# About Power Listviewer 99

Power Listviewer 99 is designed to organize message digests and mailing list messages into an easily understandable format. It is designed for maximum configurability and ease of use. Additionally, Power Listviewer is able to read and display message files. This can let you view your messages in a different way than your e-mail client, including thread message subjects. About Power Listviewer

List of Features

1. Read both individual message files and message digests
2. Display multiple digests simultaneously
3. Displays digest information in three views for easy viewing
4. Two level sorting of digests
5. Visual indication of unread messages
6. Strip HTML codes from messages
7. ROT-13 messages for readability
8. Specify file filters to aid in determining which files to read
9. Specify directory shortcuts
10. Create followup messages
11. Reply to author of message
12. Rewrap messages when sending
13. Save copy of sent messages
14. Two level searches
15. Save threads to file
16. Save digests to file
17. PM Printing support
18. SMTP send for replies, followups, and posts
19. Able to call external program for e-mail transmission
20. Tabbed notebooks for settings
21. Networking error log

Digest and message threads are distinguished by the subject text. When creating a followup message most e-mail clients will add the text `Re:` in front of the existing subject. For example, this means is that if the first message in a thread has the subject text

> Difference between OS/2 and Windows-NT

then a followup message would have the subject text

> Re: Difference between OS/2 and Windows-NT

and a followup message to the first followup message would look like

> Re: Re: Difference between OS/2 and Windows-NT

This added text invalidates the ability of various e-mail clients to sort messages by subject. Power Listviewer removes all leading text which matches `Re:` from the subject. This transforms all the subject texts in the previous example into

> Difference between OS/2 and Windows-NT

Power Listviewer can then use the subject text in order to match up messages into threads.

Note: If the subject text on one of the messages has been changed in any way it will show up as a separate message thread.:ehp1. Digest and Message thread

## Accelerator Keys

Power Listviewer contains built in shortcuts to access the most commonly used features, allowing you to move above with a minimum of mouse interaction if that is your goal. Mappings here are broken down by which window the mapping is active in. Please notice this is modal, some mappings are reused for different purposes, depending which window you currently have selected. Accelerator Keys

- Main Window
- Message Window
- Compose Window

## Starting the program and Command line options

The program can be started in one of several ways

Double-clicking on the program icon on the desktop

Double-clicking on an associated file on the desktop

From a command line

When starting from a command line there are three options you can specify. These options are

file specification, including wildcards

`-d` or `-D`

Directory specification

`-f` or `-F`

Filter specification

You can specify a file, or a filename including a wildcard on the command line. For example:

## d:\netscape\mail\inbox

d:\digests\*.dig

The Directory specification requires a directory path following the `-d` For example

-d c:\digestdir

The directory path can include a complete filename. The filename will be stripped off before accessing the directory.

The Filter specification is optional and requires a filter in the same format as specifying a filter in the `Preferences`. For example

-f *.msg

A complete path may also be specified. The path will be stripped off before using the filter. The filter should only be used when a directory is specified.

An example of both options being used is

-d c:\digestdir -f *.msg

Upon starting the program automatically opens files in the current working directory which match the any of the filters in the Preferences. Default filters with the install are *.msg, *.dig, *.pop, *.txt and *. (no suffix). However, if a file or directory has been specified on the command line the program ignores the current working directory and works in the specified directory. Command Line Options Starting the program

## Read and Unread messages and threads

Threads, digests with unread messages, and unread messages are displayed in the Tree pane with green icons. Messages are marked as read when a Message Window is opened with the message. Messages and threads can also be marked as read (or marked as Unread) by selecting the messages in either the Tree pane or the Details pane, and selecting the desired action from the `Articles` menu. Note that multiple messages can only be selected in the Details pane; you cannot select multiple individual messages in the Tree pane. Read and Unread messages and threads

The Power Listviewer is designed to organize message digests and mailing list messages into an easily understandable format. To this end the screen is divided into three panesTree pane , the Detail pane , and the Message pane .

Each pane displays a different level of information. The Tree pane shows the different digests, the threads within each digest, and the messages in each thread. A special digest heading is called `Messages`. This is where non-digest messages are stored and displayed. Threads, digests with unread messages, and unread messages are displayed with green icons.

The Detail pane shows more detail on each message in the currently selected thread. Multiple messages can be selected in this window for several different operations, including marking articles read or unread, and opening up several marked articles at the same time.

