Make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing list

Make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing list

[Denis Bitouzé]

Hi,

I've just been told that when I reply (`r` or `F`) to a message from
a mailing list, the `To` is the original message sender's address
instead of the mailing list address, the latter being in the `Cc` field.

It appears that it should be enough to use `S L` to get the expected
behavior (the mailing list address in the `To` field, nothing in `Cc`),
but I'd like a unique keybinding for all the "reply" actions.

Hence my question: how could I make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when
replying to a message from a mailing list?

Thanks in anticipation.
-- 
Denis

Re: Make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing list

[Damien Wyart]

[ copy & fu2 gnus.emacs.gnus]

* Denis Bitouzé <dbitouze@wanadoo.fr> in gnu.emacs.help:
> I've just been told that when I reply (`r` or `F`) to a message from
> a mailing list, the `To` is the original message sender's address
> instead of the mailing list address, the latter being in the `Cc`
> field.

> It appears that it should be enough to use `S L` to get the expected
> behavior (the mailing list address in the `To` field, nothing in
> `Cc`), but I'd like a unique keybinding for all the "reply" actions.

> Hence my question: how could I make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when
> replying to a message from a mailing list?

If the lists have their own Gnus groups, I think the simplest solution
is to play with the corresponding group parameter to-address (and
broken-reply-to if needed). See:
https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/gnus/Group-Parameters.html

Else writing a custom replying function might be needed but I don't
think there exists a predefined funtion to check if a message is from
a mailing-list (checking List-Id and X-Mailing-List might be enough,
though).

-- 
DW

Re: Make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing list

[Emanuel Berg]

Denis Bitouzé <dbitouze@wanadoo.fr> writes:

> I've just been told that when I reply (`r` or `F`)
> to a message from a mailing list, the `To` is the
> original message sender's address instead of the
> mailing list address, the latter being in the `Cc`
> field.
>
> It appears that it should be enough to use `S L` to
> get the expected behavior (the mailing list address in
> the `To` field, nothing in `Cc`), but I'd like a
> unique keybinding for all the "reply" actions.
>
> Hence my question: how could I make `r` and `F` behave
> as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing
> list?

I just read this on gnu.emacs.gnus - where it was
quoted (although that message was a bit confusing as
well :) - did you see it?

You are using Gnus, so why not use the mailing lists
as newsgroups?

Or do you use mailing lists that aren't available as
newsgroups, and then mail-split them to sort-of
newsgroups?

But it doesn't really matter - if you found that `S L'
works (`S L' is
`gnus-summary-reply-to-list-with-original'), why don't
you just bind it to a shorter keystroke?

Or do you want it to be exactly `r' and `F', but have
them work transparently based on "is it a private
mail, or is it a listbot mail" DWIM-style?

That would have to involve extracting this from the
headers somehow if Gnus isn't capable to do this
already. In either case, isn't it a lot of work for
such a small gain? Why don't use `S L', or rebind it
to a single key?

-- 
underground experts united

Re: Make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing list

[Denis Bitouzé]

Le 07/11/14 à 00h45, Emanuel Berg <embe8573-oe7qfRrRQfc4M/bo5TPICw@public.gmane.org> a écrit :

> Denis Bitouzé <dbitouze-39ZsbGIQGT5GWvitb5QawA@public.gmane.org> writes:
>
>> I've just been told that when I reply (`r` or `F`)
>> to a message from a mailing list, the `To` is the
>> original message sender's address instead of the
>> mailing list address, the latter being in the `Cc`
>> field.
>>
>> It appears that it should be enough to use `S L` to
>> get the expected behavior (the mailing list address in
>> the `To` field, nothing in `Cc`), but I'd like a
>> unique keybinding for all the "reply" actions.
>>
>> Hence my question: how could I make `r` and `F` behave
>> as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing
>> list?
>
> I just read this on gnu.emacs.gnus - where it was
> quoted

Quoted?

> (although that message was a bit confusing as well :)

Did I something wrong? :)

>  - did you see it?
>
> You are using Gnus, so why not use the mailing lists
> as newsgroups?

See below.

> Or do you use mailing lists that aren't available as
> newsgroups, and then mail-split them to sort-of
> newsgroups?

Indeed: I receive them in my main INBOX.

> But it doesn't really matter - if you found that `S L'
> works (`S L' is
> `gnus-summary-reply-to-list-with-original'), why don't
> you just bind it to a shorter keystroke?

Indeed, but I'd like a single keybinding for all the "reply" actions.

> Or do you want it to be exactly `r' and `F', but have
> them work transparently based on "is it a private
> mail, or is it a listbot mail" DWIM-style?

Exactly! :)

> That would have to involve extracting this from the
> headers somehow if Gnus isn't capable to do this
> already.

As answered to Damien, a further check at the list's headers puzzled me:
`Reply-To:` is the list address, not the sender's one. Why Gnus doesn't
take it into account when I reply with `r` or `F`?

> In either case, isn't it a lot of work for such a small gain?

I'm so lazy that I love work hard in order to be able to be (lazy) ;)

> Why don't use `S L',

Because I'm likely to forget to use this different keybinding when
appropriate.

> or rebind it to a single key?

Okay, but I'd like it to be one the "usual" ones: `r` or `F`.
-- 
Denis

Re: Make `r` and `F` behave as `S L` when replying to a message from a mailing list

[Emanuel Berg]

Denis Bitouzé <dbitouze@wanadoo.fr> writes:

> Meanwhile, I noticed that `R` gives the expected
> result (To: is the mailing address). But what is
> still annoying me is to be careful to the keybinding
> I have to use depending on whether I'm answering a
> mail or a usenet article.

Yes, I agree that isn't good. In terms of programming,
it is super-easy to fix as well. It is more an issue
of knowing the domains (mails, listbots, news, and
Gnus), which might not be that easy... like, at all!

> Unfortunately, elisp is not my mother tongue.
> Suppose I'd like to use `R` as unique keybinding
> both in `debian.user` group (mailing list) and in
> `nntp+gmane:gmane.emacs.gnus.user` group (usenet
> forum), what would be the corresponding code?

Again, Elisp doesn't have to be your mother tongue for
this. However, if you are a perfectionist (as I am, so
I'm not criticizing) perhaps you should make it your
mother tongue...

But try this:

(require 'gnus-msg)

(defun gnus-article-reply-dwim ()
  (interactive)
  (if (gnus-article-header-value "X-Mailing-List")
      (gnus-summary-reply-to-list-with-original 1)
    (gnus-article-followup-with-original) ))

(defun gnus-article-header-value (header)
  "Get the value of HEADER for the current article."
  (with-current-buffer gnus-original-article-buffer
    (gnus-fetch-field header) ))

I just wrote and tried it, and it worked for
debian.user (mailing list), alt.test (newsgroup), and
a couple of inbox love letters (ordinary mail). It
will work for ordinary mails and newsgroups, because
that is the plain old
`gnus-article-followup-with-original'. However I'm not
sure if all mailing lists respect the X-Mailing-List
header...? (Could be a place to add more such tests
and OR them.)

Also, I don't know what the 1 argument to
`gnus-summary-reply-to-list-with-original' means
because that isn't in the documentation, and I didn't
feel like tracing it. It probably (?) has to do with
doing things to several messages. I don't know if that
should be 0 or 1 in this case.

Last, `gnus-summary-reply-to-list-with-original' is in
gnus-msg, and not gnus-sum. Just mentioning it as it
looks a bit confusing :)

-- 
underground experts united