1 NEWS

 NEWS is a VMS bulletin board program. It allows users to read all items
 posted on the board, post reply to existing items, and create new items on
 the board. NEWS conforms to the draft Standard for Interchange of USENET
 Messages, and the functionality follows that of the Unix(tm) news programs. 

 Unlike person-to-person mail, all  items posted into NEWS are readable by
 ALL users on the system, so the items in news are intended for general view.
 On this system NEWS is linked into the ACSNET news network, so that this
 node receives news from the acsnet, usenet and arpanet networks. This node
 also sends all locally generated news to neighbouring ACSNET sites. 

 News is invoked by the command "$ NEWS".

 Commands to News  are  listed  below:  some  of  these  commands  are  news
 management commands, and may only be executed by a nominated "News Manager"
 account.

2 NEWS_Structure

 NEWS items are classified into NEWSGROUPS.  All  items  with  a  similar
 subject  matter are normally contained in a single newsgroup. Newsgroups
 are normally  addressed  by  their  full  name.

 Each news item within a newsgroup has a TITLE and a SEQUENCE  number.  A
 directory  of  a  newsgroup displays these titles and sequence numbers -
 the sequence number is used to read a particular item.

 News allows you to SELECT newsgroups for viewing, READ items,  REPLY  to
 items,  POST new news items, EXTRACT items into a local file, REGISTER
 yourself into newsgroups, and FORWARD items to other users (via VMS MAIL).

2 Logical_Names
 There are five logical  names  which  users  may  define  to  alter  the
 behaviour of news:

 NEWS_INI        This  can be defined as a file name which contains a set
                 of DEFINE/KEY commands to change the default key binding
                 of news. e.g.
                  $ DEFINE NEWS_INI news_keypad.defs

 NEWS_TPUEDIT    TPU  is  used  as the default editor by NEWS. The system
                 manager has set the default version of TPU, but you  can
                 override  this  by  defining NEWS_TPUEDIT as a valid TPU
                 command string: e.g.
                   $ DEFINE NEWS_TPUEDIT "TPU/NOJOU/SEC=MYSECTION"

 NEWS_TPUVIEW    The  "READ/TPU"  command  invokes  the  TPU  editor   in
                 READONLY  mode.  The default version of TPU used in this
                 command can be overidden by defining NEWS_TPUVIEW  as  a
                 valid TPU command: e.g.
                   $ DEFINE NEWS_TPUEDIT "TPU/NOJOU/READ/SEC=MYSECTION"

 NEWS_EDIT       The default editor used to generate new postings, and to
                 edit forwarded mail is TPU. You can invoke any other
                 editor by defining NEWS_EDIT as the name of a valid  DCL
                 command procedure which is SPAWNed by NEWS: e.g.
                   $ DEFINE NEWS_EDIT "@dev:[dir]my_editor_procedure.com"

                   and NEWS will then SPAWN the command:

                   $ @dev:[dir]my_editor_procedure.com filename
                 The  subtopis  "Examples"  shows  an  example  NEWS_EDIT
                 command procedure.

 NEWS_VIEW       The default read-only editor used is TPU  (the  READ/TPU
                 command).    You can invoke any other editor by defining
                 NEWS_VIEW as a valid  DCL  command  procedure  which  is
                 SPAWNed by NEWS: e.g.
                   $ DEFINE NEWS_VIEW "@dev:[dir]my_proc_read_only.com"

                   and NEWS will then spawn the command:

                   $ @dev:[dir]my_proc_read_only.com filename
                 The  subtopis  "Examples"  shows  an  example  NEWS_EDIT
                 command procedure. The NEWS_VIEW  command  procedure  is
                 similar,  with  an appropriate "/READ_ONLY" added to the
                 editor command line.

3 Example
 An example command procedure to invoke  an  editor  from  NEWS  is  as
 follows:
 $ !
 $ ! Example command procedure to invoke an editor for NEWS
 $ !
 $ ! Inputs:
 $ !
 $ !     P1 = file name.
 $ !
 $ ! Note that this procedure is run in the context of a subprocess.
 $ ! LOGIN.COM is not executed.  However, all process logical names
 $ ! and DCL global symbols are copied.
 $ !
 $ ! The default directory is the same as the parent process
 $ !
 $ ! Note that this will only be invoked if the user has placed in
 $ ! LOGIN.COM (or similar)
 $ !     $ DEFINE NEWS_EDIT "@dev:[dir]NEWSEDIT_EXAMPLE.COM"
 $ !
 $ DEFINE /USER SYS$INPUT 'F$TRNLNM("SYS$OUTPUT")'
 $ IF P1 .EQS. "" THEN EXIT
 $ EDIT/EDT 'P1'
 $ EXIT

2 Invoking_News
 News  has  an  DCL  interface  similar  to that of VMS MAIL, in that the
 command NEWS will invoke an interactive session  of  NEWS,  or  you  can
 specify  a  command  to  NEWS as a parameter to the command to execute a
 single command, then return to DCL.

