


          ()                                                             ()














                                EEllmm FFoorrmmss MMooddee GGuuiiddee



                     _W_h_a_t _F_o_r_m_s _M_o_d_e _i_s_, _h_o_w _t_o _u_s_e _i_t _t_o _c_r_e_a_t_e
                   _c_u_s_t_o_m _f_o_r_m_s_, _h_o_w _t_o _r_e_p_l_y _t_o _f_o_r_m_s_, _a_n_d _h_o_w _t_o
                            _u_s_e _i_t _f_o_r _A_T_&_T _M_a_i_l _m_e_s_s_a_g_e_s



                                 The Elm Mail System
                                    (Version 2.4)


                           Syd Weinstein, Elm Coordinator
                               Datacomp Systems, Inc.
                                   3837 Byron Road
                          Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006-2320

                          email: elm@DSI.COM  or  dsinc!elm
















                       ((CC)) Copyright 1986,1987 by Dave Taylor
                ((CC)) Copyright 1988-1992 by The USENET Community Trust







                                                                          1





          ()                                                             ()









                            AA GGuuiiddee ttoo FFoorrmmss MMooddee iinn EEllmm

                         (The Elm Mail System, Version 2.4)

                                   October 1, 1992


                                    Syd Weinstein
                               Datacomp Systems, Inc.
                                   3837 Byron Road
                          Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006-2320

                          email: elm@DSI.COM  or  dsinc!elm


                                    Derived from
                         "The Elm Mail System, Version 2.0"
                                         by
                                     Dave Taylor
                                  Intuitive Systems
                              Mountain View, California
                    email: taylor@intuitive.com  or  limbo!taylor



          While there are a lot of mail systems that allow the transmission
          of text and primitive pictures, to send and reply to more complex
          forms  is simply not possible.  EEllmm, however, took the forms mode
          implemented as part of the AT&T Mail package and has expanded  on
          it to be a smoothly fit part of the overall mail system.

          Forms mode gives you the ability to send `template' files to peo-
          ple and receive the filled-in replies.1 _1_. _n_o_t_e _t_h_a_t _t_h_i_s _f_e_a_t_u_r_e
          _a_s_s_u_m_e_s  _t_h_a_t  _t_h_e  _p_e_r_s_o_n _o_n _t_h_e _o_t_h_e_r _e_n_d _i_s _a_l_s_o _u_s_i_n_g _t_h_e _E_l_m
          _m_a_i_l _s_y_s_t_e_m _a_n_d _t_h_a_t _b_o_t_h _y_o_u_r_s_e_l_f _a_n_d _t_h_e _p_e_r_s_o_n  _o_n  _t_h_e  _o_t_h_e_r
          _e_n_d _h_a_v_e _t_h_e_i_r _u_s_e_r _l_e_v_e_l_s _i_n _t_h_e _E_l_m _o_p_t_i_o_n_s _s_c_r_e_e_n _s_e_t _t_o _s_o_m_e_-
          _t_h_i_n_g _o_t_h_e_r _t_h_a_n _B_e_g_i_n_n_e_r_.  Let's look at an example right off.

          Say we were going to use computer mail as a way to  file  defects
          with  software.  There is a certain amount of information we want
          to be able to collect when each report is made, and if it is in a
          specific  format  we  can  use  programs to file the defects upon
          receipt.

          The form we'll try to emulate starts out looking like:





                                                                          1





          ()                                                             ()


                                DDeeffeecctt RReeppoorrttiinngg FFoorrmm

          PPrrooggrraamm:: ____________________________                         VVeerrssiioonn:: ________________
          OOppeerraattiinngg SSyysstteemm:: __________                         VVeerrssiioonn:: ________________

          DDeeffeecctt TTyyppee:: ____________________

          DDaattee FFoouunndd:: ______________________                 BByy WWhhoomm:: ____________________________
          DDaattee RReeppoorrtteedd:: ________________                 PPhhoonnee:: ________________________________

          DDeessccrriippttiioonn:: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
          ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
          ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
          ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

          This form can actually be created almost exactly as listed  above
          in the EEllmm mail system by using your standard editor and can then
          be mailed about as needed.

