rmail-default-file vs. (deleted) rmail-default-rmail-file

[Alfred M. Szmidt]

The current value for rmail-default-file is "~/xmail", but in
2009-01-22 rmail used rmail-default-rmail-file which was "~/XMAIL",
which was the default when using rmail-output.

I don't have strong preferences about this, but would it be possible
to change the value to "~/XMAIL"?  If not, I think this should be
mentioned in NEWS somewhere, maybe something like:

 ** The default output file for `rmail-output' has changed to
 "~/xmail".

[Glenn Morris-3]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" wrote:

> The current value for rmail-default-file is "~/xmail", but in
> 2009-01-22 rmail used rmail-default-rmail-file which was "~/XMAIL",
> which was the default when using rmail-output.

AFAICS, rmail-output used rmail-default-file in 22 the same as it does
now.

rmail-output-to-rmail-file used rmail-default-rmail-file, but this
function no longer exists.

It is already mentioned in NEWS that `o', which was bound to
rmail-output-to-rmail-file, is now bound to rmail-output.

[Alfred M. Szmidt]

Can we change the default value of rmail-output-file to ~/XMAIL?
Since that was the default (`o' was bound to
rmail-output-to-rmail-file and used rmail-default-rmail-file).

2009-07-09  Alfred M. Szmidt  <ams@...>

        * mail/rmail.el (rmail-default-file): Changed value to "~/XMAIL".

diff --git a/lisp/mail/rmail.el b/lisp/mail/rmail.el
index b348495..fad084e 100644
--- a/lisp/mail/rmail.el
+++ b/lisp/mail/rmail.el
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ Element N specifies the summary line for message N+1.")
 (defvar rmail-last-regexp nil)
 (put 'rmail-last-regexp 'permanent-local t)
 
-(defcustom rmail-default-file "~/xmail"
+(defcustom rmail-default-file "~/XMAIL"
   "Default file name for \\[rmail-output]."
   :type 'file
   :group 'rmail-files)

[Chong Yidong]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@...> writes:

> Can we change the default value of rmail-output-file to ~/XMAIL?
> Since that was the default (`o' was bound to
> rmail-output-to-rmail-file and used rmail-default-rmail-file).

Why do you prefer XMAIL to xmail?  (A temporary setting made during
pretest does not count.)

[Alfred M. Szmidt]

   > Can we change the default value of rmail-output-file to ~/XMAIL?
   > Since that was the default (`o' was bound to
   > rmail-output-to-rmail-file and used rmail-default-rmail-file).

   Why do you prefer XMAIL to xmail?  (A temporary setting made during
   pretest does not count.)

rmail files have always uppercase, so it makes it easy to list just
them with `ls *MAIL*'.  I find it also very confusing that `o' now
outputs to ~/xmail, when I have a ~/XMAIL that I use.

[Chong Yidong]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@...> writes:

>    > Can we change the default value of rmail-output-file to ~/XMAIL?
>    > Since that was the default (`o' was bound to
>    > rmail-output-to-rmail-file and used rmail-default-rmail-file).
>
>    Why do you prefer XMAIL to xmail?  (A temporary setting made during
>    pretest does not count.)
>
> rmail files have always uppercase, so it makes it easy to list just
> them with `ls *MAIL*'.  I find it also very confusing that `o' now
> outputs to ~/xmail, when I have a ~/XMAIL that I use.

The argument could go either way; the *mbox* files that Rmail output to
always defaulted to lowercase (~/xmail).  I don't feel strongly about
the matter, so it would be good if more rmail users weigh in on this.
(Richard?)

[Richard Stallman]

    > rmail files have always uppercase, so it makes it easy to list just
    > them with `ls *MAIL*'.  I find it also very confusing that `o' now
    > outputs to ~/xmail, when I have a ~/XMAIL that I use.

I have a habit of saving messages in files called xmail/foo.xmail, etc.,
all being lower case.  Since these file names are entered solely
by users, I think we cannot assume they all follow any rule.

But as regards ~/xmail vs ~/XMAIL for the default, ISTR that during
the transition to mbox format I saw an advantage in making the default
different.  But in fact the current Rmail deals just fine with saving
into Babyl files, so I now think it is better to keep the default
unchanged from Emacs 22.

[Chong Yidong]

Richard Stallman <rms@...> writes:

> But as regards ~/xmail vs ~/XMAIL for the default, ISTR that during
> the transition to mbox format I saw an advantage in making the default
> different.  But in fact the current Rmail deals just fine with saving
> into Babyl files, so I now think it is better to keep the default
> unchanged from Emacs 22.

Fine by me.  Alfred, if you like, go ahead and switch to XMAIL on the
trunk and branch.

[Alfred M. Szmidt]

   > But as regards ~/xmail vs ~/XMAIL for the default, ISTR that
   > during the transition to mbox format I saw an advantage in making
   > the default different.  But in fact the current Rmail deals just
   > fine with saving into Babyl files, so I now think it is better to
   > keep the default unchanged from Emacs 22.

   Fine by me.  Alfred, if you like, go ahead and switch to XMAIL on
   the trunk and branch.

Sorry, I do not understand.

[Chong Yidong]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@...> writes:

>    > But as regards ~/xmail vs ~/XMAIL for the default, ISTR that
>    > during the transition to mbox format I saw an advantage in making
>    > the default different.  But in fact the current Rmail deals just
>    > fine with saving into Babyl files, so I now think it is better to
>    > keep the default unchanged from Emacs 22.
>
>    Fine by me.  Alfred, if you like, go ahead and switch to XMAIL on
>    the trunk and branch.
>
> Sorry, I do not understand.

I meant, go ahead and do what you suggested in your previous email:

> The current value for rmail-default-file is "~/xmail", but in
> 2009-01-22 rmail used rmail-default-rmail-file which was "~/XMAIL",
> which was the default when using rmail-output.

> I don't have strong preferences about this, but would it be possible
> to change the value to "~/XMAIL"?

[Alfred M. Szmidt]

   >    > But as regards ~/xmail vs ~/XMAIL for the default, ISTR that
   >    > during the transition to mbox format I saw an advantage in
   >    > making the default different.  But in fact the current Rmail
   >    > deals just fine with saving into Babyl files, so I now think
   >    > it is better to keep the default unchanged from Emacs 22.
   >
   >    Fine by me.  Alfred, if you like, go ahead and switch to XMAIL on
   >    the trunk and branch.
   >
   > Sorry, I do not understand.

   I meant, go ahead and do what you suggested in your previous email:

I cannot change it, I do not have commit access to the CVS repo.