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System User's Guide: Communications and Networks


Mail Command and Subcommand Summary

The following gives you a summary of the mail command and subcommands available for your use:

Summary of System Commands to Execute Mail

The following information summarizes the system commands to execute mail:

mail Displays the system mailbox.
mail -f Displays your personal mailbox (mbox).
mail -f +folder Displays a mail folder.
mail user@address Addresses a message to the specified user.

Summary of Mailbox Subcommands in the Mail Program

When the mail program is processing a mailbox, it displays the mailbox prompt to indicate that it is waiting for input. The mailbox prompt is an ampersand (&) displayed at the beginning of a new line. At the prompt, you can enter any of the mailbox subcommands.

Control Subcommands


q Quits and applies the mailbox subcommands entered this session.
x Quits and restores the mailbox to original state.
! Starts a shell, runs a command, and returns to the mailbox.
cd dir Changes directory to dir or $HOME.

Display Subcommands


t Displays the messages in msg_list or the current message.
n Displays the next message.
f msg_list Displays the headings of messages in msg_list or of the current message if msg_list is not provided.
h num Displays the headings of groups containing message num.
top num Displays a partial message.
set Displays a list of all enabled .mailrc options.
ignore Displays a list of all the ignored header fields.
folder Displays the number of messages in the current folder along with the path name of the folder.

Message Handling


e num Edits the message num (default editor is e).
d msg_list Deletes the messages in msg_list or the current message.
u msg_list Recalls deleted messages in msg_list.
s msg_list +file Appends messages (with headings) to file.
w msg_list +file Appends messages (text only) to file.
pre msg_list Keeps messages in the system mailbox.

Creating New Mail


m addrlist Creates and sends a new message to the addresses in addrlist.
r msg_list Sends a reply to senders and recipients of messages.
R msg_list Sends a reply only to senders of messages.
a Displays a list of aliases and their addresses.

Summary of Mail Editor Subcommands

When the mail editor is processed it displays the mail editor prompt to indicate that it is waiting for input. At the prompt, you can enter any of the mail editor subcommands.

Control Subcommands


~q Quits the editor without saving or sending the current message.
~p Displays the contents of the message buffer.
~: mcmd Runs a mailbox subcommand, (mcmd).
EOT Sends message (Ctrl-D on many terminals).
. Sends the current message.

Add to Heading


~h Adds to the To:, Subject:, Cc:, and Bcc: lists.
~t addrlist Adds the user addresses in addrlist to the To: list.
~s subject Sets the Subject: line to the string specified by subject.
~c addrlist Adds the user addresses in addrlist to the Cc: (copy to) list.
~b addrlist Adds the user addresses in addrlist to the Bcc: (blind copy) list.

Add to Message


~d Appends the contents of dead.letter to the message.
~r filename Appends the contents of filename to the message.
~f numlist Appends the contents of message numbers numlist.
~m numlist Appends and indents the contents of message numbers numlist.

Change Message


~e Edits the message using the e editor (default is e).
~v Edits the message using the vi editor (default is vi).
~w filename Writes the message to filename.
~! command Starts a shell, runs command, and returns to the editor.
~| command Pipes the message to standard input of command and replaces the message with the standard output from that command.

Summary of Secret Mail Subcommands

When the secret mail program processes a secret mailbox, it displays the secret mailbox prompt to indicate that it is waiting for input. The secret mailbox prompt is a question mark (?) displayed at the beginning of a new line. At the prompt, you can enter any of the secret mailbox subcommands.

System Commands to Execute Secret Mail


xsend barbara Addresses a message to the specified user.
xget Displays the secret mailbox.

Secret Mailbox Subcommands


q Quits, leaving unread messages.
n Deletes the current message and displays the next message.
d Deletes the current message and displays the next message.
Return key Deletes the current message and displays the next message.
! Executes a shell command.
s Saves the message in the named file or mbox.
w Saves the message in the named file or mbox.


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