          Let's say that we want a bit  more  information,  however,  espe-
          cially  with fields like ``Defect Type'', we want to list all the
          recommended answers.  To create the actual form, we  need  merely
          to  replace  the  underlines  in the above form with spaces.  The
          multi-line comments can simply be indicated by a `:' by itself on
          a line;


                                DDeeffeecctt RReeppoorrttiinngg FFoorrmm

          PPrrooggrraamm::                                        VVeerrssiioonn::
          OOppeerraattiinngg SSyysstteemm::                               VVeerrssiioonn::

          ((VVaalliidd DDeeffeecctt TTyyppeess aarree:: uusseerr--eerrrroorr,, ddoocc--eerrrroorr,, ffaattaall,, ootthheerr))
          DDeeffeecctt TTyyppee::

          DDaattee FFoouunndd::                               BByy WWhhoomm::
          DDaattee RReeppoorrtteedd::                            PPhhoonnee::

          DDeessccrriippttiioonn
          ::

          TThhaannkk yyoouu ffoorr ffiilllliinngg iinn tthhiiss ffoorrmm..

          ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

          As we can see, it is quite simple to create forms!!


          Now that we have an idea what we're talking about, let's actually
          officially define the system...







                                                                          2





          ()                                                             ()


          [Note that this is all  taken  from  the  document  _S_t_a_n_d_a_r_d  _f_o_r
          _E_x_c_h_a_n_g_i_n_g _F_o_r_m_s _o_n _A_T_&_T _M_a_i_l, Version 1.9 of 6/7/86, from AT&T]

          The  forms mode is really quite simple.  Simple enough that it is
          amazing that it hadn't been implemented  before  AT&T  Mail  came
          along!!

          In  a  nutshell,  each  field is delimited by a `:' followed by a
          number of blank spaces or tabs that represent the valid size  for
          that field.  That is, if we have a line in the form like;
               ``Phone (area-code):     Number:          ''
          The  area-code  field will be limited to three characters and the
          number to nine.  (this is kind of hard to see  with  the  propor-
          tionally spaced formatted copy, alas).  The only exception to the
          rule is that a `:' by itself on a line represents a field that is
          as large as the user entering the data desires.

          The  actual form that is transmitted, in AT&T Mail parlance, is a
          ``SIMPLE'' forms handler message (as opposed to the  ``ADVANCED''
          handler).  This means that it contains three sections;
               _T_h_e _M_e_s_s_a_g_e _H_e_a_d_e_r
               [[OOPPTTIIOONNSS--SSEECCTTIIOONN]]
               ******
               [[FFOORRMMSS--IIMMAAGGEE]]
               ******
               [[RRUULLEESS--SSEECCTTIIOONN]]
          EEllmm  generates  form messages with the ``options'' section filled
          out, but ignores it when receiving mail.  The filled out  section
          is:
               WWIIDDTTHH==8800
               TTYYPPEE==SSIIMMPPLLEE
               OOUUTTPPUUTT==TTEEXXTT
          The  FORMS-IMAGE  section  is  that  described above.  The RULES-
          SECTION can contain explicit rules about the possible  values  of
          each  field, but this is currently ignored by EEllmm, being a ``SIM-
          PLE'' forms mode mail system.

          Forms also have the header ``Content-Type: mailform'' to indicate
          to the mail system (either EEllmm or AT&T Mail) that a form is being
          sent.

          EEllmm further indicates that a form has been received by having  an
          ``F''  as  the  status  character  in  the header display section
          (instead of ``N'' for new, etc).

          The first step to enable sending forms is to change  the  setting
          of the variable _f_o_r_m_s in your _._e_l_m_/_e_l_m_r_c file to ``ON''.  E.g.:
               forms = ON
          The  next  step  is  to send the message to someone using the `m'
          (_m_a_i_l) command.  This then will drop you into an editor.  Type in
          the  form  as  indicated  above, with appropriate colons and com-
          ments, and end the entry by leaving the editor.

          The prompt is now;



                                                                          3





          ()                                                             ()


         CChhoooossee:: EE))ddiitt mmssgg,, eeddiitt HH))eeaaddeerrss,, MM))aakkee ffoorrmm,, SS))eenndd oorr FF))oorrggeett :: @@
          so we choose `m' -- _M_a_k_e _f_o_r_m.   The  program  then  will  either
          rewrite the prompt without the M)ake form option, indicating that
          the form has been accepted, or will indicate the problem and give
          you a chance to correct it.

