procmail
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Re: is this list only for the expert? (Thanks!)

1996-12-30 21:59:21
On Sun Dec 29 1996, Bill Moseley wrote:

I want to thank all the regulars that have offered help on this list.  I've
been on the list for some time and the regulars are incredible at the help
they offer, how often they answer the same basic questions in full with
only adding "see procmailex for more help" instead of just RTFM.  It is

After reading several messages about how this list is for experts, I
must agree with Bill... I'm definitely a newbie (I installed procmail
in November), but with the fantastic help from several of the regular
procmail gurus here (special mention of Alan and Philip) I've now got
it doing the fanciest things that I never dreamed a mail delivery
program could do!

At the same time, I do agree that procmail rc files are not exactly
the easiest things to write, let alone understand...

...but the raw *power* that is unleashed by procmail is something to
behold.  Because it can do complex things, the complexity of the
filtering commands is par for the course.  Procmail is complex, but
not hard - it just requires a bit of initial hard study and careful
experimentation to climb over the initial steps to get it all working
the way you want it to.

especially nice for them to offer all the (often repeated) basic help
considering their technical level.  And all this is free for the asking!
Thanks to all.

I know very little about UNIX and procmail was a test of my limits to get
running.  I was embarrassed a number of times by posting questions that
really were clearly written in the man pages.  I finally had to print all
the man pages out and read them over MANY times to absorb, or just not
miss, and important point. I spent hours piping mail messages to procmail
for various tests, changing recipes bit-by-bit, and learning quite a bit.

A faq would be great, but the key for me was to start small and work up. Do
the examples one-by-one in procmailex and you will learn a lot.

Sorry for being off topic, but I just wanted to say thanks.

I don't like posting "me too" messages, but I guess that I'm doing
exactly that :-)

Me too... thanks guys!

Now back to your regular viewing!

(Hey Alan, I've got all my new procmailrc scripts using INCLUDERC
subroutines, and it's all working just great!  Thanks for all the
hints and tips).

Cheers
Tony

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