Invoke the PMDF MAIL utility.

Syntax

PMDF MAIL [file-spec[,...] recipient-address[,...]]

Parameters

file-spec[,...]

Optional list of one or more files to send as the message. If this parameter is specified then one or more recipient addresses must also be specified.

recipient-address[,...]

Optional list of one or more addresses to send the message to. This parameter must be specified when the optional file-spec parameter is specified. Each address typically needs to be quoted with double quotes.

Description

The PMDF MAIL command invokes the PMDF MAIL utility which may be used to send network mail messages to other users and to read and manage mail messages sent to you.

PMDF MAIL is an extended version of VMS MAIL. The extensions provide support for Internet style messaging and includes support for sending and reading MIME messages. MIME allows, among other things, for multipart messages which may contain file attachments, binary data, images, audio, and video.

Qualifiers

/ABORT

By default, if an error occurs while processing an input message file or recipient address, PMDF SEND will ask the user whether or not to send the message anyhow. If the /ABORT qualifier is specified, then PMDF SEND will merely exit (with an error) when a problem occurs during file or address processing. The /ABORT and /IGNORE qualifiers are mutually exclusive --- only one or the other may be used. The /ABORT qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/BCC_LIST=address[,...]

/CC_LIST=address[,...]

/TO_LIST=address[,...]

Specify one or more To:, Cc:, or Bcc: recipient addresses. When specifying more than one addressee of a given type (To:, Cc:, or Bcc:), enclose the addresses in parentheses as in
/TO_LIST=("sue@example.com","bob@example.com") The /BCC_LIST, /CC_LIST, and /TO_LIST qualifiers have no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/BCC_PROMPT

/CC_PROMPT

/TO_PROMPT

Request to be prompted for To:, Cc:, or Bcc: recipient addresses. By default you are only prompted once for each selected type (To:, Cc:, or Bcc:). If /MULTIPLE has also been specified, then for each selected type you will be prompted repeatedly until a blank line is entered. The /BCC_PROMPT, /CC_PROMPT, and /TO_PROMPT qualifiers have no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/CAPTIVE

When /CAPTIVE is specified, PMDF MAIL will treat the user as though they were a captive user and not allow them to perform operations such as spawning.

/COMMENTS=comments

This qualifier may be used to specify the contents of the Comments: header line. If this qualifier is not specified and the PMDF_COMMENTS logical is not defined, then no Comments: header line will be generated. The /COMMENTS qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/BLOCK

/RECORD

/TEXT

Specify the file access mode to use when processing the files to send. The default depends upon the file extension. The /BLOCK, /RECORD, and /TEXT qualifiers have no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/CONFIRM[=keyword[,...]]

Specifies for interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, which operations should be confirmed prior to actually taking. By default, /CONFIRM=NONE is assumed. The accepted keyword values are

ADDRESS

Confirm each recipient address.

ALL

Confirm all actions when sending, extracting, forwarding, or replying to messages.

DIGEST

Confirm each digest element when creating a message digest.

EXTRACT

Confirm when extracting a message.

FORWARD

Confirm when forwarding a message.

NONE

Never request confirmation except when the /CONFIRM qualifier is used with an interactive command.

PRINT

Confirm when printing a message.

REPLY

Confirm when replying to a message.

RESEND

Confirm when resending a message.

SEND

Confirm when sending a message.

If /CONFIRM is specified without any keyword values, then /CONFIRM=ALL is assumed.

/ENCODING=encoding

Specify the encoding method to use to encode an input message file. Typically, no encoding is used; however, this depends upon the file type as determined from the file extension. The available encoding methods are 7BIT, 8BIT, BASE32, BASE64, BINHEX, BTOA, COMPRESSED-BASE64, BASE85, HEXADECIMAL, PATHWORKS, QUOTED_PRINTABLE, UUENCODE, and COMPRESSED-UUENCODE.

/EDIT[=keyword[,...]]

Specifies for interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, which commands implicitly invoke the editor. The accepted keyword values are

ALL

Always invoke the editor in conjunction with all commands that accept the /EDIT qualifier.

COMMAND_LINE

In conjunction with /EDIT=SEND, invoke the editor even when sending a file or message from the DCL command line.

DIRECTORY

Always invoke the editor to display DIRECTORY and DIRECTORY/FOLDER listings.

FORWARD

Always invoke the editor to edit messages being forwarded with the FORWARD command.

HEADER

NOHEADER

By default the message's header is always displayed in the editor. To inhibit this, specify /EDIT=NOHEADER.

KEPT[=editor-process-name]

Initially invoke the editor as a subprocess; re-attach to the subprocess for subsequent editor operations.

NONE

Never invoke the editor unless explicitly requested to do so with the /EDIT qualifier.

READ

Always invoke the editor to display messages being read with the READ, CURRENT, BACK, NEXT, FIRST, and LAST commands.

