NAME(名稱)

mail - 發送和接收郵件  

SYNOPSIS(總覽)

mail [-iInv ] [-s subject ] [-c cc-addr ] [-b bcc-addr ] to-addr...
mail [-iInNv -f ] [name ]
mail [-iInNv [-u user ] ]  

INTRODUCTION(介紹)

Mail 是一個智能化的郵件處理系統,它具有 ed1 的命令語法回憶功能,只是用消息替換了行罷了.

-v

詳盡模式. 傳輸郵件的細節都呈現在用戶的終端上.

-i

忽略tty中斷信號. 這對于在嘈雜的電話線路上使用 mail 特別有用.

-I

強迫mail以交互模式運行,即使其不是通過終端輸入的. 特別地,正在發送郵件時, `~ ' 特殊字符只在交互模式下才起作用.

-n

禁止在啟動時讀取 /etc/mail.rc

-N

當閱讀郵件或編輯郵件夾時禁止消息頭的初始化顯示.

-s

在命令行上指定主題(僅把 -s 標識后的第一個參數用作主題;注意對包含空格的主題加上引號.)

-c

發送復件(carbon copy)給用戶 list

-b

發送隱藏的復寫副本(blind carbon copy)給用戶 list list應為以逗號分隔的名字列表.

-f

讀入你的 mbox (或指定文件) 中的內容進行處理;當你 quit 時, mail 會把未刪除的消息寫回該文件.

-u

相當于:

mail -f /var/spool/mail/user

Sending mail(發送郵件)

要發送一條消息給一個或更多的人, mail 可以以郵件將要發送的人名作為參數進行調用. 然后要求你輸入你的消息,并在每行的開頭跟著一個 `control-D ' 下面的部分 Replying to or originating mail 描述了一些 mail 用于幫助你操作信件的功能.

Reading mail(閱讀郵件)

在一般的用法中 mail 不帶任何參數,并通過郵局(post office)檢查你的郵件,然后對于每條找到的消息打印出一個行頭.當前的消息初始為第一條消息(序號1),而且可以使用 print 命令(可簡省為 `p ' ) 打印. 你可以使用命令 `+ ' 和 `- ' 如在 ed1 的各行間移動一樣前后移動消息,或者移動到一個簡單的序號.

Disposing of mail(丟棄郵件).

在檢查了消息之后,你可以 delete `d ' ) 這條消息或者 reply `r ' ) 它. 刪除會導致 mail 程序遺忘該條消息. 這并非不能撤銷;可以通過給定其序號來 undeleted `u ' ) 該條消息,或者通過指定 exit `x ' ) 命令來終止 mail 的會話. 不過,刪除了的消息就會永遠消失不再出現.

Specifying messages(指定消息)

命令如 print 和 delete 可以給定一組消息的序號作為參數來一次性對這組消息進行操作. 所以, ``delete 1 2 '' 會刪除消息1和2,而 ``delete 1-5 '' 會刪除消息1到5. 特殊名字 `* ' 表示所有消息,而 `$ ' 表示最后一條消息;因此用來打印一條消息的首幾行的命令 top 可用在 ``top * '' 中以打印所有消息的首幾行.

Replying to or originating mail(回復或發送郵件).

你可以使用 reply 命令來回復一條消息,將它發送回消息的發送者. 你輸入的一直到文末的文本定義了該條消息的內容. 當你正在操作一條消息時, mail 處理以字符 `~ ' 開頭的行會有些特殊. 例如,輸入 `~m ' (這一行就這么一句)會放置一個當前消息的拷貝到回復中,其可以通過tabstop右移位(參見下面的 indentprefix 變量). 其它擴展符可用來設置主題字段,添加和刪除消息的收件人,并且允許你返回編輯器來修改消息,或者用shell執行某些命令. (這些選項都在下面的summary中給定.)

Ending a mail processing session(終止郵件處理會話).

你可以使用 quit `q ' ) 命令來終止 mail 會話. 檢查了的郵件會轉到你的 mbox 文件,除非它們因為刪除而被丟棄了. 未檢查的郵件則返回到郵局. (參見上面的 -f 選項).