 NEWS also has a single optional qualifier, /NOSCREEN, which, if specified,
 invokes news in line mode. If not specified screen mode is assumed.

 Examples:
     $ NEWS/NOSCREEN

         call news in line mode in an interactive session

     $ NEWS

         call news in screen mode in an interactive session

     $ NEWS POST/NEWSG=net.animal/SUBJECT="Frogs" frog.txt

         Post the file "frog.txt" into news, into newsgroup "net.animal",
         with the title "Frogs", then return to DCL.

2 Keypad
 By default, the keypad is configured:

 +--------+-----------------+
 |help    |do               |
 |        |                 |
 |  HELP  |                 |
 +--------+-----------------+


 +--------+--------+--------+
 |find    |insert  |remove  |
 |        |        |        |
 |        |REGISTER|DEREGIST|
 +--------+--------+--------+
 |select  |prev    |next    |
 |        |        |        |
 | SELECT | UP 18  |DOWN 18 |
 +--------+--------+--------+

 +--------+--------+--------+--------+
 |pf1     |pf2     |pf3     |pf4     |
 |        |        |        |        |
 |        |HELP    |        |        |
 +--------+--------+--------+--------+
 |7       |8       |9       |-       |
 |        |        |        |        |
 | PRINT  |EXTRACT |EXTR/ALL|EXTR/APP|
 +--------+--------+--------+--------+
 |4       |5       |6       |,       |
 |        |        |        |        |
 |  DIR   |DEL/REG |DIR/NEW |DIR/NEWS|
 +--------+--------+--------+--------+
 |1       |2       |3       |enter   |
 |        |        |        |        |
 |READ    |READ/HEA|        |SELECT  |
 +--------+--------+--------+        |
 |0                |.       |        |     
 |                 |        |        |
 |    READ/NEW     | READ   |        |
 +-----------------+--------+--------+

 These defaults may be altered in two ways:

    o Using the DEFINE/KEY command to bind a news command to a key.

    o Defining  the  logical  name  "NEWS_INI"  to  a file containing a
      sequence of DEFINE/KEY lines (which will be executed  on  startup
      of NEWS).

2 ADD
 ADD is a NEWS MANAGEMENT Command.

 Format:

    ADD Filename

 ADD  is  used  to automatically load items into the news database. This
 command is normally used to load network news batches onto the local
 node (locally generated news is POSTed into NEWS).

 If the node is defined as a news routing node, this command also
 generates the batch files to send to the adjacent NEWS nodes.

 The file format for the add command is a batch format. Each file
 contains a number of news items, separated by the either one of the
 two valid seperator sequences:
    "!# rnews <size>"

    "<ff>
     From: ... "

3 Parameters

Filename

 This parameter is the file name containing the news batch to add to
 NEWS. The filename specified may be either a
 single filename, or may contain wildcards (which are expanded, and all
 files so specified are added).

 Lists of filenames are not supported in this version of NEWS.

3 Qualifiers

/DELETE

 This qualifier directs NEWS to delete the input file after the contents
 have been added to NEWS. Default is /NODELETE.

/CREGRP

 The default action of the ADD command is to only accept items into
 newsgroups which already exist on the system, rejecting all other
 newsgroups. This qualifier directs NEWS to automatically create
 any new newsgroups which are specified in the item headers which
 do not already exist on the local system. Default is /NOCREGRP.

/RETRY

 When a network feed news item is rejected by the local node an attempt
 is made to place the item into the "junk" newsgroup. This rejection may
 take place for a number of reasons, but the primary one is that the
 NEWS.SYS file has rejected this item. You may wish to make changes to
 the SYS file and retry adding the item. Normally such an attempt would
 be rejected, as the Path: name now contains the local node name, and
 this is regarded as a loop in the news. /RETRY directs the ADD command
 to ignore the Path: line when checking the news item for addition into
 the local node.

2 CREATE

 CREATE is a NEWS MANAGEMENT Command.

 Format:

    CREATE Newsgroup

 Create  is used to create new newsgroups on the local node.

3 Parameters

Newsgroup

 This parameter is the name of the newsgroup to create. If the newsgroup
 does not exist on the local node, then the user is prompted to confirm
 that the newsgroup should be created.

 This parameter can also specify a comma seperated list of newsgroup
 names to create.

3 Qualifiers

/HOLD

 Format:

    CREATE Newsgroup/HOLD=n

 This qualifier specifies the retention period (in days) of the Newsgroup.
 This retention period is defined as the period over which no new items
 were posted to the newsgroup, after which the newsgroup is automatically
 deleted. If not specified, the system default value is used.

 If the value "/HOLD=*" is used, the newsgroup will NOT be automatically
 deleted.

/ITEMHOLD

 Format:

    CREATE Newsgroup/ITEMHOLD=n

 This qualifier specifies the default retention period (in days) of the
 items within this newsgroup. All news items will remain on the system
 for the specified period, after which they will be automatically deleted.

 If the value "/ITEMHOLD=*" is used, NO items within the newsgroup
 will be automatically deleted.

