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MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
N\bNA\bAM\bME\bE
mail - send and receive mail
S\bSY\bYN\bNO\bOP\bPS\bSI\bIS\bS
m\bma\bai\bil\bl [ -\b-v\bv ] [ -\b-i\bi ] [ -\b-n\bn ] [ -\b-s\bs subject ] [ user ... ]
m\bma\bai\bil\bl [ -\b-v\bv ] [ -\b-i\bi ] [ -\b-n\bn ] -\b-f\bf [ name ]
m\bma\bai\bil\bl [ -\b-v\bv ] [ -\b-i\bi ] [ -\b-n\bn ] -\b-u\bu user
I\bIN\bNT\bTR\bRO\bOD\bDU\bUC\bCT\bTI\bIO\bON\bN
_\bM_\ba_\bi_\bl is a intelligent mail processing system, which has a
command syntax reminiscent of _\be_\bd with lines replaced by mes-
sages.
The -\b-v\bv flag puts mail into verbose mode; the details of
delivery are displayed on the users terminal. The -\b-i\bi flag
causes tty interrupt signals to be ignored. This is particu-
larly useful when using _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl on noisy phone lines. The -\b-n\bn
flag inhibits the reading of /usr/lib/Mail.rc.
_\bS_\be_\bn_\bd_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl. To send a message to one or more people, _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl
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 -\b-s\bs flag. (Only the first argument
after the -\b-s\bs flag is used as a subject; be careful to quote
subjects containing spaces.) The section below, labeled
_\bR_\be_\bp_\bl_\by_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bt_\bo _\bo_\br _\bo_\br_\bi_\bg_\bi_\bn_\ba_\bt_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl, describes some features of
_\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl available to help you compose your letter.
_\bR_\be_\ba_\bd_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl. In normal usage _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl 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 p\bpr\bri\bin\bnt\bt command (which can be abbreviated
p\bp). You can move among the messages much as you move
between lines in _\be_\bd, with the commands `+' and `-' moving
backwards and forwards, and simple numbers.
_\bD_\bi_\bs_\bp_\bo_\bs_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bo_\bf _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl. After examining a message you can d\bde\bel\ble\bet\bte\be
(d\bd) the message or r\bre\bep\bpl\bly\by (r\br) to it. Deletion causes the
_\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl program to forget about the message. This is not
irreversible; the message can be u\bun\bnd\bde\bel\ble\bet\bte\bed\bd (u\bu) by giving its
number, or the _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl session can be aborted by giving the
e\bex\bxi\bit\bt (x\bx) command. Deleted messages will, however, usually
disappear never to be seen again.
_\bS_\bp_\be_\bc_\bi_\bf_\by_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bm_\be_\bs_\bs_\ba_\bg_\be_\bs. Commands such as p\bpr\bri\bin\bnt\bt and d\bde\bel\ble\bet\bte\be 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 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 1
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
and ``$'' addresses the last message; thus the command t\bto\bop\bp
which prints the first few lines of a message could be used
in ``top *'' to print the first few lines of all messages.
_\bR_\be_\bp_\bl_\by_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bt_\bo _\bo_\br _\bo_\br_\bi_\bg_\bi_\bn_\ba_\bt_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl. You can use the r\bre\bep\bpl\bly\by 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, _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl 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.)
_\bE_\bn_\bd_\bi_\bn_\bg _\ba _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl _\bp_\br_\bo_\bc_\be_\bs_\bs_\bi_\bn_\bg _\bs_\be_\bs_\bs_\bi_\bo_\bn. You can end a _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl ses-
sion with the q\bqu\bui\bit\bt (q\bq) command. Messages which have been
examined go to your _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx file unless they have been deleted
in which case they are discarded. Unexamined messages go
back to the post office. The -\b-f\bf option causes _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl to read
in the contents of your _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx (or the specified file) for
processing; when you q\bqu\bui\bit\bt, _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl writes undeleted messages
back to this file. The -\b-u\bu flag is a short way of doing
"mail -\b-f\bf /usr/spool/mail/user".
