1  ANSWER
   Sends a reply to the sender of the message that you are currently
   reading or to the sender of the last message you read. If you
   do not specify the name of a file to be sent as your reply, Mail
   prompts you for the text of your reply.

   You can use the ANSWER command and the REPLY command
   interchangeably because they work the same way. You must be
   reading a message in order to answer it.

   Format

     ANSWER  [file-spec]
 

2  Parameter
 

file-spec

   Indicates the name of the file to be sent as a reply.
 

2  Qualifiers
 

/CC_PROMPT

      /CC_PROMPT
      /NOCC_PROMPT

   Enables the prompt for the CC: line in the mail header. At the
   CC: prompt, enter the names of other users to whom you want to
   send a copy of the mail message.

   The /NOCC_PROMPT qualifier disables the CC: prompt. The /CC_
   PROMPT and /NOCC_PROMPT qualifiers override the SET CC_PROMPT and
   SET NOCC_PROMPT commands.
 

/EDIT

      /EDIT
      /NOEDIT

   Invokes a text editor to edit the reply you are sending. Unless
   you have entered the SET EDITOR command, the DECTPU-based EVE
   editor is invoked. When you exit from the editor, Mail sends
   the edited message. To cancel sending the message, enter the
   command to quit. If you enter the DCL command MAIL/EDIT=(REPLY)
   and then decide that you do not want to invoke the editor for
   your response, enter the command ANSWER/NOEDIT.
 

/EXTRACT

   Invokes an editor to enable you to edit the current message to
   which you are replying. Unless you have selected a different
   editor, the DECTPU-based EVE editor is invoked.
 

/LAST

   Specifies that the last message you sent will be used as text
   for the reply to the message that you are reading. You can use
   the /LAST qualifier with the /EDIT qualifier to edit the message
   before sending it.
 

/PERSONAL_NAME

      /PERSONAL_NAME=name
      /NOPERSONAL_NAME

   Specifies a personal name to be used when answering a message.
   A personal name is a field of text that is appended to the end
   of the From: field of mail messages you send. You can fill this
   field with your full name or any other information.

   The /PERSONAL NAME qualifier overrides the default personal name
   specified with the SET PERSONAL_NAME command for this message
   only. The /NOPERSONAL_NAME qualifier sends a message with a null
   personal name field.
 

/SELF

      /SELF
      /NOSELF

   Determines whether Mail sends a copy of the response to you. The
   default qualifier is /NOSELF unless you have used the SET COPY_
   SELF command to specify that copies be sent to you automatically.
   The /NOSELF qualifier overrides the SET COPY_SELF SEND command.
 

/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 SET SIGNATURE_FILE command (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.

   To determine if the SET SIGNATURE_FILE command is in effect, use
   the SHOW SIGNATURE_FILE or SHOW ALL command.

   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.
 

/SUBJECT

      /SUBJECT="subject-text"

   Enables you to specify a different subject when replying to a
   message. 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.
 

2  Examples

   1.MAIL> ANSWER
     To:  AUTUMN::GREGG
     Subj: RE: Nova Scotia

     Enter your message below.  Press Ctrl/Z when complete, or Ctrl/C to quit:

     This example shows how to use the ANSWER command to respond to
     a message sent by a user named GREGG on node AUTUMN.

   2.MAIL> ANSWER/EDIT
     To:  ARCTIC::SWENSON
     Subj:  RE: SIAM
     [End of file]

     Buffer     MAIN                               |Insert  |  Forward

     This example shows how to use the /EDIT qualifier with the
     ANSWER command to respond to a message from a user named
     SWENSON on node ARCTIC. When you use the EVE editor, the [End
     of file] sign moves down the screen as you enter text.