Manpage of MAIL (original) (raw)

Content-type: text/htmlManpage of MAILSection: User Commands (1)
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BSD mandoc
BSD 4

NAME

mail - send and receive mail

SYNOPSIS

mail[-iInv] [-s _subject_] [-c _cc-addr_] [-b _bcc-addr_]to-addr...
mail[-iInNv -f] [_name_]
mail[-iInNv [-u _user_] ]

INTRODUCTION

Mailis an intelligent mail processing system, which has a command syntax reminiscent of ed1 with lines replaced by messages.

-v

Verbose mode. The details of delivery are displayed on the user's terminal.

-i

Ignore tty interrupt signals. This is particularly useful when usingmailon noisy phone lines.

-I

Forces mail to run in interactive mode even when input isn't a terminal. In particular, the `~' special character when sending mail is only active in interactive mode.

-n

Inhibits reading /etc/mail.rc upon startup.

-N

Inhibits the initial display of message headers when reading mail or editing a mail folder.

-s

Specify subject on command line (only the first argument after the -sflag is used as a subject; be careful to quote subjects containing spaces.)

-c

Send carbon copies to_list_of users.

-b

Send blind carbon copies to_list_List should be a comma-separated list of names.

-f

Read in the contents of your_mbox_(or the specified file) for processing; when you_quit_ mailwrites undeleted messages back to this file.

-u

Is equivalent to:

mail -f /var/spool/mail/user

Sending mail

To send a message to one or more people,mailcan be invoked with arguments which are the names of people to whom the mail will be sent. You are then expected to type in your message, followed by an `control-D' at the beginning of a line. The section below_Replying to or originating mail_describes some features ofmailavailable to help you compose your letter.

Reading mail

In normal usagemailis given no arguments and checks your mail out of the post office, then prints out a one line header of each message found. The current message is initially the first message (numbered 1) and can be printed using theprintcommand (which can be abbreviated `p**' ) . You can move among the messages much as you move between lines in ed1, with the commands `+' and `-**' moving backwards and forwards, and simple numbers.

Disposing of mail.

After examining a message you candelete`d**' ) the message orreply`r' ) to it. Deletion causes themailprogram to forget about the message. This is not irreversible; the message can beundeleted**`**u**' ) by giving its number, or the**mail**session can be aborted by giving the**exit**`x' ) command. Deleted messages will, however, usually disappear never to be seen again.

Specifying messages

Commands such asprintanddeletecan be given a list of message numbers as arguments to apply to a number of messages at once. Thus ``delete 1 2'' deletes messages 1 and 2, while ``delete 1-5'' deletes messages 1 through 5. The special name `***' addresses all messages, and `$' addresses the last message; thus the commandtop**which prints the first few lines of a message could be used in ``top *'' to print the first few lines of all messages.

Replying to or originating mail.

You can use thereplycommand to set up a response to a message, sending it back to the person who it was from. Text you then type in, up to an end-of-file, defines the contents of the message. While you are composing a message,mailtreats lines beginning with the character `**~**' specially. For instance, typing `~m' (alone on a line) will place a copy of the current message into the response right shifting it by a tabstop (see_indentprefix_variable, below). Other escapes will set up subject fields, add and delete recipients to the message and allow you to escape to an editor to revise the message or to a shell to run some commands. (These options are given in the summary below.)

Ending a mail processing session.

You can end amailsession with thequit`q' ) command. Messages which have been examined go to your_mbox_file unless they have been deleted in which case they are discarded. Unexamined messages go back to the post office. (See the -foption above).

Personal and systemwide distribution lists.

It is also possible to create a personal distribution lists so that, for instance, you can send mail to ``cohorts'' and have it go to a group of people. Such lists can be defined by placing a line like

alias cohorts bill ozalp jkf mark kridle@ucbcory

in the file .mailrc in your home directory. The current list of such aliases can be displayed with thealiascommand inmail System wide distribution lists can be created by editing /etc/aliases see aliases(5) and sendmail(8); these are kept in a different syntax. In mail you send, personal aliases will be expanded in mail sent to others so that they will be able toreplyto the recipients. System widealiasesare not expanded when the mail is sent, but any reply returned to the machine will have the system wide alias expanded as all mail goes through sendmail.

