1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
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2005-08-10 15:40:54 +00:00
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@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002,
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@c 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
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@node Sending Mail, Rmail, Picture, Top
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@chapter Sending Mail
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@cindex sending mail
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@cindex mail
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@cindex message
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To send a message in Emacs, you start by typing a command (@kbd{C-x m})
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to select and initialize the @samp{*mail*} buffer. Then you edit the text
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and headers of the message in this buffer, and type another command
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(@kbd{C-c C-s} or @kbd{C-c C-c}) to send the message.
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@table @kbd
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@item C-x m
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Begin composing a message to send (@code{compose-mail}).
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@item C-x 4 m
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Likewise, but display the message in another window
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(@code{compose-mail-other-window}).
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@item C-x 5 m
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Likewise, but make a new frame (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}).
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@item C-c C-s
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In Mail mode, send the message (@code{mail-send}).
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@item C-c C-c
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Send the message and bury the mail buffer (@code{mail-send-and-exit}).
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@end table
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@kindex C-x m
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@findex compose-mail
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@kindex C-x 4 m
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@findex compose-mail-other-window
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@kindex C-x 5 m
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@findex compose-mail-other-frame
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The command @kbd{C-x m} (@code{compose-mail}) selects a buffer named
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@samp{*mail*} and initializes it with the skeleton of an outgoing
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message. @kbd{C-x 4 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-window}) selects the
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@samp{*mail*} buffer in a different window, leaving the previous current
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buffer visible. @kbd{C-x 5 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}) creates
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a new frame to select the @samp{*mail*} buffer.
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Because the mail-composition buffer is an ordinary Emacs buffer, you can
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switch to other buffers while in the middle of composing mail, and switch
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back later (or never). If you use the @kbd{C-x m} command again when you
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have been composing another message but have not sent it, you are asked to
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confirm before the old message is erased. If you answer @kbd{n}, the
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2005-03-06 17:42:39 +00:00
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@samp{*mail*} buffer remains selected with its old contents, so you can
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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finish the old message and send it. @kbd{C-u C-x m} is another way to do
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this. Sending the message marks the @samp{*mail*} buffer ``unmodified,''
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which avoids the need for confirmation when @kbd{C-x m} is next used.
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If you are composing a message in the @samp{*mail*} buffer and want to
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send another message before finishing the first, rename the
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@samp{*mail*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} (@pxref{Misc
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Buffer}). Then you can use @kbd{C-x m} or its variants described above
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to make a new @samp{*mail*} buffer. Once you've done that, you can work
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with each mail buffer independently.
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2002-07-07 11:44:52 +00:00
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@vindex mail-default-directory
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The variable @code{mail-default-directory} controls the default
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directory for mail buffers, and also says where to put their auto-save
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files.
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2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
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@ignore
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@c Commented out because it is not user-oriented;
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@c it doesn't say how to do some job. -- rms.
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2000-08-20 19:20:00 +00:00
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@cindex directory servers
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@cindex LDAP
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@cindex PH/QI
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@cindex names and addresses
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There is an interface to directory servers using various protocols such
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as LDAP or the CCSO white pages directory system (PH/QI), described in a
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separate manual. It may be useful for looking up names and addresses.
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@xref{Top,,EUDC, eudc, EUDC Manual}.
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2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
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@end ignore
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2000-08-20 19:20:00 +00:00
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@menu
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* Format: Mail Format. Format of the mail being composed.
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* Headers: Mail Headers. Details of permitted mail header fields.
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* Aliases: Mail Aliases. Abbreviating and grouping mail addresses.
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* Mode: Mail Mode. Special commands for editing mail being composed.
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2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
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* Amuse: Mail Amusements. Distracting the NSA; adding fortune messages.
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2000-08-15 13:07:55 +00:00
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* Methods: Mail Methods. Using alternative mail-composition methods.
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@end menu
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@node Mail Format
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@section The Format of the Mail Buffer
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In addition to the @dfn{text} or @dfn{body}, a message has @dfn{header
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fields} which say who sent it, when, to whom, why, and so on. Some
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header fields, such as @samp{Date} and @samp{Sender}, are created
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automatically when you send the message. Others, such as the recipient
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names, must be specified by you in order to send the message properly.
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Mail mode provides a few commands to help you edit some header fields,
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and some are preinitialized in the buffer automatically at times. You can
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insert and edit header fields using ordinary editing commands.
