VMS Help MAIL Command  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    Invokes the OpenVMS Mail utility (MAIL). You can use the Mail
    utility to send messages to other users on your system or
    network. You can also read, file, forward, delete, print,
    and reply to messages that other users send to you. For more
    information on the Mail utility, invoke MAIL and type HELP at the
    MAIL> prompt.

    Format

      MAIL  [filespec] [recipient-name]

1 - Parameters

 filespec

    Specifies an optional file containing message text to be sent to
    the specified users. If you omit the file type, the default file
    type is TXT. The recipient-name parameter is required with the
    filespec parameter.

    If you omit the filespec parameter, MAIL is invoked to process
    MAIL commands interactively.

    No wild card characters are allowed in the file specification.

 recipient-name

    Specifies one or more users to receive the message. If the
    filespec parameter is specified, this parameter is required. A
    recipient-name is the name that the user uses to log in. If any
    user is on a remote node, you should precede that recipient-name
    parameter with the name of the remote node followed by two colons
    (::).

    As an alternative to listing the user names, you can specify a
    distribution list file containing user names. Simply precede
    the distribution list file specification with an at sign (@)
    and enclose this construction in quotation marks ("). The file
    you specify should contain the user names, entered one per line,
    denoting any remote nodes as described above. If you omit the
    file type, the default file type is DIS. No wild card characters
    are allowed in the distribution list file specification.

2 - Qualifiers

 2.1 - /EDIT

       /EDIT[=(keyword[=option], . . . )]

    Sets the default to /EDIT for the SEND and REPLY commands and
    allows you to edit your mail messages. By default, the DECTPU-
    based EVE editor will be invoked. You can use the SET EDITOR
    command in MAIL to change your editor.

    Valid keywords are FORWARD, REPLY[=EXTRACT], and SEND.

 2.2 - /PERSONAL_NAME

       /PERSONAL_NAME=name
       NOPERSONAL_NAME

    Specifies the personal name to be used when sending a message.
    Use quotation marks around the personal name to include more than
    one word or to print in lowercase letters.

    This qualifier does not override the default personal name
    specified by the SET PERSONAL_NAME command; the personal name
    is only changed for the current message.The /NOPERSONAL_NAME
    qualifier sends a message with a null personal name field.

 2.3 - /SELF

    Sends a copy of the message containing the file specification on
    the command line back to you as well as to other users.

 2.4 - /SIGNATURE_FILE

       /SIGNATURE_FILE[=file-name]
       /NOSIGNATURE_FILE

    Specifies a file to be appended to the end of a mail message.
    The signature file contains text and has a default file type of
    .SIG. An example of a signature file is a text file formatted
    as business card, containing the user's company name, address,
    telephone, and Internet address.

    Specify the /SIGNATURE_FILE qualifier when you want to override
    the default established by the Mail command SET SIGNATURE_FILE
    (if you want to send a signature file that is different from
    that default specification). If there is no default setting,
    specify the /SIGNATURE_FILE qualifier to interactively include a
    signature file with a particular mail message.

    When you use the /SIGNATURE_FILE qualifier, note the following:

    o  When you create a mail message that includes a signature
       file, that message requires more temporary disk space than
       a conventional message because temporary files are created
       during the operation. After the message is sent, those
       temporary files are deleted.

    o  If you do not specify a directory, the Mail utility looks for
       the signature file in your mail directory.

    o  If you do not specify a file, the Mail utility uses the file
       specification in your user profile. If there is no default
       signature file in the profile, Mail will send the message
       without one.

    o  If a specified signature file does not exist, the system
       displays an error message.

    Specify the /NOSIGNATURE_FILE qualifier when you do not want
    to include a signature file with a particular mail message.
    Specifying this qualifier overrides the current setting,
    including any specifications in your user profile.

 2.5 - /SUBJECT

       /SUBJECT="text"

    Specifies the subject of the message for the heading. If the text
    consists of more than one word, any spaces, or nonalphanumeric
    characters, enclose the text in quotation marks.

3 - Examples

    1.$ MAIL
      MAIL>

      This MAIL command invokes MAIL to process commands
      interactively.

    2.$ MAIL/SUBJECT="New Project" PROJECT.DOC JONES,SMITH,ADAMS

      This MAIL command specifies that the file named PROJECT.DOC
      is to be sent to users JONES, SMITH, and ADAMS, with a subject
      description of New Project in the heading.

    3.$MAIL/SUBJECT="Vacation Policy Change" NEWSLETTR "@USERS"

      This MAIL command invokes MAIL to send the file NEWSLETTR.TXT
      to all the users named in the file USERS.DIS. The subject
      description is Vacation Policy Change.

    4.$ MAIL/EDIT
      MAIL> SEND
      To: EARTH::MAX
      Subj: Experiment
         .
         .
         .
      [End of file]

      Buffer: MAIL              | Write | Insert | Forward |

      This example shows how to use the /EDIT qualifier with the MAIL
      command enabling you to create and edit a new message. Press
      the Do key to return to the command prompt (Command:).  Type
      EXIT to send the message or QUIT to end the editing session
      without sending the message.

    5.$ MAIL/EDIT=(REPLY,FORWARD)
      MAIL> 14
         .
         .
         .
      MAIL> REPLY
      To: EARTH::MAX
      Subj: Experiment
      [End of file]

      Buffer: MAIL              | Write | Insert | Forward |

      This example shows how to use the /EDIT qualifier specifying
      the keywords REPLY and FORWARD, which enable you to edit
      any message you forward or to which you reply. To reply to
      message 14, enter REPLY and edit your text. Press the Do key to
      return to the line-editing prompt and to send the reply to user
      EARTH::MAX.

    6.$ MAIL/PERSONAL_NAME ="Cindy L." TEST.DAT VROMAN

      This example shows the user's personal name defined as Cindy
      L. in the current message containing the file TEST.DAT sent to
      user VROMAN.

    7.$ MAIL/SELF experiments.dat smith,jones

      This example shows how to use the /SELF qualifier to send a
      copy of the message containing the file named EXPERIMENTS.DAT
      back to you and to users SMITH and JONES.

    8.$ MAIL/SIGNATURE_FILE=BUSINESS_CARD.SIG HELLO.DOC JONES

      This example shows how to append a text file
      (BUSINESS_CARD.SIG) to a mail message containing the file
      HELLO.DOC. User JONES will receive a single mail message
      containing both files.

    9.$ MAIL/SUBJECT="Life in the Big City" newfile.txt JOHNSON

      This example shows how to use the /SUBJECT qualifier to send a
      file named NEWFILE.TXT with a subject heading of "Life in the
      Big City." Use quotation marks around the subject heading to
      include more than one word, to print in lowercase letters, or
      to include any spaces or nonalphanumeric characters.