Network mail (ARPA, UUCP, Berknet)

Seemailaddr(7) for a description of network addresses.

Mailhas a number of options which can be set in the .mailrc file to alter its behavior; thus ``set askcc'' enables the_askcc_feature. (These options are summarized below.)

SUMMARY

(Adapted from the `Mail Reference Manual')

Each command is typed on a line by itself, and may take arguments following the command word. The command need not be typed in its entirety - the first command which matches the typed prefix is used. For commands which take message lists as arguments, if no message list is given, then the next message forward which satisfies the command's requirements is used. If there are no messages forward of the current message, the search proceeds backwards, and if there are no good messages at all,mailtypes ``applicable messages'' and aborts the command.

Print out the preceding message. If given a numeric argument_n_ goes to the_n_ 'thprevious message and prints it.

Prints a brief summary of commands.

Executes the shell (see sh(1) and csh(1)) command which follows.

Print

(P) Likeprintbut also prints out ignored header fields. See alsoprint ignoreandretain

Reply

(R) Reply to originator. Does not reply to other recipients of the original message.

Type

(T) Identical to thePrintcommand.

alias

(a) With no arguments, prints out all currently-defined aliases. With one argument, prints out that alias. With more than one argument, creates a new alias or changes an old one.

alternates

(alt) Thealternatescommand is useful if you have accounts on several machines. It can be used to informmailthat the listed addresses are really you. When youreplyto messages,mailwill not send a copy of the message to any of the addresses listed on thealternateslist. If thealternatescommand is given with no argument, the current set of alternate names is displayed.

chdir

(c) Changes the user's working directory to that specified, if given. If no directory is given, then changes to the user's login directory.

copy

(co) Thecopycommand does the same thing thatsavedoes, except that it does not mark the messages it is used on for deletion when you quit.

delete

(d) Takes a list of messages as argument and marks them all as deleted. Deleted messages will not be saved in_mbox_ nor will they be available for most other commands.

(alsodtDeletes the current message and prints the next message. If there is no next message,mailsays ``at EOF''

edit

(e) Takes a list of messages and points the text editor at each one in turn. On return from the editor, the message is read back in.

exit

( exorxEffects an immediate return to the Shell without modifying the user's system mailbox, his_mbox_file, or his edit file in -f

file

(fi) The same asfolder

folders

List the names of the folders in your folder directory.

folder

(fo) Thefoldercommand switches to a new mail file or folder. With no arguments, it tells you which file you are currently reading. If you give it an argument, it will write out changes (such as deletions) you have made in the current file and read in the new file. Some special conventions are recognized for the name. # means the previous file, % means your system mailbox, %user means user's system mailbox, & means your_mbox_file, and +folder means a file in your folder directory.

from

(f) Takes a list of messages and prints their message headers.

headers

(h) Lists the current range of headers, which is an 18-message group. If a `+' argument is given, then the next 18-message group is printed, and if a `-' argument is given, the previous 18-message group is printed.

help

A synonym for**?**

hold

( hoalsopreserveTakes a message list and marks each message therein to be saved in the user's system mailbox instead of in_mbox_ Does not override thedeletecommand.

ignore

Add the list of header fields named to the_ignored list_Header fields in the ignore list are not printed on your terminal when you print a message. This command is very handy for suppression of certain machine-generated header fields. TheTypeandPrintcommands can be used to print a message in its entirety, including ignored fields. Ifignoreis executed with no arguments, it lists the current set of ignored fields.

mail

(m) Takes as argument login names and distribution group names and sends mail to those people.

mbox

Indicate that a list of messages be sent tomboxin your home directory when you quit. This is the default action for messages if you do_not_have theholdoption set.

next

(n) like**+orCR**Goes to the next message in sequence and types it. With an argument list, types the next matching message.

preserve

(pre) A synonym forhold

print

(p) Takes a message list and types out each message on the user's terminal.

