Re: Just shoot me now (was Re: What's wrong with this fancy split?)

[Richard Riley <rileyrg@googlemail.com>]

Tommy Kelly <tommy.kelly@verilab.com> writes:

> Andreas Schwab <schwab@linux-m68k.org> writes:
>
>> Because [ and ] are not word characters.  See
>> nnmail-split-fancy-syntax-table.
>
> Thanks Andreas. Unfortunately that 6,500 line variable, consisting
> mostly of pairs of parens enclosing numbers, is as clear as mud :-)
>
> This to no one in particular:
>
> Thus far, like my adventures in figuring out what version of gnus is
> current, my attempts Just To Split My Mail have been ... interesting:
>
> 1. Try to figure out multi-line regexps with simple splitting
> 2. Advised to move to fancy splitting
> 3. Hours of trying to get even the simplest fancy split working (and I'm
> not alone)
> 4. Finally get it moving -- but only after direct advice. But still
> don't understand why (specifically, why is nnmail-split-methods settable
> on a per-server basis, but nnmail-split-fancy is done on a ... shrug
> .. a per gnus basis?)
> 5. Begin building more simple splits then stumble on
> "\\[stuff\\]". Splitting isn't as keen on \\[ as it is on, say, \\. .
> 6. Told that nnmail-split-fancy-syntax-table is the clue
> 7. C-h v on that variable. Look. Puke. Look again.
> 8. Google for "emacs lisp syntax table"
> 9. Fall pretty much at the first fence on being told that a syntax table
> is a "char-table" about which I know very little
> 10. Start reading about what a char-table is
> 11. Consider reading about "aref" and "aset" since part of the basic
> description of char-tables mentions those
> 12. Stop and think "Seriously!? All this Just To Split My Mail!?"
>
> I'm not remotely demanding, requesting or even begging for change. I
> acknowledge that Gnus is a labour of love, open source, and is there to
> be taken or left as each sees fit.
>
> I'm just saying.
>
> Tommy

Heh. This made me smile ;) It's nice to know I'm not alone as someone
who thinks themselves moderately able that also bangs their head against
the wall wondering if I have gone crazy ... ;)

This could be a great start for the new "Make Gnus Accessible" effort!