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authorGlenn Morris2009-06-11 07:40:19 +0000
committerGlenn Morris2009-06-11 07:40:19 +0000
commit30884d117e659f33e4248afbad299df19185074c (patch)
tree9c78532b003ea53500a30b88a90c624f26b5e41b
parent68852c13c352a90c189be8cd80e263768e65f60b (diff)
downloademacs-30884d117e659f33e4248afbad299df19185074c.tar.gz
emacs-30884d117e659f33e4248afbad299df19185074c.zip
(Common acronyms): Remove no-longer-existing OSF.
(The LPF): Make the updated URL the sole reference point. (Learning how to do something): Update refcard price and format. (Getting a printed manual): Sources in doc/emacs/, not man/. Also available in PDF format. Since the page count varies, be less precise. (Informational files for Emacs): Remove references to deleted files LPF and SUN-SUPPORT, and to UUCP. (Obtaining the FAQ): Refer to the service web-page rather than SERVICE. Remove many obsolete ways to get the FAQ, which now seems only to be distributed with Emacs. (Mail and news): Remove sections about Rmail Babyl that no longer apply.
-rw-r--r--doc/misc/ChangeLog15
-rw-r--r--doc/misc/faq.texi190
2 files changed, 40 insertions, 165 deletions
diff --git a/doc/misc/ChangeLog b/doc/misc/ChangeLog
index 2fa464c32b8..af573100145 100644
--- a/doc/misc/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/misc/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
12009-06-11 Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
2
3 * faq.texi (Common acronyms): Remove no-longer-existing OSF.
4 (The LPF): Make the updated URL the sole reference point.
5 (Learning how to do something): Update refcard price and format.
6 (Getting a printed manual): Sources in doc/emacs/, not man/.
7 Also available in PDF format. Since the page count varies, be less
8 precise.
9 (Informational files for Emacs): Remove references to deleted files
10 LPF and SUN-SUPPORT, and to UUCP.
11 (Obtaining the FAQ): Refer to the service web-page rather than SERVICE.
12 Remove many obsolete ways to get the FAQ, which now seems only to be
13 distributed with Emacs.
14 (Mail and news): Remove sections about Rmail Babyl that no longer apply.
15
12009-06-09 Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com> 162009-06-09 Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
2 17
3 * org.texi (Org Plot): Fix tags (Bug#3507). 18 * org.texi (Org Plot): Fix tags (Bug#3507).
diff --git a/doc/misc/faq.texi b/doc/misc/faq.texi
index 49c363ee3a5..4fa1c769935 100644
--- a/doc/misc/faq.texi
+++ b/doc/misc/faq.texi
@@ -270,10 +270,9 @@ Your system administrator may have removed the @file{src} directory and
270many files from the @file{etc} directory. 270many files from the @file{etc} directory.
271 271
272@node Common acronyms, , File-name conventions, FAQ notation 272@node Common acronyms, , File-name conventions, FAQ notation
273@section What are FSF, LPF, OSF, GNU, RMS, FTP, and GPL? 273@section What are FSF, LPF, GNU, RMS, FTP, and GPL?
274@cindex FSF, definition of 274@cindex FSF, definition of
275@cindex LPF, definition of 275@cindex LPF, definition of
276@cindex OSF, definition of
277@cindex GNU, definition of 276@cindex GNU, definition of
278@cindex RMS, definition of 277@cindex RMS, definition of
279@cindex Stallman, Richard, acronym for 278@cindex Stallman, Richard, acronym for
@@ -291,9 +290,6 @@ Free Software Foundation
291@item LPF 290@item LPF
292League for Programming Freedom 291League for Programming Freedom
293 292
294@item OSF
295Open Software Foundation
296
297@item GNU 293@item GNU
298GNU's Not Unix 294GNU's Not Unix
299 295
@@ -308,11 +304,9 @@ GNU General Public License
308 304
309@end table 305@end table
310 306
311Avoid confusing the FSF, the LPF, and the OSF. The LPF opposes 307Avoid confusing the FSF and the LPF. The LPF opposes
312look-and-feel copyrights and software patents. The FSF aims to make 308look-and-feel copyrights and software patents. The FSF aims to make
313high quality free software available for everyone. The OSF is a 309high quality free software available for everyone.
314consortium of computer vendors which develops commercial software for
315Unix systems.
316 310
317The word ``free'' in the title of the Free Software Foundation refers to 311The word ``free'' in the title of the Free Software Foundation refers to
318``freedom,'' not ``zero cost.'' Anyone can charge any price for 312``freedom,'' not ``zero cost.'' Anyone can charge any price for
@@ -347,14 +341,8 @@ Free Software Foundation, and related organizations.