The Message pane shows the message text of the currently selected message.

The panes can be resized by positioning the mouse over the movable split bars separating the panes, and clicking with the left mouse button and dragging to where you want it to be.

To save the current window settings use the menu item Window->Save Window Info.

There is a status line on the bottom of the window. This line displays the following informationCurrent thread/digest information

Send status

Number of messages queued for sending.

There is also a colored button at the lower-right. This button is usually green. It turns red if an error occurs. Clicking on the button will bring up the Error List window.

The Tree pane shows the different digests, the threads within each digest, and the messages in each thread. The view can be totally collapsed, when it only shows the different digests. The plus (+) sign to the left indicates that there are threads below the digest. Clicking on the plus sign expands the tree one level for that line only! The expanded tree then shows all the threads under that digest.

The number in parentheses in front of each digest title shows how mane threads are in the digest.

The number in parentheses in front of each thread title shows how many messages are in each thread. Clicking on the plus sign to the left of a thread will expand the tree for that thread. When a thread is selected and/or expanded, all the message for that thread are listed in the Detail Pane view to the right. Clicking on a single message in the tree view will both select the same message in the Details pane and show the message text in the Message Pane.

The Tree Pane displays different types of information. When all collapsed it shows the sender (which is usually the digest sender), because there can be many subjects in one digest. If you select to the menu item `Article->Expand digests to the thread level` or open a digest by clicking on the plus sign then all the subjects in the opened digests are displayed. If you select the sort level `Sort->Primary->By Subject` then the subjects will be listed in alphabetical order.

Threads, digests with unread messages, and unread messages are displayed with green icons. Help for the Tree Pane

The Details Pane lists the messages for the currently selected thread. Additionally, clicking on a single message in this pane will both select the same message in the Tree pane and show the message text in the Message Pane. Help for the Details Pane

The Message Pane displays the message text of the currently selected message. Actions allowed are selecting text with the mouse for copying, performing certain specific functions such as ROT-13 and removing HTML coding , if any. Help for the Message Pane

Help for the `Close` choice.

Select this choice to close this primary window.

Help for the `Help` choice.

Select this choice to display additional menu choices.

# Special Keys Help

Special Keys Help

These key mappings are in effect when either the Main window has the focus `Special Keys` `Description`

F1

Show help for the field which has the focus

F3

Exit the program

F5

Send queued files

Down arrow

View next article

Up arrow

View previous article

Left arrow

Collapse thread or digest, depending upon where the cursor is

Right arrow

Expand digest or thread

Enter

View current article

Esc

Close current article

Shift Print-screen

Print current article (not working)

Ctrl-S

Page setup (not working)

Ctrl-P

Printer setup (not working)

This pushbutton will send the queued files, using whatever method is specified in the Preferences->Servers page.

This pushbutton will expand the Tree Pane. All levels will be expanded.

This pushbutton will collapse the Tree Pane. Only the digests will be shown.

This pushbutton will create a new post addressed to the currently selected digest.

This pushbutton will create a followup message to the currently selected message.

This pushbutton will create a reply to the author of the currently selected message.

This pushbutton will forward the current message to another person.

This pushbutton will save the current message to a file.

This pushbutton will allow you to print one or many messages. If the focus is on the Summary pane the entire thread will be printed. However, if the focus is on the Detail pane then only the current message will be printed.

This pushbutton will copy the selected text in the Message pane to the clipboard.

This performs a simple cipher called ROT-13. It stands for ROTate text 13 chars. The cipher simply shifts the letters by 13 places, which means that performing the cipher two times will get the message back to the original state. It should be used when you receive a message which is in ROT-13 format. Performing the action two times restores the message to the original state.

Note: If you perform a ROT-13 action on a message, then look at another message, then return to the first message, you will need to perform a ROT-13 again. The ROT-13 action is not preserved between viewings of the same message.

If there is selected text in the message area of the window then the ROT-13 cipher will be performed on the selected text only, otherwise it will be performed on the entire text in the message area.

This function will strip out any HTML codes which may be in the message. This is not a permanent function, meaning that if you look at another message and then come back to the original message the HTML codes will be back.

Note: If you remove HTML codes from a message, then look at another message, then return to the first message, you will need to remove the HTML codes again. The HTML removal action is not preserved between viewings of the same message.

The Find window will search all the messages looking for certain criteria. You can look in the From field, the Subject field, the message text, or the entire message. Additionally, you can combine two searches with an `And` search, an `Or` search, or an `Unless` search.

