From 460c52653ab0dcca6f19a4f492ed2c5e4e963ab0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: toma Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:56:58 +0000 Subject: Copy the KDE 3.5 branch to branches/trinity for new KDE 3.5 features. BUG:215923 git-svn-id: svn://anonsvn.kde.org/home/kde/branches/trinity/kdepim@1054174 283d02a7-25f6-0310-bc7c-ecb5cbfe19da --- doc/knode/using-subscribing.docbook | 1367 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 1367 insertions(+) create mode 100644 doc/knode/using-subscribing.docbook (limited to 'doc/knode/using-subscribing.docbook') diff --git a/doc/knode/using-subscribing.docbook b/doc/knode/using-subscribing.docbook new file mode 100644 index 000000000..618ab292a --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/knode/using-subscribing.docbook @@ -0,0 +1,1367 @@ + + +Working with newsgroups + +After the configuration of &knode; we will now try to get your +first news; to achieve this, you need to do some more steps of +configuration, but you will not have to do this very often. + + +Fetching the group-list from the news server + + + +If you want to read a newsgroup you first have to subscribe to +it. &RMB;-click with your mouse on the entry of your newsserver in the +folder-list; from the context menu that appears select the +Subscribe to Newsgroups entry. &knode;, at +this moment, does not know which newsgroups are available from this +server and will ask you if it should fetch a list of available +newsgroups: confirm with Yes. Now you should +see the following dialog. + + +The Subscribe to +Newsgroups Dialog + + + + +The Subscribe to +Newsgroups dialog + + +The Subscribe to +Newsgroups dialog + + + + +After some time &knode; will has fetched the list of available +newsgroups and will show them in the left window, Groups +on, in a tree; this tree view shows the +newsgroup hierarchy. + + +You can find a short description about the structure of the usenet +and the hierarchy of the single newsgroups at http://www.kirchwitz.de/~amk/dni/usenet-einfuehrung +(German). + + + +<guilabel>Search</guilabel> + +The simplest method to navigate in the tree is to use +the Search input field: &knode; will filter the groups +displayed according to your input. If you are searching for +a group about &kde;, but you do not know its exact position in the +hierarchy, just type kde in the +Search field. + +When you enter the k, you will already +see the list changing; the second letter, d, +give you a significantly-reduced list of shown groups; and the final +e reduces the list to the groups with kde in +their name. You will most likely end with just one group: + + +comp.windows.x.kde + + +If your server carries the international groups, you might find +your list is: + + +comp.windows.x.kde +de.comp.os.unix.apps.kde + + +This incremental search gives you the possibility to search for +newsgroups without knowing their exact paths. + + +On a closer look, you will see &knode; showing the groups without +a tree if there are only a few groups left; this is not a bug, it is a +feature. + + + + +<guilabel>disable tree view</guilabel> + +Normally &knode; shows all the groups in a tree; if this option +is activated, all newsgroups are listed amongst one another. + + + + + +<guilabel>subscribed only</guilabel> + +If subscribed only is checked the +tree-view Groups on shows only the groups you are +already subscribed to; this is very convenient if you want to +unsubscribe from some groups: you then won't have to search the whole tree +for these groups. + + + + +<guilabel>new only</guilabel> + +If new only is checked the tree-view +Groups on shows only the groups which are new +since you last fetched the group list; for this to be functional, you +first have to fetch a new group list with New +List. + +The New Groups button give the +possibility to show all the new groups since a specific date. + + + + +<guilabel>Groups on</guilabel> + +This list shows all newsgroups on this server; if you check one +of the checkboxes, subscribed only or +new only, you get the corresponding +selection. + + + + +<guilabel>Current changes</guilabel> + +The Current changes window shows all +changes you have made since you opened the dialog. + +The subscribe to list shows the newsgroups +you have chosen to subscribe to. + +Below you can see the unsubscribe +from list, which shows all newsgroups from which you have chosen to +unsubscribe. You cannot unsubscribe from groups you are not +subscribed to. + + + + +<guilabel>New Groups</guilabel> + +This button opens a dialog which allows you to configure the list +of new groups; you can choose between showing all groups since the +last refresh or all groups since a given date. With the date option, +&knode; provides a more-flexible possibility to check for new +groups; you can even check for new groups since before the last refresh of +the group list. + + + + +<guibutton>New List</guibutton> + +The New List button tells &knode; to +fetch a new group list from the news server. + + +The newsgroup hierarchy is in a constant flux; all the time +there are groups introduced, renamed or moved; some groups just +disappear: they are no longer available and get deleted. To reflect +this, &knode; gives you the possibility to refresh the the group +list. This is, normally, only needed to see if your server now +provides a group which was not there before. + + +If you simply want to make sure you have seen every new group, it is +more effective to use New Groups; fetching the +complete list is much more time consuming, but you do