REPLY[=EXTRACT[=quote]]

Always invoke the editor to edit messages being replied to with the ANSWER or REPLY commands. If the optional EXTRACT keyword is specified, then the content of the message being replied to will be included in the reply. To specify a text string to use to quote each line of the extracted message text, specify a value for the EXTRACT keyword. For instance, to quote each line with the two characters "> ", invoke PMDF MAIL with the command

$ PMDF MAIL/EDIT=REPLY=EXTRACT="> "

SEND

Always invoke the editor to compose messages being sent with the MAIL or SEND commands.

If /EDIT is specified without any keyword values, then /EDIT=(SEND,REPLY) is assumed.

/ENCAPSULATE[=keyword[,...]]

/NOENCAPSULATE[=keyword[,...]]

For interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, specifies file encapsulation defaults for the FORWARD, SEND, and REPLY commands as well as the synonymous commands MAIL and ANSWER. The accepted keyword values are FORWARD, SEND, REPLY, ALL, and NONE. The /ENCAPSULATE qualifier specifies which commands should by default encapsulate files as separate attachments; the /NOENCAPSULATE qualifier specifies which commands should not by default encapsulate files as separate message attachments. Specifying /ENCAPSULATE without any qualifiers implies /ENCAPSULATE=ALL, and specifying /NOENCAPSULATE without any qualifiers implies /ENCAPSULATE=NONE.

/ENTIRE[=keyword[,...]]

/MESSAGE[=keyword[,...]]

/PART[=keyword[,...]]

For interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, specifies message content scope for EXTRACT, FORWARD, PRINT, and REPLY commands. The accepted keyword values are EXTRACT, FORWARD, PRINT, REPLY, ALL, and NONE. The /ENTIRE qualifier specifies which commands by default act upon the entire message. The /MESSAGE qualifier specifies which commands by default act upon only the current portion of the message which constitutes an entire message. (Note that a message may contain one or more messages as subparts.) The /PART qualifier specifies which commands by default act upon only the current message body part. Specifying /ENTIRE without any qualifiers implies /ENTIRE=ALL; specifying /MESSAGE without any qualifiers implies /MESSAGE=ALL; and specifying /PART without any qualifiers implies /PART=ALL.

/FILENAME

/NOFILENAME (default)

The /FILENAME qualifier specifies that the original file name should be included in the message headers.

/FILTER_CTRL

/NOFILTER_CTRL (default)

For interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, specifying /FILTER_CTRL turns on the filtering out of 7-bit and 8-bit control characters in messages. Messages which contain such control characters can cause problems with the terminal when they are displayed. When /FILTER_CTRL is specified, such a character is displayed as its hexidecimal value in the format "=XX".

/FROM=address

This qualifier may be used to specify the contents of the From: header line. If this qualifier is not specified and the PMDF_FROM logical is not defined, then a From: header line will be constructed from the username of the user invoking PMDF MAIL and the local host name. Note that even if a From: address is provided, the invoking user's address will appear in a Sender: header line. The /FROM qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/IGNORE

By default, if an error occurs while processing an input message file or recipient address, PMDF MAIL will ask the user whether or not to send the message anyhow. If the /IGNORE qualifier is specified, then PMDF MAIL will not ask the user whether or not to send the message---it will send the good input files to the good recipient addresses. The /ABORT and /IGNORE qualifiers are mutually exclusive --- only one or the other may be used. The /IGNORE qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/LIST (default)

/NOLIST

When specified, /NOLIST becomes the default for the ANSWER and REPLY commands.

/MESSAGE (default)

See /ENTIRE.

/MULTIPLE

/SINGLE (default)

Normally, only a single prompt is made for each type of address selected with the /TO_PROMPT, /CC_PROMPT, and /BCC_PROMPT qualifiers. When /MULTIPLE is specified, these prompts will be repeated for each selected address type until a blank line is entered. The /MULTIPLE and /SINGLE qualifiers have no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/PART

See /ENTIRE.

/PERSONAL_NAME=name

/NOPERSONAL_NAME

Specify a personal name field to use in conjunction with your return address. Any value specified will override your SET PERSONAL_NAME profile setting. If /NOPERSONAL_NAME is specified, then no personal name field will appear in the return address. The /PERSONAL_NAME qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/PREVALIDATE

/NOPREVALIDATE (default)

Prevalidate recipient addresses prior to invoking the editor to compose a message. If any illegal addresses are detected, PMDF MAIL will ask whether to cancel the operation or to proceed anyway. If told to proceed, both the good and bad addresses will appear in the editor where they may be modified as necessary. Validation will, of course, still be performed after the editor is exited.

/PRIORITY=priority

This qualifier may be used to specify the contents of the Priority: header line. If this qualifier is not specified, then no Priority: header line will be generated. The /PRIORITY qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/REMOVE[=keyword[,...]]