The `And` search will require that both matches be found before a message is considered to be a match.

The `Or` search will require that only one of the two matches be found before a message is considered to be a match.

The `Unless` search will require that the first (top) search criteria be found and that the second search criteria `not` be found before a message is considered to be a match.

The search results are displayed in the list box at the bottom of the window. Double-clicking on a message in the list box will open up a Message window with the selected message displayed.

There is a limit of 150 matches on any search.

Note: Searching the entire message is significantly slower than searching either the From field, the Subject field or the message text.:ehp1.

This is a modal window, which means that all other windows of Power Listviewer are inactive while the Find window is open. Find Help

The results of the search are displayed here.

Help for the help button is shown when this button is pressed.

Specify what field is to be searched here.

Enter the text to look for here.

Specify how to conduct a two part search.

If checked the search will be case sensitive.

Starts the search.

Closes the Find window.

# Message and Compose Help

The Message and the Compose windows are very similar in appearance. The buttons vary somewhat depending upon which window is being displayed, and the menu bar is also somewhat different. Message and Compose Help

This is the window where you can compose a new message, a reply, or a followup message. The message has three parts Above the message is a toolbar with several common commands.

This is the window that displays a complete message. The window has three parts Above the message is a toolbar with several common commands.

The `up` and `down` arrow keys will perform the view previous/next message function, in the current thread only. To view a different thread you will need to use either the buttons on the toolbar or the menu selections `Article->View next->Thread` or `Article->View previous->Thread`. The `left` and `right` arrow keys move the cursor through the text as normal. Message Help

This button creates a followup message to the list.

This button creates a reply to the author of this message.

This button forwards this message to another person.

This button creates a new message to this list.

This button gets and displays the previous message in the current thread.

This button gets and displays the next message in the current thread.

This button gets and displays the last message in the previous thread.

This button gets and displays the first message in the next thread.

This field shows where this message came from (who wrote the message).

This field shows the subject of this message.

This field shows the text of this message.

This field is where you enter new addresses. When entering new addresses type each address and press the `enter` key.

This is where you enter the subject of this new message.

This is where you enter the text of this new message.

This button will delete the selected address. Click on a single address in the address list and then click this button to delete it.

## Keys Help

Keys Help

These key mappings are in effect when either the Message window or Compose window has the focus `Special Keys` `Description`

F1

Show help for the field which has the focus

Down arrow

View next article

Up arrow

View previous article

Esc

Close current article

Shift Print-screen

Print current article (not working)

Ctrl-S

Page setup (not working)

Ctrl-P

Printer setup (not working)

This window displays the summary information for the digest. This information includes various header information which has been gleaned from the message file headers, as well as a list of all the files which are included in the current digest. You also have the ability to both remove files from the digest, and to delete files which are in the digest from the disk. From this window you can also call the File Filter window, which will let you filter files based upon the file date. Digest Info

This pushbutton will remove all the messages in the selected file from the digest. It will not delete the file.

This button will delete the selected file from the disk. It will also remove all the messages in the selected file from the digest.

This button will close this window

This button will show the general help for the digest info window

This listbox lists the date and name of all files in the current digest.

This window displays the messages queued for sending. You can re-edit a message by double-clicking on it in the listbox. Queued Messages

This button will delete the selected message from the queue.

This button will bring the selected message in for more editing.

This is where the queued messages are listed.

This button will show the general help for the digest info window

This screen displays the error log. Errors occur when the program attempts to send some mail, but for some reason the mail cannot get through. Also, certain printing errors are listed here. Error List

This button will delete all messages and empty the error log.

This button will close the error list window.

This listbox is where the errors are listed. Preferences

The preferences window is where you can set various options which affect the overall operation of the program. This is a modal window, which means that all other windows of Power Listviewer are inactive while the Preferences window is open. The preferences are divided up into several sections. They are Send Page
Send 2 Page
Identity Page
Filter Page
Shortcut Page
Font Page
General Page
Sort Page

## General preferences

This window is where you can set general preferences which affect the operation of the program. These preferences include

Toolbar options (icons and/or text visible)

Toolbar location

Fly-over help

Various confirm on close prompts

Tabsize when printing

Level to open the Tree Pane to when starting program General Page

This specifies that the toolbars should show icons only.

This specifies that the toolbars should show icons and text.

This specifies that the toolbars should show text only.