make sure that any +deleted groups vanish from the grouplist. + + +Unfortunately there is no guarantee that your newsserver is +providing all available newsgroups: many newsserver refuse groups +publishing binary attachments; other groups are only available from +special servers. &knode; provides you the possibility to use more than +one news-server if you want to access alternative servers providing +these groups; you can read more about this in . + + + + +Working with the dialog + +We now want to subscribe to the &kde; group: mark the the box +beside the name; you can now see the group in the list labelled +subscribe to. Another possibility is to use the +arrows between the two windows. + +If you picked the wrong newsgroup by mistake you can undo your +selection by unchecking the checkbox next to the group's name in the +Groups on window; again, you could use the +arrow (you probably noticed the arrow changing direction.) + +If you want to unsubscribe from a newsgroup it is as easy as +subscribing to it: you just uncheck the box next to its name. The groups +you wish to unsubscribe from are shown in the unsubscribe +from list. Again, the arrow is another way of doing things: to +correct your actions you can use the arrow again; this works as +long as the dialog is not closed by clicking +OK. + +As a &kde; and &knode; user you will probably want to subscribe +to the group, so make sure you checked the box and press +OK. This group now appears in the tree view +under the server entry it was chosen from; in our example this is +My News Account. If you can not see the group, +click on the cross next to the server entry or on the server entry +itself; the list of subscribed newsgroups should appear. + +Click on the newsgroup; now you see on the right in the article +view an empty folder: &knode; has to fetch the articles for the new +newsgroup. If you have, in +SettingsConfigure +KNodeReading +newsGeneral, the +check box Check for new article automatically +checked &knode; tries to fetch the articles from the server when the +newsgroup is first selected; if this is unchecked, you have to use +AccountGet new +articles. + + +When you are using leafnode as a +server, there will be a single article in the +group: leafnode generates an article in +every new subscribed group; this indicates that +leafnode will consider this group the next +time it fetches articles. You can ignore an error message saying the +article can not be found. If you select this article you tell +leafnode you are really interested in this +group. + +You get the real articles when your local newsserver fetches +them from the Internet and provides them to you; details about this +can be found in the documentation of your local newsserver. + + +When everything works the articles of the subscribed newsgroup +appear in the upper right window — the article view. + + + + + +Fetching and reading Articles + +&knode; always shows three views: the folder view, the article view and +the article window; you can change height and width of these views with +the mouse. If you click in a window it gets the focus; this is +important if you want to use &knode; with the keyboard. The +Tab key changes the focus between the views; the +currently-active view is indicated by a small colored bar over the +column headers. + +This picture shows &knode; with the subscribed &kde; +newsgroup. + + +The three views of &knode; + + + + +The three views of &knode; + + +The three views of &knode; + + + + +It is possible to select more than one group or article. You can +select an area by clicking on the first entry with the &LMB;, holding +the &Shift; key and clicking on the last entry with the &LMB; +again. + +If you want to select more than one single entry, but they are +not next to each other in the list, you have to select the first by +clicking on it with the &LMB; and then select the other entries by +holding down the &Ctrl; key and clicking on them with the &LMB;. + +In either case you can clear your selection by clicking on +another entry with the &LMB;. + + + +If you have selected more than one entry you have to activate the +context menu with the &Shift; key pressed, otherwise you'll clear the +selection. + + + +The Folder View + +The folder views contains not only the accounts you configured +— in our example this is My News Account +— but also three other folders. When you are subscribed to some +newsgroups there will be plus next to the name of the +account: clicking on the plus or the name of the account opens the +tree to show the names of the newsgroups you have chosen to subscribe +to using that account. + + +Using the &RMB; you can get a context menu for the selected item +(folders or newsgroups): if you select a newsgroup and choose +Properties you can, amongst other things, specify your identity for +this particular group; you can find more about this in the +Local Identities chapter. + + +When you select a newsgroup with your mouse a list of articles +of this group appears in the upper-right window; if there are no +articles in the upper-right window there are two possibilities — +either there are no articles for this newsgroup on the newsserver +or the newsserver did not fetch them yet. Select +AccountGet new articles in +all groups: if there are still no articles +appearing you either have some problems with your settings or there really +are no articles for this group. Try another group: if there are no +articles for this group you will probably have to work through the +first chapters, about the configuration of &knode;, again; the +Frequently Asked Questions chapter may help you, +too. + + +If you are using a local newsserver the articles only appear if +the newsserver has already got them from the internet; if you are using +leafnode this is done by the +fetchnews program. + + + +The Newsgroup Folders + +The newsgroup folders appear with the name they are given by the +hierarchy on the newsserver; in our example this is +comp.windows.x.kde. You can change the name shown +in this view: in the context menu (click with the &RMB; on the +newsgroup's name) choose Rename +group, then you can change the name in the +input field. A good name for comp.windows.x.kde +would be, for example, The KDE Newsgroup. + +If you don't change this, the hierarchical name will still be shown. + +Besides the name of newsgroups the folder view shows more +information by altering its appearance: if a newsgroup contains +new articles its name is shown bold; the columns +Total and Unread also tell you +how many articles are in the corresponding group or folder and how many +are marked as unread. + + + + +The <guilabel>Outbox</guilabel> folder + +The Outbox folder contains all articles +which are to be sent later, or which could not be sent because +of an error. If you want to sent an article later choose +FileSend +Later in the editor: the article is then +filed in the Outbox folder; it is possible to +edit, delete or send these articles later. + + +If an article was not sent because of an error, it is stored in +this folder; you will not lose these articles. + + + + +The <guilabel>Drafts</guilabel> folder + +This folder is used for storing drafts of your articles; for +example, if you want to do some further work on them but you have no +time for it right now. To store an article in this folder +choose FileSave as +Draft in the editor. + +You can edit, delete and send the articles in this +folder. + + + + +The <guilabel>Sent</guilabel> Folder + +This folder contains copies of the articles that you have successfully +sent, including your e-mail replies; you can delete the messages in +this folder, but it will not un-send the messages already +sent. + + +If your are using a local newsserver an article appearing in +the folder Sent only indicates the local +newsserver received the article; it is possible this article will never +appears in any newsgroup if the local newsserver was not able to +send it for some reason. If you notice some articles not appearing in +the according newsgroup first make sure it was sent by the local +newsserver. + + + +If you are using leafnode then articles +leafnode was unable to send are normally found in +/var/spool/failed.postings. + + + + + +The Article View + +The article view gives you a list of all articles in the +selected newsgroup or folder; you can change the appearance of this +view using the View menu. The uppermost row of the +view contains the column headers. + + + +Subject + +The Subject column shows the subjects of +an articles which, most of the time, give you a clue about the content +of this article. The subject is chosen by the article author. You can +find more about this in How to post +and reply to news. + + + +From + +The From column shows the author, or their +e-mail address if the author didn't give a name. You can configure +your settings in +SettingsConfigure +KNodeIdentity; when +you publish an article &knode; will show these settings in the +From column. + + + +Score + +The Score column shows the scoring of an +article as a number; the default is 0. Articles which are important to +you can be scored up; articles you want to ignore can be scored +down: the range is -100000 to +100000. You can read more about this in +the Scoring, Watching and +Ignoring chapter. +The Score column is only shown if +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Reading +NewsGeneralShow article +score is activated. + + + +Date + +The Date column shows the date and time +when the article was written. + + + +Lines + +The Lines column shows the number of lines +of the article; this column is only shown if +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Reading +NewsGeneralShow line +count is activated. + + + + + +The Symbols and Highlighting Used + +This is a short explanation of the different symbols for +labeling articles. + + + + + + + +Already-read articles are labeled with this symbol. + + + + + + + +Articles labeled with this symbol are read and the body was fetched +from the server. + + + + + + + +Articles labeled with this symbol are unread and the body has not yet +been fetched. + + + + + + + +Articles labeled with this symbol are unread but the body has already +been already fetched. + + + + + + + +Articles labeled with this symbol are part of a thread with new and/or +unread articles in it. + + + + + + + +Articles labeled with this symbol are parts of a guarded thread. This +corresponds to a score of 100. + + + +Besides different symbols, &knode; is using the following +highlighting: + + + +Bold article subjects. + +The article is new in this group; it was fetched during the last +connection with the server. + + + +Article subjects printed in gray. + +There are no unread follow-up articles. + + + + + + +Navigation in the Article View. + +You can navigate in articles, display an article and open or +close threads with your mouse or keyboard. + +When you select an article with your mouse its entry in the the +article view gets colored; at the same time the header and body of +this article appear in in the article window. If you want to read +another article you