1 03/22/88 send_mail, sdm
2
3 Syntax as a command: sdm addresses -control_args
4
5
6 Function: sends a message to one or more recipients.
7
8
9 Arguments:
10 addresses
11 specifies the primary recipients of the message. By default, the
12 message has no primary recipients.
13
14
15 Control arguments:
16 -abbrev, -ab
17 enables abbreviation expansion of request lines.
18 -abort
19 prints an error message and returns to its caller immediately upon
20 detecting an invalid address. An invalid address is either a
21 sequence of arguments that cannot be converted into an address by
22 sdm e.g. missing arguments bad pathname syntax or a nonexistent
23 address e.g. a nonexistent mailbox a foreign address on a host
24 that cannot be reached from the local system. Default
25 -acknowledge, -ack
26 requests an acknowledgement from the recipients when they read the
27 message.
28
29
30 -auto_write
31 specifies that the qedx request automatically updates the message
32 when you quit the editor.
33 -bcc addresses
34 specifies a list of "blind" recipients of the message. "Blind"
35 recipients are listed in the bcc field for the message header. When
36 the message is transmitted, this field is not included in the copy
37 of the message sent to the primary and secondary recipients; it is,
38 however, included in the copy of the message sent to the actual
39 "blind" recipients. By default, the message has no "blind"
40 recipients.
41 -brief, -bf
42 shortens some informative messages and suppresses others.
43
44
45 -cc addresses
46 specifies the secondary recipients of the message. By default, the
47 message has no secondary recipients.
48 -debug, -db
49 enables sdm's debugging facilities. It is not recommended for
50 normal users of the command.
51 -fill, -fi
52 reformats the message text according to "fill-on" and "align-left"
53 mode in compose. The message is reformatted after initial input is
54 completed and after each execution of the qedx and apply requests.
55 Default for terminal input
56 -from addresses
57 specifies the authors of the message. By default, the user issuing
58 sdm is the sole author of the message.
59
60
61 -input_file path, -if path
62 takes the message text from the specified file rather than from the
63 terminal.
64 -line_length N, -ll N
65 specifies the line length to use for filling the message text.
66 Default: 72
67 -long, -lg
68 prints the long form of all informative messages. Default
69 -no_abbrev, -nab
70 does not enable abbreviation expansion of request lines. Default
71
72
73 -no_abort
74 prints an error message for any invalid addresses that are
75 encountered on the command line but then proceeds to prompt for a
76 subject and message text. After you type the message text, sdm
77 enters its request loop to allow you to correct the lists of
78 recipients before sending the message.
79 -no_acknowledge, -nack
80 does not request an acknowledgement. Default
81 -no_auto_write
82 specifies that the qedx request requires you to use the write
83 request to update the
84 message before quitting the editor. Any attempt to exit without
85 writing results in a query. Default
86 -no_debug, -ndb
87 disables sdm's debugging facilities. Default
88
89
90 -no_fill, -nfi
91 does not reformat the message text unless you use the fill request
92 or the -fill control argument of the qedx and apply requests.
93 Default for file input
94 -no_notify, -nnt
95 does not send notification messages.
96 -no_prompt
97 suppresses the prompt for request lines in the request loop.
98 -no_request_loop, -nrql
99 sends the message immediately upon completion of input unless input
100 was from the terminal and was terminated by "\f" or "\q". Default
101 for terminal input
102 -no_subject, -nsj
103 specifies that the message has no subject.
104
105
106 -notify, -nt
107 sends a "You have mail." notification to each recipient of the
108 message. Default
109 -profile path, -pf path
110 specifies the pathname of the profile to use for abbreviation
111 expansion. The suffix profile is added if necessary. This control
112 argument implies -abbrev.
113 -prompt STR
114 sets the request loop prompt to STR. Default: ^/send_mail^
115 ^d^:^2x
116 -reply_to addresses, -rpt addresses
117 specifies the list of recipients who are to receive replies to the
118 message instead of the message's authors. By default, the authors
119 of the message receive the replies.
120
121
122 -request STR, -rq STR
123 executes STR as an sdm request line after reading the message text
124 but before entering the request loop. This control argument implies
125 -request_loop.
