1  MAIL
   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]
 

2  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
 

/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 TPU-
   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.
 

/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.
 

/SELF

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

/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.
 

/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.
 

2  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.
 