347@cindex Patents for software, opposition to 341@cindex Patents for software, opposition to
348 342
349The LPF opposes the expanding danger of software patents and 343The LPF opposes the expanding danger of software patents and
350look-and-feel copyrights. To get more information, feel free to contact 344look-and-feel copyrights. More information on the LPF's views is
351the LPF via e-mail or otherwise. You may also contact 345available at @uref{http://progfree.org/, the LPF home page}.
352@email{jbw@@cs.bu.edu, Joe Wells}; he will be happy to talk to you
353about the LPF.
354
355You can find more information about the LPF in the file @file{etc/LPF}.
356More papers describing the LPF's views are available on the Internet and
357also from @uref{http://lpf.ai.mit.edu/, the LPF home page}.
358 346
359@node Real meaning of copyleft, Guidelines for newsgroup postings, The LPF, General questions 347@node Real meaning of copyleft, Guidelines for newsgroup postings, The LPF, General questions
360@section What is the real legal meaning of the GNU copyleft? 348@section What is the real legal meaning of the GNU copyleft?
@@ -644,15 +632,15 @@ printed manual}.
644@cindex Reference cards, in other languages 632@cindex Reference cards, in other languages
645@item 633@item
646You can get a printed reference card listing commands and keys to 634You can get a printed reference card listing commands and keys to
647invoke them. You can order one from the FSF for $1 (or 10 for $5), 635invoke them. You can order one from the FSF for $2 (or 10 for $18),
648or you can print your own from the @file{etc/refcards/refcard.tex} or 636or you can print your own from the @file{etc/refcards/refcard.tex} or
649@file{etc/refcards/refcard.ps} files in the Emacs distribution. 637@file{etc/refcards/refcard.pdf} files in the Emacs distribution.
650Beginning with version 21.1, the Emacs distribution comes with 638Beginning with version 21.1, the Emacs distribution comes with
651translations of the reference card into several languages; look for 639translations of the reference card into several languages; look for
652files named @file{etc/refcards/@var{lang}-refcard.*}, where @var{lang} 640files named @file{etc/refcards/@var{lang}-refcard.*}, where @var{lang}
653is a two-letter code of the language. For example, the German version 641is a two-letter code of the language. For example, the German version
654of the reference card is in the files @file{etc/refcards/de-refcard.tex} 642of the reference card is in the files @file{etc/refcards/de-refcard.tex}
655and @file{etc/recards/de-refcard.ps}. 643and @file{etc/recards/de-refcard.pdf}.
656 644
657@item 645@item
658There are many other commands in Emacs for getting help and 646There are many other commands in Emacs for getting help and
@@ -671,22 +659,13 @@ You can order a printed copy of the Emacs manual from the FSF. For
671details see the @uref{http://www.gnu.org/order/order.html, GNU Web site}. 659details see the @uref{http://www.gnu.org/order/order.html, GNU Web site}.
672 660
673@c The number 620 below is version-dependent! 661@c The number 620 below is version-dependent!
674The full Texinfo source for the manual also comes in the @file{man} 662The full Texinfo source for the manual also comes in the @file{doc/emacs}
675directory of the Emacs distribution, if you're daring enough to try to 663directory of the Emacs distribution, if you're daring enough to try to
676print out this 620-page manual yourself (@pxref{Printing a Texinfo 664print out this several-hundred-page manual yourself (@pxref{Printing a Texinfo
677file}). 665file}).
678 666
679If you absolutely have to print your own copy, and you don't have @TeX{}, 667If you absolutely have to print your own copy, and you don't have @TeX{},
680you can get a PostScript version from 668you can get a PostScript or PDF (or HTML) version from
681
682@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/emacs.ps.gz}
683
684@cindex HTML version of Emacs manual, obtaining
685An HTML version of the manual is at
686
687@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/emacs.html}
688
689The manual is available in other formats at
690 669
691@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/} 670@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/}
692 671
@@ -899,12 +878,10 @@ You can get Tkinfo at
899@cindex @file{FTP}, description of file 878@cindex @file{FTP}, description of file
900@cindex @file{GNU}, description of file 879@cindex @file{GNU}, description of file
901@cindex @file{INTERVIEW}, description of file 880@cindex @file{INTERVIEW}, description of file
902@cindex @file{LPF}, description of file
903@cindex @file{MACHINES}, description of file 881@cindex @file{MACHINES}, description of file
904@cindex @file{MAILINGLISTS}, description of file 882@cindex @file{MAILINGLISTS}, description of file
905@cindex @file{NEWS}, description of file 883@cindex @file{NEWS}, description of file
906@cindex @file{SERVICE}, description of file 884@cindex @file{SERVICE}, description of file
907@cindex @file{SUN-SUPPORT}, description of file
908 885
909This isn't a frequently asked question, but it should be! A variety of 886This isn't a frequently asked question, but it should be! A variety of
910informational files about Emacs and relevant aspects of the GNU project 887informational files about Emacs and relevant aspects of the GNU project
@@ -920,11 +897,10 @@ where that is).
