R)ead: The command that you will use to read messages named the
R)ead command.  You can specify the messages you want to read
by text in the header (to/from/subject) and by the number(s) of the 
message(s) that you would like to read after you press the "R" key. You 
will also see the range of messages that are currently available to be 
read.  The most commonly useful options for specifying what messages are

  S (or *) =  forward from where you last read (since last read)
  M        =  your mail specifically addressed to you
  xxxx-    =  backward from message number xxxx
  xxxx+    =  forward from message number xxxx
  <text>   =  only messages with <text> in the subject/to/from fields

You also have several time-saving conventions at your fingertips:

a. You can stack the "R" command with message numbers. For example, you 
can enter "r 10 14" from the Main Menu to read messages 10 and 14.  

b. A "+" sign will display a series of messages in chronological order. 
For instance, "R 19+" will display message 19 and all subsequently 
entered messages. "R 10 14 32+" will read messages 10, 14, 32 and all 
messages beyond 32. A "-" sign will display messages in reverse 
chronological order. For example, "r;32-" will cause message 32 and all 
preceding messages to be read.  

c. You can designate that only personal messages are to be read by 
embedding an "m" in a stacked command. For example, "r;10;14;M;32+" will 
cause messages 10, 14, and all personal messages with numbers of 32 or 
greater to be read. 

d. People often forget from one session to the next the numbers of the 
messages that they have read. Fortunately, RBBS-PC has a better (or 
different kind of) memory for such details. An S or asterick (*) used
with an "R" command will read only those messages that have 
been entered since the date of your last logon. For instance, assume 
that during your last session you read up through message 27 (the most 
recent message on the system at that time). If you type "r;*" at the 
Main Menu, reading will begin at message 28 and proceed in chronological 
order to the most recently entered message. "R;*;M" will display all 
personal messages addressed to you since the last time you logged on.  

e. You can select messages based on the presence of any string in
who the message is from, who it is to, and what the subject is.  Using
"basic" as the text will get you all messages that mention "basic" in
the header. If you want to search for text that includes blank or
that begins with a number, you must put the text inside quotes.  E.g.
                    r "16" 2000+
will read all messages with "16" in the header, for messages number
2000 and higher.

The "More" prompt will appear after a message is read. You will then 
make one of the following selections: 
 N:  if you do not wish to display additional messages.            
 Y:  or [Enter] to continue to read or scan messages.
 RE: to enter a reply to the current message without having to go to the 
     main menu.
 K:  to erase a message before continuing.
 NS: to scan all messages referenced in your read command nonstop.

Tips:  
1. Messages are numbered consecutively so that the most recently entered 
messages have the highest numbers.  

2. You can rapidly identify the messages you would like to read with the 
S)can and P)ersonal mail commands.  