_\bP_\be_\br_\bs_\bo_\bn_\ba_\bl _\ba_\bn_\bd _\bs_\by_\bs_\bt_\be_\bm_\bw_\bi_\bd_\be _\bd_\bi_\bs_\bt_\br_\bi_\bb_\bu_\bt_\bi_\bo_\bn _\bl_\bi_\bs_\bt_\bs. 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 a\bal\bli\bia\bas\bs (\b(a\ba)\b)
command in _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl. System wide distribution lists can be
created by editing /usr/lib/aliases, see _\ba_\bl_\bi_\ba_\bs_\be_\bs(5) and
_\bs_\be_\bn_\bd_\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl(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 r\bre\bep\bpl\bly\by to the recipients.
System wide _\ba_\bl_\bi_\ba_\bs_\be_\bs 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 _\bs_\be_\bn_\bd_\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl.
_\bN_\be_\bt_\bw_\bo_\br_\bk _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl (_\bA_\bR_\bP_\bA, _\bU_\bU_\bC_\bP, _\bB_\be_\br_\bk_\bn_\be_\bt) See _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl_\ba_\bd_\bd_\br(_\b7) for a
description of network addresses.
_\bM_\ba_\bi_\bl has a number of options which can be set in the ._\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl_\br_\bc
file to alter its behavior; thus ``set askcc'' enables the
``askcc'' feature. (These options are summarized below.)
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 2
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
S\bSU\bUM\bMM\bMA\bAR\bRY\bY
(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, _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl types ``No applicable mes-
sages'' and aborts the command.
-\b- Goes to the previous message and prints it out.
If given a numeric argument _\bn, goes to the _\bn-th
previous message and prints it.
?\b? Prints a brief summary of commands.
!\b! Executes the UNIX shell command which follows.
P\bPr\bri\bin\bnt\bt (P\bP) Like p\bpr\bri\bin\bnt\bt but also prints out ignored
header fields. See also p\bpr\bri\bin\bnt\bt , i\big\bgn\bno\bor\bre\be and
r\bre\bet\bta\bai\bin\bn.\b.
R\bRe\bep\bpl\bly\by (R\bR) Reply to originator. Does not reply to other
recipients of the original message.
T\bTy\byp\bpe\be (T\bT) Identical to the P\bPr\bri\bin\bnt\bt command.
a\bal\bli\bia\bas\bs (a\ba) 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.
a\bal\blt\bte\ber\brn\bna\bat\bte\bes\bs (a\bal\blt\bt) The a\bal\blt\bte\ber\brn\bna\bat\bte\bes\bs command is useful if you
have accounts on several machines. It can be
used to inform _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl that the listed addresses
are really you. When you r\bre\bep\bpl\bly\by to messages, _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl
will not send a copy of the message to any of
the addresses listed on the _\ba_\bl_\bt_\be_\br_\bn_\ba_\bt_\be_\bs list. If
the a\bal\blt\bte\ber\brn\bna\bat\bte\bes\bs command is given with no argu-
ment, the current set of alternate names is
displayed.
c\bch\bhd\bdi\bir\br (c\bc) Changes the user's working directory to that
specified, if given. If no directory is given,
then changes to the user's login directory.
c\bco\bop\bpy\by (c\bco\bo) The c\bco\bop\bpy\by command does the same thing that
s\bsa\bav\bve\be does, except that it does not mark the
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 3
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
messages it is used on for deletion when you
quit.
d\bde\bel\ble\bet\bte\be (d\bd) Takes a list of messages as argument and
marks them all as deleted. Deleted messages
will not be saved in _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx, nor will they be
available for most other commands.
d\bdp\bp (also d\bdt\bt) Deletes the current message and prints
the next message. If there is no next message,
_\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl says ``at EOF.''
e\bed\bdi\bit\bt (e\be) 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.
