Electronic mail, also known as Email is part of an internationally linked network that allows people to exchange mail directly with other hosts on the network. The complete network name of PRIMUS is primushost.com. This is called a domain name and uniquely identifies the site on the international Internet.

The Email address of our sample customer Joe User is "joeuser@primushost.com". To determine your Email address, simply replace "joeuser" with your PRIMUS account name.

Pine is a sophisticated yet easy-to-use mail program. The first thing which one needs to know about Pine is that there is no longer any need to type `enter' or `carriage-return' to activate commands. Pine commands will be executed as soon as the keystroke is made. In addition, Pine is not case sensitive. Both upper case commands and lower case commands perform the same functions within the Pine menus.

To start Pine, type the command "pine" at the "shore%'' prompt. The very top line of the screen displays the current mode. Each mode corresponds to a mail function. There is a "Compose Message'' mode, for sending mail, a "View Mail'' mode, for reading mail, a "Mail Index'' mode for displaying the index of mail messages, and an "AddressBook'' mode, for managing an online address book. Using the "C" command from within Pine opens a message window. Address it using the domain type address i.e. breed@primushost.com. Notice that you may send copies (cc: line) and attach files as well.

To send the message use the Control key with the "x". Notice that the "^" indicates the Control key. As usual HELP is available by typing a "?."

Sending Files with Pine

The local host software can be used to prepare text for messages. These messages
must be created and stored on your account at the root level in an ascii text format.
Only ascii text messages may be included in mail messages (.hqx extension). Most
local host word processing software does not normally store in ascii text format. After
creating the ascii text file, the file must be uploaded to your home directory using the
"rz" or "rx" command and then inserted in Pine ``Compose Message'' with the Pine
command "Control-R". NOTE: To send binary documents, a special procedure is
required. When uploading or downloading, you must set the binary flag in the sx
command by attaching the "-b" flag i.e. "sx -b <filename>". Generally, the zmodem
protocol is smart enough to realize if a file is text or binary.

Receiving Files with Pine

The mail messages must first be stored in a temporary UNIX file by using the Pine
command "E" from the ``View Mail'' mode. This command is found in the ``Other
Commands'' menu when entering `O' in the ``View Mail'' mode. After completing the
mail session, the exported messages may be transferred to the local computer.
Multiple Email messages may be exported to one file. Each message will be appended
to the file, creating one document of all messages for easy download.

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