TFN uses a program called SpamAssassin to help control the deluge of spam that we recieve. There have been users that have reported that, after setting up SpamAssassin as directed in the helplink file, that their disk usage had at least doubled. This problem was found to be caused by a line in .procmailrc that created a backup copy of all the mail received in your inbox.

This line created a backup/ directory as well as directories from/, Cur/, temp/,etc in your mail/ directory. The instructions below will help you correct this problem, and will help you clean up PINE to eliminate this annoying folder.

If you have SpamAssassin enabled on your account, and when you enter your PINE mailbox, you find a backup/ directory listed there, and you don't want it anymore, these instructions will help you get rid of this behavior. I guess the way the TFN Admins initially set it up is to assume that you want a backup logfile of all your mail. The way to eliminate the from folder is to:

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STEP 1: EDIT .procmailrc

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1. Type "E" for "edit a file"

2. When it asks for the filename type .procmailrc (Don't forget the period - it is a system file)

3. Find a line that says "LOGFILE=$MAILDIR/from"

4. Delete this line

5. press Control+x to save the file and when it asks if you want to modify the file, say Yes and then accept the name .procmailrc (Press Enter to accept the filename) 6. Enter a . (period) at the Filename: prompt to return to the menu.

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STEP 2: CLEANUP PINE

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1. From the Main Menu, Type M for Mail, 1 for PINE

2. From the PINE Main Menu Hit L for Folder List

3. Find the "from" folder

4. Hilight this folder and Delete it

5. If you find that there are folders such as backup/, from/, Cur/, temp/, etc under backup, delete all of these including the backup/ directory - you will not need these folders - Procmail makes these folders when you uncomment the lines:
:0 c
backup

in .procmailrc TFN funnels mail to Procmail, and then it hands the mail to Spamassassin - so there is a little shuffling going on before it gets to you. Deleting all of these folders (directories) under backup, as well as making the changes in your .procmailrc file should eliminate this problem.

6. Exit Pine (Quit, Yes) then logout of your session and login again to allow .procmail to process the changes. If you have any other problems, please dont hesitate to ask for assistance and we will help you

I asked Jeffrey the same question about the from folder as well, and he told me that I could delete the "LOGFILE=$MAILDIR/from" line - after you do that you may have to delete the backup/ directory and others under it to eliminate the mess

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SOURCE: TFN Questions Web Forum, Posting: "from folder" Response by bsbaker 1/13/2004

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NOTES:It is important to note that if mail is being "backed up" that it is using roughly twice the space it would normally use. Users who are having problems with this behavior should consult this document for assistance. Users should be as vigulent as possible about checking mail. If they find that they are "way over" they should first check their INBOXES to see if a "backup/" directory exists. If it does, you can follow the instructions above to eliminate this problem. If you are "catching" spam in your caughtspam folder, you should also delete any spam listed there as well.