In article <[log in to unmask]>,
[log in to unmask] writes:
>    Someone mentioned compressing mail to save space, and to increase access
> speed.  Just what does this do, and how would you do it?  Would I notice a
> difference in using mail?
>
>    Also, just what is the mail.mai file?  I ask because it's so big- 800 or
900
> blocks.
 
The MAIL.MAI file is the file that coordinates all of your mail.  Any messages
under a certain size are stored in this file, the messages above that certain
size being stored in files called MAIL$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.MAI.  The problem
comes
in that the MAIL.MAI file only grows in size.  It never becomes smaller, on its
own.
 
There is a command called COMPRESS that can be issued from within MAIL that
will
compress this file.  The command creates a new MAIL.MAI file and renames the
old
one to MAIL.OLD.  After successfully, issuing the COMPRESS command, don't
forget
to delete the MAIL.OLD file.
 
This mail command, and others, are now described in detail in a new manual
produced by MCIS called "Using MAIL on the OpenVMS System at Miami University".
This manual can be picked up for free from 22 Hughes Hall or 204 Kreger Hall.
 
--
                                     Kent Covert, Software Coordinator
                                     Miami Computing and Information Services
                                     Miami University, Oxford, OH
                                     [log in to unmask]  (internet)
                                     kacovert@miavx1                 (bitnet)