Personal and systemwide distribution lists(個人和系統的發送列表).

可以創建個人的發送列表,這樣,例如你發送郵件到 ``cohorts '' 時,即可發送它給一組人. 這樣的列表可以通過在你home目錄下的文件 .mailrc 中放置如下一行:

alias cohorts bill ozalp jkf mark kridle@ucbcory

來實現. 這類別名的當前列表可以使用 mail 中的 alias 命令來顯示. 系統級的發送列表可以通過編輯 /etc/aliases 來創建,參看 aliases(5) 和 sendmail(8); 這些具有不同的語法. 在你發送的郵件中,私有別名會在發送給其他人的郵件中展開,這樣他們就能夠 reply 給收件人. 系統級的 aliases 在郵件發送時不會展開,但是當所有郵件通過 sendmail 時,任何返回機器的回復信都會展開系統級別名.

Network mail(網絡郵件)(ARPA,UUCP,Berknet)

參見 mailaddr(7) 以獲知關于網絡地址的描述.

Mail 可以在 .mailrc 文件中設置一些選項以改變其操作;因而 ``set askcc '' 會激活 askcc 功能. (這些選項都總結在下面.)  

SUMMARY(總結)

(改編自`Mail Reference Manual')

每條命令單獨占一行,而且可能帶有參數跟在命令字后. 命令不需要完全輸入 - 使用第一個匹配輸入前綴的命令. 對于那些以消息列表作為參數的命令,如果沒有給定消息列表,那么使用滿足命令要求的下一條消息. 如果當前消息之后沒有任何消息,那么搜索繼續向前進行.如果根本沒有合適的消息, mail 輸出 ``applicable messages '' 并且終止該命令.

-

打印出接下來的消息. 如果給定一個序號 n 作為參數,那么會轉到 n 'th 前面的消息并打印它.

?

打印命令概要.

!

執行后面跟著的shell命令 (參看 sh(1) 和 csh(1))

Print

(P ) 如同 print 一樣,不過它還會打印出忽略的消息頭字段. 另見 print ignore 以及 retain

Reply

(R ) 回復信件給發送者. 不回復給發送來的郵件中的其它收件人.

Type

(T ) 與 Print 命令一致.

alias

(a ) 不帶參數,打印出所有當前定義的別名.. 帶一個參數,打印該別名. 帶多于一個的參數,則創建一個新的別名或對老的進行修改,

alternates

(alt ) 如果你在數臺機器上有賬號. alternates 命令很有用.它可以用來通知 mail 列出的地址實際都是你的. 當你 回復 消息時, mail 就不會發送消息的拷貝到任何列在 alternates 列表中的地址. 如果 alternates 命令未給定參數,那么顯示當前alternate的名字.

chdir

(c ) 如果指定了的話,修改用戶的工作目錄為指定的目錄. 如果沒有指定目錄,那么修改為用戶的登錄目錄.

copy

(co ) copy 命令與 save 一樣,唯一的例外是當你退出時,它不會標明刪除了的消息.

delete

(d ) 以消息列表作為參數,并且標明它們全部被刪除. 刪除了的消息不會保存在 mbox 中, 也不會對大多數其它命令可用.

dp

(也作 dt 刪除當前消息并打印下一條消息. 如果沒有下一條消息, mail 輸出 ``at EOF ''

edit

(e ) 讀取一組消息,并把文本編輯器按序指向每條消息. 在從編輯器返回時,消息會再讀回.

exit

( ex 或者 x 不修改用戶的系統郵箱,他的 mbox 文件,或者在 -f 中的編輯文件而立即返回到shell.

file

(fi ) 與 folder 相同.

folders

列出在你的郵件夾目錄中的郵件夾名.

folder

(fo ) folder 命令用來轉到一個新的郵件文件或文件夾. 不帶參數時,它會告知你當前在閱讀的文件. 如果你給定了一個參數,它會在當前文件中寫完你剛作的修改(例如刪除)并讀入新的文件. 對名字有一些特別的約定. #表示前一個文件, %表示你的系統郵箱, %user表示user的系統郵箱, &表示你的 mbox 文件,而 +folder表示在你的folder目錄中的一個文件.