can use the mouse to select it, or you can use +the cursor keys. If you use the cursor keys you can move the +dashed frame to the article you want to read and then press +Enter to mark and display the article. + +There are many key commands to provide comfortable navigation +within a news group and to switching between newsgroups. Here the most +common key commands of the standard key configuration are listed; you +can configure the key bindings in +SettingsConfigure +Shortcuts. + + + +Toggle Subthreads T + + +The replies to an article are either shown or hidden by +multiply pressing this key; another way to open threads is +to use the Right Arrow key. + + + +Filter F6 + +A dialog is shown where you can choose the filter for the +articles. + + + +Sort F7 + + +A dialog is shown where you can change the sorting of the +articles; if you choose a column for a second time it will change the +sorting direction. + + + +Browsing articles Space + +This key gives you a convenient possibility for browsing through +the article view: by pressing this key the article in the article +window is scrolled; when you reach the end of the article by +repeatedly pressing Space, it takes you to the next +article; when you have read all articles in one newsgroup, +Space takes you to the first article of the next +newsgroup. By repeatedly pressing Space you can +browse through all subscribed newsgroups like this. + + + +Next unread article &Alt;Space + + +This key binding jumps to the next unread article. The sequence +follows the order of articles in the article view; threads are opened +if necessary. + + + +Next unread thread &Ctrl;Space + + +This command jumps to the next thread containing unread +articles: the first unread article is then selected and shown. The sequence +follows the order of articles in the article view. + + + +Next article N + + +This command jumps to the next article; the sequence follows the +order of articles in the article view. Replies in closed threads are +ignored. + + + +Previous article B + +This command jumps to the previous article in the group; the +sequence follows the order of articles in the article view. Replies in +closed threads are ignored. + + + +Next group ++ + + +This command jumps to the next newsgroup; the sequence follows +the order of newsgroups in the folder view. + + + +Previous group - + + +This command jumps to the previous newsgroup; the sequence +follows the order of newsgroups in the folder view. + + + + + + +Sorting and Filtering of Articles + +Some newsgroups are very crowded and contain lots of +articles; perhaps only some of them are interesting to you. One +possibility to keep track of the news you are interested in is +to sort your articles with a certain criterion. + +Sorting your articles, and choosing sorting criteria, is +done with the column titles in the article view: clicking on a column +title makes it the current sorting criterion; another click on the same +column title changes the order of sorting. + + +The current sorting criterion is indicated with an arrow next to +the title; this gives you an easy sign which column is used for +sorting, too. You have to make the column wide enough, though, so you +can actually see the arrow; you can change the column width by moving +the mouse pointer on the small area between two column titles: the +pointer changes its appearance to two horizontal arrows; clicking +and holding the &LMB; mouse button now allows you to change the width +of the column to the left of the mouse pointer. + + +&knode; gives you the possibility to reduce the flood of +articles: you can show only articles fitting specific +criteria; &knode; uses filters for this task. In the following paragraphs we +are just dealing with the predefined filters; for defining and using +your own filters please refer to the Defining and using Filters chapter. + +Normally you will read most articles only once, and then never +again. &knode; labels the articles which are unread, but when there +are more articles in a news group than can be shown by the article +view you often have to search for unread articles: it would be much +easier to see only the new fetched and unread articles; &knode; gives +you this feature by the predefined filters. + +In the status line at the bottom border of your main window +next to the word Filter the actually-active +filter is shown: if you do not change the filter configuration this +is the filter all; this means all articles of a +newsgroup are shown. all is one of the predefined +filters; there are eight of them in all, which are described in more detail +here. + + + + +All + + +This filter is the default setting; it shows all articles in a +newsgroup. You can choose this filter by selecting +ViewFilterAll + + + +Unread + +This filter shows only unread articles; you can choose this +filter by selecting +ViewFilterUnread + + + + +New + +This filter shows only articles fetched during the last +connection; you can choose this filter by selecting +ViewFilterNew + + + +Watched + +This shows only threads chosen as watched threads by you; you +may be watching a thread because, for example, you are participating in it, +or because you are particularly interested in the answers. +You can choose this filter by selecting +ViewFilterWatched + +This filter only shows something if have you selected one or more +threads to watch; you can achieve this by selecting +ArticleThreadWatch: +next to the subject a symbol will appear, showing a pair of eyes. + + + + +Threads With Unread + +This filter shows only threads