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The line in the buffer that says
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@example
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--text follows this line--
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@end example
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@noindent
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is a special delimiter that separates the headers you have specified from
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the text. Whatever follows this line is the text of the message; the
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headers precede it. The delimiter line itself does not appear in the
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message actually sent. The text used for the delimiter line is controlled
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by the variable @code{mail-header-separator}.
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Here is an example of what the headers and text in the mail buffer
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might look like.
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@example
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To: gnu@@gnu.org
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CC: lungfish@@spam.org, byob@@spam.org
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Subject: The Emacs Manual
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--Text follows this line--
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Please ignore this message.
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@end example
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@node Mail Headers
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@section Mail Header Fields
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@cindex headers (of mail message)
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A header field in the mail buffer starts with a field name at the
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beginning of a line, terminated by a colon. Upper and lower case are
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equivalent in field names (and in mailing addresses also). After the
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colon and optional whitespace comes the contents of the field.
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You can use any name you like for a header field, but normally people
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use only standard field names with accepted meanings. Here is a table
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of fields commonly used in outgoing messages.
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@table @samp
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@item To
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This field contains the mailing addresses to which the message is
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addressed. If you list more than one address, use commas, not spaces,
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to separate them.
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@item Subject
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The contents of the @samp{Subject} field should be a piece of text
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that says what the message is about. The reason @samp{Subject} fields
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are useful is that most mail-reading programs can provide a summary of
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messages, listing the subject of each message but not its text.
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@item CC
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This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to,
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like @samp{To} except that these readers should not regard the message
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as directed at them.
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@item BCC
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This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to,
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which should not appear in the header of the message actually sent.
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Copies sent this way are called @dfn{blind carbon copies}.
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@vindex mail-self-blind
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2000-10-11 18:30:48 +00:00
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@cindex copy of every outgoing message
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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To send a blind carbon copy of every outgoing message to yourself, set
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2000-10-11 18:30:48 +00:00
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the variable @code{mail-self-blind} to @code{t}. To send a blind carbon
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copy of every message to some other @var{address}, set the variable
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2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
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@code{mail-default-headers} to @code{"Bcc: @var{address}\n"}.
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@item FCC
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This field contains the name of one file and directs Emacs to append a
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copy of the message to that file when you send the message. If the file
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is in Rmail format, Emacs writes the message in Rmail format; otherwise,
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2001-05-05 22:35:54 +00:00
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Emacs writes the message in system mail file format. To specify
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more than one file, use several @samp{FCC} fields, with one file
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name in each field.
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@vindex mail-archive-file-name
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To put a fixed file name in the @samp{FCC} field each time you start
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editing an outgoing message, set the variable
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@code{mail-archive-file-name} to that file name. Unless you remove the
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@samp{FCC} field before sending, the message will be written into that
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file when it is sent.
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@item From
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Use the @samp{From} field to say who you are, when the account you are
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using to send the mail is not your own. The contents of the @samp{From}
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field should be a valid mailing address, since replies will normally go
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there. If you don't specify the @samp{From} field yourself, Emacs uses
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the value of @code{user-mail-address} as the default.
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@item Reply-to
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Use this field to direct replies to a different address. Most
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mail-reading programs (including Rmail) automatically send replies to
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the @samp{Reply-to} address in preference to the @samp{From} address.
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By adding a @samp{Reply-to} field to your header, you can work around
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any problems your @samp{From} address may cause for replies.
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2000-05-23 11:12:04 +00:00
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@cindex @env{REPLYTO} environment variable
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@vindex mail-default-reply-to
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To put a fixed @samp{Reply-to} address into every outgoing message, set
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the variable @code{mail-default-reply-to} to that address (as a string).
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Then @code{mail} initializes the message with a @samp{Reply-to} field as
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specified. You can delete or alter that header field before you send
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the message, if you wish. When Emacs starts up, if the environment
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2000-05-23 11:12:04 +00:00
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variable @env{REPLYTO} is set, @code{mail-default-reply-to} is
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initialized from that environment variable.
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@item In-reply-to
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2001-07-17 10:50:35 +00:00
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This field contains a piece of text describing the message you are
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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replying to. Some mail systems can use this information to correlate
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related pieces of mail. Normally this field is filled in by Rmail
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when you reply to a message in Rmail, and you never need to
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think about it (@pxref{Rmail}).
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@item References
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This field lists the message IDs of related previous messages. Rmail
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sets up this field automatically when you reply to a message.