/NOREMOVE[=keyword[,...]]

For interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, specifies /REMOVE or /NOREMOVE defaults for the FORWARD, REPLY, RESEND, and SEND commands. The accepted keyword values are FORWARD, REPLY, RESEND, SEND, ALL, and NONE. The /REMOVE qualifier specifies which commands by default assume /REMOVE. The /NOREMOVE qualifier specifies which commands by default assume /NOREMOVE. Specifying /REMOVE without any qualifiers implies /REMOVE=ALL while specifying /NOREMOVE without any qualifiers implies /NOREMOVE=ALL.

/REPEATED (default)

/NOREPEATED

Specify /REPEATED to imply /REPEATED for all REPLY/ALL commands; specify /NOREPEATED to imply /NOREPEATED for all REPLY/ALL commands.

/REPLY_TO=address

This qualifier may be used to specify the contents of the Reply-to: header line. If this qualifier is not specified and the PMDF_REPLY_TO logical is not defined, then no Reply-to: header line will be generated. The /REPLY_TO qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/SCAN_COMMANDS (default)

/NOSCAN_COMMANDS

By default, the command line is scanned for errors as it is entered and errors are signalled immediately. Specify /NOSCAN_COMMANDS to have errors only signalled after the entire command has been entered and the RETURN key pressed.

/SELF[=keyword[,...]]

/NOSELF[=keyword[,...]]

For interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, specifies for which types of message sending operations you will automatically receive copies of messages you originate. The accepted keyword values are FORWARD, REPLY, RESEND, SEND, ALL, and NONE. The /SELF qualifier specifies for which types of operations you will receive a copy of messages sent. The /NOSELF qualifier specifies for which operation types you will not receive a message copy. Specifying /SELF without any qualifiers implies /SELF=ALL while specifying /NOSELF without any qualifiers implies /NOSELF=ALL. Any settings made with the /SELF and /NOSELF qualifiers will be overridden by any positive SET COPY_SELF profile settings.

/SENSITIVITY=sensitivity

This qualifier may be used to specify the contents of the Sensitivity: header line. If this qualifier is not specified and the PMDF_SENSITIVITY logical is not defined, then no Sensitivity: header line will be generated. The /SENSITIVITY qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/SIGNATURE=signature-line

/SIGNATURE="@file-spec"

/NOSIGNATURE

Specify a signature line or file to append to the end of the message being sent. If /NOSIGNATURE is specified, then no signature will be appended. The /SIGNATURE qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/SSA

/NOSSA (default)

Show aliases in the system alias database as well as in your personal alias database. Non-privileged users will have read-only access to the system alias database.

/SSUBADDRESS=subaddress

Specify a subaddress to attach to your address in message copies sent to you via the COPY_SELF mechanism.

/SUBADDRESS=subaddress

Specify a subaddress to attach to the envelope From: address; e.g., if the envelope From: address is prospero@example.com then specifying /SUBADDRESS="Postmaster" would result in the envelope From: address prospero+Postmaster@example.com. The /SUBADDRESS qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/SUBJECT=subject

Specify the contents of the Subject: header line. If this qualifier is not specified, then no Subject: header line will be generated. If it is specified, but no value given, then the user will be prompted for a value. The /SUBJECT qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

/TOC (default)

/NOTOC

Show a table of contents for each displayed multipart message. The table of contents is not actually part of the message.

/TRIM[=keyword[,...]]

/NOTRIM[=keyword[,...]]

For interactive PMDF MAIL sessions, specifies for which operations header lines will automatically be trimmed or left intact. The accepted keyword values are EXTRACT, FORWARD, PRINT, REPLY, RESEND, SEND, ALL, and NONE. The /TRIM qualifier specifies which commands by default assume /TRIM; the /NOTRIM qualifier specifies which commands by default assume /NOTRIM. Specifying /TRIM without any qualifiers implies /TRIM=ALL while specifying /NOTRIM without any qualifiers implies /NOTRIM=ALL.

/USER=username

Specify the local username to use in the message sender's address (this will be the From: address if no other From: address is given and the Sender: address otherwise. You must either have WORLD privilege or hold the PMDF_WORLD or PMDF_WORLD_username rightslist identifier in order to use this qualifier and specify a username other than your own. The special case of a blank string will not insert any Sender: information. The /USER qualifier has no effect on interactive PMDF MAIL sessions.

Examples

$ PMDF MAIL
...
EMAIL> EXIT
      

This example shows how to invoke the PMDF MAIL utility and then subsequently exit the utility with the EXIT command.

$ PMDF MAIL/SUBJECT="Meeting" MINUTES.TXT "sue@example.com","bob@example.com"
$
      

In this example the contents of the file MINUTES.TXT is sent to sue@example.com and bob@example.com.