Updated: 11 December 1998

OpenVMS User's Manual

Use the hyphen (-) wildcard character to move up through the directory structure. Each hyphen refers to the directory one level up from the current one. You can follow the hyphens with directory and subdirectory names to move down the directory structure on another path.

You can specify more than one hyphen. If you enter so many hyphens that you point above the top-level directory, the system displays an error message.

In the following example, the current directory is [JONES.LICENSES]. The following command displays the latest version of STAFF.DIS in [JONES]:

$ TYPE [-]STAFF.DIS

In the following example, the current directory is [JONES.LICENSES]. The command shown displays the latest version of BILLING.DAT in [JONES.TAXES]:

$ TYPE [-.TAXES]BILLING.DAT

In the following example, the command shown moves you up two levels in the directory hierarchy:

$ SET DEFAULT [--]

5.6 Working with Directories in UIC Format

Although this chapter focuses on how to use named directories, you can also specify directory names in UIC format. In UIC format, a 2-part octal number forms a user identification code (UIC) that refers to a user file directory (UFD). Almost every DCL command that accepts a file specification can recognize directory names in UIC format. In general, you do not need to use this format unless you are working with a real-time Resource Sharing Executive (RSX) operating system.

A UIC directory specification has the following format:

[group,member]

For example, [122,1] is a UIC directory specification representing member 1 in group 122. Directory names in UIC format generally, but not necessarily, correspond to the UIC of the owner of the directory.

When you refer to a UIC directory, observe the following rules:

• Use an octal number in the range of 1 to 37776 to specify the group.
• Use an octal number in the range of 0 to 177776 to specify the member.
• Do not use the hyphen (-) or ellipsis (...) wildcard as part of the specification.

It is also possible to use the asterisk (*) wildcard to specify a UIC directory. For example, [*,6] indicates all directories with any group number and a member number of 6. The search is limited to directories in UIC format. The directory specification [*,*] locates all directories in UIC format. To locate all named directories as well as all directories in UIC format, use [*].

5.6.2 Translating to Named from UIC Format

Note that you can translate a directory name in UIC format to named format. If necessary, add zeros to the left of the group and member numbers to create a 6-character name.

You cannot combine UIC format and named format. If you have a directory with a name in UIC format and you want to specify one of its subdirectories, translate the UIC format to named format.

The named equivalent of the UIC directory specification [122,1] is as follows:

[122001]

To refer to the subdirectory [122,1]SUB.DIR, use the named directory [122001.SUB].

The OpenVMS Mail utility (MAIL) lets you send messages to other users on your system or on any other computer that is connected to your system with the DECnet for OpenVMS network. This chapter describes:

• Invoking and exiting mail
• Reading messages
• Sending messages
• Sending mail over networks
• Sending messages to multiple users
• Manipulating files in mail
• Other ways to send messages
• Organizing messages
• Deleting messages
• Printing mail messages
• Protecting mail files
• Using text editors in Mail
• Customizing your Mail environment
• Summary of Mail commands
• Using the MIME Utility

For additional information, refer to the following:

• Enter the HELP MAIL command at the DCL prompt or enter the HELP command at the MAIL> prompt, for more information about Mail commands and qualifiers.
• The OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, for more information about controlling the use of Mail through user accounts.

The following figure shows a sample mail message and its components.

The following sections describe how to invoke and exit Mail.

6.1.1 Invoking Mail

To invoke the Mail utility, enter the DCL command MAIL, as follows:

$ MAIL [Return] MAIL>

Once you are in the Mail utility, you perform the following operations by entering the appropriate command at the MAIL> prompt and then pressing either the Return or Enter key:

• Read a mail message
• Send a mail message
• Reply to a mail message
• Forward a mail message
• Organize mail messages into files and folders
• Delete a mail message
• Print a mail message

To exit from Mail, enter the EXIT command at the MAIL> prompt, as follows:

MAIL> EXIT [Return] $

You can also exit from Mail by pressing Ctrl/Z or by using the QUIT command.

6.2 Reading Messages

Mail stores the messages you receive in mail files, which have the default file type .MAI. In this file, by default, Mail provides two folders that store old and new messages. New messages are automatically placed in a folder called NEWMAIL; old messages are placed in a folder called MAIL. After you read a new message, the message automatically moves from the NEWMAIL folder to the MAIL folder, unless you enter the FILE, MOVE, or DELETE command. Mail deletes the NEWMAIL folder after you have read all new mail messages and either select another folder or exit from Mail.

