Laurel Manualby Douglas K. BrotzCSL-81-6May 1981c Copyright Xerox Corporation 1981All Rights ReservedAbstract: Laurel is an Alto-based, display-oriented, computer mail system interface. Itprovides facilities to retrieve mail and present it for delivery, and to display, forward, classify,file, edit and print messages. Additional features include facilities to read, write and copyfiles, run programs, and a whole lot more. Laurel is a component of a distributed messagesystem that has been in operation for several years in the Xerox Research Internet.This document is a description of the facilities contained in Laurel. Several tips on properuse of computer mail facilities in a social context are included.Key words and phrases: Alto, Distributed computing, Electronic mail, Ethernet, Grapevine,Laurel, Text editor, User interface.XEROXPALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER3333 Coyote Hill RoadPalo Alto, California 94304 W;p REqX Mr F H6st!1F$ RL}LAUREL MANUAL ii(fwxwXx'_9rF)ew'r dLAUREL MANUALTable of Contents1. Introduction11.1.What is Laurel?11.2.What is this manual?11.3.How to obtain Laurel21.4.How to run Laurel21.5.Acknowledgments32. Basic notions and facilities52.1The user interface62.1.1Command invocation62.1.2Editing conventions62.1.3Brackets72.2The display82.2.1Scrolling and thumbing82.2.2New mail  Retrieving your new mail92.3The table-of-contents region92.3.1Selecting messages92.3.2Mark characters102.4Status information in the upper menu102.4.1Laurel version102.4.2Date and time102.4.3In-box status112.4.4Free disk pages112.5Message display region122.6Message composition region122.7The feedback region123. Screen commands133.1Upper menu commands133.1.1User  Logging in133.1.2New mail  Retrieving your new mail143.1.3Mail file  Establishing your current mail file143.1.4Quit  Leaving Laurel153.2Received message manipulation163.2.1Display  Viewing a message163.2.2Delete  Indicating messages to be destroyed163.2.3Undelete  Indicating messages to be retained163.2.4Move to  Filing messages173.3Hardcopy  Printing messages173.3.1Printer183.3.2Form183.3.3Copies193.3.4Two sided193.3.5Private20iii(fpqpXq'^ri [sB%p YsB p WsB p UsB p TsB p R"sB p OsB%p M,sB pKs`B pJ#s`B pHs`B p Fs B pE-s`B pCs`#B p AsB p@7s`B p>s`B p s`B p=/s`B p;s`B p:'s` B p8s` B p7s`B p5s`B p4s`B p2s`B p1s`B p/s`.B p.s`(B p ,s B p*s`B p)s`B p's`'B p& s`'B p$s`%B p "sB p!s`ts B ps`tsB p s`t s B ps`tsB ps`tsB p~s`ts B ps`ts B pvs`ts B ps`tsB pns`ts B ps`ts B pfs`ts(B ps`tsB p)v r7dLAUREL MANUAL4.4.14(NEXT)  Select next placeholder484.4.15(PASTE)  Insert previous deletion484.4.16', ", <, (, [, {, - (COM-', COM-", etc.)  Bracket commands494.4.170, 1, ... 9 (COM-0, COM-1, ... COM-9)  Shortcut screen rearrangement495. The Laurel profile516. Message system mores617. Look before you leap . . .718. If things go wrong . . .739. Things a casual user doesn't really need to know75AppendicesA. Command line options77B. Programs available for the Run command79B.1.Chat80B.2.Maintain82B.3.InsertMail85B.4.Files86B.5SearchMail88B.6MailFileScavenger89C. Hardcopy forms91D. Laurel and MSG101E. Laurel 6 vs. Laurel 5.1 and LaurelX103Figures1. Sample Laurel Screen02. Laurel 6 modeless editor command summary105v(fpqpXq_s`tsB p]s`tsB p\s`t(sB pZs`t%sB p WsB%p TysB%p QqsB%p NisB%p Kas3B%p Gs DsB%p A s)B%p ?sB p =/sB p ;As B p 9TsB p 7fs B p 5xsB p 2psB%p /hstAup ,_s&Aup (s %sAup " s+Aup){ r7dLAUREL MANUAL0 $fpqpXq gfp g_ g^ <1. Introduction11. Introduction1.1. What is Laurel?Laurel is an Alto-based, display-oriented, computer mail system interface. It provides facilities toretrieve mail and present it for delivery, and to display, forward, classify, file, and print messages.Additional features include facilities to read, write and copy files, run programs, and a whole lotmore. Laurel is a component of a distributed message system that has been in operation forseveral years in the Xerox Research Internet. Laurel executes on an Alto (or Dolphin orDorado emulating an Alto) and uses the display, keyboard and mouse in a fashion befitting Alto-based software.1.2. What is this manual?This manual is a reference document for Laurel. The Laurel team believes that most of the basicfacilities of Laurel are self-explanatory, and that you can use Laurel quite competently