Confused: F5 v. Synchronize v. Catch Up for NGs

After subscribing to a NG, I leave the default most "Don't Synchronize".

Then, whenever I select the NG from the Folders list or I press F5 if the NG
is already selected, this seems to do what I want, namely: update the NG
with headers only for new messages.

What do Synchronize and Catch Up do differently?

Also....

What's the difference between the various Synchronize modes, namely: All
Messages, New Messages Only, and Headers Only?

First, those terms are not mutually exclusive. Does "Headers Only" mean
"All Headers Only", or does it mean "New Message Headers Only"?

Second, when I set "New Messages Only", I believe only headers are
downloaded. I infer that from the fact that when I right-click on a new
message, Properties is grayed-out. I cannot click on Properties until I
double-click the message to read it. (Note: I have deselected Show Preview
Pane.)

Well, the truth is: I do not see any difference between Synchronize New
Messages Only and F5. But that might be because I do not know how/when
Synchronize operates.

Finally....

I believe there are circumstances where OE will delete messages (headers) in
the cache if those messages are no longer on the serve.

Does that always happen? Or does it depend on one or more options that I
select?

If the latter, which options control that behavior? In particular, is it
related to the Synchronize or Catch Up feature?

What do Synchronize and Catch Up do...?

Synchronizing downloads messages from the server that haven't been download
yet (per your settings in Tools | Options | Read | Get XX headers at a time;
see below).

Catch Up will mark as read all messages on the server, including those you
haven't downloaded yet.

What's the difference between the various Synchronize modes, namely: All
Messages, New Messages Only, and Headers Only?

Don't worry about that. Just select All Messages and everything'll be fine
(but see below first).

You will not be able to access a newsgroup or mail message's Properties
without having download the message body.

I believe there are circumstances where OE will delete messages (headers)
in
the cache if those messages are no longer on the serve.

OE will only display (make available) messages that are on the server. If a
message has been removed from the server, it will be removed in OE the next
time OE connects to (synchronizes with) the server.

You're accessing this newsgroup via the free MS newserver. Messages on that
server are archived for a minimum of 90 days. Other newsservers can have a
much higher or very much lower retention period. (Some delete messages
after 24 hours.)

If you want to archive a newsgroup post for reference later on, Copy the
message to a local OE folder.

===========================

Tools | Options | Read | Get XXX headers at a time

The default is 300. You may set this option as high as 1,000. Right-click
on the newsgroup in Folders pane | Synchronization Settings | select New
Messages Only. Now every time you open the newsgroup (or hit F5), you will
download the next-newest set of headers/messages..

When you feel you've downloaded enough headers/messages, again right-click
on the newsgroup in Folders pane and select Catch Up Now. This will Mark as
Read all messages on the server, including ones you've not yet downloaded.
Now return to "Get XXX headers at a time" and uncheck the option completely;
then compact the folder.

From now on, OE will only download headers/messages posted to the server
since you last checked (polled) for messages.

You should probably visit this page, too:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#cleannews (lotsa good stuff
there).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


JoeU2004 wrote:
After subscribing to a NG, I leave the default most "Don't Synchronize".

Then, whenever I select the NG from the Folders list or I press F5 if the
NG
is already selected, this seems to do what I want, namely: update the NG
with headers only for new messages.

What do Synchronize and Catch Up do differently?

Also....

What's the difference between the various Synchronize modes, namely: All
Messages, New Messages Only, and Headers Only?

First, those terms are not mutually exclusive. Does "Headers Only" mean
"All Headers Only", or does it mean "New Message Headers Only"?

Second, when I set "New Messages Only", I believe only headers are
downloaded. I infer that from the fact that when I right-click on a new
message, Properties is grayed-out. I cannot click on Properties until I
double-click the message to read it. (Note: I have deselected Show
Preview
Pane.)

Well, the truth is: I do not see any difference between Synchronize New
Messages Only and F5. But that might be because I do not know how/when
Synchronize operates.

