using (`gnus-summary-universal-argument')

using (`gnus-summary-universal-argument')

[hput]

It seems I'm unable to get the functionality the manual describes for
(`gnus-summary-universal-argument')

I position cursor at the top of a group of 5037 messages

then press `Alt-Shift-&' (`gnus-summary-universal-argument') which displays `M-&'.


then  press 'C-u 5037 J #'


Which the manual says will mark the next 5037 message with `%' the
gnus-agent-download mark

But instead it marks only 1 next message a few times as many as 3-4
but never any where close to 5037.

I continued to think I am doing something slightly wrong so tried it
many many times 

I've tried this many times today, did it slow and very careful.  But
no mater how slow and carefull I get only a few messages marked

Can anyone spot my blunder or misunderstanding?

Further, once I have manually marked a number of messages with
the `%' how to tell agent to go ahead and download them?

Doing C-h b on summary buffer and searching in many ways .... first
off finding all `gnus-agent ...' hits.   Checked for the word download, etc etc.
but not finding anthing promissing.

I seem to recall it might have something to do with pressing 'J j' but
that doesn't seem to change anything.

Let me explain that I once understood how to do all this and did so
many times 15 or so years ago,  but apparently some critical part has slid out of
my pea brain; a very aggravating experience that seems to occur more
often as I approach 80 yrs of age. 

Can anyone offer some advice or assistance?

Re: using (`gnus-summary-universal-argument')

[James Thomas]

hput wrote:

> It seems I'm unable to get the functionality the manual describes for
> (`gnus-summary-universal-argument')
>
> I position cursor at the top of a group of 5037 messages
>
> then press `Alt-Shift-&' (`gnus-summary-universal-argument') which displays `M-&'.
>
>
> then  press 'C-u 5037 J #'
>
>
> Which the manual says will mark the next 5037 message with `%' the
> gnus-agent-download mark

Here's what the manual says:

‘M-&’
     Perform any operation on all articles that have been marked with
     the process mark (‘gnus-summary-universal-argument’).

So it has to do with *process marked* articles. Btw, here's the
docstring of 'J #':

  Mark the next N articles as downloadable.
  If N is negative, mark backward instead. If UNMARK is non-nil, remove
  the mark instead. The difference between N and the actual number of
  articles marked is returned.

So you should simply try 'C-u 5037 J #' without anything before it.

> Further, once I have manually marked a number of messages with
> the `%' how to tell agent to go ahead and download them?
>
> Doing C-h b on summary buffer and searching in many ways .... first
> off finding all `gnus-agent ...' hits.   Checked for the word download, etc etc.
> but not finding anthing promissing.

The manual (C-h i C-s gnus) is a much better option. It says do 'J u'.

--
James

Re: using (`gnus-summary-universal-argument')

[Harry Putnam]

[...]

> So it has to do with *process marked* articles. Btw, here's the
> docstring of 'J #':

Thanks, that was the big stumble I was making   Failure to process mark initially

>   Mark the next N articles as downloadable.
>   If N is negative, mark backward instead. If UNMARK is non-nil, remove
>   the mark instead. The difference between N and the actual number of
>   articles marked is returned.

> So you should simply try 'C-u 5037 J #' without anything before it.

Did you actually try that?  Because if you had you would know that it does not work.
It seems mass marking Messages with the download mark is one of those rare
things that require M-&
[..]

Thanks for the other good tips

Re: using (`gnus-summary-universal-argument')

[James Thomas]

Harry Putnam wrote:

>> So you should simply try 'C-u 5037 J #' without anything before it.
>
> Did you actually try that?  Because if you had you would know that it does not work.
> It seems mass marking Messages with the download mark is one of those rare
> things that require M-&

Works for me (with a small number). Btw those messages should already be
visible in the Summary buffer - else, try 'C-u 5037 / o' first.

--