quit

(q) Terminates the session, saving all undeleted, unsaved messages in the user's_mbox_file in his login directory, preserving all messages marked withholdorpreserveor never referenced in his system mailbox, and removing all other messages from his system mailbox. If new mail has arrived during the session, the message ``You have new mail'' is given. If given while editing a mailbox file with the -fflag, then the edit file is rewritten. A return to the Shell is effected, unless the rewrite of edit file fails, in which case the user can escape with theexitcommand.

reply

(r) Takes a message list and sends mail to the sender and all recipients of the specified message. The default message must not be deleted.

respond

A synonym forreply

retain

Add the list of header fields named to the_retained list_Only the header fields in the retain list are shown on your terminal when you print a message. All other header fields are suppressed. TheTypeandPrintcommands can be used to print a message in its entirety. Ifretainis executed with no arguments, it lists the current set of retained fields.

save

(s) Takes a message list and a filename and appends each message in turn to the end of the file. The filename in quotes, followed by the line count and character count is echoed on the user's terminal.

set

(se) With no arguments, prints all variable values. Otherwise, sets option. Arguments are of the form_option=value_(no space before or after =) or_option_Quotation marks may be placed around any part of the assignment statement to quote blanks or tabs, i.e. ``set indentprefix=->''

saveignore

Saveignoreis tosavewhatignoreis toprintandtype Header fields thus marked are filtered out when saving a message bysaveor when automatically saving to_mbox_

saveretain

Saveretainis tosavewhatretainis toprintandtype Header fields thus marked are the only ones saved with a message when saving bysaveor when automatically saving to_mbox_ Saveretainoverridessaveignore

shell

(sh) Invokes an interactive version of the shell.

size

Takes a message list and prints out the size in characters of each message.

source

Thesourcecommand reads commands from a file.

top

Takes a message list and prints the top few lines of each. The number of lines printed is controlled by the variabletoplinesand defaults to five.

type

(t) A synonym forprint

unalias

Takes a list of names defined byaliascommands and discards the remembered groups of users. The group names no longer have any significance.

undelete

(u) Takes a message list and marks each message asnotbeing deleted.

unread

(U) Takes a message list and marks each message asnothaving been read.

unset

Takes a list of option names and discards their remembered values; the inverse ofset

visual

(v) Takes a message list and invokes the display editor on each message.

write

(w) Similar tosave except thatonlythe message body (without) the header) is saved. Extremely useful for such tasks as sending and receiving source program text over the message system.

xit

(x) A synonym forexit

Mailpresents message headers in windowfuls as described under theheaderscommand. You can movemail 'sattention forward to the next window with thezcommand. Also, you can move to the previous window by usingz-

Tilde/Escapes

Here is a summary of the tilde escapes, which are used when composing messages to perform special functions. Tilde escapes are only recognized at the beginning of lines. The name ``tilde escape'' is somewhat of a misnomer since the actual escape character can be set by the optionescape

~! command

Execute the indicated shell command, then return to the message.

~b name ...

Add the given names to the list of carbon copy recipients but do not make the names visible in the Cc: line ("blind" carbon copy).

~c name ...

Add the given names to the list of carbon copy recipients.

Read the file ``dead.letter '' from your home directory into the message.

Invoke the text editor on the message collected so far. After the editing session is finished, you may continue appending text to the message.

~f messages

Read the named messages into the message being sent. If no messages are specified, read in the current message. Message headers currently being ignored (by theignoreorretaincommand) are not included.

~F messages

Identical to~fexcept all message headers are included.

Edit the message header fields by typing each one in turn and allowing the user to append text to the end or modify the field by using the current terminal erase and kill characters.

~m messages

Read the named messages into the message being sent, indented by a tab or by the value of_indentprefix_ If no messages are specified, read the current message. Message headers currently being ignored (by theignoreorretaincommand) are not included.

~M messages

Identical to~mexcept all message headers are included.

Print out the message collected so far, prefaced by the message header fields.

Abort the message being sent, copying the message to ``dead.letter '' in your home directory ifsaveis set.

~r filename

Read the named file into the message.

~s string

Cause the named string to become the current subject field.

~t name ...

Add the given names to the direct recipient list.

Invoke an alternate editor (defined by theVISUALoption) on the message collected so far. Usually, the alternate editor will be a screen editor. After you quit the editor, you may resume appending text to the end of your message.