920GNU General Public License 897GNU General Public License
921 898
922@item DISTRIB 899@item DISTRIB
923Emacs Availability Information, including the popular Free Software 900Emacs Availability Information
924Foundation Order Form
925 901
926@item FTP 902@item FTP
927How to get GNU Software by Internet FTP or by UUCP 903How to get GNU Software by Internet FTP
928 904
929@item GNU 905@item GNU
930The GNU Manifesto 906The GNU Manifesto
@@ -933,9 +909,6 @@ The GNU Manifesto
933Richard Stallman discusses his public-domain UNIX-compatible software 909Richard Stallman discusses his public-domain UNIX-compatible software
934system with BYTE editors 910system with BYTE editors
935 911
936@item LPF
937Why you should join the League for Programming Freedom
938
939@item MACHINES 912@item MACHINES
940Status of Emacs on Various Machines and Systems 913Status of Emacs on Various Machines and Systems
941 914
@@ -948,9 +921,6 @@ Emacs news, a history of recent user-visible changes
948@item SERVICE 921@item SERVICE
949GNU Service Directory 922GNU Service Directory
950 923
951@item SUN-SUPPORT
952including ``Using Emacstool with GNU Emacs''
953
954@end table 924@end table
955 925
956More GNU information, including back issues of the @cite{GNU's 926More GNU information, including back issues of the @cite{GNU's
@@ -969,83 +939,20 @@ Bulletin}, are at
969@ref{Problems building Emacs}, or @ref{Linking with -lX11 fails}, if you 939@ref{Problems building Emacs}, or @ref{Linking with -lX11 fails}, if you
970have problems with the installation. 940have problems with the installation.
971 941
972The file @file{etc/SERVICE} (see @ref{File-name conventions}, if you're 942The web-page @uref{http://www.fsf.org/resources/service/} lists
973not sure where that is) lists companies and individuals willing to sell 943companies and individuals willing to sell you help in installing or
974you help in installing or using Emacs. An up-to-date version this file 944using Emacs.
975is available on @samp{ftp.gnu.org} (@pxref{Informational files for
976Emacs}).
977 945
978@node Obtaining the FAQ, , Help installing Emacs, Getting help 946@node Obtaining the FAQ, , Help installing Emacs, Getting help
979@section Where can I get the latest version of this FAQ? 947@section Where can I get the latest version of this FAQ?
980@cindex FAQ, obtaining the 948@cindex FAQ, obtaining the
981@cindex Latest FAQ version, obtaining the 949@cindex Latest FAQ version, obtaining the
982@cindex Retrieving the latest FAQ version
983@cindex E-mail, retrieving the FAQ via
984@cindex Web, reading the FAQ on the
985
986The Emacs FAQ is available in several ways:
987
988@itemize @bullet
989
990@item
991Inside of Emacs itself. You can get it from selecting the @samp{Emacs
992FAQ} option from the @samp{Help} menu of the Emacs menu bar at the top
993of any Emacs frame, or by typing @kbd{C-h C-f} (@kbd{M-x view-emacs-FAQ}).
994 950
995@item 951The Emacs FAQ is distributed with Emacs in Info format. You can read it
996Via USENET. If you can read news, the FAQ should be available in your 952by selecting the @samp{Emacs FAQ} option from the @samp{Help} menu of
997news spool, in both the @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help} and 953the Emacs menu bar at the top of any Emacs frame, or by typing @kbd{C-h
998@uref{news:comp.emacs} newsgroups. Every news reader should allow you 954C-f} (@kbd{M-x view-emacs-FAQ}).