6.2.1 Reading New Mail

When you are logged in to your account and receive a mail message, Mail notifies you. For example, notification of a message sent by user FELLINI is displayed as follows:

New mail on node DOODAH from STONE::FELLINI (10:02:23)

To read a new message, invoke Mail and press the Return key at the MAIL> prompt, as follows:

$ MAIL You have 1 new message. MAIL> [Return]

If you have more than one new message, press Return at the MAIL> prompt to read the other messages. When you have read all your new messages, Mail issues the message "%MAIL-E-NOMOREMSG, no more messages" and continues to prompt for commands until you exit Mail.

If you receive a mail message while you are in Mail, enter the READ/NEW command to read the new message.

6.2.2 Reading Old Messages

To reread old mail messages in your default Mail folder, use the following procedure:

Step	Task
1	Enter the SELECT command at the MAIL> prompt. For example: MAIL> SELECT MAIL [Return] Mail places you in the folder named MAIL.
2	To read the first message in your default MAIL folder, press Return at the MAIL> prompt or enter the READ command. Mail displays the first message (1) in your default mail file.
3	To display the next message, press Return. If the message is too long to display on one screen, press Return to display the next part of the message. To skip the remainder of a message and display the next message, enter the NEXT command.

To read a particular message in your default MAIL folder, use the following procedure:

Step	Task
1	Enter the DIRECTORY command at the MAIL> prompt. To select a subset of messages from the list, use the DIRECTORY command qualifiers /FROM or /SUBJECT.
2	Enter the number of the message that you want to read at the MAIL> prompt. Mail displays the message that you selected.

In the following example, the DIRECTORY command is used to display old messages and then the message labeled 2 is selected for reading:

MAIL> DIRECTORY [Return] MAIL # From Date Subject 1 STONE::FELLINI 11-DEC-1996 Sales presentation on May 11 2 DOODAH::JONES 11-DEC-1996 Status MAIL> 2 [Return]

6.2.3 Searching for Messages

If you have many messages, you can locate a particular message by using the SEARCH command to find a string in one or more of the messages. To search for a string, specify that string as a parameter to the SEARCH command.

Each time you specify a new string, the SEARCH command starts the search at message number 1. To continue searching the folder for messages that contain the specified string, use the SEARCH command without specifying a parameter. To search for the same string in a different folder, enter the SELECT or SET FOLDER folder-name command and continue using the SEARCH command without specifying a parameter.

In the following example, messages in the current folder are searched for the first message that contains the string appointment:

MAIL> SEARCH "appointment" [Return]

6.3 Sending Messages

To send a mail message to any user on your system, do the following:

Step	Task
1	Enter SEND at the MAIL> prompt. Mail prompts you for the name of the user to receive the message.
2	Enter the name of the user receiving the message and press Return. Mail prompts you for the subject of the message.
3	Enter the subject of the message and press Return. Entering this information is optional. Mail prompts you for the text of the message.
4	Enter the text of a message, or just press Return. Entering this information is optional.
5	Press Ctrl/Z to send the message. If you decide not to send the message, press Ctrl/C, which cancels the send operation without exiting from Mail.

In the following example, a message is sent to a user named THOMPSON:

MAIL> SEND [Return] To: THOMPSON [Return] Subj: Meeting on April 20 [Return] Enter your message below. Press CTRL/Z when complete, or CTRL/C to quit: I have some new ideas about the Hubbub Cola account. [Return] Let me know when you are available to talk about them. [Return] [Return] --Jeff

6.4 Sending Mail Over Networks

The following sections describe how to send mail across the network.

6.4.1 Specifying Node Names

If your computer system is part of a network, you can send mail to any other user on the network. If you are sending mail to someone on a different node, enter the user's node name and user name at the To: prompt. If the user name contains special characters or spaces, you must enclose the user name in quotation marks (""). Use the following format:

nodename::username

Mail displays a message if the network connection to the remote node is not available. Wait a while, and try to send the message later.

For additional information on specifying node names, refer to Section 4.1.6.

In the following example, a message is sent to user HIGGINS on node CHEETA:

MAIL> SEND [Return] To: CHEETA::HIGGINS [Return]

6.4.2 Using Internet Mail Addresses

You can also use full Internet mail addresses to send mail to users over a network. These addresses are common, especially if you are sending mail outside your organization.

username@company.com

At the To: prompt, enter the full Internet address of the user you want to send mail to. These addresses are seldom case-sensitive.

MAIL> SEND [Return] To: J_SMITH@COMPANYNAME.COM, Kate.Muir@school.edu [Return]

6.4.3 Using Logical Node Names

You can use a logical name to represent a user's name and node; then you can use the logical name to send mail. Note that Mail ignores any access control information in the node name or logical name.