afterreading only this introductory section and taking the interactive tutorial using Laurel itself (seeHow to obtain Laurel below). Laurel also has features that are not immediately obvious, andafter becoming acquainted with the system, you will want to read about those facilities in thismanual.Sections 3, 4, and 5 describe features of Laurel in detail. On first reading, you may read theintroductory portion of each of these sections, quickly skim the rest, and return to them later togain understanding of their finer points. Section 6 describes proper message system behavior, andshould be read by every message system user, new or old. Section 7 contains advice that is usefulafter gaining some familiarity with Laurel through the earlier sections. Sections 8 and 9 may beskipped on first reading as their titles imply. Appendices A, B, and C give detailed informationon a variety of topics, and may be read later as their information becomes relevant to your usageof Laurel. Appendix D has important information if you currently use MSG. Appendix E is ashort summary of the differences between Laurel 6 and previous versions of Laurel.If you have the time, it is perfectly all right to read this manual from beginning to end. Many ofthe functions provided by Laurel are interdependent; extensive cross-indexing is used throughoutthis manual to avoid repeating information in several places.The Laurel team will be very happy to hear any suggestions you may have, and is particularlyinterested in your experiences in using the system. Comments should be sent toLaurelSupport.PA (using the facilities provided by Laurel!)The version of Laurel described in this manual is Laurel 6. It replaces all previous versions ofLaurel (those with smaller numbers and LaurelX). Previous versions of Laurel are no longersupported. It is in your best interest to update now to Laurel 6, as previous versions may stopworking in the future due to changes in the message transport system.%fpXG?f g^q gZCr gVpb gUN gS<W gQq< gO M gM"= gL gGr gDpI gBI3+ g@~W g>sp? g<A g; g7B g5/3 g4E g2L T g06+ g.a g,01 g+"3tp g)WR g%T g$4, g"P= g.. gU3V gI; g8) g :! gBE gwE  g0=U LAUREL MANUAL21.3. How to obtain LaurelWe strongly recommend that new users obtain a Non-Programmer's disk to be used primarily forprocessing and managing messages (see section 7 for the reasons behind this recommendation).Two Alto command files are available on most file servers for obtaining Laurel. If you are a newuser, you should issue the following commands to the Alto Executive:>Ftp FileServer Retrieve LaurelNewUser.cm CR>@LaurelNewUser CRwhere FileServer should be replaced by your local file server's name. This obtains Laurel andstarts it up in a tutorial mode. If you are a new user, you should do this now, before reading therest of this manual. What follows will be much easier to assimilate once you have a passingacquaintance with Laurel. After you have finished the tutorial, please do read the rest of thismanual, especially section 6.If you are already familiar with Laurel, you should issue the following commands to the AltoExecutive:>Ftp FileServer Retrieve Laurel.cm CR>@Laurel CRwhich merely retrieves the files necessary to run Laurel.Fine point: Laurel 6 is a Mesa 6 program set up as a run file. It requires no other parts of the Mesa environmenton the local disk. This one version of Laurel 6 adapts itself to your machine; no special extended memory version isnecessary.1.4. How to run LaurelTo invoke Laurel, type>Laurel CRto the Alto Executive. This is the default method of invoking Laurel. Command line options are discussed inAppendix A.To invoke the Laurel tutorial (after obtaining it with @LaurelNewUser), type>Laurel Tutorial CR$fptpXt gfp g_r g[p+1 gY< gVg$= gTD]Qs p#t]P4pt gMps p6 gKR gJR gH6)7 gFk gB\ gA. ]>s pt] gVD E gTyY gR= gPR gOR gMO) gIG gH%> gFH@ gD}R gA B g?A0" g><)LAUREL MANUAL4 $fptpXt gfp g_ g^ <2. Basic notions and facilities52. Basic notions and facilitiesLaurel is a display-based, interactive program that manipulates a particular class of files, calledmail files. In essence, a mail file is just a sequence of messages, each of which is a text stringformatted according to certain conventions. The details of these conventions are not of majorinterest to most