containing unread articles; you +can choose this filter by selecting +ViewFilter +Threads With Unread + + + + +Threads With New + +This filter shows only threads with newly-fetched articles; you +can choose this filter by selecting +ViewFilterThreads +With New + + + +Own articles + +This filter only articles you have published; you can choose +this filter by selecting +ViewFilterOwn +Articles + + + + +Threads With Own Articles + +This filter only shows threads containing articles you +have published; you can +choose this filter by selecting View +FilterOwn +Articles + + + + + + +For everyday use the unread filter is +propably the most useful: it shows all unread articles, including the +old ones. The other filters are very task-specific and are seldom used; +in the end it is a matter of taste which filter to select. + + + + + +The Article Window + +The article window shows the currently-selected article. You can +scroll in it like in a normal text editor window; the difference is +that you cannot change the article — it is for reading only. + +By pressing the &RMB; in the article viewer you can access the +important functions in the context menu very quickly. + +The window itself is divided in three areas; they are explained +in more detail now. + + +The Header + +This part shows the header lines or a part of the header. You +will recognize some information here from the article view; for +example, the subject and the address or name where the article +originated. When you click on the From: address, +&knode; opens an editor window where the email address of the author and +the subject of the referring article are already filled in for +you; this enables you to reply to the author directly from their +article. + +The appearance and content of the header shown by default +can be configured by choosing SettingsConfiguring +KNode...Reading +NewsHeaders; you can +find a more-detailed view on this in Configuring the Shown +Headers. + +By selecting +ViewShow all +headers you force &knode; to show the whole +header as is produced by the newsreader and newsservers; normally +you do not need this view: it needs a lot of space in the article +window. + +The last lines of the header contain, if necessary, some +references to other articles, shown as numbers in the range from 1 to +n. These References are the articles to which the current article refers: +the article labeled with 1 is the oldest article to which this article +refers; the article with the highest number is the most-recent article +to which the current article refers. + +When you click on a reference the corresponding article is loaded +and shown in the article view; if the article is no longer available +you will be informed by &knode;. This will happen if +the article has been deleted by the article management of &knode; due to +its age, or your news server decided to delete it from the newsgroup; +for details on how to get such an article, please refer to the +Frequently Asked Questions. + + +The first lines in an article, with the subject and author +information and so on, are called +headers. + + + + +The Body of the Article + +The body of the article follows straight after the header; it +is the actual message the author published in the newsgroup. Be aware +that some articles may contain quotes from other articles which are +not recognizable as quotes; this depends on the news editor the author +used and their article-formatting habits. + +&knode; provides some formatting which can be used by articles; +at the moment the available options are: + + +/italic/ +*bold* +_underlined_ + + +Do not use the highlighting too often; the impact decreases +the more it is used. + + +The main part of the message (the contents) is called the +body. + + +Most of the time a quote is indicated by a prefixed > on +every line; however, there are other possible signs. If you can not directly +recognize a quote the author did not obey the rules of proper +quoting. + +Also, it is usual to start an answer with a +introductionary line, something like: + + +On 12/25/2000 Santa Claus wrote: + + + +Normally you do not have to concern yourself with these introductionary +lines: &knode; does this automatically when you reply to an +article; to find out how to customize this line see +The Composer Settings +documentation. + + + +In SettingsConfigure +KNode...Reading +NewsAppearance you can +choose how the articles are shown. In particular, &knode; provides the +smart coloring of different reply levels; you can read more about this +in the chapter Configuring the +appearance. + + +&knode; only supports the coloring of quotes if the quoting +lines starts with special characters; you can configure these +characters at +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Reading +NewsViewer. + + +When the body of an article contains links to internet addresses +you can invoke an internet browser to display the web page it links to +by clicking on the link; details about configuring this feature can be +found in General news +settings. + + + + +The Signature + +Below the main text of an article you can find the signature of the +author, provided you did not disable signatures in +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Reading +NewsGeneral. The +signature is divided from the text by thin horizontal line. + + + + +Attachments and Multipart <acronym>MIME</acronym> +messages + +If an article contains attachments they are shown below the +signature in a table. + +The multipart MIME format allows the body of +an article to be sent in more than one