1  PURGE
   Deletes all the messages in the WASTEBASKET folder. When you
   EXIT from Mail or enter a SET FILE command (to select a new mail
   file), an implicit PURGE is done to empty the WASTEBASKET folder,
   unless you have entered the SET NOAUTO_PURGE command. The PURGE
   command overrides the SET AUTO_PURGE command.

   Purged message space is not available for reuse by OpenVMS Record
   Management Services (OpenVMS RMS) until you enter the PURGE
   /RECLAIM command. An automatic PURGE/RECLAIM is done when the
   amount of deleted space in a mail file exceeds 32,767 bytes.
   (Mail uses the Convert/Reclaim utility to reclaim space.)

   Format

     PURGE
 

2  Qualifiers
 

/RECLAIM

   Releases deleted message space back to OpenVMS RMS for reuse.

   Because your mail file is locked while PURGE/RECLAIM is running,
   you cannot receive new mail. Users attempting to send you
   mail while PURGE/RECLAIM is running receive an error message
   indicating that their message has not been sent successfully. You
   cannot access your own Mail files while a PURGE/RECLAIM command
   is running.
 

/STATISTICS

   Indicates the amount of released deleted message space in a short
   statistics display when you use it with PURGE/RECLAIM.
 

2  Examples

   1.MAIL> PURGE/RECLAIM

     MAIL>

     This example shows how to enter the PURGE/RECLAIM command to
     delete all the messages in the WASTEBASKET folder and release
     the deleted message space back to OpenVMS RMS for reuse.

   2.MAIL> PURGE/RECLAIM/STATISTICS
     %MAIL-I-RECLPLSWAIT, reclaiming deleted file space. Please wait...
     Reclaim statistics:

             Messages deleted:        3
             Data buckets scanned:    31
             Data buckets reclaimed:  1
             Index buckets reclaimed: 0
             Total buckets reclaimed: 1

     MAIL>

     This example shows the kind of information that the /STATISTICS
     qualifier displays about the reclaimed deleted message space.