Re: finally on pgnus, but confused about MIME

[Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@srce.hr>]

merlyn@stonehenge.com (Randal L. Schwartz) writes:

> >>>>> "Hrvoje" == Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@srce.hr> writes:
> 
> Hrvoje> merlyn@stonehenge.com (Randal L. Schwartz) writes:
> >> How do I get at that "2." thing?
> 
> Hrvoje> Because the GIF is technically the second MIME part.  Press
> Hrvoje> `K b', and you'll understand it.  Press `K C-h' to see what
> Hrvoje> MIME commands are available.
> 
> Perhaps the manual needs to be updated to include these mysterious
> "K ... " commands. :)

I thought it was.  <check check...> You're right, they aren't in the
manual.  Well, yes, I agree they should be documented.  :-)

> Hrvoje>   (Note that the commands take numeric prefix that
> Hrvoje> corresponds to the number you see.)  Or, you can do the same
> Hrvoje> using the context-sensitive menu on button3.
> 
> I don't have a "button3".  I'm in text mode.

Then use the mysterious functions.  The mouse menu is just a nice
shortcut for when you don't feel like thinking about numbers, cryptic
bindings and stuff.

(Not that I have anything against cryptic bindings.  Cryptic bindings
are nice.  It's *new* cryptic bindings that suck.:-)

> Hrvoje> The most frequently used MIME command is `b', which
> Hrvoje> "activates" the MIME part, i.e. shows it inline, runs an
> Hrvoje> external command, whatever is appropriate.  In your case,
> Hrvoje> pressing `2 b' would display the image as dictated by your
> Hrvoje> .mailcap file.
> 
> Ahh, I guess I have to get a .mailcap file then.  Where is the
> description of that?

An example of .mailcap comes with Nathaniel Borenstein's "metamail"
package.  If you have it installed, the mailcap should be at
(/usr/local)?/etc/mailcap.

But if your MIME needs are simple (mine are), you needn't worry about
gory details.  A .mailcap entry typically looks like this:

image/gif; xv %s

That should be enough to get you started.