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.