SORTM(1) [mh.6] SORTM(1)
NAME
sortm - sort messages
SYNOPSIS
sortm [+folder] [msgs] [-datefield field] [-verbose]
[-noverbose] [-subject] [-limit days] [-help]
DESCRIPTION
Sortm sorts the specified messages in the named folder
according to the chronological order of the Date: field of
each message. Messages which are in the folder, but not
specified by `msgs', are moved to the end of the folder.
The `-verbose' switch directs sortm to tell the user the
general actions that it is taking to place the folder in
sorted order.
The `-datefield field' switch tells sortm the name of the
field to use when making the date comparison. If the user
has a special field in each message, such as BB-Posted: or
Delivery-Date:, then the `-datefield' switch can be used
to direct sortm which field to examine.
The `-subject' causes sortm to sort messages by subject;
the leading "re:" and all characters except letters are
stripped and the resulting strings are sorted using a case
insensitive comparison. If `-limit days' is specified,
messages with similar subjects that are dated within
`days' of each other appear together.
FILES
$HOME/.mh_profile The user profile
PROFILE COMPONENTS
Path: To determine the user's MH directory
Current-Folder: To find the default current folder
SEE ALSO
folder (1)
DEFAULTS
`+folder' defaults to the current folder
`msgs' defaults to all
`-datefield date'
`-noverbose'
`-nosubject'
`-limit infinity'
CONTEXT
If a folder is given, it will become the current folder.
If the current message is moved, sortm will preserve its
status as current.
MH June 5, 1989 1
SORTM(1) [mh.6] SORTM(1)
HISTORY
Timezones used to be ignored when comparing dates: they
aren't any more.
BUGS
If sortm encounters a message without a date-field, or if
the message has a date-field that sortm cannot parse, then
sortm attempts to keep the message in the same relative
position. This does not always work. For instance, if
the first message encountered lacks a date which can be
parsed, then it will usually be placed at the end of the
messages being sorted.
When sortm complains about a message which it can't tem-
porarily order, it complains about the message number
prior to sorting. It should indicate what the message
number will be after sorting.
MH June 5, 1989 2