rkl@anduin.cs.liverpool.ac.uk (09/12/90)
I seem to remember a question very similar to this about a month ago, but I didn't read it properly :-) My question is: "What does the elmrc-info file actually DO ?" My first instinct was to treat it as a global configuration file for default Elm options for all users (if they don't have their own elmrc of course). However, investigation of read_rc.c and elm.h shows that it's only a TEMPLATE FILE for the elmrc that is saved in the user's .elm/elmrc file ! I am almost staggered beyond belief that I have to re-compile the source code to change a global on/off option ! I want to set 'names' to default to OFF because I don't like the way Elm only shows the Real-Life Name and not the username when you enter a username at the "Send the message to:" prompt and press RETURN. The source hack (to Elm 2.3 PL6) is trivial - change line 137 in hdrs/elm.h: int names_only = 1; becomes int names_only = 0; The only way to override this option without re-compiling is to get EVERY user to go into the Elm Options menu, toggle the Names option to OFF and then save the elmrc with >. This just isn't on for a system with 100's of users. In conclusion, I feel that the elmrc-info file should actually contain global default options (e.g. in my case, names = OFF) and should be read at elm startup (the user's ~/.elm/elmrc should override this of course if the user has such a file). I apologise if I've missed the presence of a global Elm configuration file, but I'm only human (I think...). Richard K. Lloyd, *** This is a MicroVAX II running VAX/VMS V5.3-1 *** Computer Science Dept., * JANET : RKL@UK.AC.LIV.CS.AND or * Liverpool University, * RKL@000010500211.FTP.MAIL * Merseyside, England, * Internet : RKL%and.cs.liv.ac.uk@cunyvm.cuny.edu * Great Britain. *** Please note: New e-mail address ! ***