usr/src/usr.bin/mesg/mesg.1

.\" Copyright (c) 1987, 1990 The Regents of the University of California.
.\" All rights reserved.
.\"
.\" %sccs.include.redist.man%
.\"
.\"     @(#)mesg.1      6.6 (Berkeley) %G%
.\"
.Dd
.Dt MESG 1
.Os BSD 4.4
.Sh NAME
.Nm mesg
.Nd  Display (do not display) messages from other users
.Sh SYNOPSIS
.Nm mesg
.Op Cm n Li \&| Cm y
.Sh DESCRIPTION
The
.Nm mesg
utility allows a user to decide if other users may write
messages to his or her screen.  Programs such as
.Xr talk 1 ,
.Xr write 1
and
.Xr echo 1
are social and display a message on the target user's terminal.
Sometimes this is inconvenient.
.Pp
Options:
.Tw Ds
.Tp Cm n
Disallow messages, providing peace, and informing the contacting
party
that `Your party is refusing messages'.
.Tp Cm y
Allow messages to be displayed.
.Tp
.Pp
If no arguments are given,
.Nm mesg
displays the present message status.
.Pp
The
.Nm mesg
utility exits with one of the following values:
.Dw Ds
.Dp Li \&\ 0
messages are allowed
.Dp Li \&\ 1
messages are not allowed
.Dp Li \&\-\&1
An error has occurred.
.Dp
.Sh FILES
.Dw /dev/[pt]ty[pq]?
.Di L
.Dp Pa /dev/[pt]ty[pq]?
.Dp
.Sh SEE ALSO
.Xr write 1 ,
.Xr talk 1 ,
.Xr echo 1 ,
.Xr biff 1
.Sh HISTORY
A
.Nm mesg
command appeared in Version 6 AT&T Unix.