userssuffice it to say that messages have a header and a body; a header contains(at least) a sender, a subject, one or more recipients, and a date. For each mail file, Laurelconstructs and maintains a table-of-contents that summarizes the messages residing in the file.Mail files are private to each user, meaning that your mail files reside on your own Alto disk(s).Laurel provides facilities for receiving messages, manipulating mail files, examining andresponding to messages, composing and sending new messages, and cataloging, filing, and printingmessages.Laurel is an interface program that allows access to the facilities provided by the MessageTransport System. This system provides users with in-boxes, mail drops and a name data base.An in-box is a place where messages sent to a message system user are stored until that userrequests those messages. The in-box resides on a mail server or file server. A mail drop is aservice to which messages addressed to any user(s) of the message system may be sent. TheMessage Transport System sorts out the recipients and delivers the messages to their individualin-boxes. The name data base holds the names of registered users of the message system alongwith named lists of such users.Each user's message system name consists of two parts separated by a period. The second part isthe registry; the first part is an identifier for a person within that registry. Registries exist topartition the number of names understood by the message system and to help the message systemdetermine on which mail server the in-box for a particular user will be found. For example, inthe actual message system name "LaurelSupport.PA", the registry is PA and the user name withinthat registry is LaurelSupport.The Message Transport System is presently implemented by two distinct systems, MTP andGrapevine. For the most part, Laurel hides the differences between these two implementations sothat you need not be aware of the particular system to which you are connected. However, thereare some functions of the Message Transport System, particularly with regard to publicdistribution lists, that are different depending on which implementation is supported in yourregistry. These differences are noted in this manual.MTP (for Message Transport Protocol) is the older system, and is currently used on IFS fileservers and on Maxc. Grapevine (or GV) is the newer system, providing distributed functionsthroughout the Xerox Internet and more powerful operations to its clients. These two systemsinterface to each other so that users of either system are connected to the entire message systemcommunity. At the time of this writing, the PA and ES registries are served by Grapevine; allothers are served by MTP. As time goes on, Grapevine will gradually replace MTP throughoutthe Xerox Internet.!fpXG?f g^q gZCp X gXxr p!rp gV^ gT.rprp gS rprp r prp gQNrp3 gO11 gM(?) gK%; gJ# gFKr gDp!rpr pr p gCrpP gARE rp g?#7 g=A g;r p@ g:' g65+ g4rpI g3 B g1UD g/B g- g*N7 g(+5 g&N g$++ g#$E g!Y6 g9" g'5 gR!< gG gO gJ g( g=U*FLAUREL MANUAL62.1. The user interfaceLaurel is a highly interactive system in which economy and clarity of expression are essential. Instriving to provide a convenient user interface, Laurel borrows a number of conventions familiarto users of other Alto subsystems. This section describes the principles that underlie the Laureluser interface.2.1.1. Command invocationMost Laurel facilities are invoked by use of the mouse, with the keyboard being used almostexclusively for text entry. Commands are generally represented by words or phrases on thedisplay screen. You invoke a screen command by moving the mouse until the cursor points atthe desired command, then clicking a mouse button (usually RED). If you hold down RED andmove the cursor to point at a command, the command will appear inverted (i.e., white letters onblack background). When you release the button, the command name will appear grayed (i.e.,black letters on a gray halftone background). If, while holding down the mouse button, youchange your mind about the command you intend to select, simply move the cursor until theinverted name is restored to its normal state, then release the button. A fine point: position the cursorso that it points at the command, not so that