from

(f ) 讀取一組消息并打印出其消息頭.

headers

(h ) 顯示消息頭的當前范圍,這是一個18-消息組. 如果給定了一個 `+' 參數,那么會打印下一個18-消息組,而如果給定了一個 `-' 參數,那么會打印前一個18-消息組.

help

與 ? 同義.

hold

( ho 也作 preserve 讀取一個消息列表,并標記其中的每條消息保存到用戶的系統郵箱中,而非 mbox 中. 這不會覆蓋 delete 命令.

ignore

添加一列消息頭字段到 ignored list 中. 當你打印一條消息時,在ignore list中的消息頭字段不會在你的終端上打印出來. 這條命令對于抑制特定的機器生成的消息頭字段很方便. Type 和 Print 命令可以用來完整地打印一條消息,包括忽略的字段. 如果 ignore 不帶任何參數執行,它會列出當前設置的忽略的字段.

mail

(m ) 以登錄名和發送組名作為參數并發送郵件給這些人.

mbox

標明當你退出時,消息列表會發送到你的home目錄下的 mbox 中. 如果你 沒有 設置 hold 選項,這就是消息默認的操作行為.

next

(n ) 類似 + 或 CR 轉到按序的下一條消息并輸出它. 如果帶了參數列表,則輸出下一個匹配的消息.

preserve

(pre ) 與 hold 同義.

print

(p ) 讀取消息列表,并在用戶終端上輸出每條消息.

quit

(q ) 終止會話,保存所有未刪除而且未保存的消息到用戶的登錄目錄下的 mbox 文件中,并保留所有使用 hold 或者 preserve 標記或者從未關聯的消息到他的系統郵箱中,另外從他的系統郵箱中刪除所有其它消息. 如果新的郵件在這次會話中到達,會給出 ``You have new mail '' 消息. 如果在編輯郵箱文件時指定了 -f 標識,那么編輯的文件會重寫. 返回到Shell會受影響,除非編輯文件的重寫失敗,在這種情況下,用戶可以使用 exit 命令退出.

reply

(r ) 讀取消息列表并發送郵件給發送者和指定消息的所有收件人. 默認消息不能夠刪除.

respond

與 reply 同義.

retain

添加消息頭字段列表到 retained list 中. 只有在retain list中的消息頭字段才會在你打印一條消息時顯示在你的終端上. 所有其它消息頭字段都抑制了. Type 和 Print 命令可以用來完整地打印一條消息. 如果 retain 不帶任何參數執行,它會列出保留字段(retained field)的當前設置.

save

(s ) 讀取一個消息列表和一個文件名,并按序添加每條消息到該文件末尾. 文件名應以加引號,后面跟著回應到用戶終端上的行數和字符數.

set

(se ) 如果不帶任何參數,打印所有變量值. 否則,設置選項. 參數為以下格式: option=value (在=前后都沒有空格)或者 option 引號標記可能需要放到賦值語句的任何部分以括起空格或者退格符,也即 ``set indentprefix=-> ''

saveignore

Saveignore 用來 save ignore 的內容并 print 和 type 這樣標記的消息頭字段當通過 save 保存消息或者當自動保存到 mbox 中時會過濾掉.

saveretain

Saveretain 用來 save retain 中的內容,并 print 和 type 這樣標記的消息頭字段當通過 save 保存消息或者當自動保存到 mbox 中時會過濾掉. Saveretain 覆蓋 saveignore

shell

(sh ) 調用shell的交互式版本.

size

讀取一組消息并打印出每條消息按字符的大小.

source

source 命令從一個文件讀取命令.

top

讀取一組消息并打印每條消息的頭幾行. 打印的行數通過變量 toplines 控制,默認為5行.

type

(t ) 與 print 同義.

unalias

讀取一列由 alias 命令定義的名字并丟棄已有的用戶組. 組名將不再有任何作用.

undelete

(u ) 讀取一列消息并標記每條消息為 未 刪除.

unread

(U ) 讀取一列消息并標記每條消息為 尚未 閱讀.

unset

讀取一列選項名并丟棄他們已有的值; 這是 set 的反向操作.

visual

(v ) 讀取一列消息并對每條消息調用顯示的編輯器.

write

(w ) 與 save 相似,不同之處在于 只保存 消息體而 (不保存 ) 消息頭). 這對于通過消息系統發送和接收源程序文本的情況有很大的用處.

xit

(x ) 與 exit 同義.

z

Mail 表示當消息頭的窗口滿了時,如在 headers 命令中描述的那樣顯示. 你可以使用 z 命令移動 mail 's 通告到下一個窗口. 同樣,你也可以通過使用 z- 移動到前一個窗口.