126 -request_loop, -rql
127 enters sdm's request loop after reading the message text. Default
128 for file input
129 -subject STR, -sj STR
130 specifies the subject of the message. By default, sdm prompts you
131 for the subject.
132 -terminal_input, -ti
133 accepts the message text from the terminal see "Notes on Terminal
134 Input" below. Default
135 -to addresses
136 specifies additional primary recipients of the message.
137
138
139 List of addresses:
140 -log
141 specifies the user's logbox and is equivalent to
142
143 -mailbox >udd>Project_id>Person_id>Person_id.mbx
144
145 It is included as a "blind" recipient of the message.
146
147 -mailbox path, -mbx path
148 specifies the pathname of a mailbox. The suffix mbx is added if
149 necessary.
150 -mailing_list path, -mls path
151 specifies the pathname of a mailing list. The suffix mls is added
152 if necessary. You can use the archive component pathname
153 convention. A mailing list is a list of addresses contained in a
154 segment or archive component.
155
156
157 -meeting path, -mtg path
158 specifies the pathname of a Forum meeting. The suffix control or
159 forum is added if necessary. If the pathname given is just an
160 entryname i.e. no < or > characters appear in the pathname, the
161 forum search path is used to find the meeting.
162 -save path, -sv path
163 specifies the pathname of a savebox. The suffix sv.mbx is added if
164 necessary. It is included as a "blind" recipient of the message.
165 -user STR
166 specifies either a user's default mailbox or an entry in the system
167 mail table see "Notes on the -user Address Control Argument"
168 below.
169
170
171 STR
172 is any noncontrol argument. If STR contains either < or >, it is
173 interpreted as -mailbox path; otherwise it is interpreted as -user
174 STR.
175 STR -at FSystem -via RelayN...-via Relay1
176 specifies an address on another computer system see "Notes on
177 Foreign Address".
178
179
180 List of address qualifiers:
181 -comment STR, -com STR
182 must appear immediately following one of the above forms of an
183 address and supplies additional descriptive information about the
184 address such as the user's full name. It is considered obsolete.
185 -name STR, -nm STR
186 must appear immediately following one of the above forms of an
187 address and specifies the name of the address. An address name is
188 usually the full name of the person who receives mail at that
189 address or, for mailing lists, a description of the addresses
190 comprising the mailing list e.g. site administrators.
191
192
193 List of requests:
194 In the following summary of sdm requests, "-ca" is used as shorthand
195 for "-control_args". For a complete description of any request,
196 issue the sdm request: help request_name
197
198 .
199 prints a line describing the current invocation of sdm.
200 ?
201 prints a list of requests available in sdm.
202 abbrev -ca, ab -ca
203 controls abbreviation processing of request lines.
204 answer STR -ca request_line
205 provides preset answers to questions asked by another request.
206
207
208 append path, app path
209 writes the ASCII representation of the message to the end of a
210 segment.
211 apply -ca cmd_line, ap -ca cmd_line
212 passes the message text and header to a Multics command line for
213 possible editing.
214 bcc addresses
215 prints or updates the list of "blind" recipients of the message.
216 Blind recipients are listed in the bcc field for the message header.
217 When the message is transmitted, this field is not included in the
218 copy of the message sent to the primary and secondary recipients; it
219 is, however, included in the copy of the message sent to the actual
220 blind recipients.
221
222
223 cc addresses
224 prints or updates the list of secondary recipients of the message.
225 copy path, cp path
226 copies the message into the specified mailbox.
227 debug_mode -ca
228 enables/disables sends_mail's debugging facilities.
229 do rq_str args, do rq_str args
230 executes/returns a request line with argument substitution.
231 exec_com ec_path ec_args,
232 ec ec_path ec_args,
233 exec_com ec_path ec_args,
234 ec ec_path ec_args
235 executes a file of read_mail requests that can return a value.
236
237
238 execute cmd_line,
239 e cmd_line,
240 execute active_str,
241 e active_str
242 executes a Multics command line or evaluates a Multics active
243 string.
