(xemacs.info)Reading Mail

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26 Reading Mail
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XEmacs provides several mail-reading packages.  Each one comes with its
own manual, which is included in each package.

   The recommended mail-reading package for new users is VM.  VM works
with standard Unix-mail-format folders and was designed as a replacement
for the older Rmail.

   XEmacs also provides a sophisticated and comfortable front-end to the
MH mail-processing system, called `MH-E'.  Unlike in other mail
programs, folders in MH are stored as file-system directories, with
each message occupying one (numbered) file.  This facilitates working
with mail using shell commands, and many other features of MH are also
designed to integrate well with the shell and with shell scripts.  Keep
in mind, however, that in order to use MH-E you must have the MH
mail-processing system installed on your computer.

   The "Everything including the kitchen sink" package `Gnus' is also
available as an XEmacs package.  Gnus also handles Usenet articles as
well as mail.

   `MEW' (Messaging in the Emacs World) is another mail-reading package
available for XEmacs.

   Finally, XEmacs provides the Rmail package.  Rmail is (currently)
the only mail reading package distributed with FSF GNU Emacs, and is
powerful in its own right.  However, it stores mail folders in a
special format called `Babyl', that is incompatible with all other
frequently-used mail programs.  A utility program is provided for
converting Babyl folders to standard Unix-mail format; however, unless
you already have mail in Babyl-format folders, you should consider
using Gnus, VM, or MH-E instead.