Re: edit the subject line of a thread?

["P Kapat" <kap4lin@gmail.com>]

On 4/27/07, Celejar <celejar@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:04:36 -0400
> "Michael Pobega" <pobega@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Thu, Apr 26, 2007 at 03:21:39PM -0400, P Kapat wrote:
> > > OK, this is just a small nitpicking, to which even I am guilty of in
> > > the past, but I wanted to know the right mailing etiquettes. The
> > > agenda is:
> > >
> > > When replying to a mail/thread it is best not to modify the Subject
> > > line, like adding "(solved)" or something similar. Because that breaks
> > > the thread, which possibly is unintended and unwanted. In such cases,
> > > it is better to add "SOLVED" (or sometihng to that extent) in the
> > > begining of the mail body.
> > >
> > > Now I have seen this thread breaking in Gmail and Kmail, I am not sure
> > > of other frontends, like those who read the list from a news reader
> > > Knode (using gmane's servers).
> > > I am sure people might agree/disagree but I think it is worthwhile to
> > > argue. Let your opinions flow....
> > >
> >
> > Threading is done by headers as far as I know, so changing the subject
> > line shouldn't do anything. I'd suggest that you try to find another
> > MUA if yours isn't capable of doing proper threading.
> >
> > Although, as far as I know KMail is quite capable of handling threading
> > by headers.
>
> Apparently compliant MUAs thread by headers (specifically, IIUC, the
> 'In-reference-to' header), but some MUAs lack that capability (many on
> this list will call them broken) and can only thread by subject. I
> think even some compliant ones can also thread by subject, but I may be
> mistaken.

I googled around a little bit, and did some simple mailing-replying
actions.. It seems like gmail uses "subject" for threading the
conversations. Kmail uses something else (i guess, In-Reply-To). Not
just that, when you change the subject line when replying to a
thread/conversation using gmail, it "removes" the In-Reply-To header;
as a consequence any MUA ( i think) will get that messsage wrongly
threaded. So, to me it seems like a problem with gmail's mailing
system rather than MUA at the reading end... To prove the point
(hopefully!), my next mail on this thread (using gmail) will have a
modified subject line, check if the In-Reply-To header is removed, or
whether it is threaded in a proper way with whichever MUA you use at
your end..

--
Regards
PK
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http://counter.li.org  #402424