Moving e-mail from the VAX -- another method

Sean McGrath, acting on behalf of Glenn Anderson, inquired about ways to move mail to non-Netscape mail readers -- specifically, to the evil Microsoft Outlook. Here's my take on a solution. NOTE: This will NOT do as nice a job as the previously suggested method for Netscape users.

Try the following -- AFTER printing this message and reading it a few times. Also, DON'T let irresponsible people get hold of this, as it allows one to sort of "spoof" mail. (Well, not quite, but still it's not a command for all.)

The PINE mail system has a little-known feature called "Bounce" which preserves the original headers on a mail message, and adds in a header "Resent-by:" The unobservant reader may miss the "Resent-by"... PINE also has what is called the "aggregate command set". Both the bounce and aggregate commands are not turned on automatically, but have to be enabled by each user before they become functional.

OK, the instructions:

  1. At the $ prompt on the VAX, type "PMDF PINE" and wait a second or two cuz it's SLOW. The first time you use it, it's even slower. If it offers to send you the "Release Notes" or any other silliness, just keep telling it "N" til you get a menu with 7 choices (Help, Compose, Index, List, Address Book, Setup, and Quit).

  2. Then, type "S" for "Setup" and "C" for "Configure". A long menu will appear. Use your cursor keys to move down the list. You're looking to enable both options that I mentioned above (enable-aggregate-commands and enable-bounce-cmd). When your cursor has highlighted the option, type "X" to "Set" the option. Typing "X" a second time will "Unset" it again. Typing "?" (question mark) while positioned at any option, gives detailed help on the specific option. It might be worth it to eyeball the help for the two options you need here, but it's not necessary. When finished, type "E" to Exit. Type "Y" when it asks if you want to save the changes. This should bring you back to the main menu.

  3. OK. Now you've got the basic parts in place. Now type "L" to List your mail folders. Move the cursor to any that you are interested in moving, and press the <ENTER> key. You should see an index (directory) listing of all your messages in that folder.

  4. Type ";" (semicolon) to "Select" messages within a folder for processing. Either select the entire folder, or choose by subject, date, sender, etc. using the options at the bottom of the screen. You can broaden or narrow the selection by repeating the ";" command again and again. When you've finished selecting, the screen should display an "X" next to every message that you've chosen. You can optionally type "Z" which "Zooms" in on only the messages you've selected, hiding the unselected messages temporarily.

  5. Now, type "A" to "Apply" the following command to all selected messages. Type "B" to "Bounce" the messages. Type in your new Domino e-mail address, and pray. ;-) And wait. And wait. And wait. Eventually, it should finish, and you can type "Q" to Quit.

WARNING: This is sending the text to the the Domino SERVER, not to your PC directly. You will then need to crank up Outlook, and fetch the mail. All of this mail will be coming in as NEW mail. (I think it preserves the original send date. But if you send thousands of old messages, you're going to have to wade through them to get to the REAL new mail.)

Good Luck, and let me know how it goes. (I've used Bounce to send messages one at a time, and I've use the aggregate commands ";", "Z" and "A" quite a bit, but I cannot recall if I've combined the two. However, PINE's a pretty robust little mail program, and should respond in an intelligent way.)