it rests on top of it.Normally, you use RED to invoke screen commands. Some commands have such a significanteffect on the current state that you must confirm them explicitly, and in such cases Laurel willprompt you. If you are certain in advance, you may invoke the command by clicking BLUE.Laurel will then suppress the prompt for confirmation and execute the selected commandimmediately. Some commands require extra confirmation even when invoked with BLUE.Laurel prompts you for confirmation by displaying the messageType ESC to confirm, DEL to cancel command.in the feedback region at the bottom of the screen. It also displays a large flashing question markin the cursor. You may confirm by striking ESC, CR, Y, or space, or by clicking YELLOW. If youstrike DEL or N, the command will be aborted. Ultra-fine point: if you change your mind after pressingYELLOW, but before releasing it, clicking RED will turn it into a DEL!2.1.2. Editing conventionsLaurel supports two distinct editor styles, modal and modeless. By default, Laurel will use themodal editor; to change this you must place an entry in your Laurel profile (see section 5). Themodal editor is similar to the Laurel 5.1 editor and to Bravo 7 and 8. The modeless editor issimilar to the LaurelX editor (previously distributed on a limited basis) and to BravoX. Wheneither editor allows you to supply text, it displays a blinking caret at the appropriate place on thescreen. Striking BS or CTRL-A deletes the character to the left of the caret; CTRL-W deletes theword to the left of the caret.$fpspXs gfp g_t gZpP gXM gV W gU* gPt gM,pE gKaB gI$7 gG"spsp gF$rp gD7A rp gBlK g@0) g>3s" g=/ us0 g9psp6 g8F g6K Gsp g45! g2 sE g/Dp= g-zrXur ur g+pE g),spspspsp g(spsps g&sF g" t gprprp" gC g=! g8 P gm^ gspsp% sp g  g=Tz62. Basic notions and facilities7Shifted selection is available as an alternative to typing in either editor. A shifted selection ismade by holding down either SHIFT key on the keyboard, making a selection with the SHIFT keystill down, and finally lifting up on the SHIFT key. At this point, the selected text will be copiedto the point indicated by the blinking caret. Shifted selection may be used at any time duringtype-in, not just immediately after issuing an editor command.In the modal editor, type-in must be terminated by typing ESC; in the modeless editor no explicittermination is required.The Laurel editor is described in detail in section 4.2.1.3. BracketsSeveral Laurel commands require text arguments. For instance, commands that manipulate a fileneed to know the name of the file on which they are to act. Text arguments appear in {brackets}following the command name on the screen.When you invoke such a command by clicking RED, Laurel prompts you to fill in the brackets bydisplaying a blinking caret within the brackets. If there is already text within the brackets, the caret followsthe text. In addition to the type-in conventions described above (including shifted selection), thefollowing rules apply: If you strike ESC, CR, TAB, or space, or click YELLOW on the originalcommand, the caret disappears and the contents of the brackets remain unchanged. If you strike BSor CTRL-W the contents of the brackets will be edited as if you had just typed that text. If you type anythingelse, it replaces the complete text within the brackets. Type-in is terminated by ESC, CR, TAB,space, or YELLOW click on the original command. Striking DEL cancels the entire command. Ifthe text is too long to be displayed in the brackets then the middle of the text is represented as ". . .".If instead of typing to fill in brackets for several commands that require filename arguments, youclick RED on the original command again, Laurel will search your Alto file directory for anappropriate filename. Holding RED down on the original command will cause Laurel torepeatedly fill in the brackets with successive appropriate filenames from your directory. The mostrecently used files will appear first. The meaning of "appropriate" varies with the particular commandand is discussed in the section for each command. If you invoke the command with BLUE rather than RED, Laurel executes the commandimmediately, using the text argument already contained within the brackets, with no furtheraction on your part. This is true of all commands that have text arguments in brackets, with the exception of theUser command.!fpXG?f g_rpS g]Ksp.sp g[sp6 gYB gW> gTy!sp$ gR gO=6 gJt gG?p> gEt;trt gCp) g@7+sp g>m2s 4 g<p(3 g:&spspspsp g9 Ps g7B;p g5xKspspsp g3 sp*sps g1$G g.qpF g,spO g*sp & g);!s g'F&p< g%|2 g"  sp sp g ?