NAME

     grephistory - display file names from Usenet history file

SYNOPSIS

     grephistory [ -f filename ] [ -e ] [ -n ] [ -q ] [ -l ] [ -t
     ] [ -i ] [ -s ] [ messageid ]

DESCRIPTION

     Grephistory queries the dbz(3)  index  into  the  history(5)
     file for an article having a specified Message-ID.

     If messageid cannot be found in the  database,  the  program
     prints  ``Not  found'' and exits with a non-zero status.  If
     messageid is in the database, the program prints  the  path-
     name and exits successfully.

OPTIONS

     -n   If  no  pathname  exists,  the   program   will   print
          ``/dev/null''  and  exit successfully.  This can happen
          when an article has been cancelled, or if it  has  been
          expired  but  its  history  is still retained.  This is
          default behaviour, which can be obtained by  using  the
          ``-n'' flag.

     -q   If  the  ``-q''  flag  is  used,  then  no  message  is
          displayed.   The  program  will  still  exit  with  the
          appropriate exit status.

     -t   If the ``-t'' flag is used, then only the  offset  into
          the history text file is printed.

     -e   If the ``-e'' flag is used, then grephistory will  only
          print the filename of an existing article.

     -l   If the ``-l'' flag is used then the  entire  line  from
          the history file will be displayed.

     -i   If the ``-i'' flag is used, then grephistory will  read
          a list of Message-ID's on standard input, one per line.
          Leading and trailing whitespace is ignored, as are  any
          malformed  lines.   It  will  print  on standard output
          those Message-ID's which are not found in  the  history
          database.   This  flag is used in processsing ``ihave''
          control messages.

     -s   If the ``-s'' flag is used, then grephistory will  read
          a  similar list from its standard input.  It will print
          on standard output a list of filenames for each article
          that  is  still  available.   This flag is used in pro-
          cesssing ``sendme'' control messages.

     -f   To specify a different value for the history  file  and
          database, use the ``-f'' flag.

HISTORY

     Written by Rich $alz <rsalz@uunet.uu.net> for  InterNetNews.
     This is revision 1.7, dated 1996/11/08.

SEE ALSO

     dbz(3), history(5).