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@end table
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2001-05-05 22:35:54 +00:00
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The @samp{To}, @samp{CC}, and @samp{BCC} header fields can appear
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any number of times, and each such header field can contain multiple
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addresses, separated by commas. This way, you can specify any number
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of places to send the message. These fields can also have
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continuation lines: one or more lines starting with whitespace,
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following the starting line of the field, are considered part of the
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field. Here's an example of a @samp{To} field with a continuation
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line:@refill
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@example
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@group
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To: foo@@here.net, this@@there.net,
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me@@gnu.cambridge.mass.usa.earth.spiral3281
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@end group
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@end example
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@vindex mail-from-style
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When you send the message, if you didn't write a @samp{From} field
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yourself, Emacs puts in one for you. The variable
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@code{mail-from-style} controls the format:
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@table @code
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@item nil
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Use just the email address, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com}.
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@item parens
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Use both email address and full name, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com (Elvis
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Parsley)}.
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@item angles
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Use both email address and full name, as in @samp{Elvis Parsley
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<king@@grassland.com>}.
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@item system-default
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Allow the system to insert the @samp{From} field.
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@end table
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2000-10-11 18:30:48 +00:00
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@vindex mail-default-headers
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2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
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You can direct Emacs to insert certain default headers into the
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outgoing message by setting the variable @code{mail-default-headers}
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to a string. Then @code{C-x m} inserts this string into the message
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headers. If the default header fields are not appropriate for a
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particular message, edit them as appropriate before sending the
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message.
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2000-10-11 18:30:48 +00:00
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@node Mail Aliases
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@section Mail Aliases
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@cindex mail aliases
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@cindex @file{.mailrc} file
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@cindex mailrc file
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You can define @dfn{mail aliases} in a file named @file{~/.mailrc}.
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These are short mnemonic names which stand for mail addresses or groups of
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mail addresses. Like many other mail programs, Emacs expands aliases
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when they occur in the @samp{To}, @samp{From}, @samp{CC}, @samp{BCC}, and
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@samp{Reply-to} fields, plus their @samp{Resent-} variants.
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To define an alias in @file{~/.mailrc}, write a line in the following
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format:
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@example
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alias @var{shortaddress} @var{fulladdresses}
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@end example
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@noindent
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Here @var{fulladdresses} stands for one or more mail addresses for
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@var{shortaddress} to expand into. Separate multiple addresses with
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spaces; if an address contains a space, quote the whole address with a
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pair of double-quotes.
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For instance, to make @code{maingnu} stand for
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@code{gnu@@gnu.org} plus a local address of your own, put in
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this line:@refill
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@example
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alias maingnu gnu@@gnu.org local-gnu
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@end example
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2005-03-06 17:42:39 +00:00
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@noindent
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Addresses specified in this way should use doublequotes around an
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entire address when the address contains spaces. But you need not
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include doublequotes around parts of the address, such as the person's
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full name. Emacs puts them in if they are needed. For example,
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@example
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2005-03-06 23:38:40 +00:00
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alias chief-torturer "George W. Bush <bush@@whitehouse.gov>"
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2005-03-06 17:42:39 +00:00
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@end example
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@noindent
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is correct. Emacs will insert the address as @samp{"George W. Bush"
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2005-03-06 23:38:40 +00:00
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<bush@@whitehouse.gov>}.
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2005-03-06 17:42:39 +00:00
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Emacs also recognizes ``include'' commands in @samp{.mailrc} files.
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1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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They look like this:
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@example
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source @var{filename}
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@end example
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@noindent
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The file @file{~/.mailrc} is used primarily by other mail-reading
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programs; it can contain various other commands. Emacs ignores
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everything in it except for alias definitions and include commands.