In the following example, HENRY is used in place of CHEETA::HIGGINS. First, the logical name (HENRY) is defined, then it is used in place of the user name and node:

$ DEFINE HENRY CHEETA::HIGGINS $ MAIL [Return] MAIL> SEND [Return] To: HENRY [Return]

6.5 Sending Messages to Multiple Users

The following sections describe how to send mail to more than one user.

6.5.1 Using Individual Names

You can send mail to several users at the same time in one of two ways: using individual user names at the To: prompt or using a distribution list. To send the same message to several users on the same node by using their user names, enter the user names at the To: prompt and separate them with commas or spaces.

In the following example, a message is sent to Thompson, Jones, and Barney:

MAIL> SEND [Return] To: THOMPSON,JONES,BARNEY [Return] Subj: Meeting on January 9 [Return]

6.5.2 Creating Distribution Lists

A distribution list is a file that contains a list of users and their node names. You must use a text editor to create distribution lists. Distribution lists are not created within the Mail utility.

Your open file quota (a limit associated with your account) determines the number of different nodes to which you can send mail (at one time) and the depth to which you can nest distribution lists. If you exceed the quota, Mail displays an error message. Ask your system manager to increase your quota or send mail in batches to fewer nodes at one time.

By default, the system looks for a distribution list file with the file type .DIS. If the file containing your distribution list has a different file type, specify the file name and file type at the To: prompt. If you invoke Mail while in one directory and the file containing the distribution list is in another, enter the distribution list's full directory name at the To: prompt.

To create a distribution list, use the following procedure:

Step	Task
1	Use a text editor to create a distribution list file with the file type .DIS.
2	Type one user name per line in the file.
3	To include the names of other distribution lists in the file (to "nest" the lists), specify an at sign (@) followed by the name of the distribution list.
4	To include comments in the file, enter an exclamation point (!) before the comment.

The following example shows a distribution list file:

! ALLBUDGET.DIS ! ! Budget Committee Members @BUDGET ! listed in BUDGET.DIS. ! Staff Thompson BRUTUS::JONES PORTIA::BARNEY

In the following example, if the file BUDGET.DIS is not in the same directory as the new distribution list file you are creating (ALLBUDGET.DIS), include the file specification for BUDGET.DIS in the new distribution file. Depending on where you create ALLBUDGET.DIS, you might have to specify the device and directory in which BUDGET.DIS is located. (See Chapter 4 for more information about file specifications.)

6.5.3 Sending Messages to Distribution Lists

To send mail to several users by using a distribution list, use the following procedure:

Step	Task
1	Invoke Mail.
2	Enter SEND at the MAIL> prompt and press Return.
3	Enter an at sign (@) and the file name of the distribution list at the To: prompt. Press Return.
4	Enter the subject of the message at the Subj: prompt and press Return.
5	Enter the text of the message at the text prompt.

In the following example, a message is sent to the distribution list ALLBUDGET.DIS:

MAIL> SEND [Return] To: @ALLBUDGET [Return] Subj: Tomorrow's Meeting [Return] Enter your message below. Press CTRL/Z when complete, or CTRL/C to quit: The meeting about the Hubbub Cola account is tomorrow at 2:00. [Return] --Jeff [Return]

You can also send a file to a distribution list from DCL level. If you omit the file type .DIS, place quotation marks ("") around the at sign (@) and file name to identify the file as a distribution list. To include a subject, use the /SUBJECT qualifier with the MAIL command.

The following example sends the file MEETING.TXT to the user THOMAS and the distribution list FRIENDS.DIS:

$ MAIL/SUBJECT="update" MEETING THOMAS,"@FRIENDS.DIS" [Return]

The following example sends the file NOTICE.TXT to the distribution list WRITERS.DIS. Here, the /SUBJECT qualifier is not included so the message is sent without a subject notation.

$ MAIL NOTICE "@WRITERS" [Return]

6.6 Manipulating Files in Mail

You can send a file to other users from within Mail or from DCL level. Use the following procedure to send a file from within Mail:

Step	Task
1	At the MAIL> prompt, enter SEND and the name of the file you want to send.
2	At the To: prompt, enter the user name of the person you want to receive the file.
3	At the Subj: prompt, enter the subject of the file.
4	Press Return to send the file. To cancel the send operation, press Ctrl/C or Ctrl/Y. Ctrl/C keeps you within Mail; Ctrl/Y returns you to DCL level.

In the following example, the file MEMO.TXT is sent to user EDGELL:

MAIL> SEND MEMO.TXT [Return] To: EDGELL [Return] Subj: Another memo [Return]

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