Tilde/Escapes(代字符/擴展符)

以下是對tilde escapes的歸納,這用于操作消息以執行特殊的功能. Tilde escapes只在行首被承認. 名字 ``tilde escape '' 可能有些用詞不當,因為實際的escape字符可通過選項 escape 設置.

~! command

執行指定的shell命令,然后返回消息.

~b name ...

添加給定名字到復制(carbon copy)的收件人列表中,但是不在Cc:行中顯示出來("blind" ca rbon copy).

~c name ...

添加給定名字到復制(carbon copy)的收件人列表中.

~d

從你的home目錄中讀取文件 ``dead.letter '' 到消息中.

~e

對當前收集的消息調用文本編輯器. 在編輯完成之后,你可以繼續在消息中添加文本.

~f messages

讀取命名的messages到將要發送的消息中. 如果沒有指定messages,那么就讀取當前消息. 當前被忽略(通過 ignore 或者 retain 命令)的消息頭不包括在內.

~F messages

類似于 ~f, 不過這包括了所有的消息頭.

~h

通過逐一輸入的方式編輯消息頭字段,并且允許用戶添加文本到消息的末尾或者通過使用當前終端的消除和抹掉字符來修改字段.

~m messages

讀取命名的messages到將要發送的消息中,以tab或者 indentprefix 的值交錯. 如果沒有指定messages,則讀取當前消息. 當前被忽略(通過 ignore 或者 retain 命令)的消息頭不包括在內.

~M messages

類似于 ~m, 不過這包括了所有的消息頭.

~p

打印出當前收集的消息,以消息頭字段開始.

~q

放棄發送消息,如果設置了 save 則復制消息到你home目錄下的 ``dead.letter '' 中.

~r filename

讀取指定的file到消息中.

~s string

使得指定的string成為當前的主題字段.

~t name ...

添加給定的name到直接的收件人列表中.

~v

對當前收集的消息調用后備的編輯器(由 VISUAL 選項定義). 通常,備用的編輯器是屏幕編輯器. 你退出編輯器后,你可以繼續在消息的末尾添加文本.

~w command

使消息通過command的過濾. 如果command沒有輸出或者反常地終止,則會保留消息的原始文本. 命令 fmt(1) 經常用作 command 來重新驗證消息.

~: mail-command

執行給定的mail command. 但是,不是所有命令都允許的.

~ string

插入文本string到消息中,前面以單個的~開頭. 如果你已經修改了escape字符,那么你應該重復這個字符以發送它.

Mail Options(郵件選項)

選項通過 set 和 unset 命令控制. 選項可以是二進制的,在這種情況下,只對它們是否設置了有意義;或者是字符串,這種情況下的實際值才有意義. 二進制選項包括以下一些:

append

使得保存在 mbox 中的消息添加到末尾而不是加到前面. 這通常是應該設置的(也許在 /etc/mail.rc 中)

ask, asksub

使得 mail 提示你輸入發送的每條消息的主題. 如果你用一個簡單的換行符應答,則發送無主題的字段.

askcc

提示你輸入附加的復寫(carbon copy)的收件人在每條消息之后. 以換行符回應表示你滿意當前的列表.

askbcc

提示你輸入附加的隱藏的復寫(blind carbon copy)的收件人在每條消息之后. 以換行符回應表示你滿意當前的列表.

autoprint

使得 delete 命令如 dp 一樣. - 這樣,在刪除一條消息之后,下一條消息會自動輸出.

