Provided by: alpine_2.20+dfsg1-2_amd64 bug

NAME

       alpine - an Alternatively Licensed Program for Internet News and Email

SYNTAX

       alpine [ options ] [ address , address ]

       alpinef [ options ] [ address , address ]

DESCRIPTION

       Alpine  is  a screen-oriented message-handling tool.  In its default configuration, Alpine
       offers an intentionally limited set of functions geared toward the  novice  user,  but  it
       also  has a large list of optional "power-user" and personal-preference features.  alpinef
       is a variant of  Alpine  that  uses  function  keys  rather  than  mnemonic  single-letter
       commands.  Alpine's basic feature set includes:

              View, Save, Export, Delete, Print, Reply and Forward messages.

              Compose  messages  in a simple editor (Pico) with word-wrap and a spelling checker.
              Messages may be postponed for later completion.

              Full-screen selection and management of message folders.

              Address book to keep  a  list  of  long  or  frequently-used  addresses.   Personal
              distribution  lists  may  be defined.  Addresses may be taken into the address book
              from incoming mail without retyping them.

              New mail checking and notification occurs automatically every 2.5 minutes and after
              certain commands, e.g. refresh-screen (Ctrl-L).

              On-line, context-sensitive help screens.

       Alpine  supports  MIME  (Multipurpose  Internet Mail Extensions), an Internet Standard for
       representing multipart and multimedia data in email.   Alpine  allows  you  to  save  MIME
       objects to files, and in some cases, can also initiate the correct program for viewing the
       object.  It uses the system's mailcap configuration file to  determine  what  program  can
       process  a  particular MIME object type.  Alpine's message composer does not have integral
       multimedia capability, but any type of data file --including multimedia-- can be  attached
       to  a  text  message  and  sent  using  MIME's  encoding  rules.  This allows any group of
       individuals with MIME-capable  mail  software  (e.g.  Alpine,  PC-Alpine,  or  many  other
       programs)  to  exchange formatted documents, spread-sheets, image files, etc, via Internet
       email.

       Alpine uses the c-client messaging API to access  local  and  remote  mail  folders.  This
       library  provides a variety of low-level message-handling functions, including drivers for
       a variety of different mail file formats, as well as routines to access  remote  mail  and
       news  servers,  using  IMAP  (Internet  Message  Access  Protocol)  and NNTP (Network News
       Transport Protocol).  Outgoing mail is usually  posted  directly  via  SMTP  (Simple  Mail
       Transfer Protocol).

OPTIONS

       The command line options/arguments are:

       address             Send  mail to address.  This will cause Alpine to go directly into the
                           message composer.

       -attach file        Send mail with the listed file as an attachment.

       -attachlist file-list
                           Send mail with the listed file-list as an attachments.

       -attach_and_delete file
                           Send mail with the listed file as an attachment, and remove  the  file
                           after the message is sent.

       -aux local_directory
                           PC-Alpine only. When using a remote configuration (-p <remote_config>)
                           this tells PC-Alpine the local directory to use for storing  auxiliary
                           files, like debug files, address books, and signature files.

       -bail               Exit  if  the  pinerc file does not exist. This might be useful if the
                           config file is accessed using some remote filesystem protocol. If  the
                           remote  mount  is  missing  this  will cause Alpine to quit instead of
                           creating a new pinerc.

       -c context-number   context-number is the number corresponding to the folder-collection to
                           which  the -f command line argument should be applied.  By default the
                           -f argument is applied to the first defined folder-collection.

       -conf               Produce a sample/fresh copy of  the  system-wide  configuration  file,
                           pine.conf,  on the standard output. This is distinct from the per-user
                           .pinerc file.

       -convert_sigs -p pinerc
                           Convert signature files into literal signatures.

       -copy_abook <local_abook> <remote_abook>
                           Copy the local address book file to a remote address book folder.

       -copy_pinerc <local_pinerc> <remote_pinerc>
                           Copy the local pinerc file to a remote pinerc folder.

       -d debug-level      Output diagnostic info at debug-level  (0-9)  to  the  current  .pine-
                           debug[1-4]  file.  A value of 0 turns debugging off and suppresses the
                           .pine-debug file.

       -d key[=val]        Fine tuned output of diagnostic messages where  "flush"  causes  debug
                           file  writing without buffering, "timestamp" appends each message with
                           a timestamp, "imap=n" where n is between 0 and 4 representing none  to
                           verbose  IMAP  telemetry  reporting, "numfiles=n" where n is between 0
                           and 31 corresponding to the number of debug  files  to  maintain,  and
                           "verbose=n" where n is between 0 and 9 indicating an inverse threshold
                           for message output.

       -f folder           Open folder (in first defined folder collection, use -c n  to  specify
                           another collection) instead of INBOX.

       -F file             Open named text file and view with Alpine's browser.

       -h                  Help: list valid command-line options.

       -i                  Start up in the FOLDER INDEX screen.

       -I keystrokes       Initial  (comma  separated  list  of)  keystrokes  which Alpine should
                           execute on startup.

       -install            For PC-Alpine only, this option causes PC-Alpine to  prompt  for  some
                           basic setup information, then exits.

       -k                  Use  function  keys  for  commands.  This  is  the same as running the
                           command alpinef.

