# 2.11BSD#431 - /usr/man/cat1/mail.0

    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
         Mail is a intelligent mail processing system, which has a
         command syntax reminiscent of ed 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 mail on noisy phone lines.  The -n
         flag inhibits the reading of /etc/Mail.rc.

         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 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
         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 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 ed, 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,

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         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 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, 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.	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.)

         Ending a mail processing session.	You can end a mail ses-
         sion 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.  The -f option causes mail to read
         in the contents of your mbox (or the specified file) for
         processing; when you quit, mail writes undeleted messages
         back to this file.  The -u flag is a short way of doing
         "mail -f /usr/spool/mail/user".

         Personal and systemwide distribution lists.  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 mail.  System wide distribution lists can be
         created by editing /etc/aliases, see aliases(5) and send-
         mail(8); these are kept in a different syntax.  In mail you
         send, personal aliases will be expanded in mail sent to oth-
         ers 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.)

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    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, mail 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 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 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

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    		 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 mail-
    		 box, 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 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 mbox.  Does
    		 not override the delete command.

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         ignore	 N.B.: Ignore has been superseded by retain.
    		 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 distribu-
    		 tion 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 mes-
    		 sage 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 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
    		 retained list.  Only the header fields in the
    		 retain list are shown on your terminal when you

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    		 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 mail 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 mes-
    		 sage body (without the header) is saved.
    		 Extremely useful for such tasks as sending and

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    		 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-.

         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

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    		 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 fmt(1) is often used
    		 as command 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 mbox to be appended
    		    to the end rather than prepended.  (This is
    		    set in /etc/Mail.rc on 2.11BSD systems.)

         ask	    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 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 -
    		    thus, after deleting a message, the next one

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    		    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 informa-
    		    tion useful for debugging mail.

         dot	    The binary option dot causes mail 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 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 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, 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 com-
    		    mands.

         quiet	    Suppresses the printing of the version when
    		    first invoked.

         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 he users
    		    terminal.

         The following options have 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.

         PAGER	    Pathname of the program to use in the more

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    		    command or when crt 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 crt 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 `/', mail 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.

    FILES
         /usr/spool/mail/*	      post office
         ~/mbox		      your old mail
         ~/.mailrc		      file giving initial mail commands
         /tmp/R#		      temporary for editor escape
         /usr/share/misc/Mail.help*help files
         /etc/Mail.rc	      system initialization file
         Message*		      temporary for editing messages

    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, mail is just a link to Mail, which can be

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         confusing.

    AUTHOR
         Kurt Shoens

    Printed 11/26/99	October 22, 1996		       11

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