sortm − sort messages sortm ­[+folder] ­[msgs] ­[−datefield field] ­[−verbose] ­[−noverbose] ­[−help] Sortm sorts the specified messages in the named folder according to the chronological order of the “Date:” field of each message.  Messages which are in the folder, but not specified by ‘msgs’, are moved to the end of the folder.  If a message does not exist (the folder has a gap), sortm may fill the gap if convenient. 
 
The ‘−verbose’ switch directs sortm to tell the user the general actions that it is taking to place the folder in sorted order. 
 
The ‘−datefield field’ switch tells sortm the name of the field to use when making the date comparison.  If the user has a special field in each message, such as “BB−Posted:” or “Delivery−Date:”, then the ‘−datefield’ switch can be used to direct sortm which field to examine.  ^$HOME/.mh_profile~^The user profile ^Path:~^To determine the user’s MH directory ^Current−Folder:~^To find the default current folder folder (1) ‘+folder’ defaults to the current folder ‘msgs’ defaults to all ‘−datefield date’ ‘−noverbose’ If a folder is given, it will become the current folder.  If the current message is moved, sortm will preserve its status as current.  Timezones used to be ignored when comparing dates: they aren’t any more.  If sortm encounters a message without a date−field, or if the message has a date−field that sortm cannot parse, then sortm attempts to keep the message in the same relative position.  This does not always work.  For instance, if the first message encountered lacks a date which can be parsed, then it will usually be placed at the end of the messages being sorted. 
 
When sortm complains about a message which it can’t temporarlly order, it complains about the message number prior to sorting.  It should indicate what the message number will be after sorting. 

INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS 4.3 BSD