format; for example, in plain-text +and in HTML. It depends on the newsreader which format +is used for reading the article. + +&knode; allows the different formats to be shown by selecting +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Reading +NewsViewerShow alternative +contents as attachments; when this option is +checked all alternative formats are shown as attachments and can be +opened and viewed. + +If this option is unchecked you will not be shown the different text +formats and &knode; decides which one should be shown. + + + + + + +Writing and Replying to Articles + +Before you start writing articles or replying to other Usenet +users be sure you understand the habits of the current +newsgroup; again, reading A Journey +Through Usenet would be a good idea. + +For testing the settings of &knode; please resist sending an +article to a random newsgroup; it is not very friendly to bother +people with test articles: what if you are subscribed to a newsgroup +and half of its articles only contain the word +test? It is like somebody calling you just to +testing their phone. + +This is the reason for the special groups having +test in their name; for example, +alt.test. In these groups you can test everything +you want without bothering anybody; some groups even send you error +messages back. + +Here you can easily identify obvious mistakes, like a missing or +a wrong e-mail address or a wrongly-configured charset which doesn't +show all special characters. + +You can find a selection of test groups in Test Groups. + +Subscribe to one of the test groups now; some news servers have +their own test groups, which are probably less crowded. + + +Remember, you have to download the articles of the new +subscribed group; this may take some time if there are many articles +in the group. The only +important articles are yours and the answers by the check handler; if +you want to reduce the number of articles fetched during the test you +can configure this in +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Reading +NewsGeneralMaximal number of +articles to fetch: if you reduce this +dramatically, you should not wait too long to fetch the new +articles after sending your test article; however, if it set too low +your article might not be fetched. A tolerably-fast news server should +provide your article right after you sent it; you might, however, have to +wait a while, at worst 1 or 2 days. Feel free to send another article +if cannot see your initial one; this is what the test groups are +for. + + + +When you are using a local news server the configuration of +Maximal number of articles to fetch in &knode; is +probably unnecessary; you should consult the documentation of your +news server instead. + + +If you did not encounter any errors unsubscribe from the +test groups and set Maximum number of articles to +fetch back to normal (1000). + + +Publishing Articles + +You have seen most of &knode; now, but have only used it +passively so far, so let's publish a test +article now. Select the new subscribed test group in the folder +view; then, with ArticlePost to +newsgroup...or the key P, +the Editor will be opened. + +You can use the &knode; Editor like a normal Texteditor; there +are some additional features for writing news articles though. + +In the editor window there are two input lines: one +for the subject, which is empty at the moment; and another for the +newsgroups this article is going to be posted to. + +Enter the text This is a test in the +subject field. + + +Normally, when you post an article, use a descriptive subject. Articles +without a descriptive subject are often ignored. Avoid subjects like +Help, it doesn't work !!!!! This subject gives no +information about the content of your article. + + +The Groups: field already contains the test +newsgroup you selected before; do not change this. + +Below the input field for the newsgroup +there is another inactive option field: this function is explained +later in the chapter The +editor; for now it is irrelevant. + +For simplicity reasons we will only use a simple +sentence; type: + + +This is the body of my test article. @ $ % + + +Then, enter an empty line, followed by: + + +Did it work? + + +This may look funny to you, but it does what it is supposed to +do — test your configuration.. + +Your article should now look like the screenshot below: + + +Your first article + + + + +Your first article + + +Your first article + + + + +If you are using &knode; with a local newsserver choose +FileSend +Now in the Editor; if you do not have a +connection to a newsserver at this point, you may want to send the +article later — you can achieve this by using +FileSend +Later — &knode; then stores this article +in the folder Outbox. You can start sending the +articles in the Outbox manually by selecting +FileSend pending +messages. + +After sending the article you will notice &knode; stores a copy +in the Sent folder. + +Depending on how fast your article is published in the according +newsgroup you can check the result after some time: mostly it is +sufficient to check for new messages immediately after sending the +article; be patient, though, it may take the article some +hours before reaching the newsgroup. If the article does not arrive +after a number of hours it is likely that something went wrong: try again; then, +if it is still not working, have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions. + + +Even when you are using a local news server, you have to check +for new articles: the local news server