Re: combining idata files

> [email protected]:

> Does anyone have a program or script which will allow me to:
> 
> 1) "subtract" completely a folder from the idata file, and
> 2) "add" a folder or folders from another idata file into the main idata
>    file.

not too difficult, but it depends on which type of folder your mailer uses.

lets assume they are what unix called `mbox' in the old ages.  then you
need a utility to split it into single messages, like `formail', which
comes with procmail, or maildrops reformail(1).  then you go like:

  formail -s ifile -d FOLDER < mail/FOLDER

it's still easier with maildir type folders, then it's just:

  ifile -d FOLDER maildir/FOLDER/*

you'd backup your .idata first, i guess ...   :)

adding a complete folder back in is the reverse operation, you would only
use the `-i' option instead of `-d'.  if you want to completely silence the
operation, add the `-v0' option.  if you want to follow the operation closely
and use up much electricity, you'd change that to `-v4' :)

> It would be even nicer if I could combine idata files, adding words where
> necessary and adding frequency counts appropriately, but that may be a bit
> more tricky.

you could do that with a simple editor, but this *is* tricky, as you would
have to keep .idata's format consistent.

you could try something like this:

  echo word | ifile -d FOLDER

to subtract one word from that folder.

note that this is all unix-slang here.

-- 
clemens fischer