debug

設置二進制選項 debug 與命令行上指定 -d 一樣,這會使得 mail 輸出各種有用的信息來調試 mail

dot

二進制選項 dot 使得 mail 解釋一行只有單一的句點為你發送消息的結束.

hold

該選項用來保存消息在默認的系統郵箱中.

ignore

使得忽略來自終端的中斷信號,并且以@'s響應.

ignoreeof

一個與 dot 相關的選項就是 ignoreeof 它使得 mail 拒絕接受control-d為消息的結束. Ignoreeof 同樣也適用于 mail 命令模式.

metoo

通常,當包括發送者的一組展開時,發送者會在展開中刪除. 設置該選項會使得發送者包括在組中.

noheader

設置選項 noheader 與在命令行中指定 -N 標識一樣.

nosave

正常情況下,當你使用 RUBOUT (erase或者delete) 中止一條消息時, mail 會復制部分信件到你home目錄下的文件 ``dead.letter '' 中. 設置二進制選項 nosave 可以阻止這么做.

Replyall

顛倒 reply 和 Reply 命令的含義.

quiet

當第一次調用時,禁止打印版本.

searchheaders

如果設置了這個選項,那么在格式``/x:y''中的消息列表區分標志會對所有在頭字段``x''中包含子字符串``y''的消息展開.字符串查找是區分大小寫的.

verbose

設置選項 verbose 與在字符行下使用 -v 標識一樣. 當郵件運行在verbose模式時, 實際傳遞的消息會顯示在用戶的終端上.

Option String Values(選項字符串值)

EDITOR

在 edit 命令和 ~e 擴展符中使用的文本編輯器的路徑名. 如果沒有定義,那么使用默認的編輯器.

LISTER

在 folders 命令中使用的目錄瀏覽器的路徑名. 默認為 /bin/ls

PAGER

在 more 命令或者當設置了 crt 變量時使用的程序的路徑名. 如果該選項沒有定義,默認使用 more(1).

SHELL

在 ! 命令和 ~! 擴展符中使用的shell的路徑名. 如果未定義該選項,則使用默認的shell.

VISUAL

在 visual 命令和 ~v 擴展符中使用的文本編輯器的路徑名.

crt

賦值的選項 crt 用作限額以決定一條消息在使用 PAGER 閱讀它之前有多長. 如果 crt 沒有賦值,那么保存在系統中的終端顯示高度用來確定限額(參見 stty(1)).

escape

如果定義了,那么該選項的第一個字符給出擴展符中替換~的字符.

folder

存儲消息的文件夾的目錄名. 如果該名字以`/'開頭, mail 會把它當作絕對路徑名;否則,文件目錄相對于你的home目錄查找.

MBOX

mbox 文件的名字. 它可以為一個文件夾名. 默認為在用戶home目錄下的 ``mbox ''

record

如果定義了,指定用來存檔所有外發郵件的文件的路徑名. 如果沒有定義,那么外發郵件將不被保存.

indentprefix

在``~m'' tilde escape中用作交錯消息的字符串,替換一般情況下的tab字符(^I). 如果其中包含了空格或者tab,確信對值加了引號.

toplines

如果定義了,指定使用 top 命令打印的消息的行數;一般情況下,打印前5行.

ENVIRONMENT(環境變量)

Mail 使用了 HOME 和 USER 環境變量.  

FILES(相關文件)

/var/spool/mail/*

郵局.

~/mbox

用戶的老郵件.

~/.mailrc

給定初始郵件命令的文件.

/tmp/R*

臨時文件.

/usr/lib/mail.*help

幫助文件.

/etc/mail.rc

系統初始化文件.

SEE ALSO(另見)

fmt(1), newaliases(1), vacation(1), aliases(5), mailaddr(7), sendmail(8) 和

"The Mail Reference Manual" .

#p#

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

Mail is 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 using mail on 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 -s flag 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 mail writes 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, mail 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 `control-D ' at the beginning of a line. The section below Replying to or originating mail describes some features of mail available to help you compose your letter.

Reading mail

In normal usage mail is 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 the print command (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 can delete `d ' ) the message or reply `r ' ) to it. Deletion causes the mail program to forget about the message. This is not irreversible; the message can be undeleted `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 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, 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.