244 fill -ca, fi -ca
245 reformats the text of the message.
246 from addresses
247 prints or updates the list of authors of the message.
248 help topics -ca
249 prints information about sdm requests and other topics.
250
251
252 if expr -then line1 -else line2,
253 if expr -then STR1 -else STR2
254 conditionally executes/returns one of two request lines.
255 list_help topics, lh topics
256 displays the name of all sdm info segs on given topics.
257 list_requests STRs -ca, lr STRs -ca
258 prints a brief description of selected sdm requests.
259 log
260 places a copy of the message into the user's logbox.
261 message_id, mid
262 prints the unique identifier of the message and includes a Message
263 ID field in the message.
264 preface path, prf path
265 writes the ASCII representation of the message to the beginning of a
266 segment.
267
268
269 print -ca, pr -ca, p -ca
270 prints the message.
271 print_header -ca, prhe -ca
272 prints the header of the message.
273 qedx -ca, qx -ca
274 edits the message text and header using the Multics Qedx editor.
275 quit -ca, q -ca
276 exits sdm.
277 ready, rdy
278 prints a Multics ready message.
279 ready_off, rdf
280 disables printing of a ready message after each request line.
281 ready_on, rdn
282 enables printing of a ready message after each request line.
283
284
285 remove addresses -ca, rm adresses -ca
286 deletes addresses from the list of primary/secondary recipients,
287 authors, or reply recipients and/or deletes the Subject, Message ID,
288 and/or In Reply To field.
289 reply_to addresses, rpt addresses
290 prints or updates the list of recipients of any replies to this
291 message.
292 save path, sv path
293 places a copy of the message into the specified save mailbox.
294 send addresses -ca
295 delivers the message.
296 subject STRs, sj STRs, subject, sj
297 prints, changes, or returns the subject of the message.
298 subsystem_name, subsystem_name
299 prints/returns the name of this subsystem
300
301
302 subystem_version, subsystem_version
303 prints/returns the version number of this subsystem.
304 to addresses
305 prints or updates the list of primary recipients of the message.
306 write path -ca, w path -ca
307 writes the ASCII representation of the message to the end of a
308 segment.
309
310
311 List of reply requests:
312 You can use the following requests only within an invocation of sdm
313 that is created using the read_mail reply request. In this summary,
314 "specs" is short for "message_specifiers" and "-c/sa" is short for
315 "-control_args -selection_args".
316
317 in_reply_to specs, irt specs
318 prints or changes the content of the message's In Reply To field.
319 list_original specs -c/sa, lso specs -c/sa,
320 list_original specs -c/sa, lso specs -c/sa
321 displays a summary of the messages being answered or returns their
322 message numbers.
323 log_original specs -ca, logo specs -ca
324 places a copy of the messages being answered into the user's logbox.
325
326
327 print_original specs -c/sa, pro specs -c/sa
328 prints the messages being answered.
329 print_original_header specs -c/sa, prohe specs -c/sa
330 prints the message headers of the messages being answered.
331 save_original specs path -ca, svo specs path -ca
332 places a copy of the messages being answered into a save mailbox.
333 write_original specs path -ca, wo specs path -ca
334 writes the ASCII representation of the messages being answered to
335 the end of a segment.
336
337
338 Notes on the -user address control argument:
339
340 A user's default mailbox is specified in the form Person_id.Project_id.
341 For an entry in the mail table, STR is usually in the form of Person_id
342 the mail table is fully described in the "Extended Mail System User's
343 Guide CH23".
344
345 If STR contains one period and no white space it is interpreted as a
346 User_id that specifies the user's default mailbox; otherwise it is
347 interpreted as the name of an entry in the mail table.
348
349
350 For example;
351
352 -user DBuxtehude.SiteSA
353
354 is interpreted as a User_id that identifies a default mailbox. On the
355 other hand
356
357 -user "George G. Byron"
358 -user L.v.Beethoven
359 -user Burns
360
361 are all interpreted as the names of entries in the mail table; the
362 first because it contains white space; the second because it contains
363 more than one period; the third because it contains no period.
