PINE

Introduction

PINE is an acronym for Program for Internet News and Email. It is installed and used on the UNIX Systems in the Department of Computer Science.

PINE basics

A list of choices is printed at the bottom of every screen, such as:

^R Rich Hdr

A single character such as E, will activate that command by pressing E. A double character, such as ^R, requires that you hold down the Ctrl key, and press R while holding the Ctrl key down.

Selected options or areas are have reversed colors. Such that

Attchmnt:

would imply that the Attachment field is selected for input.

More information on PINE can be found by typing man pine at a Unix command prompt.

How to start using PINE

1. Go to any of the Open access labs in the CS dept or the Unix Labs (Room 228).
2. If you are in a Unix lab, you should be able to access pine by typing pine at the command line.
3. To use PINE from a Windows workstation, you will need to use ssh to access the server interactive.cs.tamu.edu. Following steps will show how you can connect to interactive.cs.tamu.edu from a Windows workstation.

   Note: The open access labs have two software applications for using ssh. One application is teraterm, the other is PuTTY. This brochure will specify how to use PuTTY.

1. Logon into the Windows workstation.
2. Go to Start menu and click PuTTY.
3. This should open a PuTTY Configuration window. (Fig. 1)
   
   Figure 1. PuTTY Configuration.
   This window will configure PuTTY to access a Unix terminal.
4. Type interactive.cs.tamu.edu under in the blank labeled Host Name and select the SSH radio button.
5. A new window will be displayed and you will be prompted for your UNIX login and password.
6. Enter PINE at the command prompt.

   Note: If this is your first time to use PINE, PINE will create your default folders, and request that you send an email to the developers of PINE.

7. Press Enter to send this email.
8.  Press E to continue without sending.

Figure 2. The PINE Main screen.

This screen is where you can access the primary PINE e-mail functions.

You have now entered PINE and are ready to start using it. The first screen you are presented with is the Main screen. (Fig. 2)

How to compose a new mail

Figure 3. The PINE Compose Message screen.

This screen allows you to compose messages to e-mail.

1. Press C. You should be presented with a new window
2. Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to move between the different lines.

   Note: You may type multiple e-mail addresses on the To: and Cc: lines. Separate each e-mail address with a comma, such as: a1@a.com, a2@a.com.

3. To send the e-mail, press Ctrl + X.
4. This will prompt you to Send message. Press Y to send or N to decline. Your message will stay on the screen, and you will be able to edit it further.
5. If you want to save the e-mail in order to send it at another time, see “How to postpone sending e-mail” on this brochure.
6. If you want to cancel this e-mail without sending it, see “How to cancel sending e-mail.”

How to send attachments

1. Use the Arrow keys to select the Attchmnt: line at the top of the e-mail.
2. Press Ctrl + T. You will be presented with a directory browser screen that will display the directory structure of your h:\ drive.
3. Use the Arrow keys to select the directory you would like to explore.
4. Press Enter to open a directory.
5. Use the .. (Parent Directory) folder to move up in directories.
6. Press Enter while highlighting the file to you would like to attach in order to attach it to the e-mail.
7. Press E at any time to exit without selecting a file.

Figure 4. Adding attachments to an e-mail.

PINE includes tools for adding attachments to any outgoing e-mails.

How to read incoming mails

1. Open PINE.

   Note: If you are in PINE, move to the Main Screen by pressing either M or Ctrl + C. Check the menu options at the bottom of the screen to determine which one is appropriate.

2. Press I.
3. Use the Arrow keys to move between e-mails.
4. Press Enter to read an email.
5. Press I to view the e-mail Index.

How to save attachments

1. Press the > key. This will open a new screen.
   
   Figure 5. Saving attachments.
   
   PINE attachments are saved in your Home directory. This is default directory you access when logged into Unix, or the ‘zed’ (H:) drive on your Windows workstation.
   
   If the mail has multiple attachments, they will all be displayed. Use the Arrow keys to select the required attachment and press S. This will prompt you to save the attachment in your Home directory.
   
   
   Figure 6. Saving multiple attachments.
   
   PINE will display all of the attachments to an e-mail. Note that the first entry is the text (body) of the e-mail message and not an attachment.
2. Press Enter.
3. Repeat this process for each attachment.

How to create new folders

1. From the Main screen press L. You will be presented with the Folder List screen.
   
   Figure 7. Adding new folders to PINE.
   
   PINE can store your messages in any folder you choose.
2. Press A to add a new folder.
3. You will be prompted for a folder name. Type a folder name of your choice and press Enter.

How to move mails from Index to another folder

1. Press I to open the e-mail Index screen
2. Use the Arrow keys to select the mail you want to save to a different folder
3. Press S.
4. Press Ctrl + T to save the message in the folder of your choice.
5. This screen is similar to the Save Attachments screen. See “How to save attachments” above.
6. Once you have selected the folder you would like, press Enter to save the e-mail.

How to create a signature file

1. Login to any Unix System.
2. Type pico .signature at the command prompt.
3. The contents of this file will be appended to each of your e-mails.
4. Write any message you would like to see.
5. Press Ctrl + X followed by Y to save and exit the file.

How to forward incoming mails to another mail account

1. Login to a Unix system.
2. Type pico .forward.
3. Type the e-mail addresses where you would like your e-mails to be forwarded to.
4. Press Ctrl + X followed by Y to save and exit the file.
5. All e-mails sent to your CS e-mail account will now be forwarded to the e-mail address typed into the .forward file.

How to postpone sending a mail

1. In the Compose e-mail screen, press Ctrl + O. This will postpone your mail, so that you may complete it at a later time. You may postpone several e-mails.

Note: Each time you attempt to Compose new e-mail, PINE will prompt you to continue your postponed e-mail. Press N to write a new e-mail, or Y to continue the postponed e-mail.

How to resume postponed e-mail

1. Press C from the Main screen. PINE will prompt you to continue the postponed e-mail.
2. Press Y.
3. If you are presented with a list of e-mails:
4. Use the Arrow keys to select an email.
5. Press Enter to continue that postponed email. You may postpone this e-mail again.

How to cancel sending a mail

1. Press Ctrl + C. You will be prompted to confirm.
2. Press Y.

How to exit from PINE

1. Move to the Main Screen by pressing either M or Ctrl + C. Check the menu options at the bottom of the screen to determine which one is appropriate.
2. Press Q.
3. Press Y.
4. Press Enter.