Set the maximum message size; larger messages will be split into several smaller messages.

Syntax

MAXIMUM size-units size-value

Parameters

size-units

Required parameter specifying the units in which the size-value is expressed. The possible units are BYTES, BLOCKS, and LINES.

size-value

Required parameter specifying the limiting value. This must be an integer value which exceeds zero.

Description

Many gateways impose a limit on the maximum size message they will process. Because the mail server is often called upon to transmit large files it frequently can run afoul of such limitations.

The MAXIMUM command provides a way around such limitations. When a maximum size is set, messages larger than that size will be fragmented (split) into multiple messages, each message no larger than the specified maximum size. The fragmentation scheme is compliant with the message/partial type described in RFC 2046 (MIME, Part Two).²

The possible values for size-units are:

BYTES	size-value specifies the maximum number of bytes allowed in a single message. This value includes the initial header attached to the message. (Note that the header can increase in size through the addition of header lines during routing.)
BLOCKS	size-value specifies the maximum number of "blocks" of bytes allowed in a single message. The size of a block is a PMDF configuration option controlled by the system manager with the PMDF BLOCK_SIZE option; its default value is 1024 bytes. As with BYTES, this value includes the initial header attached to the message.
LINES	size-value specifies the maximum number of lines allowed in a single message. This limit is independent of the number of bytes or blocks. It is necessary to have an independent limit because some gateways limit message size based on both line count as well as overall size.

The limits specified with the MAXIMUM command apply to all subsequent SEND commands in the same message. The imposed limits can be overridden with a subsequent MAXIMUM command. And, of course, limits you imposed in previous messages sent to the server have no effect on subsequent messages which you might send.

Both line count and byte size limits can be simultaneously imposed. For instance, the two commands:

MAXIMUM BYTES 10000 MAXIMUM LINES 1000

Will result in messages larger than either 10,000 bytes or 1,000 lines being automatically fragmented into smaller messages, each containing fewer than 10,000 bytes and 1,000 lines.

See the SEND command description for further information on the usage of this command.

Error messages

%MAILSERV-W-IVKEYW, unrecognized keyword - check validity and spelling 
      

You specified an unknown unit specification. Resend the command specifying a legal value for the size-units parameter.

%MAILSERV-W-NUMBER, invalid numeric value - supply an integer 
      

An invalid numeric value was supplied for the size-value parameter. Resend the command specifying a positive integer value.

%MAILSERV-W-POSITIVE, invalid numeric value - supply a positive integer 
      

An invalid numeric value was supplied for the size-value parameter. Resend the command specifying a positive integer value.

%MAILSERV-W-INSFPRM, missing command parameters 
      

You failed to specify one or both of the required parameters. Resend the command specifying both the size-units and size-value parameters.