I've only ever done this within threads .. often the whole thread is process marked.. not sure if it would work if the selection was arbitrary across multiple threads but a quick test while writing this mesg seems to indicate it does work. I suspect there are cleaner and less cumbersome methods than what I'm about to describe... I'd like to hear about them. [ When I want to save a group of messages by process mark: Its because I want to enlarge my growing database of well informed answers and opions on a wide range of material, where I can find it pretty easily ] 1) Process mark the selected messages. 2) Then Press upcase `F' as if to follow up. You are then presented with a message that contains all process marked messages. Much like an mbox, but missing the vast amount of headers, having only the key ones for each mesg 3) Write in a Gcc: (` YourChosenBackend:Group ') for where you want the conglomerate message saved 4) Edit subject line with keywords to help you find this message * I normally make at least 3 more edits but no need to describe all. Just one here ... change the Newsgroup: to X-Newsgroup: (or your choice, long as the result is to render your conglomerate message unsendable 5) Press `C-c C-c' as if to send... When gnus notices the msg is not sendable, it will tell you and ask if you'd still like to honor the Gcc: `your-chosen-bkend:group' ... (whether it exists or not) When you press `y' off it goes to your chosen group on disk. You have created an entry to a data base searchable in summary mode by using the `/s' (Subject search) on the keywords you've added or of course on any other Headers you've edited. I kind of fell into using the above method by accident and then seeing some uses for my accident. One drawback of using the method is the extra layer of `>' (quoting? characters) that can be a little confusing I'd rather accomplish this kind of data base in some simpler and cleaner way.