Using pine

Using Unix mail

Unix mail is the standard mail program that is included with nearly all Unix packages. It is very common, but it is also very basic. It creates a mail environment from which the user can perform the basic e-mail functions. The editor is very simple, but correcting mistakes is difficult. The command struct can be somewhat complicated. For more information than is given below, type man mail at the unix prompt.

Command Summary

• Sending Mail
  1. Type mail <address>, replacing <address> with the address of the person to whom you wish to write, and hit the return key.

     EXAMPLE: mail ras@cis.ufl.edu

  2. The program will request a subject, and you should respond by entering the subject of the message you are about to send.
  3. You are free to type the message as desired. WARNING: Be careful when typing! The editor only allows the user to edit one line of text (about 70 characters). Editing is accomplished by erasing text with the delete key until you have erased your error, but lines prior to the line on which you are currently working can not be edited.
  4. When you have completed your message, hit return so that the cursor is positioned on a blank line.
  5. Enter a single period and hit return. This should inform the program that you are done editing the text. If you feel more comfortable, hitting ctrl-d will do the same thing.
  6. Depending on how the program is set up, you may be asked if you would like to send a carbon copy (cc:) to anybody. If this is the case, enter the address of the person to whom you wish to copy the message to (this person should not be the original person that you addressed the meassage to in step 1.
  7. The program will now return you to the Unix prompt.
  8. Should you need to quit the program at any time other than after the normal completion of a message, either enter ctrl-c until you are returned to the unix prompt or type ~q and hit return.
• Receiving Mail
  1. When you login or after you execute a command you may see a sign that says You have mail. This is a message from the system that tells you that there is unread mail waiting.
  2. To receive the mail see the list of messages, type mail at the Unix prompt.
  3. If you have mail, you will be put into the mail environment, a list of the waiting or stored messages will be displayed, and the prompt will be changed to an &. If there is no mail waiting or stored, you will be returned to the Unix prompt.
  4. To put the read mail in a mailbox and exit, type q. To leave the mail on the system and exit, type x.
• Reading Mail
  1. If you have waiting mail, type mail at the Unix prompt. If you have no mail waiting but you have mail saved in a mailbox, type mail -f.
  2. A list of the messages you have will be displayed on the screen.
  3. To read a specific message, enter the number in front of that message and hit return.
  4. To read the next message, hit return.
  5. To read the previous message, hit -.
  6. To put the read mail in a mailbox and exit, type q. To leave the mail on the system and exit, type x.
• Replying to a Message
  1. Read the mail as described above.
  2. Type r at the & prompt. If you wish to reply to everyone that the message was sent to, type R.
  3. Follow the directions for sending a message as describe above.
  4. To put the read mail in a mailbox and exit, type q. To leave the mail on the system and exit, type x.
• Forwarding a Message
  1. Find the message number of the mail you wish to forward.
  2. Type m <address>, replacing <address> with the address of the person you wish to forward the mail to.
  3. Enter a subject and hit return.
  4. Enter a description of the forwarded mail and a message to the person who will be receiving the forwarded message then hit return.
  5. Type ~f <number>, replacing <number> with the message number of the message you wish to forward.
  6. End the message as describe in Sending Mail above.
• Including a File in Your Message
  1. Edit a message to be sent either as descibed in Send Mail above or by type m <address> from the & prompt, replacing <address> with the address of the person you wish to send a message to.
  2. Type ~r <filename> to include the file named by <filename> or ~m <message number> to include the message numbered as given in <message number>.
• Deleting a Message
  1. Find the message number of the message you wish to delete.
  2. Type d <number>, replace <number> with the message number of the message you wish to delete.

Message handler is a simple mail program that uses Unix command line functions to perform all the mail tasks. It offers a more flexible interface, and it is more intuitive to use than Unix mail. Message handler is very common on Unix machines. For more information than is given below, type man mh at the unix prompt.

Command Summary

• Sending Mail (Composing a Message)
  1. Type comp at the Unix prompt. If you wish to use an editor other than the default editor, type comp -editor <editor>, replacing <editor> with the name of the editor to invoke.

     EXAMPLE: To use the editor that is standard for the pine mail program, enter comp -editor pico.

     NOTE: It is highly recommended that you choose an editor that is more functional than the standard editor.

  2. The program will bring up the editor.
  3. Fill in the blanks for to:, cc:, and subject:.
  4. You are free to type the message as desired. WARNING: Be careful when typing! The standard editor only allows the user to edit one line of text (about 70 characters). Editing is accomplished by erasing text with the delete key until you have erased your error, but lines prior to the line on which you are currently working can not be edited.
  5. When you have completed your message, hit ctrl-d to end the editing session.
  6. The program will ask What now?
  7. Enter one of the following:
     • send will send the message.
     • quit will quit without sending the message.
     • edit will allow you to re-edit the message.
     • list will display the message.
     • Nothing will display a help screen.
  8. The program will now return you to the Unix prompt.
  9. Should you need to quit the program at any time other than after the normal completion of a message, enter ctrl-c until you are returned to the unix prompt. (Standard editor only).
• Receiving Mail
  1. When you login or after you execute a command you may see a sign that says You have mail. This is a message from the system that tells you that there is unread mail waiting.
  2. To incorporate the mail into your mailbox type inc at the user prompt.
  3. To see a list of all messages in your mailbox type scan .
• Reading Mail
  1. If you have waiting mail or mail in your mailbox, it can be read either in order or by message number.
  2. To see a list of all you mail, type scan at the Unix prompt. NOTE: this is not needed if you just want to see the next message or know the message number of the mail you wish to read.
  3. The following commands will let you read the mail:
     • show: read the current message.
     • show <number>: show the message given by <number>.
     • next: read the next message.
     • prev: read the previous message.
• Replying to a Message
  1. Type either repl to reply to the current message or repl <number> to reply to a specific message number.
  2. See Sending Mail for instructions on how to use a different editor.
• Forwarding a Message
  1. Type either forw to forward the current message or forw <number> to forward a specific message number.
  2. See Sending Mail for instructions on how to use a different editor.
• Including a File in Your Message
  1. Including a file is dependant on the editor you choose to use.
• Deleting a Message
  1. Type either rmm to remove the current message or rmm <number> to remove a specific message number.