DFarber%pond.delaware@udel-relay.ARPA (06/27/84)
From: Dave Farber <DFarber%pond.delaware@udel-relay.ARPA> The University of Delaware has a test version of the CSNET MMDF remote host protocol running on the PC under PC DOS. It is based on the PMDF package. Since we lack a user agent to examine mail (we have a simple send agent) and reply to mail, I am requesting anyone who has such an agent to let me know. Please reply to farber at udel-ee Dave ps this note is sent from my pc via the Udel-relay.
stef%uci-750a@sri-unix.UUCP (07/02/84)
Hi Dave - Jerry Sweet, Terry Domae and I have been working on an adaptation (close to a port) of the Rand MH User Agent from Unix (tm) to CP/M (tm). It is reasonably independent of a revised Phonenet Interface that we devised to give the PC User some interactive control of the mail transfer process when interacting with a larger host's Mail Transfer Agent such as MMDF. All this work is partially complete. One of the main advantages we see in the MH approach for the PC is that it's commands are each individual commands files, as is often the case in CP/M or MS/DOS operating systems, so the whole MH concept falls nicely into place on the PC. In MH, each command is a separate program, and each message is kept in a separte regular ASCII text file. In Unix, MH message files are organized in "folder" directories, and in CP/MH, message files are organized in "folder diskettes" (more or less). So far, Jerry Sweet has implemented the mail FOLDERS facility, and a rudimentary REPLY command to build a reply draft from the results of parsing a received message to get the needed reply addresses. The basic COMPOSE program just copies a "template file" to establish a draft, and then you can use any editor on your template based draft, as long as it will result in a clear ASCII file for posting with the MTA. FORWARD is just a COMPOSE plus an append of the forwarded message file. Terry Domae has most of the MMDF Phonenet interface working, as a separately interfaced set of modules which involve PC programs for CONNECTING via Phonenet, POSTING and RECEIVING, and for SCANNING new mail before requesting delivery. His programs interact with Unix based counterparts at the larger MMDF Host, and all interactions use Phonenet Packets to assure error control on both commands and text transfers. If you are interested, we would like to consider interfacing our CP/MH with your MMDF software for the PC. Best - Stef