[ gt s^ gvs H g gJ gGr p5 gEQ*0 gC tp* gA r p3 g?r p g>&*0 g<\rp2 g:)6 g8I g4:t g0p9' g.r p gJ#> gH sp) gFY gE-Ps gCV gB1 g<8t! g7p` g5A g4r p* g2LL g.? g-)rp g+EB s g){p6 g$t g!}pY g00 g9) gspA gR& g sp sp7 gsp)s p gKsp sp sp3 g8 g sprp% g D+sp g yG x g 2=]7LAUREL MANUAL10plus all entries between the indicated entry and the lowest numbered selected entry. If you clickBLUE at an entry whose number is higher than the lowest numbered entry already selected, thenselection pointers will be placed next to the indicated entry plus all entries between the indicatedentry and the next lower numbered selected entry.When making table-of-contents selections, thinkRED:NEW selectionYELLOW:ADD to the selectionSHIFT-YELLOW:REMOVE from the selectionBLUE:EXTEND the selection.2.3.2. Mark charactersYou may wish to classify messages within a particular file. Laurel provides a primitive markingsystem by allowing you to supply a single mark character for any table-of-contents entry. To seta mark character, point the cursor at that mark character (to the left of the desired entry but tothe right of the line bar and selection pointers) and click RED. A blinking caret will appear,inviting you to type a single character. This character will be retained in the table-of-contentsentry and displayed whenever the entry is in the region. It will also be retained in the message ifthe message is moved to another file (using Move to, section 3.2.4). Some mark characters ("?" and"m") have additional semantics assigned to them by Laurel.You may change a mark character by pointing the cursor at that mark and repeating thepreceding steps. The proper way to remove a mark character is to replace it with a blank.2.4. Status information in the upper menuThe upper menu contains some obvious status information: the version of Laurel you arerunning, the date and time, the status of your in-box(es), and the amount of free space remainingon your Alto disk. The remaining items are screen commands, which are discussed in section 3.2.4.1. Laurel versionThe upper left corner of the Laurel screen identifies the version of Laurel that you are running.Several versions of Laurel have been released in the past. Laurel 6 unifies and supersedes allprevious versions and should be the version displayed in this area. Future maintenance releasesof Laurel will add a fractional part to this version number, and significant new releases willchange the integer part. If you send a message to LaurelSupport.PA, or otherwise refer to Laurel,please specify both the name and number that appear in the upper left corner of the screen.2.4.2. Date and timeThe date and time displayed in the upper right corner of the Laurel screen are set from the timemaintained in your local network. If this time is wrong, please notify your local network servicesmaintainer.$fpspXs gfp g_M g]KspG g[M gY1 gVD/'Tyspsp 'Rspsp'Ps psp'Ospsp gJt gGp;% gEQ*r p) gCI gA&Q g<\+tps g:: g7p G g5UZ g/ht) g*pW g)F g'FF g"t gHpD g}B g#= gL gb gS; gt gUpO g Q g   g y=]2. Basic notions and facilities112.4.3. In-box statusThe portion of the Laurel screen directly below the Laurel version is used for short messagesregarding the status of your in-box(es). Message system users in Grapevine may own multiple in-boxes, allowing mail delivery even when their primary in-box server is down. Status messages forsuch users may vary slightly depending on the up-down status of individual in-box servers.The meanings of status messages are as follows:You have new mail. Laurel has determined through in-box polling that your in-box contains newmail for you (on at least one of your in-box servers). If you invoke the New mail command, thisnew mail will be retrieved to your current mail file. If your in-box server has become unavailable after thepresence of new mail was detected, the You have new mail message will remain on the Laurel screen until you invokeNew mail, at which time you will be given the bad news. Mailbox empty at