biff Command

AIX Version 4.3 Commands Reference, Volume 1

biff Command

Purpose

Enables or disables mail notification during the current session.

Syntax

biff [ y | n ]

Description

The biff command informs the system whether you want to be notified when mail arrives. When mail notification is enabled, From and Subject header lines and the first 7 lines or 560 characters of a message are displayed on the screen when mail arrives. Notification, specified by the biff y command, is often included in the $HOME/.login or $HOME/.profile file to be executed each time the user logs in. The biff n command disables notification.

Note: In addition to y and n, you can use yes and no to enable and disable mail notification.

The biff command operates asynchronously. To receive notification when mail arrives, ensure:

The message permission setting is on in your shell (mesg y ).
comsat is running (started by the inetd daemon).
Notification is enabled (biff y ).

For synchronous notification, use the MAIL variable of either the ksh command, bsh command, or the csh command.

Options

y	Enables mail notification.
n	Disables mail notification.

Examples

To display the current setting, enter:
```
biff
```
To be notified during the current terminal session whenever mail arrives, enter the following statement in your $HOME/.login or $HOME/.profile file:
```
biff y
```
The From and Subject header lines and the first seven lines or 560 characters of the message will be displayed on the screen when mail arrives.

Files

$HOME/.login	Read by login shell at login.
$HOME/.profile	Controls start-up processes and daemons.
/usr/bin/biff	Contains biff command.

Related Information

The bsh command, csh command, ksh command, mail command.

The comsat daemon.

Mail Overview in AIX Version 4.3 System User's Guide: Communications and Networks.