/MODERATOR

 Format

    Create Newsgroup/MODERATOR=address

 This qualifier creates a moderated newsgroup. No user may post news items
 directly into a moderated newsgroup (unless the user is the actual
 moderator of the newsgroup). Any items posted into such newsgroups are
 redirected into the mail systems, and are mailed directly to the
 moderator.

 The moderator address should be specified in the internet format
 (user@node.site.domain) - NOT Decnet format (the translation from internet
 addresses to the equivalent Decent addresses is handled internally by
 NEWS). 

/LOCAL

 Newsgroups are defined by default to be Network newsgroups - A network
 newsgroup is created in response to a network-wide "newgroup" control
 message, and is deleted in response to a network-wide "rmgroup" or
 "checkgroups" message.

 Newsgroups which are local to a this site, or local to a domain within
 the wider network are created with the "/LOCAL" qualifier. This ensures
 that the newsgroup will not be deleted by the network control messages.

2 DEFINE

 This command must be used with  the  qualifier  /KEY  to  define  a  key
 equivalence string.

3 Qualifiers

/KEY

 Associates an equivalence string and a set of attributes with a key on
 the terminal keyboard.  The /KEY qualifier is required.

 Format:
     DEFINE/KEY key-name equivalence-string

4 Parameters

key-name

 Specifies the name of the key that you are defining.  The  following
 table  gives  the  key  names  in  column  one.  The remaining three
 columns indicate the key designations on the keyboards for the three
 different  types  of  terminals  that  allow  key  definitions.  All
 definable keys on VT52 terminals are located on the numeric  keypad.
 On VT100-type terminals you can define the LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys
 as well as all the keys on the numeric keypad. There are three types
 of  keys that can be defined on terminals with LK201 keyboards:  (1)
 keys on the numeric keypad, (2) keys on the editing keypad, and  (3)
 keys  on the function key row across the top of the terminal.  (Note
 that you cannot define function keys F1 through F5.)

 Key-name           LK201          VT100-type     VT52

 PF1                PF1            PF1            [blue]
 PF2                PF2            PF2            [red]
 PF3                PF3            PF3            [gray]
 PF4                PF4            PF4            - -
 KP0, KP1, ..., KP9 0, 1, ..., 9   0, 1, ..., 9   0, 1, ..., 9
 PERIOD             .              .              .
 COMMA              ,              ,              n/a
 MINUS              -              -              n/a
 ENTER              Enter          ENTER          ENTER
 LEFT               |<--|          |<--|          |<--|
 RIGHT              |<--|          |<--|          |<--|
 E1                 Find           - -            - -
 E2                 Insert Here    - -            - -
 E3                 Remove         - -            - -
 E4                 Select         - -            - -
 E5                 Prev Screen    - -            - -
 E6                 Next Screen    - -            - -
 HELP               Help           - -            - -
 DO                 Do             - -            - -
 F6, F7, ..., F20   F6, F7, ..., F20              - - - -

 Some defineable keys  are  enabled  for  definition  all  the  time.
 Others, including KP0 through KP9, PERIOD, COMMA, and MINUS, need to
 be enabled for definition purposes.  You must issue either  the  SET
 TERMINAL/APPLICATION  or SET TERMINAL/NONUMERIC command before using
 these keys.

 The LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys and the F6 through F14  function  keys
 are  reserved  for  command  line  editing.   You must issue the SET
 TERMINAL/NOLINE_EDITING command before defining these keys.

equivalence-string

 Specifies the string which is to be processed  when  you  press  the
 key.    If  the  string contains any spaces, enclose the equivalence
 string in quotation marks.

4 Qualifiers

/ECHO
 /ECHO
 /NOECHO
   
 Determines whether or not the equivalence  string  is  displayed  on
 your  screen  after the key has been pressed.  The default is /ECHO.
 You cannot use /NOECHO with the /NOTERMINATE qualifier.

/ERASE
 /ERASE
 /NOERASE

 Determines whether or not the current line is erased before the  key
 translation is inserted.  The default is /NOERASE.

/IF_STATE
 /IF_STATE=(state-name,...)
 /NOIF_STATE

 Specifies  a  list  of  one  or more states, one of which must be in
 effect for the key definition to be in effect.    If  you  omit  the
 /IF_STATE  qualifier  or use /NOIF_STATE, the current state is used.
 The state name is an alphanumeric string.   States  are  established
 with  the  /SET_STATE  qualifier  or  the  SET  KEY command.  If you
 specify only one state name, you  can  omit  the  parentheses.    By
 including several state names, you can define a key to have the same
 function in all the specified states.

/LOCK_STATE
 /LOCK_STATE
 /NOLOCK_STATE

 Specifies that the state set by the /SET_STATE qualifier  remain  in
 effect  until  explicitly  changed.    If  you use the /NOLOCK_STATE
 qualifier, the state set by /SET_STATE is in  effect  only  for  the
 next  defineable key that you press or for the next read terminating
 character that you type.

 The default is /NOLOCK_STATE.  The /LOCK_STATE qualifier can only be
 specified with the /SET_STATE qualifier.