999to read any news article that is still in the news spool, even if you
1000have read the article before. You may need to read the instructions for
1001your news reader to discover how to do this. In @file{rn}, this command
1002will do this for you at the article selection level:
1003 955
1004@example
1005?GNU Emacs Frequently Asked Questions?rc:m
1006@end example
1007
1008In Gnus, you should type @kbd{C-u C-x C-s} from the @file{*Summary*}
1009buffer or @kbd{C-u @key{SPC}} from the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer to view
1010all articles in a newsgroup.
1011
1012If the FAQ articles have expired and have been deleted from your news
1013spool, it might (or might not) do some good to complain to your news
1014administrator, because the most recent FAQ should not expire for a
1015while.
1016
1017@item
1018In the Emacs distribution. Since Emacs 18.56, the FAQ at the time
1019of release has been part of the Emacs distribution as either
1020@file{etc/FAQ}, @file{man/faq.texi}, or (from version 23 onwards)
1021@file{doc/misc/faq.texi} (@pxref{File-name conventions}).
1022
1023@item
1024Via anonymous ftp and e-mail from @file{rtfm.mit.edu} (and its mirror in
1025Europe), the main repository for FAQs and other items posted to
1026news.answers. The Emacs FAQs are available at
1027
1028@uref{ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/comp.emacs/} and
1029
1030@uref{ftp://ftp.uni-paderborn.de/pub/doc/FAQ/comp/emacs/}
1031
1032If you do not have access to anonymous FTP, you can access the archives
1033using the @file{rtfm.mit.edu} mail server. The Emacs FAQ can be
1034retrieved by sending mail to @email{mail-server@@rtfm.mit.edu} with a
1035blank subject and containing
1036
1037@example
1038send usenet/news.answers/GNU-Emacs-FAQ/diffs
1039send usenet/news.answers/GNU-Emacs-FAQ/part1
1040send usenet/news.answers/GNU-Emacs-FAQ/part2
1041send usenet/news.answers/GNU-Emacs-FAQ/part3
1042send usenet/news.answers/GNU-Emacs-FAQ/part4
1043send usenet/news.answers/GNU-Emacs-FAQ/part5
1044@end example
1045
1046For more information, send email to @email{mail-server@@rtfm.mit.edu}
1047with @samp{help} and @samp{index} in the body on separate lines.
1048@end itemize
1049 956
1050@c ------------------------------------------------------------ 957@c ------------------------------------------------------------
1051@node Status of Emacs, Common requests, Getting help, Top 958@node Status of Emacs, Common requests, Getting help, Top
@@ -5050,10 +4957,8 @@ fontset, or you can select it by setting the default font in your
5050* Changing the included text prefix:: 4957* Changing the included text prefix::
5051* Saving a copy of outgoing mail:: 4958* Saving a copy of outgoing mail::
5052* Expanding aliases when sending mail:: 4959* Expanding aliases when sending mail::
5053* Rmail thinks all messages are one big one::
5054* Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder:: 4960* Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder::
5055* Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail:: 4961* Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail::
5056* Recovering mail files when Rmail munges them::
5057* Replying to the sender of a message:: 4962* Replying to the sender of a message::
5058* MIME with Emacs mail packages:: 4963* MIME with Emacs mail packages::
5059* Automatically starting a mail or news reader:: 4964* Automatically starting a mail or news reader::
@@ -5116,7 +5021,7 @@ file:
5116@end lisp 5021@end lisp
5117 5022
5118The output file will be in Unix mail format, which can be read directly 5023The output file will be in Unix mail format, which can be read directly
5119by VM, but not always by Rmail. @xref{Learning how to do something}. 5024by VM or Rmail (since Emacs 23).
5120 5025
5121If you use @code{mh-e}, add an @samp{FCC} or @samp{BCC} field to your 5026If you use @code{mh-e}, add an @samp{FCC} or @samp{BCC} field to your
5122components file. 5027components file.
@@ -5124,7 +5029,7 @@ components file.
5124It does not work to put @samp{set record filename} in the @file{.mailrc} 5029It does not work to put @samp{set record filename} in the @file{.mailrc}
5125file. 5030file.
5126 5031
5127@node Expanding aliases when sending mail, Rmail thinks all messages are one big one, Saving a copy of outgoing mail, Mail and news 5032@node Expanding aliases when sending mail, Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder, Saving a copy of outgoing mail, Mail and news
5128@section Why doesn't Emacs expand my aliases when sending mail? 5033@section Why doesn't Emacs expand my aliases when sending mail?
