NAME

sortm − sort messages (only available within the message handling system, mh)

SYNOPSIS

sortm [ msgs ] [ +folder ] [ options ]

DESCRIPTION

The command sortm sorts all the messages in the current folder into chronological order according to the contents of the Date: fields of the messages. 

By default, sortm sorts all the messages in the current folder.  You can select particular messages in the folder by giving a range of messages.  You can also sort messages in another folder by specifying the folder name. 

If sortm encounters a message without a Date: field, or if the message has a Date: field that sortm cannot parse, it attempts to keep the message in the same relative position.  However, 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 cannot order, it complains about the message number prior to sorting. 

FLAGS

−datefield field
Specifies the name of the header field to use when making the date comparison. If you have a special field in each message, such as Delivery−Date:, then the −datefield switch can be used to tell sortm which field to examine.  If you do not give this option, the default is to use the Date: header field. 

−helpPrints a list of all the valid options to this command. 

−verbose

−noverbose
Displays the general actions that it is taking to place the folder in sorted order. The −noverbose option performs these actions silently.  The default is −noverbose. 

The default settings for this command are:

+folder defaults to the current folder
msgs defaults to all
−datefield date
−noverbose

PROFILE COMPONENTS

EXAMPLES

The following example sorts all the messages in the folder +meetings:

% sortm +meetings

The next example sorts messages 10-30 in the folder called +test:

% sortm +test 10-30

FILES

$HOME/.mh_profile
The user profile.

RELATED INFORMATION

folder(1)