/LOG
 /LOG
 /NOLOG

 Controls  whether  the system displays a message indicating that the
 key definition has been successfully created.  The default is /LOG.

/SET_STATE
 /SET_STATE=state-name
 /NOSET_STATE

 Causes the specified state-name to be set when the key  is  pressed.
 The state name can be any alphanumeric string.

 If you omit the SET_STATE qualifier or use /NOSET_STATE, the current
 state that was locked remains in effect.  If you have  not  included
 this  qualifier  with  a  key  definition,  you  can use the SET KEY
 command to change the current state.

/TERMINATE
 /TERMINATE
 /NOTERMINATE

 Specifies whether or not the current equivalence  string  is  to  be
 terminated  (that  is,  processed)  when  the  key  is pressed.  The
 default is /NOTERMINATE, which allows you to press other keys before
 the  equivalence  string is processed.  Pressing RETURN has the same
 effect as using /TERMINATE.

 The /NOTERMINATE qualifier allows you to create key defintions  that
 insert  text  into  command lines, after prompts, or into other text
 that you are typing.

2 DELETE

 DELETE is a NEWS MANAGER Command.

 Format

    Delete Items

    DELETE Newsgroups

 Delete is used to delete newsgroups or news items. The command accepts
 a list of newsgroups to delete, or a list of newsitems.

 The actions of delete are determined by the current screen context.
 If the screen is currently displaying the newsgroup directory, then
 the delete command is used to delete newsgroups. If the item directory
 is displayed, then the command refers to news items.

3 Parameters

Items

 The items are specified as a list of item numbers, seperated by commas.

 A range of items can be specified by seperating the start and end
 numbers by a minus.

 All items can be specified by a '*'.

 For example, to delete items 3 through to 10, 20 and 22 to 25 the
 command is:

    DELETE 3-10,20,22-25

Newsgroups

 The newsgroups are specified as a list of names, seperated by commas.
 The '*' wildcard may also be used to specify a set of newsgroups.

 The newsgroup name is interpreted as the prefix of a family of
 related newsgroups, so that, for example, the command:

     DELETE alt.obscure

 will delete the newsgroup "alt.obscure", and also all newsgroups
 matching the pattern "alt.obscure.*"

 The user is asked for confirmation for each newsgroup to delete.

3 Qualifiers

/IDENTIFIER
 /IDENTIFIER=message-id

 This qualifier deletes the newsitem with the specified message
 identifier. If no identifier is given, NEWS will prompt for the
 identifier string. Note that the identifier value includes the
 '<' and '>' characters.

2 DEREGISTER

 Removes your registration from a newsgroup. The newsgroup may either
 be specified as a parameter to the command, or, if not specified, the
 current newsgroup is deregistered.

3 Parameters

Newsgroup-name

 This parameter is used unless /ALL is specified. The parameter value
 is newsgroup to remove from the registered list. If not specified, the
 current newsgroup is deregistered.

3 Qualifiers

/ALL

 This qualifier removes all newsgroups from the registered  list.

2 DIRECTORY

 In line mode, this command, by default lists all the news items in the
 currently selected newsgroup, on a page by page basis, displaying the
 item number, creation date and item  title.  The  listing normally
 commences 2 items before the current news item (the last newsitem read).

 This may be modified by one of the command qualifiers as listed.

3 Qualifiers

/ALL

 In screen mode this command resets the newsgroup directory to display
 all newsgroups. This resets the actions of DIR/NEW or DIR/REG.
 
/NEW

 In screen mode this command sets the newsgroup directory screen to
 only display those newsgroups in which you are registered, and there
 are unread newsitems within those newsgroups. This is reset by the
 command DIR/ALL

 In line mode these newsgroups are listed page by page.

/REG

 In screen mode this command sets the newsgroup directory screen to
 only display those newsgroups in which you are registered. This is
 reset by the command DIR/ALL

 In line mode these newsgroups are listed page by page.

/RESET

 This clears the internal memory copy of the NEWS database, and
 reads a new copy of the database from the master index files into
 memory.

2 DOWN

 Format

    DOWN

    DOWN Number

 In screen mode this moves the cursor down one line. The command has an
 optional numeric parameter, the number of lines to move down.

3 Parameters

Number

    This parameter specifies the number of lines to move down. If
    omitted, the default is 1 line

2 EDIT
 EDIT is a NEWS MANAGER Command.

 Allows the user to edit the contents of a news item. By default the item
 currently being read is edited, but if a number or a title is  specified
 with  the  command,  then NEWS locates and edits this item. All searches
 are performed by default within the context of  the  currently  SELECTed
 newsgroup  (Location  procedures  are  identical  to  that  of  the READ
 command).

 TPU is invoked to edit the item contents.  On  completion  of  TPU,  the
 edited  item  is  inserted  into  the  newsgroup  and the old version is
 deleted.

3 Newsitem
 This  parameter  specifies  the  number  of  the  news  item  to  edit
 (Necessary  if  the user wishes to edit an item other than the current
 news item).