5129@cindex Expanding aliases when sending mail 5034@cindex Expanding aliases when sending mail
5130@cindex Mail alias expansion 5035@cindex Mail alias expansion
@@ -5166,18 +5071,7 @@ expansion by moving point to the end of the alias and typing @kbd{C-x a e}
5166(@kbd{M-x expand-abbrev}). 5071(@kbd{M-x expand-abbrev}).
5167@end itemize 5072@end itemize
5168 5073
5169@node Rmail thinks all messages are one big one, Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder, Expanding aliases when sending mail, Mail and news 5074@node Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder, Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail, Expanding aliases when sending mail, Mail and news
5170@section Why does Rmail think all my saved messages are one big message?
5171@cindex Rmail thinks all messages are one large message
5172
5173A file created through the @samp{FCC} field in a message is in Unix mail
5174format, not the format that Rmail uses (BABYL format). Rmail will try
5175to convert a Unix mail file into BABYL format on input, but sometimes it
5176makes errors. For guaranteed safety, you can make the
5177@file{saved-messages} file be an inbox for your Rmail file by using the
5178function @code{set-rmail-inbox-list}.
5179
5180@node Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder, Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail, Rmail thinks all messages are one big one, Mail and news
5181@section How can I sort the messages in my Rmail folder? 5075@section How can I sort the messages in my Rmail folder?
5182@cindex Rmail, sorting messages in 5076@cindex Rmail, sorting messages in
5183@cindex Folder, sorting messages in an Rmail 5077@cindex Folder, sorting messages in an Rmail
@@ -5186,7 +5080,7 @@ function @code{set-rmail-inbox-list}.
5186In Rmail, type @kbd{C-c C-s C-h} to get a list of sorting functions 5080In Rmail, type @kbd{C-c C-s C-h} to get a list of sorting functions
5187and their key bindings. 5081and their key bindings.
5188 5082
5189@node Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail, Recovering mail files when Rmail munges them, Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder, Mail and news 5083@node Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail, Replying to the sender of a message, Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder, Mail and news
5190@section Why does Rmail need to write to @file{/usr/spool/mail}? 5084@section Why does Rmail need to write to @file{/usr/spool/mail}?
5191@cindex Rmail and @file{/usr/spool/mail} 5085@cindex Rmail and @file{/usr/spool/mail}
5192@cindex @file{/usr/spool/mail} and Rmail 5086@cindex @file{/usr/spool/mail} and Rmail
@@ -5205,41 +5099,7 @@ Other systems use the @code{flock} system call to interlock access. On
5205these systems, you should configure @code{movemail} to use @code{flock}. 5099these systems, you should configure @code{movemail} to use @code{flock}.
5206@end quotation 5100@end quotation
5207 5101
5208@node Recovering mail files when Rmail munges them, Replying to the sender of a message, Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail, Mail and news 5102@node Replying to the sender of a message, MIME with Emacs mail packages, Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail, Mail and news
5209@section How do I recover my mail files after Rmail munges their format?
5210@cindex Recovering munged mail files
5211@cindex Rmail munged my files
5212@cindex Mail files, recovering those munged by Rmail
5213
5214If you have just done @kbd{M-x rmail-input} on a file and you don't want
5215to save it in Rmail's format (called BABYL), just kill the buffer (with
5216@kbd{C-x k}).
5217
5218@cindex Exporting messages as Unix mail files
5219If you typed @kbd{M-x rmail} and it read some messages out of your inbox
5220and you want to put them in a Unix mail file, use @kbd{C-o} on each
5221message.
5222
5223@cindex Converting from BABYL to Unix mail format
5224@cindex @code{unrmail} command
5225If you want to convert an existing file from BABYL format to Unix mail
5226format, use the command @kbd{M-x unrmail}: it will prompt you for the
5227input and output file names.
5228
5229@pindex b2m
5230Alternatively, you could use the @code{b2m} program supplied with
5231Emacs. @code{b2m} is a filter, and is used like this:
5232
5233@example
5234 b2m < @var{babyl-file} > @var{mbox-file}
5235@end example
5236
5237@noindent
5238where @var{babyl-file} is the name of the BABYL file, and
5239@var{mbox-file} is the name of the file where the converted mail will
5240be written.
5241
5242@node Replying to the sender of a message, MIME with Emacs mail packages, Recovering mail files when Rmail munges them, Mail and news
5243@section How can I force Rmail to reply to the sender of a message, but not the other recipients? 5103@section How can I force Rmail to reply to the sender of a message, but not the other recipients?
5244@cindex Replying only to the sender of a message 5104@cindex Replying only to the sender of a message
5245@cindex Sender, replying only to 5105@cindex Sender, replying only to