can gnus do this ?

[news@absamail.co.za]

OP wrote:
> > I've taken the plunge with emacs and so far am pleased at the
> > integrated approach.
> > 
> > Can gnus be set up to:
> > 1. down-load only the last N headers of selected groups;

Frank Schmitt wrote:
> You  mean  when  entering  the Group buffer? Say C-u 50 RET with 
> point   over   group to download the last 50 headers.

I'll try that if/when I get it to connect to the server.

> > 2.  down-load  only  the  previously  'marked  for   d/ling' bodies of
> > articles;

> Look for Gnus Agent in the manual.
If you can confirm that gnus does it, I can expend the time to search HOW.
I tried: ^h a agent == 'gnus-agentize      M-x gnus-agentize RET
  Command: Allow Gnus to be an offline newsreader.'
Try: Alt/x == 'no command name given' ie. expects char after 'Alt/x ' ?

> > 3. go directly [without browsing] to the set of d/l-article bodies  ?
> > 
>    Sorry, I don't know what you mean here.
> 
Newly downloaded bodies [because they were mark for d/l-ing for
the most recent on-line session] may be dispersed over the many
groups which you are subscribed to. You don't want to have to 
search in each group for 'new bodies'. You want to 'go to the
next unread body, irrespective of group' ?

> > So far [on linux] it "can't connect to server" - error.
> > Is  this  set-up  under gnus/emacs, or is it passed off to a different
> > 'transporter',
> > as mailing is apparently passed-off to send mail ?
> > 
> 
> Again  I  don't  really  know what your problem is, could you be a bit
>    more   verbose?
> 
Apparently emacs doesn't have a mail-transport-agent: it uses
sendmail & some 'fetcher' to connect to the mail server[s].
What about for the news-server ?
Are the news-server parameters setup by emacs, or does gnus
use some other transport-agent which does it's own setup ?

> > Thanks for any info,

== Chris Glur