3 /NEWSGROUP
 This optional qualifier specifies the newsgroup in which to search for
 the newsitem to edit.

2 EXIT

 EXIT from NEWS. Ctrl-Z is also interpreted as EXIT.

2 EXTRACT

 EXTRACT copies the current news item into an output file.

3 Parameters

Filename

 This specifies the name of the file to contain the extracted news
 item text.
 
3 Qualifiers

/ALL

 This qualifier modifies the EXTRACT command to copy ALL of  the  items
 in the current selected newsgroup onto the file.

/APPEND

 This  qualifier  modifies  the EXTRACT command to APPEND the output to
 the nominated file, rather than the default action of creating  a  new
 version of the output file.

2 FOLLOWUP

 FOLLOWUP is used to post a reply to a news item back into NEWS.
 If your system is configured into a news network, this reply item will
 also be distributed through the network.

 NEWS will fill in all defaulting news headers, and will prompt for
 all header items which are non-defaulting (the subject line and the
 newsgroups to post the item into).

 If the newsgroups for the posting are moderated, the posting is 
 automatically re-directed as mail to the moderator address.

 The editor is invoked to form the reply, with the edit buffer pre-
 loaded with the text of the original item.

 The default editor is the TPU EDT emulator, but this is user
 definable - see the subtopic Logical_names).

3 Qualifiers

/HEADERS
 /NOHEADERS - Default

 Followup will normally prompt for the subject of the posting, and a
 list of newsgroups to post the item into.

 The /HEADERS qualifier will force prompting for optional components
 of the item header. These fields are:

 Summary      - A one line summary of the posting

 Reply-To     - Mail address for REPLYing to the item (used if
                replies are to be sent to an address different from the
                poster of the news

 Distribution - a list of keywords designed to limit the distribution
                of a news item to a subject of the network. These
                keywords are site specific, but commonly include the
                keywords "local" (do not forward to the net) and
                "world" (forward as far as possible through the net).

 Followup-To  - The list of newsgroups where followup postings are to
                be sent. This is used to move a discussion to another
                newsgroup.

 Keywords     - A few relevant, pithy keywords which should indicate
                to other readers if the item is of interest.

2 FORWARD

 Invokes VMS MAIL, to send a copy of the current news item to another
 user (or yourself if so inclined).

 FORWARD and MAIL are synonmyns.

3 Qualifiers

/TO
 /TO=user
 /TO=(user,user)

 Specifies the VMS Mail address of the users to receive the mail. This
 may be a user name, or a list of names, and may also include a
 distribution list file specification.

 If not specified, the user is prompted for the /TO value.

/SUBJECT
 /SUBJECT=text string

 Specifies  the  subject  of  the message for the heading.

 If not specified, the user is prompted for the /SUBJECT value.

/EDIT
 /EDIT   - Default
 /NOEDIT

 Invokes the editor the item text before mailing the item.

 The default editor is the TPU EDT emulator, but this is user
 definable - see the subtopic Logical_names).

/SELF
 
 Sends a copy of the message back to yourself.

/HEADERS

 By default the news item headers are stripped off the item text before
 it is mailed. This qualifier loads the item header lines into the mail
 buffer as well as the body of the text.

2 HELP

 This command types out this help file. The  command  can  be  used  with
 parameters to specify the command on which you want the help displayed.
 
2 MAIL

 Invokes VMS MAIL, to send a copy of the current news item to another
 user (or yourself if so inclined).

 FORWARD and MAIL are synonmyns.

3 Qualifiers

/TO
 /TO=user
 /TO=(user,user)

 Specifies the VMS Mail address of the users to receive the mail. This
 may be a user name, or a list of names, and may also include a
 distribution list file specification.

 If not specified, the user is prompted for the /TO value.

/SUBJECT
 /SUBJECT=text string

 Specifies  the  subject  of  the message for the heading.

 If not specified, the user is prompted for the /SUBJECT value.

/EDIT
 /EDIT   - Default
 /NOEDIT

 Invokes the editor the item text before mailing the item.

 The default editor is the TPU EDT emulator, but this is user
 definable - see the subtopic Logical_names).

/SELF
 
 Sends a copy of the message back to yourself.

/HEADERS

 By default the news item headers are stripped off the item text before
 it is mailed. This qualifier loads the item header lines into the mail
 buffer as well as the body of the text.

2 NEWSGROUPS

 In screen mode this pops the display stack back to the newsgroup
 directory screen.

2 NOSCREEN

 Turns off screen mode and enters line command mode. 

2 POST

 POST is used to post news items into the local NEWS database. If your
 system is configured into a news network, this item will also be 
 distributed through the network.

 NEWS will fill in all defaulting news headers, and will prompt for
 all header items which are non-defaulting (the subject line and the
 newsgroups to post the item into).

 If the newsgroups for the posting are moderated, the posting is 
 automatically re-directed as mail to the moderator address.

 Format:

    POST
    POST Filename

3 Parameters

Filename

 The name of the file containing the text of the item to post. If no
 filename is given, the editor is invoked with an empty file.

