MAIL: inter-user message system

Description

A system for sending messages to single users, groups of users, or to all users. Messages are entered on a screen, then sent by entering the ID of the receiving party. Group lists may be defined.

Categories

Program Subsystems
Personal Management

Related files

MAIL: Object file for master program.

MAILLIST: Lists broadcast messages sent.

MAILP: Demonstration procedure showing use of the MAIL program.

MAILREM: Deletes messages over thirty days old. Also deletes messages sent by users that are no longer listed in the USERLIST (i.e. not active users).

User Instructions

The MAIL subsystem is a series of programs that allow limited inter-user messaging and broadcast messages. Individual users can send messages to other users or broadcasts to all users. Individual messages can be read and deleted by the destination user; broadcast messages can only be deleted by the sending user, and are shown to each user only once. The system also includes a report showing all recent broadcast messages and a program to remove old messages and messages from users no longer allowed on the system. Mail can also be sent to users on group lists defined by the program.

When the MAIL program is run, the user sees a menu of the options available. Press PF(01) to receive mail, PF(02) to send a message to a user, PF(03) to send to all users (or to a group, if entered), PF(04) to review any prior broadcasts sent by that user, or PF(05) to maintain mailing lists.

Messages can be reviewed and deleted, or saved for future reference. To send a message, the user ID is entered on the menu and the message typed on an open screen.

Programmer Instructions

Like any message system, MAIL should be run often--at least whenever the user logs onto the system. If desired, the MAIL menu can be bypassed unless there are messages for that user (see the OPTIONS GETPARM, below). If messages exist for the user, they are displayed first, along with the options (e.g. next message, delete this message, return to MAIL menu). From the MAIL menu, the user can send mail, review broadcasts, or edit group lists.

Although MAIL is primarily interactive, a hidden GETPARM (OPTIONS) allows the user to bypass the MAIL menu if there are no messages to be read.

OPTIONS     Press PF(01) for normal operation (menu appears
            every time) or PF(16) to exit if no mail for this
            user.

Example of use

Provides limited messaging that could meet the needs of many smaller operations. A typical setup would be to insert the following code into all users's logon procedures:

  RUN MAIL IN @SYSTEM@ ON SYSVOL
  ENTER OPTIONS      16

With this option, the user will see waiting messages every time they log on to the system without having to check for a received message (PF(01)) from the menu every time. An option should also be provided on the users's menus to send or receive message (e.g. run the MAIL menu directly).

MAIL must be maintained by a System Security Administrator. Broadcast messages should be deleted as soon as they are no longer important, and the MAILLIST report used weekly to see whether message have been read. The MAILREM program should also be run weekly to remove old messages and message sent by inactive users.

Comments

Internal file structure includes text scrambling, eliminating the possible use of program-generated messages. Maintenance must also be carried out interactively.