4.3BSD-UWisc/man/cat1/mail.1
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
NAME
mail - send and receive mail
SYNOPSIS
mail [ -v ] [ -i ] [ -n ] [ -s subject ] [ user, ... ]
mail [ -v ] [ -i ] [ -n ] -f [ name ]
mail [ -v ] [ -i ] [ -n ] -u user
INTRODUCTION
_M_a_i_l is a intelligent mail processing system, which has a
command syntax reminiscent of _e_d with lines replaced by mes-
sages.
The -v flag puts mail into verbose mode; the details of
delivery are displayed on the users terminal. The -i flag
causes tty interrupt signals to be ignored. This is particu-
larly useful when using _m_a_i_l on noisy phone lines. The -n
flag inhibits the reading of /usr/lib/Mail.rc.
_S_e_n_d_i_n_g _m_a_i_l. To send a message to one or more people, _m_a_i_l
can 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 EOT (control-D) at the
beginning of a line. A subject may be specified on the com-
mand line by using the -s flag. (Only the first argument
after the -s flag is used as a subject; be careful to quote
subjects containing spaces.) The section below, labeled
_R_e_p_l_y_i_n_g _t_o _o_r _o_r_i_g_i_n_a_t_i_n_g _m_a_i_l, describes some features of
_m_a_i_l available to help you compose your letter.
_R_e_a_d_i_n_g _m_a_i_l. In normal usage _m_a_i_l is given no arguments
and checks your mail out of the post office, then prints out
a one line header of each message there. The current mes-
sage is initially the first message (numbered 1) and can be
printed using the print command (which can be abbreviated
p). You can move among the messages much as you move
between lines in _e_d, with the commands `+' and `-' moving
backwards and forwards, and simple numbers.
_D_i_s_p_o_s_i_n_g _o_f _m_a_i_l. After examining a message you can delete
(d) the message or reply (r) to it. Deletion causes the
_m_a_i_l program to forget about the message. This is not
irreversible; the message can be undeleted (u) by giving its
number, or the _m_a_i_l session can be aborted by giving the
exit (x) command. Deleted messages will, however, usually
disappear never to be seen again.
_S_p_e_c_i_f_y_i_n_g _m_e_s_s_a_g_e_s. Commands such as print and delete can
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,
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 1
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
and ``$'' addresses the last message; thus the command top
which prints the first few lines of a message could be used
in ``top *'' to print the first few lines of all messages.
_R_e_p_l_y_i_n_g _t_o _o_r _o_r_i_g_i_n_a_t_i_n_g _m_a_i_l. You can use the reply com-
mand 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, _m_a_i_l treats 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. Other
escapes will set up subject fields, add and delete reci-
pients 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.)
_E_n_d_i_n_g _a _m_a_i_l _p_r_o_c_e_s_s_i_n_g _s_e_s_s_i_o_n. You can end a _m_a_i_l ses-
sion with the quit (q) command. Messages which have been
examined go to your _m_b_o_x file unless they have been deleted
in which case they are discarded. Unexamined messages go
back to the post office. The -f option causes _m_a_i_l to read
in the contents of your _m_b_o_x (or the specified file) for
processing; when you quit, _m_a_i_l writes undeleted messages
back to this file. The -u flag is a short way of doing
"mail -f /usr/spool/mail/user".
_P_e_r_s_o_n_a_l _a_n_d _s_y_s_t_e_m_w_i_d_e _d_i_s_t_r_i_b_u_t_i_o_n _l_i_s_t_s. It is also pos-
sible 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 the alias (a)
command in _m_a_i_l. System wide distribution lists can be
created by editing /usr/lib/aliases, see _a_l_i_a_s_e_s(5) and
_s_e_n_d_m_a_i_l(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 to reply to the recipients.
System wide _a_l_i_a_s_e_s are 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 _s_e_n_d_m_a_i_l.
_N_e_t_w_o_r_k _m_a_i_l (_A_R_P_A, _U_U_C_P, _B_e_r_k_n_e_t) See _m_a_i_l_a_d_d_r(_7) for a
description of network addresses.
