UNIX in a Nutshell: System V Edition

UNIX in a Nutshell: System V EditionSearch this book
Previous: Reference: mailChapter 2
Unix Commands
Next: Reference: make
 

mailx

mailx [options] [users]

Read mail, or send mail to other users. For a summary of commands, type ? in command mode (e.g., when reading mail) or ~? in input mode (e.g., when sending mail). The start-up file .mailrc in the user's home directory is useful for setting display variables and for defining alias lists.

On Solaris, /usr/ucb/mail and /usr/ucb/Mail are symbolic links to mailx.

Options

-B

Do not buffer standard input or standard output. Solaris only.

-b bcc

Send blind carbon copies to bcc. Quote the list if there are multiple recipients. Solaris only.

-c cc

Send carbon copies to cc. Quote the list if there are multiple recipients. Solaris only.

-d

Set debugging.

-e

Test for the existence of mail without printing it. Exit status is 0 if mail exists; otherwise 1.

-f [file]

Read mail in alternate file (default is mbox).

-F

Store message in a file named after the first recipient.

-h n

Stop trying to send after making n network connections, or "hops" (useful for avoiding infinite loops).

-H

Print mail headers only.

-i

Ignore interrupts (useful on modems); same as ignore mailx option.

-I

Use with -f when displaying saved news articles; newsgroup and article-ID headers are included.

-n

Do not read the system startup mailx.rc or Mail.rc file(s).

-N

Don't print mail headers.

-r address

Specify a return address for mail you send.

-s sub

Place string sub in the subject header field. sub must be quoted if it contains whitespace.

-t

Use To:, Cc:, and Bcc: headers in the input to specify recipients instead of command-line arguments. Solaris only.

-T file

Record message IDs and article IDs (of news articles) in file.

-u user

Read user's mail.

-U

Convert uucp-type addresses to Internet format.

-v

Invoke sendmail with the -v option. Solaris only.

-V

Print version number of mailx and exit.

-~

Process tilde escapes, even if not reading from a terminal. Solaris only.


Previous: Reference: mailUNIX in a Nutshell: System V EditionNext: Reference: make
Reference: mailBook IndexReference: make

The UNIX CD Bookshelf NavigationThe UNIX CD BookshelfUNIX Power ToolsUNIX in a NutshellLearning the vi Editorsed & awkLearning the Korn ShellLearning the UNIX Operating System