e\bex\bxi\bit\bt (e\bex\bx or x\bx) Effects an immediate return to the
Shell without modifying the user's system mail-
box, his _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx file, or his edit file in -\b-f\bf.
f\bfi\bil\ble\be (f\bfi\bi) The same as f\bfo\bol\bld\bde\ber\br.
f\bfo\bol\bld\bde\ber\brs\bs List the names of the folders in your folder
directory.
f\bfo\bol\bld\bde\ber\br (f\bfo\bo) The f\bfo\bol\bld\bde\ber\br 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.
f\bfr\bro\bom\bm (f\bf) Takes a list of messages and prints their
message headers.
h\bhe\bea\bad\bde\ber\brs\bs (h\bh) 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.
h\bhe\bel\blp\bp A synonym for ?
h\bho\bol\bld\bd (h\bho\bo, also p\bpr\bre\bes\bse\ber\brv\bve\be) Takes a message list and
marks each message therein to be saved in the
user's system mailbox instead of in _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx. Does
not override the d\bde\bel\ble\bet\bte\be command.
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 4
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
i\big\bgn\bno\bor\bre\be N\bN.\b.B\bB.\b.:\b: _\bI_\bg_\bn_\bo_\br_\be has been superseded by _\br_\be_\bt_\ba_\bi_\bn.
Add the list of header fields named to the
_\bi_\bg_\bn_\bo_\br_\be_\bd _\bl_\bi_\bs_\bt. 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 T\bTy\byp\bpe\be and P\bPr\bri\bin\bnt\bt commands can be used
to print a message in its entirety, including
ignored fields. If i\big\bgn\bno\bor\bre\be is executed with no
arguments, it lists the current set of ignored
fields.
m\bma\bai\bil\bl (m\bm) Takes as argument login names and distribu-
tion group names and sends mail to those people.
m\bmb\bbo\box\bx Indicate that a list of messages be sent to _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx
in your home directory when you quit. This is
the default action for messages if you do _\bn_\bo_\bt
have the _\bh_\bo_\bl_\bd option set.
n\bne\bex\bxt\bt (n\bn like +\b+ or CR) Goes to the next message in
sequence and types it. With an argument list,
types the next matching message.
p\bpr\bre\bes\bse\ber\brv\bve\be (p\bpr\bre\be) A synonym for h\bho\bol\bld\bd.
p\bpr\bri\bin\bnt\bt (p\bp) Takes a message list and types out each mes-
sage on the user's terminal.
q\bqu\bui\bit\bt (q\bq) Terminates the session, saving all
undeleted, unsaved messages in the user's _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx
file in his login directory, preserving all mes-
sages marked with h\bho\bol\bld\bd or p\bpr\bre\bes\bse\ber\brv\bve\be 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 -\b-f\bf
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 e\bex\bxi\bit\bt command.
r\bre\bep\bpl\bly\by (r\br) 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.
r\bre\bes\bsp\bpo\bon\bnd\bd A synonym for r\bre\bep\bpl\bly\by.
r\bre\bet\bta\bai\bin\bn Add the list of header fields named to the
_\br_\be_\bt_\ba_\bi_\bn_\be_\bd _\bl_\bi_\bs_\bt. Only the header fields in the
retain list are shown on your terminal when you
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 5
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
print a message. All other header fields are
suppressed. The T\bTy\byp\bpe\be and P\bPr\bri\bin\bnt\bt commands can be
used to print a message in its entirety. If
r\bre\bet\bta\bai\bin\bn is executed with no arguments, it lists
the current set of retained fields.
s\bsa\bav\bve\be (s\bs) 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.
s\bse\bet\bt (s\bse\be) With no arguments, prints all variable
values. Otherwise, sets option. Arguments are
of the form ``option=value'' (no space before or
after =) or ``option.''
s\bsh\bhe\bel\bll\bl (s\bsh\bh) Invokes an interactive version of the
shell.
s\bsi\biz\bze\be Takes a message list and prints out the size in
characters of each message.
