Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!eos!ames!amdahl!pacbell!pbhyf!rob
From: rob@pbhyf.PacBell.COM (Rob Bernardo)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.elm
Subject: Re: Elm command misfeature
Message-ID: <4693@pbhyf.PacBell.COM>
Date: 14 Feb 89 12:10:06 GMT
References: <963@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>
Reply-To: rob@pbhyf.PacBell.COM (Rob Bernardo)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA
Lines: 52

In article <963@csd4.milw.wisc.edu> jgd@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (John G Dobnick,EMS E380,4142295727,) writes:
+Somewhere along the line (Elm 2.0 ?), the "Z" command was added to Elm.
+When one types this command, it echos "Command: ZZ" and Elm then procedes
+to exit and SAVE ALL MESSAGES in the "save file".

'Z' keeps all unread messages in the current file, saves all
read messages in the save-file, and deletes all messages marked deleted.

+I have two objections to this.  One is that I ALWAYS want to be asked
+if I want messages saved, since I prefer to leave unanswered things in the
+system mailbox.  This command does not allow me that choice.

The 'q' command is still available to do this. 'Z' is an addition, not
a substitute for 'q'. There is an option in the elmrc file "ask", which
if "ON" while cause ELM to ask these questions when the 'q' command is
entered, otherwise ELM will presume the default.

+The second, and more serious, objection is that Elm lies to me!  Yes, LIES!!!
+I type a *single* "Z", and Elm says I typed "ZZ".  (And, needless to
+say, I don't like this.)

I'll presume there was a missing smiley or two in this paragraph as ELM
also lies about just every other command as well. You enter a mere 'r'
and ELM says you typed "Reply to message" >gasp<. I didn't type all that
in! >sheesh<

+I would like to know the reason for the "Z" command.

It is a quick way to exit ELM leaving/putting mail messages in certain
places that many users find natural.

+  (I note that the "vi"
+editor uses "ZZ" to exit, but this requires *TWO* keystrokes.  If the
+intent was that Elm emulate this exit command, its implementation is
+faulty.)

Vi is in no way a user-interface standard for ELM, although our experience
with vi and other programs may give us ideas for ELM from time to time.

+Also, please note that it is very easy to *accidentally* hit a "Z" if
+one's fingers miss the "shift" key (on at least some keyboards, "shift"
+and "Z" are adjacent).

Easy for you, difficult for others. But, in fact, your complaint has been
noted. Now if this clutziness were found to be more common, we ELMgineers
will  be glad to *improve* (notice I didn't use a loaded word like
you did: "correct") ELM.
-- 
Rob Bernardo, Pacific Bell UNIX/C Reusable Code Library
Email:     ...![backbone]!pacbell!pbhyf!rob   OR  rob@pbhyf.PacBell.COM
Office:    (415) 823-2417  Room 4E750A, San Ramon Valley Administrative Center
Residence: (415) 827-4301  R Bar JB, Concord, California