arch-wiki-md-repo/wiki/_content/english/Slrn.md

All arch-wiki articles in markdown format, updated every two days.

[slrn](http://slrn.sourceforge.net/) is a text-based news client. It runs through a textual user interface and is highly customizable. It uses the S-Lang library.

## Contents

*   [1 Installation](#Installation)
*   [2 Configuration](#Configuration)
    *   [2.1 User account](#User_account)
    *   [2.2 Signature](#Signature)
    *   [2.3 Encoding](#Encoding)
    *   [2.4 Displaying all posts](#Displaying_all_posts)
*   [3 Managing usergroups](#Managing_usergroups)
*   [4 See also](#See_also)

## Installation

[Install](/index.php/Install "Install") the [slrn](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/slrn/) package.

## Configuration

To run slrn, you will have to set up an environment variable with the newsgroups server you wish to use (it is a good idea to put it into your .bashrc so you do not have to export it again for each session):

```
NNTPSERVER='my.news.server' && export NNTPSERVER

```

Two important slrn configuration files are .slrnrc for basic configuration and .jnewsrc that contains the list of newsgroups.

To create .slrnrc from a sample startup file for slrn:

```
# cp /usr/share/doc/slrn/slrn.rc ~/.slrnrc

```

After creating .slrnrc you should [configure the user account](#User_account) and then create .jnewsrc:

```
# slrn -f ~/.jnewsrc --create

```

#### User account

To set up your newsgroup account, you have to set up the following parameters in .slrnrc

```
set username "desired_username"
set hostname "desired_hostname"
set replyto "some_name <email@example.com>"

```

#### Signature

To set up a signature uncomment the following line in .slrnrc:

```
set signature ".signature"

```

Also, you have to create .signature file in your home folder and put your signature in it.

#### Encoding

To set up encoding (i.e. utf8) uncomment the following lines in .slrnrc:

```
charset display utf8
charset outgoing utf8

```

#### Displaying all posts

By default slrn will only shows unread posts. If you are used to having all posts listed in a certain newsgroup, this will be a big change for you. To have all posts listed add the following to your .slrnrc:

```
setkey group "set_prefix_argument(4); () = select_group();" " "

```

## Managing usergroups

You can manage usergroups directly through slrn or by editing .jnewsrc file. If you decide to manage them using .jnewsrc file, you can do it by changing the ! and : at the end of each newsgroup.

Unsubscribed group example:

```
misc.test! 1-210917

```

Subscribed group example:

```
misc.test: 1-210917

```

## See also

*   [slrn](http://slrn.sourceforge.net/) Official slrn website.
*   [slrn FAQ](http://slrn.sourceforge.net/docs/slrn-FAQ.html#toc3) slrn frequently asked questions