The purpose of this handout is to answer some questions that have been raised during the past few days both in the class and on the class newsgroup. If the questions are answered here, I shall not be answering them once again on the newsgroup. Hopefully, after reading this handout, by next week all of you should feel quite comfortable using the newsgroup. Please post all future questions to the newsgroup.

Rationale for using unix in the class as opposed to some other platform:

Since there is no account management in the School of Business network, it is not possible to use it as a medium for you to communicate with each other during the semester. While you are most welcome to use cnsvax for the purposes of e-mail and newsgroup, I chose unix mainly because it is the platform of choice for most software development & education,, and in enterprise computing where accounting is involved. In fact, according to one study (IDC, 1997; Digital Age, March 1997, p.12), 80 per cent of all enterprise servers currently are unix based, and they are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 20 percent. over the next several years. Some knowledge of using it is not likely to hurt any one.

What is the difference between vax and unix?

VAX/VMS and unix are operating systems just as Windows95, WindowsNT, and Macintosh System7 are.

What is the difference between vax and pine?

VAX/VMX is an operating system (like Windows95 or MS-DOS), whereas pine is a specific application (ie., a program) that runs on many operating systems including VAX/VMS and unix. Pine is an e-mail application.

What is the difference between pine and elm?

Both pine and elm are e-mail applications that run under both VAX/VMS and unix. While elm is older, pine is becoming quite popular since it is much easier to use. You are most welcome to use either, though most of you may like to use pine because,

• while elm requires one to know how to use a text editor (such as emacs or vi), pine does not.
• it is possible to access newsgroup within pine, whereas in elm you need to exit and use Pnews, trn, etc.

At any time, inside pine, you can get help by typing
h.

How do I use pine for reading (posting) of (to) class newsgroup?

While in pine folder list,

• select
  [ Select Here to See Expanded List ]
  You will be given a list of newsgroups that you have subscribed to. You can search through the list by using the cursor keys.
• If you do not find the class group in the list, simply type A to add the newsgroup. You will get the prompt:
  Enter newsgroup name (or partial name to get a list): <to get a list):
  You can now enter the name of the newsgroup you want to subscribe to.
• Once you select the newsgroup you want to read, you will be presented with a list of the postings to the newsgroup. Now you can reply to the postings.

I would like to use elm. What do I do?

Please see me during office hours. I will be more than happy to show you how to use elm.

Why the Unix Handbook does not contain anything about using pine?

At least the Handbook I have is dated 1994. Pine was installed later. If you see fairly new version of Vax or Unix Handbook, you might find a short description.

Updated on September 17, 1997 by Jagdish S. Gangolly.