Finally....

I believe there are circumstances where OE will delete messages (headers)
in
the cache if those messages are no longer on the serve.

Does that always happen? Or does it depend on one or more options that I
select?

If the latter, which options control that behavior? In particular, is it
related to the Synchronize or Catch Up feature?

"JoeU2004" wrote in message ...
After subscribing to a NG, I leave the default most "Don't Synchronize".

Then, whenever I select the NG from the Folders list or I press F5 if the NG
is already selected, this seems to do what I want, namely: update the NG
with headers only for new messages.


I think you mean more than "selected". E.g. I would only expect that
to happen if the newsgroup was already *open* and its message list
pane had focus. If so, I think that F5 would have the same effect
as exiting and re-entering the newsgroup, thus requesting an implicit
Get next... with whatever number that might be, if that option is enabled,
or requesting all new message headers according to the ones that you
have already seen. If you hadn't already seen some, e.g. by having done
a Reset newsgroup without entering the newsgroup or already being
in the newsgroup, that could mean that you would get them all.



What do Synchronize and Catch Up do differently?


Allow you to refer to message numbers outside the range that Get next...
implies. Use troubleshooting logging and observe how the message
numbers are used in XOVER requests after 211 responses to GROUP
requests to see that difference.



Also....

What's the difference between the various Synchronize modes, namely: All
Messages, New Messages Only, and Headers Only?


All Messages is the only one which allows you to go back beyond
whatever your Get next may have shown you. In practical terms
the most useful effect of this is that it allows you to fill in the holes
for any headers only which may dribble in while you use a newsgroup
while working online. E.g. otherwise you have to mark such messages
for download in order to see their bodies, either implicitly, e.g. by
using the Preview pane or by marking them with the Watched Conversation
attribute, or explicitly, by using the Download Message Later command.



First, those terms are not mutually exclusive. Does "Headers Only" mean
"All Headers Only", or does it mean "New Message Headers Only"?

Second, when I set "New Messages Only", I believe only headers are
downloaded. I infer that from the fact that when I right-click on a new
message, Properties is grayed-out. I cannot click on Properties until I
double-click the message to read it. (Note: I have deselected Show Preview
Pane.)


Without using a Synchronize command? You are observing the headers
that a Get next (automatic or manual) would have done for you.

BTW you actually can see some headers from just a header if you force
the header to open in its own window, e.g. while Work Offline is set.



Well, the truth is: I do not see any difference between Synchronize New
Messages Only and F5. But that might be because I do not know how/when
Synchronize operates.


Yes. Avoid entering the newsgroup before you apply the command
or, if you want to enter the newsgroup before applying the command
set Work Offline or don't be connected. Then you will see that New
Messages Only will download both headers and bodies for new messages.

Caveat: there used to be a bug associated with a synchronize command
other than Synchronize All when there were messages marked with
the Watched Conversation attribute which would result in fewer headers
being downloaded than would be available if that attribute was not being
used. I'm not certain whether that bug has been fixed or perhaps fixed
and regressed. I always still use Synchronize All to avoid its possibility.
Search for previous posts by me which refer to "Loose Catch-Up" for
more information. The bug still definitely exists in the other OE spinoffs,
WinMail and WLMail.



Finally....

I believe there are circumstances where OE will delete messages (headers) in
the cache if those messages are no longer on the serve.

Does that always happen? Or does it depend on one or more options that I
select?


It only happens when the server implies that the lowest message number
is now something higher than it was previously. So, if the server never
changes its lowest message number, OE can continue to cache messages
even if the server has actually flushed them from its archive.



If the latter, which options control that behavior? In particular, is it
related to the Synchronize or Catch Up feature?


Neither. There is nothing you can do to prevent OE from deleting
messages if it thinks that the server may no longer be archiving them.
If you want to keep messages regardless of the server's retention
policies you need to copy them to a local folder you manage as
your own cache.


FYI

Robert Aldwinckle
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