This specifies that the fly-over help is active.

This specifies the amount of time, in 1/10 of a second, that should pass before the fly-over help is displayed.

This specifies the background color of the fly-over help.

This specifies that the toolbars are active and should be displayed

This specifies that the toolbars should be displayed along the left side of the window.

This specifies that the toolbars should be displayed along the right side of the window.

This specifies that the toolbars should be displayed along the top of the window.

This specifies that the toolbars should be displayed along the bottom of the window.

This specifies that the toolbars should be floating, anywhere on the screen. You can position the toolbar anywhere on the screen using the mouse.

This specifies that you should be asked to confirm closing the program if there is a print operation in progress.

This specifies that you should be asked to confirm closing the program if there is a send operation in progress.

This specifies that you should be asked to confirm closing the program.

This specifies what the tabsize should be when printing a message. Tab characters will be replaced with enough spaces to position the character immediately following the tab character on a column which is a multiple of the specified tabsize. Columns begin with 0, so a tabsize of 4 will put the first character after a tab in the fifth column.

This specifies that only the digest level of the tree pane should be shown when either the program starts or a directory of files is opened.

This specifies that the digest and the thread levels of the tree pane should be shown when either the program starts or a directory of files is opened.

This specifies that all levels of the tree pane should be shown when either the program starts or a directory of files is opened.

This shows the general help for this window

## Font preferences

This screen is where you can set the fonts which will be used in the program. The fonts can be set for the following areas Tree Pane
Detail Pane font
Message Pane font
Message Window font
Compose Window font
Button font
General font
Printer font Font Page

This allows you to specify the font for the Summary Pane on the main window.

This allows you to specify the font for the Detail Pane on the main window.

This allows you to specify the font for the Message Pane on the main window.

This allows you to specify the font for the Message window.

This allows you to specify the font for the Compose window.

This allows you to specify the font for the buttons on the toolbars.

This allows you to specify the font for the text on the various information window, such as the Digest Information window, the Queued Files window, and the Error Log window.

This allows you to specify the font for the printer.

This shows the general help for this window

## Send preferences

This screen is where you set the mail server information. This information is identical to what is set in your e-mail program. Server Page

This specifies that the program should use SMTP when sending mail.

This is where you enter the name (or address) of the SMTP server.

This specifies the TCP/IP port to use to communicate with the SMTP server. The standard port number is 25, only change it if you have specific reason to do so.

This specifies that the program should send mail as soon as you have completed it. If not checked the mail will be queued, and will only be sent when you send the queued mail.

This should only be checked if you have a problem sending mail with a period in the left column and nothing else on the line. This works around a bug which is in a few SMTP servers.

This specifies that the program should use an external program to send mail.

This is the name of the external program, and the where the various parameters should be placed.

Put a %f where the filename should go.
Put a %e where the e-mail address should go
Put a %s where the subject should go

This shows the general help for this window

## Identity preferences

This screen is where you set your identity, used when you send out mail. This information should be identical to what you set in your e-mail program. Identity Page

Enter your name here.

Enter your e-mail address here.

Enter the name replies should be sent to here.

Enter the e-mail address that replies should be sent to here.

This shows the general help for this window

## Filter preferences

This screen is where you can set file filters, used to determine which files to open and read when you open a directory. Filter Page

Enter the file filter here. Wildcards are allowed, as intxt

This shows all the current filters.

This button will add a filter in the entry field to the listbox.

This button will delete the currently selected filter in the listbox.

This shows the general help for this window

## Shortcut preferences

This screen is where you can set shortcuts pointing to specific directories. This can make it easier to open digests if they are always stored in the same directories. Shortcut Page

Enter the name of the shortcut here

Enter the complete path of the shortcut here

Click this button to browse for the desired path of the shortcut.

Click to add the entered info to the shortcut list

Click to delete a selected shortcut

This lists the shortcuts and the paths associated with each one.

## Send preferences - 2

This screen is where you can determine how messages should be wrapped when sending them out. You can also specify if you want your mail saved, where to save it, if you want to send a copy of each e-mail to someone and who to send it to. Wrap Page

When checked the program will perform the selected wrapping (either WYSIWIG or reflowing) before sending the message.

Send the message exactly as it appears on the screen.

When sending the message, reflow the message so that no line is longer than specified in the reflow limit field.

This is the maximum number of characters allowed on a line. The only exception is if there are more continuous characters on a line; the program will not break a word in half.