Replying to or originating mail.

You can use the reply command 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, mail 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 (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 a mail session with the quit `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 -f option 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 the alias command in mail 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 to reply to the recipients. System wide aliases 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 sendmail.

Network mail (ARPA, UUCP, Berknet)

See mailaddr(7) for a description of network addresses.

Mail has 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, mail types ``applicable messages '' and aborts the command.

-

Print out the preceding message. If given a numeric argument n goes to the n 'th previous message and prints it.

?

Prints a brief summary of commands.

!

Executes the shell (see sh(1) and csh(1)) 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 argument, creates a new alias or changes an old one.

alternates

(alt ) The alternates command is useful if you have accounts on several machines. It can be used to inform mail that the listed addresses are really you. When you reply to messages, mail will not send a copy of the message to any of the addresses listed on the alternates list. If the alternates command 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 ) The copy command does the same thing that save does, 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.

dp

(also dt Deletes the current message and prints the next message. If there is no next message, mail 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 mailbox, his mbox 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 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

( ho also preserve Takes a message list and marks each message therein to be saved in the user's system mailbox instead of in mbox Does not override the delete command.

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. 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 distribution group names and sends mail to those people.

mbox

Indicate that a list of messages be sent to mbox in your home directory when you quit. This is the default action for messages if you do not have the hold 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 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 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 message. The default message must not be deleted.

respond

A synonym for reply

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. 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 Quotation marks may be placed around any part of the assignment statement to quote blanks or tabs, i.e. ``set indentprefix=-> ''

saveignore

Saveignore is to save what ignore is to print and type Header fields thus marked are filtered out when saving a message by save or when automatically saving to mbox

saveretain

Saveretain is to save what retain is to print and type Header fields thus marked are the only ones saved with a message when saving by save or when automatically saving to mbox Saveretain overrides saveignore

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

The source command 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 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 not being deleted.

unread

(U ) Takes a message list and marks each message as not 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 only the 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 for exit

z

Mail presents message headers in windowfuls as described under the headers command. You can move mail 's attention forward to the next window with the z command. Also, you can move to the previous window by using z-

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 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. Message headers currently being ignored (by the ignore or retain command) are not included.

~F messages

Identical to ~f except all message headers are included.

~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, 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 the ignore or retain command) are not included.

~M messages

Identical to ~m except all message headers are included.

~p

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

~q

Abort the message being sent, copying the message to ``dead.letter '' in your home directory 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 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 as command to 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 via set and unset commands. 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

Causes mail 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 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 the delete command to behave like dp - thus, after deleting a message, the next one will be typed automatically.

debug

Setting the binary option debug is the same as specifying -d on the command line and causes mail to output all sorts of information useful for debugging mail

dot

The binary option dot causes mail to 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 makes mail refuse to accept a control-d as the end of a message. Ignoreeof also applies to mail command 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 -N flag on the command line.

nosave

Normally, when you abort a message with two RUBOUT (erase or delete) mail copies the partial letter to the file ``dead.letter '' in your home directory. Setting the binary option nosave prevents this.

Replyall

Reverses the sense of reply and Reply commands.

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 -v flag 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 the edit command and ~e escape. If not defined, then a default editor is used.

LISTER

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

PAGER

Pathname of the program to use in the more command or when crt variable 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 the visual command and ~v escape.

crt

The valued option crt is used as a threshold to determine how long a message must be before PAGER is 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 `/', mail considers 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 the top command; normally, the first five lines are printed.

ENVIRONMENT

Mail utilizes the HOME, USER, SHELL, DEAD, PAGER, LISTER, EDITOR, VISUAL and MBOX environment variables.  

FILES

/var/spool/mail/*

Post office.

~/mbox

User's old mail.

~/.mailrc

File giving initial mail commands. Only used if the owner of the file is the user running this copy of mail.

/tmp/R*

Temporary files.

/usr/lib/mail.*help

Help files.

/etc/mail.rc

System initialization file.

SEE ALSO

fmt(1), newaliases(1), vacation(1), aliases(5), mailaddr(7), sendmail(8) and

"The Mail Reference Manual" .