What Is MAILBOOK?

MailBook, based on more than twenty years of experience with electronic mail for IBM VM/CMS systems, is the premiere electronic mail package for connecting VM systems to the Internet. MailBook includes two commands:
  • MAIL
  • MAILBOOK

MAIL

The MAIL command reads and sends electronic mail (email).

Reading mail

MAIL's incoming mailbox (inbox) is the standard CMS virtual reader, not a separate virtual machine like the OfficeVision inbox server. If inbox email exists, MAIL scans reader files and builds a menu of inbox messages. Items can then be selected for display. The sortable and searchable menu can be limited in various ways, including by date ranges.

Inbox messages can be acted upon in several way: saved in NOTEBOOK files, deleted, printed, replied to, or forwarded.Sending Mail

Sending mail

The MAIL command also sends email. Users can easily send email to one or multiple recipients, either typing the email message to send or including one or more CMS files. Email can be sent to local system users or, if connected to the Internet, to users of systems around the world.

MAILBOOK

The MAILBOOK command manages the NOTEBOOK files created by the MAIL command. MAILBOOK uses the same user interface as the MAIL command, but works with messages stored in NOTEBOOK files instead of the user's inbox.

NOTEBOOK messages can be acted upon in several ways: copied or moved to other NOTEBOOKs, deleted, printed, replied to, or forwarded.

MailBook Features

  • Year2000 Compliant

    MailBook has been designed to be fully Year2000 compliant.

  • MIME Support

    MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions), an Internet standard for email, specifies how to encode information beyond standard text composed of the 95-character "US-ASCII" character set. This standard has been implemented for many different computing environments. MailBook provides this long-awaited facility to VM/CMS users.

  • Easy to use

    MailBook interacts consistently with users. A command line is always available, as is a menu bar with pull-down menus for most actions. Comprehensive context-sensitive help information is always available. Pop-up windows simplify specifying or selecting options.

  • Mail Delivery

    Depending on system connectivity, MailBook can use a transport agent, such as IBM's SMTP server, for delivering outgoing email. MailBook can deliver email directly from CMS to RSCS networks. Other third-party email transport agents, such as the LMAIL program from L-Soft International, Inc. can also deliver email.

  • Customization

    MailBook can easily be customized at the installation and the individual user levels. Comprehensive options allow defining everything from organization name to individual function key meanings. These options may be set via easy-to-use pop-up windows. In addition, for complex needs which may involve dynamically deciding option values, REXX programs can set all options. Numerous user exits can perform specialized operations during processing incoming or outgoing email. Option settings may be temporary or permanent.

Prerequisites

MailBook requires no software products beyond an IBM-supported version of VM/CMS, from VM/SP to z/VM. If a REXX compiler is available, much of MailBook can be compiled for enhanced performance.

Delivery and Installation

MailBook is delivered in electronic form to Internet-connected sites. An easy-to-use program provides a simple installation process.

Charges

MailBook is offered in two versions. For complete information about charges, see the MailBook Fee Schedule.