random Gnus questions

random Gnus questions

[Joe Wells]

Hi, folks,

I have some questions about Gnus.

1. How do I make Gnus run entirely in a separate frame and avoid using the
   main frame?

2. I want to display the equivalent of the "%i" format spec (number of
   ticked and dormant articles) in the topic line.  How?

3. If Gnus has visited the .newsrc-XXX and .newrc-XXX-dribble files and
   their buffers are unmodified, is it safe to kill their buffers?

-- 
Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu>

Re: random Gnus questions

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

> 1. How do I make Gnus run entirely in a separate frame and avoid using the
>    main frame?

`M-x gnus-other-frame'

> 2. I want to display the equivalent of the "%i" format spec (number of
>    ticked and dormant articles) in the topic line.  How?

The number of ticked and dormant articles in the groups in the topic?
You can't.

> 3. If Gnus has visited the .newsrc-XXX and .newrc-XXX-dribble files and
>    their buffers are unmodified, is it safe to kill their buffers?

Killing the dribble buffer will disable further dribbling...

-- 
  "Yes.  The journey through the human heart 
     would have to wait until some other time."

Re: random Gnus questions

[Richard Pieri]

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>>>>> "JW" == Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

JW> 1. How do I make Gnus run entirely in a separate frame and avoid
JW>    using the main frame?

gnus-other-frame

JW> 2. I want to display the equivalent of the "%i" format spec (number
JW>    of ticked and dormant articles) in the topic line.  How?

dunnow... but there is probably a format variable you can use.

JW> 3. If Gnus has visited the .newsrc-XXX and .newrc-XXX-dribble files
JW>    and their buffers are unmodified, is it safe to kill their
JW>    buffers?

Yes, but probably not while Gnus is active.

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-- 
Richard Pieri/Information Services \ When you go out in the world, remember:
<ratinox@unilab.dfci.harvard.edu>   \ being placed on a pedestal is a right,
http://www.dfci.harvard.edu/         \ not a priviledge! -A cat's guide to life

Re: random Gnus questions

[Colin Rafferty]

Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi@ifi.uio.no> writes:

> Killing the dribble buffer will disable further dribbling...

What is the purpose of `gnus-group-clear-dribble'?  If this is
dangerous (as it seems), should it be on a different key than 'Z'?

-- 
Colin

dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Joe Wells]

>>>>> "Lars" == Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi@ifi.uio.no> writes:

  >> 2. I want to display the equivalent of the "%i" format spec (number
  >> of ticked and dormant articles) in the topic line.  How?

  Lars> The number of ticked and dormant articles in the groups in the
  Lars> topic?  You can't.

Darn.

  >> 3. If Gnus has visited the .newsrc-XXX and .newrc-XXX-dribble files
  >> and their buffers are unmodified, is it safe to kill their buffers?

  Lars> Killing the dribble buffer will disable further dribbling...

Well, then can you make the dribble buffer invisible so it doesn't clutter
up my buffer menu?

Also, is it safe to kill the .newsrc-XXX buffer?

-- 
Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu>

Re: random Gnus questions

[Joe Wells]

>>>>> "Colin" == Colin Rafferty <craffert@spspme.ml.com> writes:

  Colin> What is the purpose of `gnus-group-clear-dribble'?  If this is
  Colin> dangerous (as it seems), should it be on a different key than
  Colin> 'Z'?

It erases all information from the dribble buffer without doing anything
with it.  This does indeed seem dangerous.  I wonder why it even exists.

-- 
Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu>

Re: random Gnus questions

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

> It erases all information from the dribble buffer without doing anything
> with it.  This does indeed seem dangerous.  I wonder why it even exists.

Hm.  I think I'll remove that keybinding, now that you mention it.
I've never used it.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

>   >> 3. If Gnus has visited the .newsrc-XXX and .newrc-XXX-dribble files
>   >> and their buffers are unmodified, is it safe to kill their buffers?
> 
>   Lars> Killing the dribble buffer will disable further dribbling...
> 
> Well, then can you make the dribble buffer invisible so it doesn't clutter
> up my buffer menu?

I don't think that's a good idea.  It is a rather important buffer...

> Also, is it safe to kill the .newsrc-XXX buffer?

Hm.  I don't have any of those buffers.  When are they created?

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Joe Wells]

    Joe> Well, then can you make the dribble buffer invisible so it
    Joe> doesn't clutter up my buffer menu?

  Lars> I don't think that's a good idea.  It is a rather important
  Lars> buffer...

It is important, but does one actually need to see it or do anything with
it by hand?  Even if it were invisible, one could still switch to it with
"C-x b" if one knows the name.  Someone who doesn't know how to switch to
an invisible buffer probably shouldn't be mucking around with it anyway.

    Joe> Also, is it safe to kill the .newsrc-XXX buffer?

  Lars> Hm.  I don't have any of those buffers.  When are they created?