          Once  it  has been accepted, simple use the `s' -- _s_e_n_d _m_e_s_s_a_g_e -
          command and it's off!

          _N_o_t_e _t_h_a_t _y_o_u _c_a_n_n_o_t _r_e_p_l_y _t_o _a _m_e_s_s_a_g_e _w_i_t_h _a _F_o_r_m_.

          Let's reply to the form message we  generated  now.   The  header
          page  of  the EEllmm mail system will indicate that the message is a
          form by having an `F' next to it.  So we use `r' to reply and the
          screen is immediately cleared and we're prompted, field by field,
          for the data requested.  Each field has underscores in the  input
          area to indicate the size field that is expected.

          After  answering all the questions we'll have a screen that looks
          like;


                                DDeeffeecctt RReeppoorrttiinngg FFoorrmm

           PPrrooggrraamm::  TThhee EEllmm MMaaiill SSyysstteemm___________
           Version:  11..55___________________________
           Operating System:  HHPP--UUXX_________________________
           Version:  55..114411 CC_______________________

           (Valid Defect Types are: user-error, doc-error, fatal, other)
           Defect Type:  ffaattaall_____________________________________________

           Date Found:  1100//99//8866_______________________
           By Whom:  DDaavvee TTaayylloorr___________________
           Date Reported:  1100//99//8866_______________________
           Phone:  ((441155)) 885577--66888877________________

           Description
           (Enter as many lines as needed, ending with a `.' by itself on a
          line)
             WWhheenn rruunnnniinngg iitt oonn aa CCPPMM ssyysstteemm II ccaannnnoott ccoommppiillee ssuucccceessssffuullllyy..
             ..
               Choose: E)dit form, edit H)eaders, S)end or F)orget : @
           Thank you for filling in this form.
          __________________________________________________________________

          Quite  simple.   Notice,  however, that the order of prompting is
          left to right on each line, so the fields that on  the  form  are
          placed  in  what  seems  like  a  logical place, ``By Whom:'' and
          ``Phone:'' turn out to be confusing when filling  in  the  actual
          form  since  it  isn't  clear  what ``Phone:'' is being asked for
          because of the intervention of the ``Date Reported:'' field.

          The message that will actually be sent out from  this  will  have



                                                                          4





          ()                                                             ()


          the fields in a more acceptable format;
























































                                                                          5





          ()                                                             ()


           WWIIDDTTHH==8800
           TTYYPPEE==SSIIMMPPLLEE
           OOUUTTPPUUTT==TTEEXXTT
                                DDeeffeecctt RReeppoorrttiinngg FFoorrmm
           ******

           PPrrooggrraamm:: TThhee EEllmm MMaaiill SSyysstteemm                     VVeerrssiioonn:: 11..55
           OOppeerraattiinngg SSyysstteemm:: HHPP--UUXX                          VVeerrssiioonn:: 55..114411 CC

           ((VVaalliidd DDeeffeecctt TTyyppeess aarree:: uusseerr--eerrrroorr,, ddoocc--eerrrroorr,, ffaattaall,, ootthheerr))
           DDeeffeecctt TTyyppee:: ffaattaall

           DDaattee FFoouunndd:: 1100//99//8866                      BByy WWhhoomm:: DDaavvee TTaayylloorr
           DDaattee RReeppoorrtteedd:: 1100//99//8866                   PPhhoonnee:: ((441155)) 885577--66888877

           DDeessccrriippttiioonn

              WWhheenn  rruunnnniinngg  iitt  oonn  aa CCPPMM ssyysstteemm II ccaannnnoott ccoommppiillee ssuucccceessss--
          ffuullllyy..

           TThhaannkk yyoouu ffoorr ffiilllliinngg iinn tthhiiss ffoorrmm..
           ******
          ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


          As was said at the beginning, this way  of  sending  about  forms
          could  prove  to  be very helpful and useful in a variety of con-
          texts.  On the other hand, until a more sophisticated forms  lan-
          guage  is used for the forms, this should be sufficient to embody
          the power of the idea.

          I welcome any comments and thoughts on this system and also  wel-
          come possible enhancements.

          I  also gratefully thank Dale DeJager of AT&T Information Systems
          for sending me more information on AT&T Mail than I could  possi-
          bly digest in any finite amount of time.




















                                                                          6