s\bso\bou\bur\brc\bce\be (s\bso\bo) The s\bso\bou\bur\brc\bce\be command reads _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl commands from
a file.
t\bto\bop\bp Takes a message list and prints the top few
lines of each. The number of lines printed is
controlled by the variable t\bto\bop\bpl\bli\bin\bne\bes\bs and defaults
to five.
t\bty\byp\bpe\be (t\bt) A synonym for p\bpr\bri\bin\bnt\bt.
u\bun\bna\bal\bli\bia\bas\bs Takes a list of names defined by a\bal\bli\bia\bas\bs commands
and discards the remembered groups of users.
The group names no longer have any significance.
u\bun\bnd\bde\bel\ble\bet\bte\be (u\bu) Takes a message list and marks each message
as _\bn_\bo_\bt being deleted.
u\bun\bnr\bre\bea\bad\bd (U\bU) Takes a message list and marks each message
as _\bn_\bo_\bt having been read.
u\bun\bns\bse\bet\bt Takes a list of option names and discards their
remembered values; the inverse of s\bse\bet\bt.
v\bvi\bis\bsu\bua\bal\bl (v\bv) Takes a message list and invokes the display
editor on each message.
w\bwr\bri\bit\bte\be (w\bw) Similar to s\bsa\bav\bve\be, except that _\bo_\bn_\bl_\by the mes-
sage body (_\bw_\bi_\bt_\bh_\bo_\bu_\bt the header) is saved.
Extremely useful for such tasks as sending and
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 6
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
receiving source program text over the message
system.
x\bxi\bit\bt (x\bx) A synonym for e\bex\bxi\bit\bt.
z\bz _\bM_\ba_\bi_\bl presents message headers in windowfuls as
described under the h\bhe\bea\bad\bde\ber\brs\bs command. You can
move _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl's attention forward to the next window
with the z\bz command. Also, you can move to the
previous window by using z\bz-\b-.
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 e\bes\bsc\bca\bap\bpe\be.\b.
~\b~!\b!command Execute the indicated shell command, then return
to the message.
~\b~b\bb 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).
~\b~c\bc name ... Add the given names to the list of carbon copy
recipients.
~\b~d\bd Read the file ``dead.letter'' from your home
directory into the message.
~\b~e\be Invoke the text editor on the message collected
so far. After the editing session is finished,
you may continue appending text to the message.
~\b~f\bf messages Read the named messages into the message being
sent. If no messages are specified, read in the
current message.
~\b~h\bh 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.
~\b~m\bm messages Read the named messages into the message being
sent, shifted right one tab. If no messages are
specified, read the current message.
~\b~p\bp Print out the message collected so far, prefaced
by the message header fields.
~\b~q\bq Abort the message being sent, copying the mes-
sage to ``dead.letter'' in your home directory
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 7
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
if s\bsa\bav\bve\be is set.
~\b~r\br filename Read the named file into the message.
~\b~s\bs string Cause the named string to become the current
subject field.
~\b~t\bt name ... Add the given names to the direct recipient
list.
~\b~v\bv 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.
~\b~w\bw filename Write the message onto the named file.
~\b~|\b|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 _\bf_\bm_\bt(1) is often used
as _\bc_\bo_\bm_\bm_\ba_\bn_\bd to rejustify the message.
~\b~~\b~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 s\bse\bet\bt and u\bun\bns\bse\bet\bt 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:
a\bap\bpp\bpe\ben\bnd\bd Causes messages saved in _\bm_\bb_\bo_\bx to be appended
to the end rather than prepended. (This is
set in /usr/lib/Mail.rc on version 7 sys-
tems.)
a\bas\bsk\bk Causes _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl to prompt you for the subject of
each message you send. If you respond with
simply a newline, no subject field will be
sent.
a\bas\bsk\bkc\bcc\bc 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.
a\bau\but\bto\bop\bpr\bri\bin\bnt\bt Causes the d\bde\bel\ble\bet\bte\be command to behave like d\bdp\bp -
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 8
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
thus, after deleting a message, the next one
will be typed automatically.