I don't know for sure.  I've got one right now, and I didn't create it so
Gnus must have.

-- 
Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu>

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

>     Joe> Well, then can you make the dribble buffer invisible so it
>     Joe> doesn't clutter up my buffer menu?
> 
>   Lars> I don't think that's a good idea.  It is a rather important
>   Lars> buffer...
> 
> It is important, but does one actually need to see it or do anything with
> it by hand?  Even if it were invisible, one could still switch to it with
> "C-x b" if one knows the name.  Someone who doesn't know how to switch to
> an invisible buffer probably shouldn't be mucking around with it anyway.

Yes, but shouldn't files that auto-save to some file have the file
name as the buffer name?  I think that's what's normal...

>     Joe> Also, is it safe to kill the .newsrc-XXX buffer?
> 
>   Lars> Hm.  I don't have any of those buffers.  When are they created?
> 
> I don't know for sure.  I've got one right now, and I didn't create it so
> Gnus must have.

Could you try to determine when Gnus creates it?  

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Joe Wells]

  Lars> Yes, but shouldn't files that auto-save to some file have the file
  Lars> name as the buffer name?  I think that's what's normal...

No.  Consider visiting two files named "foobar" in different directories.
One will have buffer name "foobar" and the other "foobar<1>".  Buffer name
is orthogonal to auto-saving.

Anyway, I humbly request that the .newsrc-XXX-dribble buffer be invisible.

  Lars> Could you try to determine when Gnus creates it?

Okay, I'll try to find out when Gnus creates the .newsrc-XXX buffer.

-- 
Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu>

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

> Anyway, I humbly request that the .newsrc-XXX-dribble buffer be invisible.

So, what do the rest of you think?  I have no feelings on the matter,
one way or the other.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Yair Friedman]

Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi@ifi.uio.no> writes:

> 
> Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:
> 
> > Anyway, I humbly request that the .newsrc-XXX-dribble buffer be invisible.
> 
> So, what do the rest of you think?  I have no feelings on the matter,
> one way or the other.

Please do, it does sometimes disturbes me while doing long compilations
and reading news at the same time.
--
Yair.

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[John Griffith]

Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi@ifi.uio.no> writes:
> 
> Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:
> 
> > Anyway, I humbly request that the .newsrc-XXX-dribble buffer be invisible.
> 
> So, what do the rest of you think?  I have no feelings on the matter,
> one way or the other.

Well, if the user doesn't need to see it and if it's better that they
don't mess with it then it would seem like a good idea to make it
invisible.  Security through obscurity or something like that.

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Per Abrahamsen]

>>>>> "JW" == Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

JW> Anyway, I humbly request that the .newsrc-XXX-dribble buffer be invisible.

>>>>> "LMI" == Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi@ifi.uio.no> writes:

LMI> So, what do the rest of you think?  I have no feelings on the matter,
LMI> one way or the other.

I think renaming them would be confusing when you call
`save-some-buffers', or exit emacs without quitting gnus.

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Steven L Baur]

>>>>> "Lars" == Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi@ifi.uio.no> writes:

Lars> Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:
>> Anyway, I humbly request that the .newsrc-XXX-dribble buffer be invisible.

Lars> So, what do the rest of you think?  I have no feelings on the matter,
Lars> one way or the other.

I'd vote for burying it.  For an important buffer that must be left
alone, it has way too prominent a position on the buffer menu right
now.

-- 
steve@miranova.com baur
Unsolicited commercial e-mail will be proofread for $250/hour.
Andrea Seastrand: For your vote on the Telecom bill, I will vote for anyone
except you in November.

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Steven L Baur <steve@miranova.com> writes:

> I'd vote for burying it.  For an important buffer that must be left
> alone, it has way too prominent a position on the buffer menu right
> now.

I've now buried it, but it's still visible.  (Ie., I have not renamed
it to " .newrsc-dribble".)

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Joe Wells]

    Steve> I'd vote for burying it.  For an important buffer that must be
    Steve> left alone, it has way too prominent a position on the buffer
    Steve> menu right now.

  Lars> I've now buried it, but it's still visible.  (Ie., I have not
  Lars> renamed it to " .newrsc-dribble".)

Pretty please make it invisible?  Perhaps a variable
gnus-dribble-invisible?

-- 
Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu>

Re: dribbling (was: random Gnus questions)

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

> Pretty please make it invisible?  Perhaps a variable
> gnus-dribble-invisible?

I've now added this to the Red Gnus todo list.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen

Re: random Gnus questions

[Kai Grossjohann]

>>>>> "Joe" == Joe Wells <jbw@cs.bu.edu> writes:

  Joe> 1. How do I make Gnus run entirely in a separate frame and
  Joe>    avoid using the main frame?

I use this:

(defun kai-mail ()
  (interactive)
  (select-frame (make-frame '((name . "--Mail--"))))
  (gnus))

hth,
kai
-- 
Life is hard and then you die.