3 Qualifiers

/EDIT
 /EDIT - Default
 /NOEDIT

 Invokes the editor to edit the post file. If no post filename is
 specified, the editor call is forced, otherwise the edit call can be
 disabled by the /NOEDIT qualifier.

 The default editor is the TPU EDT emulator, but this is user
 definable - see the subtopic Logical_names).

/HEADERS
 /NOHEADERS - Default

 Post will normally prompt for the subject of the posting, and a list
 of newsgroups to post the item into.

 The /HEADERS qualifier will force prompting for optional components
 of the item header. These fields are:

 Summary      - A one line summary of the posting

 Reply-To     - Mail address for REPLYing to the item (used if
                replies are to be sent to an address different from the
                poster of the news

 Distribution - a list of keywords designed to limit the distribution
                of a news item to a subject of the network. These
                keywords are site specific, but commonly include the
                keywords "local" (do not forward to the net) and
                "world" (forward as far as possible through the net).

 Followup-To  - The list of newsgroups where followup postings are to
                be sent. This is used to move a discussion to another
                newsgroup.

 Keywords     - A few relevant, pithy keywords which should indicate
                to other readers if the item is of interest.

/NEWSGROUPS
 /NEWSGROUPS=newsgroup-list

 This qualifier specifies the list of newsgroups to receive the
 posting. If this qualifier value is not specified, the user is
 prompted for the newsgroups.

/SUBJECT
 /SUBJECT=text string

 The subject line, or title of the posting. If this qualifier is omitted,
 the user is prompted for a subject.

2 PRINT

 Print appends the current news item to a print file, for spooling at
 the end of the NEWS job. As more items are Printed, they are appended to
 this print file.

 At the end of the news run the user is prompted  for  the  name  of  the
 queue to spool the output, and the output is directed to that queue.

3 Qualifiers

/ALL

 This qualifier modifies the PRINT command to copy ALL of the items  in
 the current selected newsgroup onto the file. If the newsgroup
 contains a large number of items this could seriously affect your
 disk quota (as well as the possibility of printer meltdown).

2 READ

 This command reads the next item from the current selected  news  group,
 and displays the item on the screen page-by-page (similar to the output
 from the TYPE/PAGE DCL command).

 The actions of READ can be modified by giving a Newsitem  number,  which
 will display that item.

3 Parameters

Newsitem

 This  parameter to read may be either the number of a news item, a "."
 (to re-read the last read item from the start), or  "*"  to  read  the
 last item in the group.

3 Qualifiers

/HEADER

 Normally  NEWS  will  suppress  the  display  of  all  network routing
 headers.  This qualifier produces a full display of the item  contents
 including mail header lines.

/NEW

 This  command  will  display the next Unread news item from the set of
 registered newsgroups. This may cause an implicit Select of a defferent
 newsgroup to obtain the next unread item.

/TPU

 This qualifier will use an editor in read-only mode to view the
 newsitem. This  is  useful when it is required to scroll up and down
 through the item text, or extract a part of the text into a file.

 The default editor is the TPU EDT emulator, but this is user
 definable - see the subtopic Logical_names).

/NEXT

 When reading a news item this command causes the remainder of the text
 display to be skipped, and the next item to be displayed.

/BACK

 When reading a news item this command causes the remainder of the text
 display to be skipped, and the previous item to be displayed.

/PARENT

 NEWS items may reference a previous item that has been posted. In such
 a case the text of the item commonly begins with the line:
   "In article {<identifier>}, {user address} writes:"

 When a news item references previous items, the header includes the
 identifier of the parent item. READ/PARENT will display the parent
 item referenced by the current item.

/IDENTIFIER

 All NEWS items are identified by a unique message identification string.
 (This identifier can be displayed using the READ/HEADER command, and
 noting the "Message-Id: ..." line).

 An item to be displayed can be selected by providing the identifier
 of the item. e.g.:

    READ/IDENTIFIER=<243@csc.anu.oz>

/ROT13

 Some news items are posted using a basic encryption method (rot13).
 This qualifier uses the decryption algorithm to display the message
 contents.

2 REFRESH

 In screen mode this command repaints the screen. This command is (by
 default) bound to the Ctrl-W key.

2 REGISTER

 Adds newsgroups into the user's register file. Registering into a
 newsgroup implies that NEWS will automatically keep track of which items
 int he newsgroup have been read, and the user can view only unread news
 items (with the READ/NEW command).

 Format:
    REGISTER Newsgroup-name
    REGISTER

3 Parameters

Newsgroup-name

 This specifies the name of the newsgroup to register. If the parameter
 is not specified, the current newsgroup is added to the register file.

3 Qualifiers

/ALL

 This qualifier will register  the  user  for  ALL  newsgroups  on  the
 system. On a system with a high quantity of network news this must be
 considered a brave act!

