[patch] 1 of 1 clarify role of .newsrc

[Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com>]

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Tried to send this with git-format-patch, but couldn't tell if it
worked; sorry if it shows up as a duplicate.


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From cc3fe82ccf83fe0bd65f1cd23076073769e9d442 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 21:55:18 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Clarify the role of the .newsrc file
To: ding@gnus.org

Not saving/loading it doesn't make it impossible to use other
newsreaders, it merely means they will not be synchronized with Gnus.
---
 lisp/gnus-start.el |   14 ++++++++------
 texi/gnus.texi     |   18 ++++++++++--------
 2 files changed, 18 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lisp/gnus-start.el b/lisp/gnus-start.el
index aa9af01..91ca54f 100644
--- a/lisp/gnus-start.el
+++ b/lisp/gnus-start.el
@@ -218,9 +218,10 @@ groups."
   "*Non-nil means that Gnus will read the `.newsrc' file.
 Gnus always reads its own startup file, which is called
 \".newsrc.eld\".  The file called \".newsrc\" is in a format that can
-be readily understood by other newsreaders.  If you don't plan on
-using other newsreaders, set this variable to nil to save some time on
-entry."
+be readily understood by other newsreaders.  If you don't
+care whether Gnus can stay in synch with changes made in other
+newsreaders (e.g. to group subscriptions and article marks), set
+this variable to nil to save some time on entry."
   :version "21.1"
   :group 'gnus-newsrc
   :type 'boolean)
@@ -229,9 +230,10 @@ entry."
   "*Non-nil means that Gnus will save the `.newsrc' file.
 Gnus always saves its own startup file, which is called
 \".newsrc.eld\".  The file called \".newsrc\" is in a format that can
-be readily understood by other newsreaders.  If you don't plan on
-using other newsreaders, set this variable to nil to save some time on
-exit."
+be readily understood by other newsreaders.  If you don't
+care whether other newsreaders can stay in synch with changes
+made in Gnus (e.g. to group subscriptions and article marks), set
+this variable to nil to save some time on exit."
   :group 'gnus-newsrc
   :type 'boolean)
 
diff --git a/texi/gnus.texi b/texi/gnus.texi
index f500a2e..7c1feca 100644
--- a/texi/gnus.texi
+++ b/texi/gnus.texi
@@ -1405,8 +1405,10 @@ not stored in the @file{.newsrc} file.
 You can turn off writing the @file{.newsrc} file by setting
 @code{gnus-save-newsrc-file} to @code{nil}, which means you can delete
 the file and save some space, as well as exiting from Gnus faster.
-However, this will make it impossible to use other newsreaders than
-Gnus.  But hey, who would want to, right?  Similarly, setting
+However, Gnus and other newsreaders will not maintain a synchronized
+idea of which groups you're subscribed to or articles you've read.
+But hey, who would want to use another newsreader, right?
+Similarly, setting
 @code{gnus-read-newsrc-file} to @code{nil} makes Gnus ignore the
 @file{.newsrc} file and any @file{.newsrc-SERVER} files, which can be
 convenient if you use a different news reader occasionally, and you
@@ -28875,15 +28877,15 @@ sizes a bit if you are running out of space.
 
 @item gnus-save-newsrc-file
 If this is @code{nil}, Gnus will never save @file{.newsrc}---it will
-only save @file{.newsrc.eld}.  This means that you will not be able to
-use any other newsreaders than Gnus.  This variable is @code{t} by
-default.
+only save @file{.newsrc.eld}.  Other newsreaders will have no way to
+stay in synch with changes made in Gnus (e.g. to group subscriptions and
+article marks).  This variable is @code{t} by default.
 
 @item gnus-read-newsrc-file
 If this is @code{nil}, Gnus will never read @file{.newsrc}---it will
-only read @file{.newsrc.eld}.  This means that you will not be able to
-use any other newsreaders than Gnus.  This variable is @code{t} by
-default.
+only read @file{.newsrc.eld}.  Gnus will have no way to stay in synch
+with changes made in other newsreaders (e.g. to group subscriptions and
+article marks).  This variable is @code{t} by default.
 
 @item gnus-save-killed-list
 If this is @code{nil}, Gnus will not save the list of dead groups.  You
-- 
1.7.3.4


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-- 
Dave Abrahams
BoostPro Computing
http://www.boostpro.com