~w filename

Write the message onto the named file.

~| command

Pipe the message through the command as a filter. If the command gives no output or terminates abnormally, retain the original text of the message. The command fmt(1) is often used ascommandto rejustify the message.

~: mail-command

Execute the given mail command. Not all commands, however, are allowed.

~~ string

Insert the string of text in the message prefaced by a single ~. If you have changed the escape character, then you should double that character in order to send it.

Mail Options

Options are controlled viasetandunsetcommands. Options may be either binary, in which case it is only significant to see whether they are set or not; or string, in which case the actual value is of interest. The binary options include the following:

append

Causes messages saved in_mbox_to be appended to the end rather than prepended. This should always be set (perhaps in /etc/mail.rc )

ask, asksub

Causesmailto prompt you for the subject of each message you send. If you respond with simply a newline, no subject field will be sent.

askcc

Causes you to be prompted for additional carbon copy recipients at the end of each message. Responding with a newline indicates your satisfaction with the current list.

askbcc

Causes you to be prompted for additional blind carbon copy recipients at the end of each message. Responding with a newline indicates your satisfaction with the current list.

autoprint

Causes thedeletecommand to behave likedp- thus, after deleting a message, the next one will be typed automatically.

debug

Setting the binary option_debug_is the same as specifying -don the command line and causesmailto output all sorts of information useful for debuggingmail

dot

The binary option_dot_causesmailto interpret a period alone on a line as the terminator of a message you are sending.

hold

This option is used to hold messages in the system mailbox by default.

ignore

Causes interrupt signals from your terminal to be ignored and echoed as @'s.

ignoreeof

An option related to_dot_is_ignoreeof_which makesmailrefuse to accept a control-d as the end of a message._Ignoreeof_also applies tomailcommand mode.

metoo

Usually, when a group is expanded that contains the sender, the sender is removed from the expansion. Setting this option causes the sender to be included in the group.

noheader

Setting the option_noheader_is the same as giving the -Nflag on the command line.

nosave

Normally, when you abort a message with twoRUBOUT(erase or delete)mailcopies the partial letter to the file ``dead.letter '' in your home directory. Setting the binary option_nosave_prevents this.

Replyall

Reverses the sense ofreplyandReplycommands.

quiet

Suppresses the printing of the version when first invoked.

searchheaders

If this option is set, then a message-list specifier in the form ``/x:y'' will expand to all messages containing the substring ``y'' in the header field ``x''. The string search is case insensitive.

verbose

Setting the option_verbose_is the same as using the -vflag on the command line. When mail runs in verbose mode, the actual delivery of messages is displayed on the user's terminal.

Option String Values

EDITOR

Pathname of the text editor to use in theeditcommand and~eescape. If not defined, then a default editor is used.

LISTER

Pathname of the directory lister to use in thefolderscommand. Default is /bin/ls

PAGER

Pathname of the program to use in themorecommand or whencrtvariable is set. The default paginator more(1) is used if this option is not defined.

SHELL

Pathname of the shell to use in the**!command and the~!**escape. A default shell is used if this option is not defined.

VISUAL

Pathname of the text editor to use in thevisualcommand and~vescape.

crt

The valued option_crt_is used as a threshold to determine how long a message must be beforePAGERis used to read it. If_crt_is set without a value, then the height of the terminal screen stored in the system is used to compute the threshold (see stty(1)).

escape

If defined, the first character of this option gives the character to use in the place of ~ to denote escapes.

folder

The name of the directory to use for storing folders of messages. If this name begins with a `/',mailconsiders it to be an absolute pathname; otherwise, the folder directory is found relative to your home directory.

MBOX

The name of the_mbox_file. It can be the name of a folder. The default is ``mbox'' in the user's home directory.

record

If defined, gives the pathname of the file used to record all outgoing mail. If not defined, then outgoing mail is not so saved.

indentprefix

String used by the ``~m'' tilde escape for indenting messages, in place of the normal tab character (^I). Be sure to quote the value if it contains spaces or tabs.

toplines

If defined, gives the number of lines of a message to be printed out with thetopcommand; normally, the first five lines are printed.