4.4BSD/usr/share/man/cat1/msgs.0

MSGS(1)                      BSD Reference Manual                      MSGS(1)

NNAAMMEE
     mmssggss - system messages and junk mail program

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
     mmssggss [--ffhhllppqq] [_n_u_m_b_e_r] [_-_n_u_m_b_e_r]
     mmssggss [--ss]
     mmssggss [--cc] [-days]

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
     MMssggss is used to read system messages.  These messages are sent by mailing
     to the login `msgs' and should be short pieces of information which are
     suitable to be read once by most users of the system.

     MMssggss is normally invoked each time you login, by placing it in the file
     _._l_o_g_i_n (or _._p_r_o_f_i_l_e if you use sh(1)).  It will then prompt you with the
     source and subject of each new message.  If there is no subject line, the
     first few non-blank lines of the message will be displayed.  If there is
     more to the message, you will be told how long it is and asked whether
     you wish to see the rest of the message.  The possible responses are:

     --yy          Type the rest of the message.

     RREETTUURRNN      Synonym for y.

     --nn          Skip this message and go on to the next message.

     --           Redisplay the last message.

     --qq          Drop out of mmssggss; the next time mmssggss will pick up where it
                 last left off.

     --ss          Append the current message to the file ``Messages'' in the
                 current directory; `s-' will save the previously displayed
                 message. A `s' or `s-' may be followed by a space and a file
                 name to receive the message replacing the default ``Mes-
                 sages''.

     --mm          A copy of the specified message is placed in a temporary
                 mailbox and mail(1) is invoked on that mailbox.  Both `m' and
                 `s' accept a numeric argument in place of the `-'.

     MMssggss keeps track of the next message you will see by a number in the file
     _._m_s_g_s_r_c in your home directory.  In the directory _/_v_a_r_/_m_s_g_s it keeps a
     set of files whose names are the (sequential) numbers of the messages
     they represent.  The file _/_v_a_r_/_m_s_g_s_/_b_o_u_n_d_s shows the low and high number
     of the messages in the directory so that mmssggss can quickly determine if
     there are no messages for you.  If the contents of _b_o_u_n_d_s is incorrect it
     can be fixed by removing it; mmssggss will make a new _b_o_u_n_d_s file the next
     time it is run.

     The --ss option is used for setting up the posting of messages.  The line

           msgs: "| /usr/ucb/msgs -s"

     should be included in _/_e_t_c_/_a_l_i_a_s_e_s (see newaliases(1))  to enable posting
     of messages.

     The --cc option is used for performing cleanup on _/_v_a_r_/_m_s_g_s_. An entry with
     the --cc option should be placed in _/_e_t_c_/_c_r_o_n_t_a_b to run every night.  This
     will remove all messages over 21 days old.  A different expiration may be
     specified on the command line to override the default.



     Options when reading messages include:

     --ff          Do not to say ``No new messages.''.  This is useful in a
                 _._l_o_g_i_n file since this is often the case here.

     --qq          Queries whether there are messages, printing ``There are new
                 messages.'' if there are.  The command ``msgs -q'' is often
                 used in login scripts.

     --hh          Print the first part of messages only.

     --ll          Option causes only locally originated messages to be report-
                 ed.

     _n_u_m         A message number can be given on the command line, causing
                 mmssggss to start at the specified message rather than at the
                 next message indicated by your _._m_s_g_s_r_c file.  Thus

                       msgs -h 1

                 prints the first part of all messages.

     _-_n_u_m_b_e_r     Start _n_u_m_b_e_r messages back from the one indicated in the
                 _._m_s_g_s_r_c file, useful for reviews of recent messages.

     --pp          Pipe long messages through more(1).

     Within mmssggss you can also go to any specific message by typing its number
     when mmssggss requests input as to what to do.

EENNVVIIRROONNMMEENNTT
     MMssggss uses the HOME and TERM environment variables for the default home
     directory and terminal type.

FFIILLEESS
     /usr/msgs/*  database
     ~/.msgsrc    number of next message to be presented

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
     aliases(5),  mail(1),  more(1)

HHIISSTTOORRYY
     The mmssggss command appeared in 3.0BSD.

4th Berkeley Distribution        June 6, 1993                                2