxes, but the processes is _VERY_ combersome.
To whit: starting with the folder which contians the item you
wish to move: change to "other folder", exchange "other folder"
with the one in wich you want to store the item, move back to
the source folder, select the alternate menu, select move,
use pointer (totally unnessary), change name (optional), press
"do" (or return, it's been a bit so I dont remember which.)
Other tasks are similarly neausiating.

The PMX/TERM has one totally unforgivable flaw:  When you "send"
a reply or whatever, it is placed in your _current_ folder but
not actually sent anywhere.  When you have finished making
all your replies, you must push "send folder" (or something like
that)  At which point PMX/TERM SENDS THE _*ENTIRE*_ FOLDER,
INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL MESSAGES AND EVERYTHING!  In order to
accomplish what you really want, you have to move everything you
have "sent" to the output folder, and then "send" the folder.
If you forget to clear the folder after sending, and you "send
folder" again, two copys will be shipped off, meaning that if
you want to keep a copy of what you sent, you have to then
move it all back out to somewhere else.

Users were sending eight and ten copys of some messages, and at
(potentally) 10 bucks a message (overnight, paper letter,
overseas, whatever) through worst case usage of paid mail
services this could be more than stupid and damaging to your
company's reputation, it can be downright expensive.

You don't need PMX/TERM to use even the most subtle portions
of the attmail service (which is really a nice and complete
service) and the PMX/TERM program makes mistakes too easy.
I have wiped it from our system, and I now possess a $1,200
binder and diskette which I have stuffed behind the things
I use.

On the good side, the editor is nice for non-competent users,
but those same users then cause other disasters and are always
comming back with questions.  ALWAYS!

> 
> --Bill
>   impulse!wtm@neoucom.UUCP  <- temporary email address

Rob.

P.s.  You asked.