just sends the article, it does +not store it in the local newsgroup, so you have to synchronize with +an external news server if you want to see if your test article +has arrived. + + +If the article appears in the newsgroup +you are successful; now you should check if there is the correct +sender and if the article is readable. Have a look on your +language-specific characters like the German umlauts; if they are not +readable you have to change the coding at +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Posting +NewsTechnicalto +Allow 8-bit. Change this and repeat your +test. + +If everything is right you have successfully published your first +article in usenet with &knode;. + + + + +Post Reply + +After successfully publishing an article we will now answer to +your own article. You want to answer the question you asked, don't +you? + +Select your article in the article view and press the &RMB;: a +context menu will appear; choose Followup to +newsgroup. + +&knode; opens the Editor again, but this time there is already a +subject filled in for you. The subject line reads: + + +Re: This is a test + + +Re: is a shortcut for the Latin In +re, which translates to something along the lines of relating +to. You should not change the subject and, above all, the +Re:: most newsreaders sort threads by the +subject. + + +If you want to change the subject for some reason put the new +subject in front of the old and replace the Re: with a parenthesized +(Was: ... ); in our example this would look like + + +A new subject! (Was: This is a test) + + +With this kind of subject you show the other readers there is a +branch in the original discussion; this happens, for example, +when a new topic occurs in the original discussion or the original +subject has changed for some reason. + +If you answer to an article with such a subject, delete the +parenthesized part of the subject; the first part with a prefixed +Re: remains. + + +Re: A new subject! + + + +Let us have look at the Editor now. The contents of the article +to which we want to reply has already been copied to the Editor by &knode;; +to indicate the text is a quote every line is prefixed with a +>. + +In front of the quoted text &knode; has put an introduction +line: the content of this line refers to the original author; you can +change the standard text of this line in +SettingsConfigure +KNode...Posting +NewsComposerIntroduction +Phrase:. + +The original article contains the question: Did it +work? We want to answer this question now. + +Place the cursor below the quoted question and write in the next +line: + + +Yes it worked, congratulations! + + +We are not finished yet: it is considered polite to begin with +a greeting like Hello in the first line; whether you call the +author by their name or not depends on your habits, watch the +newsgroup to get used to the habits there. + +Next we delete all non-mandatory parts of the quoted article; in +our case, we delete all parts except the question. + +With such a short text this is unnecessary, but this just an +example: if you have to read a message 100 lines long again just to +find an I agree at the end you will +understand.... Aside from this, it makes articles smaller so they use +less space on the server. + +At the end we say good bye. + +This screenshot shows our answer before sending it. + + +Your answer to your article + + + + +Your answer to your article + + +Your answer to your article + + + + + +You can find a good guide for correct quoting at http://www.afaik.de/usenet/faq/zitieren +(German). + + +Now we still need to post our reply; like posting the original message +choose FileSend +now or the alternative +FileSend +later, if you're not online at the moment +and you're not using a local newsserver. If everything works +you will see your article in the newsgroup after a while; easy, isn't +it? + + +Using the Options menu you can configure whether +you want to send an email, a news article or both. + + + + +Mail Reply + +The Mail Reply follows the same lines as posting a reply in a +newsgroup; the only difference is that a mail reply is sent directly +to the author and does not appear in any newsgroup. + +Sometimes it is better to use an emailed reply instead of +posting a reply to newsgroup; they are used primarily for when you +want to correct an error or misconduct by the author, without hurting +their feelings by doing so publicly on the newsgroup. + +To answer with an e-mail select your article; again, +open the context menu with the right mouse button; and choose +Reply by Email: &knode; opens the Composer +with the quoted article. + +Subject and body are identical as when posting an article but +the Groups: field is replaced by a +To: field; here the author's email address +appears. In our example this should be your own email address, if +&knode; is set up correctly. + +For emails the same rules for quoting and politeness apply +as for posting an article in a newsgroup. + +After finishing your Reply, you can send it. + +The screenshot below shows the reply we distributed by email. + + +A Mail Reply + + + + +A Mail Reply + + +A Mail Reply + + + + + +The Mail Reply only works if you have used the correct settings in +SettingsConfigure +KNode...AccountsMail. + +Depending on the configuration of your computer, you will find +the reply in your mailbox; you might have to connect to your +ISP and fetch your new mail first though. + + + +On the Options menu you can configure whether +you want to send an email, a news article or both. + + + + + -- cgit v1.2.1