d\bde\beb\bbu\bug\bg Setting the binary option _\bd_\be_\bb_\bu_\bg is the same
as specifying -\b-d\bd on the command line and
causes _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl to output all sorts of informa-
tion useful for debugging _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl.
d\bdo\bot\bt The binary option _\bd_\bo_\bt causes _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl to inter-
pret a period alone on a line as the termina-
tor of a message you are sending.
h\bho\bol\bld\bd This option is used to hold messages in the
system mailbox by default.
i\big\bgn\bno\bor\bre\be Causes interrupt signals from your terminal
to be ignored and echoed as @'s.
i\big\bgn\bno\bor\bre\bee\beo\bof\bf An option related to _\bd_\bo_\bt is _\bi_\bg_\bn_\bo_\br_\be_\be_\bo_\bf which
makes _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl refuse to accept a control-d as
the end of a message. _\bI_\bg_\bn_\bo_\br_\be_\be_\bo_\bf also applies
to _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl command mode.
m\bme\bet\bto\boo\bo 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.
n\bno\bos\bsa\bav\bve\be Normally, when you abort a message with two
RUBOUT, _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl copies the partial letter to the
file ``dead.letter'' in your home directory.
Setting the binary option _\bn_\bo_\bs_\ba_\bv_\be prevents
this.
R\bRe\bep\bpl\bly\bya\bal\bll\bl Reverses the sense of _\br_\be_\bp_\bl_\by and _\bR_\be_\bp_\bl_\by com-
mands.
q\bqu\bui\bie\bet\bt Suppresses the printing of the version when
first invoked.
v\bve\ber\brb\bbo\bos\bse\be Setting the option _\bv_\be_\br_\bb_\bo_\bs_\be is the same as
using the -\b-v\bv 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
e\bed\bdi\bit\bt command and ~e escape. If not defined,
then a default editor is used.
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MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
PAGER Pathname of the program to use in the m\bmo\bor\bre\be
command or when _\bc_\br_\bt variable is set. A
default paginator is used if this option is
not defined.
SHELL Pathname of the shell to use in the !\b! 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
v\bvi\bis\bsu\bua\bal\bl command and ~v escape.
c\bcr\brt\bt The valued option _\bc_\br_\bt is used as a threshold
to determine how long a message must be
before P\bPA\bAG\bGE\bER\bR is used to read it.
e\bes\bsc\bca\bap\bpe\be If defined, the first character of this
option gives the character to use in the
place of ~ to denote escapes.
f\bfo\bol\bld\bde\ber\br The name of the directory to use for storing
folders of messages. If this name begins with
a `/', _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl considers it to be an absolute
pathname; otherwise, the folder directory is
found relative to your home directory.
r\bre\bec\bco\bor\brd\bd If defined, gives the pathname of the file
used to record all outgoing mail. If not
defined, then outgoing mail is not so saved.
t\bto\bop\bpl\bli\bin\bne\bes\bs If defined, gives the number of lines of a
message to be printed out with the t\bto\bop\bp com-
mand; normally, the first five lines are
printed.
F\bFI\bIL\bLE\bES\bS
/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
S\bSE\bEE\bE A\bAL\bLS\bSO\bO
binmail(1), fmt(1), newaliases(1), aliases(5),
mailaddr(7), sendmail(8)
`The Mail Reference Manual'
B\bBU\bUG\bGS\bS
There are many flags that are not documented here. Most are
not useful to the general user.
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 10
MAIL(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual MAIL(1)
Usually, _\bm_\ba_\bi_\bl is just a link to _\bM_\ba_\bi_\bl, which can be confus-
ing.
A\bAU\bUT\bTH\bHO\bOR\bR
Kurt Shoens
Printed 7/9/88 May 9, 1986 11
Continuous source code history from original PDP-7 UNIX to FreeBSD 2, the first fully unencumbered FreeBSD release.