_M_a_i_l has a number of options which can be set in the ._m_a_i_l_r_c
file to alter its behavior; thus ``set askcc'' enables the
``askcc'' feature. (These options are summarized below.)
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 2
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
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 require-
ments 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, _m_a_i_l types ``No applicable mes-
sages'' and aborts the command.
- Goes to the previous message and prints it out.
If given a numeric argument _n, goes to the _n-th
previous message and prints it.
? Prints a brief summary of commands.
! Executes the UNIX shell command which follows.
Print (P) Like print but also prints out ignored
header fields. See also print , ignore and
retain.
Reply (R) Reply to originator. Does not reply to other
recipients of the original message.
Type (T) Identical to the Print command.
alias (a) With no arguments, prints out all
currently-defined aliases. With one argument,
prints out that alias. With more than one argu-
ment, creates an new or changes an on old alias.
alternates (alt) The alternates command is useful if you
have accounts on several machines. It can be
used to inform _m_a_i_l that the listed addresses
are really you. When you reply to messages, _m_a_i_l
will not send a copy of the message to any of
the addresses listed on the _a_l_t_e_r_n_a_t_e_s list. If
the alternates command is given with no argu-
ment, 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) The copy command does the same thing that
save does, except that it does not mark the
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 3
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
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 _m_b_o_x, nor will they be
available for most other commands.
dp (also dt) Deletes the current message and prints
the next message. If there is no next message,
_m_a_i_l says ``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 (ex or x) Effects an immediate return to the
Shell without modifying the user's system mail-
box, his _m_b_o_x file, or his edit file in -f.
file (fi) The same as folder.
folders List the names of the folders in your folder
directory.
folder (fo) The folder command 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 con-
ventions 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 (ho, also preserve) Takes a message list and
marks each message therein to be saved in the
user's system mailbox instead of in _m_b_o_x. Does
not override the delete command.
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 4
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
ignore N.B.: _I_g_n_o_r_e has been superseded by _r_e_t_a_i_n.
Add the list of header fields named to the
_i_g_n_o_r_e_d _l_i_s_t. 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. The Type and Print commands can be used
to print a message in its entirety, including
ignored fields. If ignore is executed with no
arguments, it lists the current set of ignored
fields.
mail (m) Takes as argument login names and distribu-
tion group names and sends mail to those people.
mbox Indicate that a list of messages be sent to _m_b_o_x
in your home directory when you quit. This is
the default action for messages if you do _n_o_t
have the _h_o_l_d option set.
next (n like + or CR) Goes to the next message in
sequence and types it. With an argument list,
types the next matching message.
preserve (pre) A synonym for hold.
print (p) Takes a message list and types out each mes-
sage on the user's terminal.
quit (q) Terminates the session, saving all
undeleted, unsaved messages in the user's _m_b_o_x
file in his login directory, preserving all mes-
sages marked with hold or preserve or 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 -f
flag, 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 the exit command.
reply (r) Takes a message list and sends mail to the
sender and all recipients of the specified mes-
sage. The default message must not be deleted.
respond A synonym for reply.
retain Add the list of header fields named to the
_r_e_t_a_i_n_e_d _l_i_s_t. Only the header fields in the
retain list are shown on your terminal when you
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 5
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
print a message. All other header fields are
suppressed. The Type and Print commands can be
used to print a message in its entirety. If
retain is 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.''
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 (so) The source command reads _m_a_i_l 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 variable toplines and defaults
to five.
type (t) A synonym for print.
unalias Takes a list of names defined by alias commands
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
as _n_o_t being deleted.
unread (U) Takes a message list and marks each message
as _n_o_t having been read.
unset Takes a list of option names and discards their
remembered values; the inverse of set.
visual (v) Takes a message list and invokes the display
editor on each message.
write (w) Similar to save, except that _o_n_l_y the mes-
sage body (_w_i_t_h_o_u_t the header) is saved.
Extremely useful for such tasks as sending and
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 6
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
receiving source program text over the message
system.
xit (x) A synonym for exit.
z _M_a_i_l presents message headers in windowfuls as
described under the headers command. You can
move _m_a_i_l's attention forward to the next window
with the z command. Also, you can move to the
previous window by using z-.
