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UNIX Basic commands: mail

The mail command allows you to read or send mail. If users is left blank, it allows you to read mail. If users has a value, then it allows you send mail to those users.

Syntax

The syntax for the mail command is:

mail [options] [users]

Options for reading mail

Option	Description
-e	Check if mail exists. Exit status is 0 if mail exists and 1 if mail does not exist.
-f file	Read mail from mailbox called file.
-F names	Forward mail to names.
-h	Displays messages in a window.
-i	Ignore interrupts
-p	Displays all messages.
-P	Displays all messages with header lines.
-q	Terminate when an interrupt occurs.
-r	Displays oldest messages first.
-U	Convert uucp-type addresses to Internet format.
-v	Verbose.

Options for sending mail

Option	Description
-m type	Display a "Message-type:" line at the heading of the message, followed by type.
-t	Display a "To:" line at the heading of the message with the names of the recipients.
-w	Send mail to users without waiting for a remote transfer program to finish.
-F	Save message in a file called the name of the first recipient.
-h n	If message has not been sent after n network connections, do not send message.
-i	Ignore interrupts
-r address	address is the return address for mail messages.
-s subject	Displays subject in the subject header.
-U	Convert uucp-type addresses to Internet format.
-v	Verbose.

* Please note that there are many flavors of UNIX, so if in doubt, consult your man pages.