/NEW

 This  qualifier  will  register the user for all newsgroups created on
 the system since the last time a REGISTER/ALL or REGISTER/NEW command
 was  given. Thus the user is automatically registered into all recent
 newsgroups, and can then elect to deregister from some of those
 newsgroups.

/PRIORITY
 /PRIORITY=number

 This qulaifier assigns a read priority to the newsgroup. This is
 particularly useful if you are registered in a number of newsgroups,
 and would like to view new items (using READ/NEW) in a particular
 order of newsgroups. The value is a number (between 1 and 255),
 increasing with priority.

 For example, if you have new items in net.animals and soc.chinese
 and the priority of soc.chinese is greater then net.animals, new
 items in soc.chinese will be displayed first when using READ/NEW).

2 REPLY

 REPLY  posts  a  MAIL reply directly to the sender of a news item. This
 is used to respond directly to the poster of an item without the item
 appearing on the net.

 News will pre-load the edit buffer with the test of the item to which
 to reply is being sent, then invoke the editor. (The default editor
 is the TPU EDT emulator, but this is user definable - see the
 subtopic Logical_names).

 On a normal exit from the editor the item is posted via VMS Mail to the
 sender (The sender's address is mapped into the equivalent VMS Mail
 address by site specific address transformation rules).

3 Qualifiers

/HEADERS

 By default the news item headers are stripped off the item text before
 it is loaded into the edit buffer. This qualifier loads the item header
 lines into the buffer as well

/SUBJECT

 /SUBJECT=text string

 This specifies the subject header of the mail reply. If not specified,
 NEWS will prompt for a Subject: field.

/SELF
 /NOSELF [default]

 This is a mail qualifier which will forward a copy of the outgoing mail
 item back to the sender.

2 SCREEN   

 This  enters  NEWS'  screen  display  mode. In this mode there are three
 screen levels: the Newsgroup screen, where  every  newsgroup  header  is
 displayed,  a  Newsitem screen, displaying newsitem headers, and an Item
 text screen, displaying item contents.

 The current object is shown by a cursor on the left of the display.  The
 cursor  can  be  moved  up and down by the arrow keys or the UP and DOWN
 commands (or tPrev-Screen and Next-Screen commands on VT220 keyboards).

 This is the default mode for NEWS. The line mode can be selected by the
 command: NOSCREEN.

2 SELECT

 SELECT  changes newsgroup context to the nominated newsgroup.The command
 normally takes one parameter, the name of the newsgroup to select.

 Example:
     SELECT test  ... to select newsgroup test

3 Qualifiers

/NEW

 This qualifier is used in place of a  newsgroup  to  select  the  next
 registered  newsgroup which contains unread news items. If the current
 newsgroup contains unread items, then no action is performed.

2 SET

 SET is a NEWS MANAGER Command.

 SET  modifies  the retention period of newsgroups or of newsitems within
 newsgroups. Retention periods are set up by a hierarchy of  defaults  in
 NEWS.

 SET is also used to set (or reset) moderated newsgroups.

 For  NEWSITEMS  there is a default retention period of 30 days. This may
 be overridden by specifying a system wide item retention period. for
 items. e.g:

     SET NEWSGROUP */ITEMHOLD=14

 This system default may be overridden by specifying a default retention
 period for  all items within a particular newsgroup. e.g:

     SET NEWSGROUP mod.computers.mac/ITEMHOLD=30

 This  newsgroup default may  be  overridden  by specifying a retention
 period for a particular item. e.g:

     SET ITEM 34/HOLD=90

 For NEWSGROUPS there is a default retention period of 60 days (i.e.  the
 most  recnet  posting to this newsgroup occurred 60 days previously, AND
 the newsgroup is currently empty). This may be overridden by  specifying
 a system wide item retention period. e.g:

     SET NEWSGROUP */HOLD=30

 This may be overridden by specifying a retention period for a newsgroup.
 e.g:

     SET NEWSGROUP mod.computers.mac/HOLD=60

 There are two SET commands:

     SET NEWSGROUP newsgroup-name/qualifiers
     SET ITEM item-num/qualifiers

3 Parameters

NEWSGROUP newsgroup-name

 SET  NEWSGROUP  modifies  the  newsgroup   retention   attributes   of
 newsgroups  or of the default news item retention period.  The command
 format is:

     SET NEWSGROUP newsgroup-name/quals
 or
     SET NEWSGROUP */quals

 The first form requires the name of a newsgroup (or  defaults  to  the
 current newsgroup in screen mode).

 The second form applies to the global defaults used in the system.

 The qualifiers accepted here are /ITEMHOLD, /HOLD, and in the case
 where a particular newsgroup is named, /MODERATOR

ITEM item-num

 SET ITEM modifies the newsgroup retention attributes of news items.

 The command format is:

     SET ITEM name/HOLD=val

 This requires the number of a newitem (or defaults to the current
 newsitem in screen mode).

3 Qualifiers

/HOLD

 Format:

     /HOLD=days

 This command qualifier defines the retention period for newsgroups  or
 news  items.  The value of the qualifier is specified in days.  If a 0
 value is given, this indicates  that  a  higher  level  default  value
 should  be  used.  If a value of '*' is given, this indicates that the
 retention is PERMANENT (i.e. may only be deleted manually).