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 option escape.
~!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.
~d Read the file ``dead.letter'' from your home
directory into the message.
~e 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.
~h 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, shifted right one tab. If no messages are
specified, read the current message.
~p Print out the message collected so far, prefaced
by the message header fields.
~q Abort the message being sent, copying the mes-
sage to ``dead.letter'' in your home directory
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 7
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
if save is 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.
~v Invoke an alternate editor (defined by the
VISUAL option) 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 mes-
sage.
~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 ter-
minates abnormally, retain the original text of
the message. The command _f_m_t(1) is often used
as _c_o_m_m_a_n_d to rejustify the message.
~~string Insert the string of text in the message pre-
faced by a single ~. If you have changed the
escape character, then you should double that
character in order to send it.
Options are controlled via the set and unset commands.
Options may be either binary, in which case it is only sig-
nificant 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 _m_b_o_x to be appended
to the end rather than prepended. (This is
set in /usr/lib/Mail.rc on version 7 sys-
tems.)
ask Causes _m_a_i_l to 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 car-
bon copy recipients at the end of each mes-
sage. Responding with a newline indicates
your satisfaction with the current list.
autoprint Causes the delete command to behave like dp -
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 8
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
thus, after deleting a message, the next one
will be typed automatically.
debug Setting the binary option _d_e_b_u_g is the same
as specifying -d on the command line and
causes _m_a_i_l to output all sorts of informa-
tion useful for debugging _m_a_i_l.
dot The binary option _d_o_t causes _m_a_i_l to inter-
pret a period alone on a line as the termina-
tor 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 _d_o_t is _i_g_n_o_r_e_e_o_f which
makes _m_a_i_l refuse to accept a control-d as
the end of a message. _I_g_n_o_r_e_e_o_f also applies
to _m_a_i_l command mode.
metoo Usually, when a group is expanded that con-
tains the sender, the sender is removed from
the expansion. Setting this option causes
the sender to be included in the group.
nosave Normally, when you abort a message with two
RUBOUT, _m_a_i_l copies the partial letter to the
file ``dead.letter'' in your home directory.
Setting the binary option _n_o_s_a_v_e prevents
this.
prompt Setting the prompt to a string causes mail to
print this prompt rather than the standard
"&" prompt.
Replyall Reverses the sense of _r_e_p_l_y and _R_e_p_l_y com-
mands.
quiet Suppresses the printing of the version when
first invoked.
verbose Setting the option _v_e_r_b_o_s_e is the same as
using the -v flag on the command line. When
mail runs in verbose mode, the actual
delivery of messages is displayed on he users
terminal.
The following options have string values:
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 9
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
EDITOR Pathname of the text editor to use in the
edit command and ~e escape. If not defined,
then a default editor is used.
PAGER Pathname of the program to use in the more
command or when _c_r_t variable is set. A
default paginator 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 the
visual command and ~v escape.
crt The valued option _c_r_t is used as a threshold
to determine how long a message must be
before PAGER is used to read it.
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 `/', _m_a_i_l considers it to be an absolute
pathname; otherwise, the folder directory is
found relative to your 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.
toplines If defined, gives the number of lines of a
message to be printed out with the top com-
mand; normally, the first five lines are
printed.
LOCAL MODS
Added the "prompt" variable. Also improved the ordering of
recipients when replying to a message.
FILES
/usr/spool/mail/* post office
~/mbox your old mail
~/.mailrc file giving initial mail commands
/tmp/R# temporary for editor escape
/usr/lib/Mail.help* help files
/usr/lib/Mail.rc system initialization file
Message* temporary for editing messages
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 10
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
SEE ALSO
binmail(1), fmt(1), newaliases(1), aliases(5),
mailaddr(7), sendmail(8)
`The Mail Reference Manual'
BUGS
There are many flags that are not documented here. Most are
not useful to the general user.
Usually, _m_a_i_l is just a link to _M_a_i_l, which can be confus-
ing.
You must separate mail recipients by commas. This includes
recipients specified in your .mailrc file and on the command
line.
AUTHOR
Kurt Shoens
Printed 12/27/86 May 9, 1986 11