364
365
366 When interpreted as a User_id the STR cannot contain any angle
367 brackets <> and must have the form Person_id.Project_id where
368 "Person_id" cannot exceed 28 characters in length and "Project_id" is
369 limited to 32 characters. In this case "-user STR" is equivalent to
370 the address -mailbox >udd>Project_id>Person_id>Person_id.mbx.
371
372 When interpreted as the name of a mail table entry STR cannot contain
373 any commas colons semicolons backslashes \ parentheses angle
374 brackets braces quotes commercial at-signs @ or white space
375 other than spaces. The query of the mail table is performed in a
376 case-insensitive manner. The display_mailing_address command can be
377 used to determine the actual address corresponding to the STR.
378
379
380 Notes on foreign address: STR identifies the user or group of users
381 to receive the message and is not interpreted in any way by the local
382 system. FSystem is the name of the foreign system where the address is
383 located.
384
385 If you don't give the -via control arguments FSystem must be one of
386 the names of a foreign system in the local system's network information
387 table NIT; if you give them however the foreign system name need
388 not be known to the local system.
389
390
391 The -via control arguments identify an explicit route to be used to
392 reach the foreign system. Relay1 must be one of the names of a foreign
393 system in the local system's NIT. Mail destined for this foreign
394 address is forwarded to the system identified as Relay1 then to the
395 system identified as Relay2 and so on until it reaches the system
396 identified as RelayN where it is delivered to the system on which the
397 foreign address actually resides.
398
399 When the NIT is queried for either FSystem or Relay1 the query is
400 performed in a case-insensitive manner.
401
402
403 For example the address
404
405 HDT -at OZ -via MC -via mit-multics
406
407 identifies the address HDT on a system named OZ. The local system
408 relays mail sent to this address to the system mit-multics which then
409 forwards the mail to a system named MC which actually delivers the
410 mail to its final destination.
411
412
413 Notes on terminal input: By default or if you give -terminal_input
414 sdm issues the prompt "Message:" and reads the message text from the
415 terminal.
416
417 If you terminate the text with a line containing just a period sdm
418 reformats the message unless you provide -no_fill on the command line
419 and sends it to the specified recipients unless you also give -request
420 or -request_loop on the command line. If any errors occur while
421 sending the message sdm enters its request loop to allow you to
422 correct the problem.
423
424
425 If you terminate the text with a line containing "\f" anywhere on the
426 line the command enters the qedx editor on the message text. Any
427 characters on the line after the "\f" are treated as qedx requests.
428 See "Notes on the qedx Editor" below.
429
430 If you terminate the text with a line containing "\q" anywhere on the
431 line sdm reformats the message unless you supply -no_fill on the
432 command line and enters its request loop. Any characters on the line
433 after the "\q" are ignored with a warning message.
434
435
436 Notes on the qedx editor:
437
438 You can invoke the qedx editor either by the "qedx" request in the sdm
439 request loop or by terminating a message being input with "\f". Any
440 requests typed are processed as qedx requests until you enter the qedx
441 "q" quit request and you are returned to sdm's request loop.
442
443 Use the "w" write request to reflect any changes made to the message
444 text. If you issue the "q" request and you have modified the message
445 since it was last written qedx queries for permission to exit; if
446 permission is given any changes made since the last write are lost.
447 You can use the "qf" quit-force request to abort unwanted editing of
448 the message without being queried.
449
450
451 The request line
452
453 1$dr
454
455 only restores the original message text to the buffer if you have not
456 yet used the write request but it restores the message text as saved
457 by the last write request in the buffer if you give it after a write
458 request.
459
460 Type "help qedx" within sdm for more information on the qedx request.
461
462
463 Notes on addresses on the send_mail command line:
464
465 Successive uses of -from -cc -reply_to and -to do not override
466 previous uses; instead the addresses specified in the multiple uses
467 are merged to form the actual list.
468
469 For example
470
471 sdm DErasmus.Multics -from JJRousseau.PDO -to BShields.Multics
472
473 sends the message from JJRousseau.PDO to DErasmus.Multics and
474 BShields.Multics.
475
476
477