Mail Command and Subcommand Summary

AIX Version 4.3 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.
CR	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.