1 10/18/83  read_mail request:  preface, prf
 2 
 3 Syntax:  prf {message_specifiers} path {-control_args}
 4 
 5 
 6 Function:  writes the printed representation of the specified
 7 message(s) to the beginning of an existing segment.
 8 
 9 
10 Arguments:
11 message_specifiers
12    identifies which messages are to be written.  If no
13    message_specifiers are supplied, the current message is written.
14    For more information on message specifiers, type:
15          help message_specifiers.gi
16 path
17    is the pathname of the segment to which the messages are written.
18    The suffix "mail" is added if necessary.
19 
20 
21 Control arguments:
22 -include_deleted, -idl
23    includes all messages in the mailbox whether or not they have been
24    deleted when processing the message_specifiers to determine which
25    messages will be written.
26 -only_deleted, -odl
27    includes only those messages which have been deleted.
28 -only_non_deleted, -ondl
29    includes only those messages which have not been deleted.  (Default)
30 
31 
32 -delete, -dl
33    marks the specified messages for deletion on exit from read_mail
34    if all messages are successfully written.
35 -no_delete, -ndl
36    does not mark the messages for deletion.  (Default)
37 -reverse, -rv
38    writes the messages in descending numeric order.
39 -no_reverse, -nrv
40    writes the messages in ascending numeric order.  (Default)
41 
42 
43 
44 Notes:
45 If the segment identified by the path argument does not exist, the user
46 is queried for permission to create it.  If the segment does exist, its
47 previous contents are moved "down" to make room for the messages
48 written by this request.
49 
50 This request will acknowledge any messages requiring acknowledgement
51 unless -no_acknowledge is specified on the read_mail command line.