When checked will cause the program to save a copy of each message you send in the specified directory.

This is the directory where all outbound messages should be saved in.

When checked will cause the program to append a copy of each message to the specified file.

>This is the file where all outbound message should be appended to.

When checked will have a copy of each outbound message sent to a specified e-mail address. This will be a blind-carbon-copy, meaning that the original message will not have any indication that the extra copy was mailed.

This is the e-mail id where copies of outbound messages are sent to.

This will show the general help for this window.

## General and Sorting Options

This page will let you set the default sorting options for the display of the digests and messages on the main window. There are two levels of sorting available, the Primary and Secondary sorts. The Primary sort is the first sort performed, and orders all the messages and digests according to the specified sort field. The Secondary sort is then performed, and only takes effect on those messages which have identical fields for the primary sort.

Normally the sort will be in ascending order. However, if the Descending box is checked then the sort will be in reverse order.

There is also the ability to set the expiration limit on the database which stores information on what articles you have read, and a cache size for the database. Entries in the database do expire automatically upon program startup. The amount of time is counted from the time the message was first added to the database. If a message entry gets expired, and is then added again, the time limit will start over `and` the message will be marked as `unread`. If you change the expiration limit you can restart the expiration process by selecting the option from the `File->Expire Database` from the main screen.

Generally you would want to leave the cache size at a reasonable amount. Each cache block is 4K in size, so if you make it too big you will use up all available memory. If you notice a lot of disk thrashing while loading a large number of digests you may want to increase the cache size to see if that helps.

The expiration database is stored in a file called `listview.db` , and is stored in the same directory as where the program is located. You can look at the file to see how big it is. Entries take approximately 25-50 bytes each, so it does not take too much space on disk. Sort Page

Sort the messages by date.

## Sender Sort

Sort the messages by the sender

## Subject sort

Sort the messages by subject.

## Primary Sort Descending

When checked will reverse the order of the primary sort.

## Secondary Date Sort

Perform a secondary sort by date.

## Secondary Sender Sort

Perform a secondary sort by the sender.

## Secondary Sort Descending

Make the secondary sort a descending sort when checked.

## Database Expiration Limit

Set the number of days to save entries in the database

## Database cache size

Set the size of the database cache.

## Sort Window Help button

This will show the general help for this window.

# Help for Printing options

Select from the listbox the printer you want to use for printing.

Use the `Job properties...` pushbutton to start a dialog from which you can control your printing configuration.

# Help for Print

Enter the page range and the number of copies you wish to print in the entry field provided. The default is the entire message and one copy.

# Help for Font Selection

Different fonts can be selected by clicking on the arrow in the Name box. The available fonts will be displayed, and any font selected by clicking on it will immediately appear in the Sample display.

# Help for Page setup

Select from the listbox the form you want to use.

Use the `Margins` fields to set the margins you want to use. The minimum margins allowed corresponds to the hardware clip limits of the printer. The maximum margins are the size of the form.

# Help for File Filter

This window will let you filter the files based upon the file date. This can be useful if you wish to (among other things) only include old files which you can then delete from the Digest Information window. The filtering action will `keep` the files which match the filter! As a check you will be presented with a message box which will tell you what will be done, and ask you to confirm the action.

The program will recognize almost any date format entered.

There are three ways of filtering files. The first is by specifying a starting date and keeping all files which have file dates on or before that date.

The second is by specifying two dates and keeping all files which have file dates which are between two specified dates.

The third is by keeping all files which are after a specified date.

Using the date of November 15, 1998 as an example, some acceptable formats are

11/15/1998

11/15/98

11/15 (uses current year)

Nov. 11, 1998

15 Nov. 98

November 15 (uses current year)

1998 Nov. 15

98 11 Nov Date Formats

If filtering on a range enter the beginning date of the range here. If filtering either before or after a date enter the date here.

Almost any date format will be recognized.

Enter the end date of the range here. The program will recognize almost any date format entered.

Enable this button if you wish to keep all files before a specified date.

Enable this button if you wish to keep all files between two specified dates.

Enable this button if you wish to keep all files after a specified date.

Click this button to perform the filtering.

Click this button to close the window.

Click this button to get general help for this window

Table of Contents
Overview and Features - Getting Started - Digest and Message thread
Accelerator Keys - Program Startup - Main Window
Find - Message and Compose - Digest
Queued Messages - Error Log - File Filter
Preferences