Re: Emacs Manual: Mail sending via SMTP

[Simon Josefsson]

address@hidden (Kai Großjohann) writes:

> Simon Josefsson <address@hidden> writes:
>
>>    Sending mail via SMTP requires configuring your mail user agent
>> (see *note Mail Methods::) to use the SMTP library.  How to do this should be
>> described for each mail user agent; for the Message and Gnus user
>> agents the variable `message-send-mail-function' (see *note Mail Variables: 
>> (message)Mail Variables.)
>> is used.
>>
>>    The variable `send-mail-function' controls how the default mail user
>> agent sends mail.  It should be set to a function.  The default is
>> `sendmail-send-it', but must be set to `smtpmail-send-it' in order to
>> use the SMTP library.  `feedmail-send-it' is another option.
>
> How about putting some example code there?  Something like this:
>
>     If you use RMAIL, the first line will enable the SMTP library; if
>     you use Gnus, the second will do:
>
>         (setq send-mail-function 'smtpmail-send-it)
>         (setq message-send-mail-function 'smtpmail-send-it)
>
> That way, people can copy and paste easily.

Good idea, added.  Also, it was suggested to split out the SMTP
section into a separate file, so I have done that.  I made some other
changes too.

> Also, I wonder if it would be useful to give it a little bit more
> structure, visually?  For example, you could talk about the concepts
> in normal paragraphs, but then use a description list for explaining
> each variable.  Also, maybe it would be useful to have a subheading
> for the part that talks about authentication.  That would make it
> easier for people to find it.

Yup.  Done.

> And finally, I'm not sure about the policy regarding `esoteric'
> variables.  It's possible that these should normally be documented in
> the manual.  Then the description list format would be ideal for
> doing that (possibly under an "esoteric variables" heading).

Since it is now a standalone manual, I think everything that we can
say about the library is appropriate.