       -n number           Start up with current message-number set to number.

       -o                  Open first folder read-only.

       -p config-file      Use config-file as the personal  configuration  file  instead  of  the
                           default .pinerc.

       -P config-file      Use  config-file  as the configuration file instead of default system-
                           wide configuration file pine.conf.

       -pinerc file        Output fresh pinerc configuration to file, preserving the settings  of
                           variables  that  the  user  has  made.   Use file set to ``-'' to make
                           output go to standard out.  <IP> -registry cmd 20 For PC-Alpine  only,
                           this option affects the values of Alpine's registry entries.  Possible
                           values for cmd are set,  clear,  and  dump.   Set  will  always  reset
                           Alpine's  registry  entries  according to its current settings.  Clear
                           will clear the registry values.  Clearsilent will silently  clear  the
                           registry  values.   Dump  will  display the values of current registry
                           settings.  Note that the dump command is currently disabled.   Without
                           the  -registry  option,  PC-Alpine will write values into the registry
                           only if there currently aren't any values set.

       -r                  Use restricted/demo mode.  Alpine will only send mail  to  itself  and
                           functions like save and export are restricted.

       -sort order         Sort the FOLDER INDEX display in one of the following orders: arrival,
                           date, subject, orderedsubj, thread, from,  size,  score,  to,  cc,  or
                           reverse.  Arrival  order  is  the  default.   The  OrderedSubj  choice
                           simulates a threaded  sort.   Any  sort  may  be  reversed  by  adding
                           /reverse to it.  Reverse by itself is the same as arrival/reverse.

       -supported          Some  options  may or may not be supported depending on how Alpine was
                           compiled.  This is a way to determine which options are  supported  in
                           the particular copy of Alpine you are using.

       -uninstall          For  PC-Alpine only, this option causes PC-Alpine to remove references
                           to Alpine in Windows settings.

       -url url            Open the given url.  Cannot be used with -f or -F options.

       -v                  Version: Print version information.

       -version            Version: Print version information.

       -x config           Use configuration  exceptions  in  config.   Exceptions  are  used  to
                           override  your  default pinerc settings for a particular platform, can
                           be a local file or a remote folder.

       -z                  Enable ^Z and SIGTSTP so alpine may be suspended.

       -option=value       Assign value to the config option option e.g. -signature-file=sig1  or
                           -feature-list=signature-at-bottom   (Note:   feature-list  values  are
                           additive)

CONFIGURATION

       There are several levels of Alpine configuration.  Configuration values at a  given  level
       over-ride corresponding values at lower levels.  In order of increasing precedence:

        o built-in defaults.
        o system-wide pine.conf file.
        o personal .pinerc file (may be set via built-in Setup/Config menu.)
        o command-line options.
        o system-wide pine.conf.fixed file.

       There  is one exception to the rule that configuration values are replaced by the value of
       the same option in a higher-precedence file: the feature-list variable has values that are
       additive,  but  can be negated by prepending "no-" in front of an individual feature name.
       Unix Alpine also uses the following environment variables:

         TERM
         DISPLAY     (determines if Alpine can display IMAGE attachments.)
         SHELL       (if not set, default is /bin/sh )
         MAILCAPS    (semicolon delimited list of path names to mailcap files)

FILES

       /var/spool/mail/xxxx        Default folder for incoming mail.
       ~/mail                      Default directory for mail folders.
       ~/.addressbook              Default address book file.
       ~/.pine-debug[1-4]          Diagnostic log for debugging.
       ~/.pinerc                   Personal alpine config file.
       ~/.pine-crash               Debug information useful to debug a crash.
       ~/.newsrc                   News subscription/state file.
       ~/.mailcap                  Personal mail capabilities file.
       ~/.mime.types               Personal file extension to MIME type mapping
       /etc/mailcap                System-wide mail capabilities file.
       /etc/mime.types             System-wide file ext. to MIME type mapping
       /etc/pine.info              Local pointer to system administrator.
       /etc/pine.conf              System-wide configuration file.
       /etc/pine.conf.fixed         Non-overridable configuration file.
       /tmp/.\usr\spool\mail\xxxx  Per-folder mailbox lock files.
       ~/.pine-interrupted-mail    Message which was interrupted.
       ~/mail/postponed-msgs       For postponed messages.
       ~/mail/sent-mail            Outgoing message archive (FCC).
       ~/mail/saved-messages       Default destination for Saving messages.

SEE ALSO

       pico(1), binmail(1), aliases(5), mailaddr(7), sendmail(8), spell(1), imapd(8)

       Newsgroup:  comp.mail.pine

       Mailing List:
       Alpine-info, at https://www.washington.edu/alpine/alpine-info/

       Main Alpine distribution site:
       http://patches.freeiz.com/alpine/release/

       Alpine Technical Notes, included in the source distribution.

       C-Client messaging API library, included in the source distribution.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

       This software is the result of the contribution of many individuals
       who have dedicated their time to support, improve and suggest ways
       to improve Alpine through the years. This software would not be
       possible without the support of the University of Washington in
       Seattle, Washington. The Alpine community extends its most sincere
       thanks to all contributors and invites everyone to join in and
       contribute to this project.

                                           Version 2.20                                 alpine(1)