/ITEMHOLD

 Format:

     /ITEMHOLD=days
 This command qualifier defines the default retention period  for  news
 items within a newsgroup. The value of the qualifier is specified in
 days.  If a 0 value is given, this indicates that a higher level
 default value should be used. If a value of '*' is given as the value
 for days, this indicates that the retention is PERMANENT.

/MODERATOR

 Format:

    /MODERATOR=address
    /NOMODERATOR

 This command is used with SET NEWSGROUP, and sets the newsgroup as a
 moderated newsgroup, or clears the moderator condition. The value
 of the /MODERATOR is an internet-style address of the moderator.
 This address is translated into VMS Mail format automatically.

 The /NOMODERATOR is used to clear the moderator condition.

 Moderated newsgroups can only accept posting from the moderator. All
 other users who attempt to post to this newsgroup are automatically
 routed into the mail system to send the item to the moderator.

/LOCAL

 Newsgroups are defined by default to be Network newsgroups - A network
 newsgroup is created in response to a network-wide "newgroup" control
 message, and is deleted in response to a network-wide "rmgroup" or
 "checkgroups" message.

 Newsgroups which are local to a this site, or local to a domain within
 the wider network are created with the "/LOCAL" qualifier. This ensures
 that the newsgroup will not be deleted by the network control messages.


2 SHOW

 SHOW displays the control information for newsgroups or for news items
 in the News database.

 This information includes the retention period, relevant deletion time,
 and the moderator address (if moderated).

 Format:

    SHOW NEWSGROUP newsgroup-name

    SHOW ITEM item-num

 Retention periods may be set on a system default basis, on a per
 newsgroup basis, or for specific items.

3 Parameters

NEWSGROUP newsgroup-name

 SHOW NEWSGROUP displays the newsgroup retention attributes of the
 newsgroup, and also the moderator address (if moderated).

 The newsgroup-name may be either a newsgroup name (to display the
 specific information for that newsgroup), or '*' (to display the
 system defaults for retention periods).

ITEM item-num

 SHOW ITEM displays the retention period for a specific news item.

2 SKIM
 SKIM is a NEWS MANAGER Command.

 SKIM checks aspects of the news database for internal  consistency,  and
 also enforces news item and newsgroup expiry time limits.

 By  default  the  command will check all news items, all newsgroups, all
 message identifiers and all item files in  the  news  database, removing
 any inconsistencies found in the News database. By default all deleted
 items are NOT archived.

 Any  of these  functions  can  be stopped by use of the /NOxxx qualifier
 in the command line.

3 Qualifiers

/ITEMS
 /NOITEMS

 SKIM/ITEMS performs a pass over all current news items:

    1. Deletes items which are older than the pre-determined item life.

    2. Deletes  any  items  which have no associated message identifier
       entry.

    3. Updates any inconsistencies in the newsgroup file concerning the
       number of items in each newsgroup.

 The /ARCH qualifier can be used in conjunction with this pass to archive
 any files that are to be deleted from the news database.

/NEWSGROUPS
 /NONEWSGROUPS

 SKIM/NEWSGROUPS performs the following operations:

    1. Checks  the  existence of all items in the newsgroup, and update
       newsgroup counts if inconsistent.

    2. Deletes any newsgroup which has had no new entries for a site
       determined period (Thus cancellation of dormant newsgroups is
       automatic with this command.

/FILES
 /NOFILES

 SKIM/FILES examines every .ITM file in the news database, purging  all
 back  versions  of any file, and deleting any .ITM files which have no
 corresponding entry in the item database.

/ARCHIVE

 Format:
    /ARCHIVE=Filename

 This can be used in conjunction with /ITEMS to archive a copy of every
 item that is to be deleted from the News database. The items are stored
 in seperate versions of the specified file, so it will cause problems
 if a low version limit is imposed on this file.

2 SKIP
 
 Format :

     SKIP           ... skip all unread items in current newsgroup
     SKIP Newsgroup ... skip all unread items in Newsgroup

 If the user is registered in the currently selected newsgroup, then  all
 items in the newsgroup will be marked as having been read by the user.

 The command takes one optional parameter, a newsgroup name, which can be
 used to mark as read all items in the nominated newsgroup.

 
3 Parameters

Newsgroup

 This  qualifier  changes context to the named newsgroup when recording
 items as skipped.

3 Qualifiers

/ALL

 This qualifier will mark ALL news items in ALL registered  newsgroups
 as having been read by the user.

2 SPAWN

 Spawn  a  DCL  level  subprocess  from  NEWS (using LIB$SPAWN).
 LOGOUT from the subprocess returns to NEWS.

2 UP

 Format

    UP

    UP Number

 In screen mode this moves the cursor up one line.  The  command  has  an
 optional numeric parameter, the number of lines to move up.

3 Parameters

Number

    This parameter specifies the number of lines to move up. If
    omitted, the default is 1 line