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@findex define-mail-alias
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Another way to define a mail alias, within Emacs alone, is with the
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|
|
|
@code{define-mail-alias} command. It prompts for the alias and then the
|
|
|
|
full address. You can use it to define aliases in your @file{.emacs}
|
|
|
|
file, like this:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
|
|
(define-mail-alias "maingnu" "gnu@@gnu.org")
|
|
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@vindex mail-aliases
|
|
|
|
@code{define-mail-alias} records aliases by adding them to a
|
|
|
|
variable named @code{mail-aliases}. If you are comfortable with
|
|
|
|
manipulating Lisp lists, you can set @code{mail-aliases} directly. The
|
|
|
|
initial value of @code{mail-aliases} is @code{t}, which means that
|
|
|
|
Emacs should read @file{.mailrc} to get the proper value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@vindex mail-personal-alias-file
|
|
|
|
You can specify a different file name to use instead of
|
|
|
|
@file{~/.mailrc} by setting the variable
|
|
|
|
@code{mail-personal-alias-file}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@findex expand-mail-aliases
|
|
|
|
Normally, Emacs expands aliases when you send the message. You do not
|
|
|
|
need to expand mail aliases before sending the message, but you can
|
|
|
|
expand them if you want to see where the mail will actually go. To do
|
|
|
|
this, use the command @kbd{M-x expand-mail-aliases}; it expands all mail
|
|
|
|
aliases currently present in the mail headers that hold addresses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you like, you can have mail aliases expand as abbrevs, as soon as
|
|
|
|
you type them in (@pxref{Abbrevs}). To enable this feature, execute the
|
|
|
|
following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@example
|
2000-12-29 12:26:18 +00:00
|
|
|
(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'mail-abbrevs-setup)
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
|
|
@findex define-mail-abbrev
|
|
|
|
@vindex mail-abbrevs
|
|
|
|
This can go in your @file{.emacs} file. @xref{Hooks}. If you use this
|
|
|
|
feature, you must use @code{define-mail-abbrev} instead of
|
|
|
|
@code{define-mail-alias}; the latter does not work with this package.
|
|
|
|
Note that the mail abbreviation package uses the variable
|
|
|
|
@code{mail-abbrevs} instead of @code{mail-aliases}, and that all alias
|
|
|
|
names are converted to lower case.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-a @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-interactive-insert-alias
|
|
|
|
The mail abbreviation package also provides the @kbd{C-c C-a}
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-interactive-insert-alias}) command, which reads an alias
|
|
|
|
name (with completion) and inserts its definition at point. This is
|
|
|
|
useful when editing the message text itself or a header field such as
|
|
|
|
@samp{Subject} in which Emacs does not normally expand aliases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note that abbrevs expand only if you insert a word-separator character
|
|
|
|
afterward. However, you can rebind @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{M->} to cause
|
|
|
|
expansion as well. Here's how to do that:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@smallexample
|
2000-12-29 12:26:18 +00:00
|
|
|
(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook
|
2000-12-03 22:11:57 +00:00
|
|
|
(lambda ()
|
2005-03-06 17:42:39 +00:00
|
|
|
(define-key
|
|
|
|
mail-mode-map [remap next-line] 'mail-abbrev-next-line)
|
|
|
|
(define-key
|
|
|
|
mail-mode-map [remap end-of-buffer] 'mail-abbrev-end-of-buffer)))
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
@end smallexample
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Mail Mode
|
|
|
|
@section Mail Mode
|
|
|
|
@cindex Mail mode
|
|
|
|
@cindex mode, Mail
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The major mode used in the mail buffer is Mail mode, which is much
|
|
|
|
like Text mode except that various special commands are provided on the
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-c} prefix. These commands all have to do specifically with
|
|
|
|
editing or sending the message. In addition, Mail mode defines the
|
|
|
|
character @samp{%} as a word separator; this is helpful for using the
|
|
|
|
word commands to edit mail addresses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mail mode is normally used in buffers set up automatically by the
|
|
|
|
@code{mail} command and related commands. However, you can also switch
|
2001-07-17 10:50:35 +00:00
|
|
|
to Mail mode in a file-visiting buffer. This is a useful thing to do if
|
|
|
|
you have saved the text of a draft message in a file.
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
|
|
* Mail Sending:: Commands to send the message.
|
|
|
|
* Header Editing:: Commands to move to header fields and edit them.
|
|
|
|
* Citing Mail:: Copying all or part of a message you are replying to.
|
|
|
|
* Mail Mode Misc:: Spell checking, signatures, etc.
|
|
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Mail Sending
|
|
|
|
@subsection Mail Sending
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mail mode has two commands for sending the message you have been
|
|
|
|
editing:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-s
|
|
|
|
Send the message, and leave the mail buffer selected (@code{mail-send}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-c
|
|
|
|
Send the message, and select some other buffer (@code{mail-send-and-exit}).
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-s @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-c @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-send
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-send-and-exit
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-c C-s} (@code{mail-send}) sends the message and marks the mail
|
|
|
|
buffer unmodified, but leaves that buffer selected so that you can
|
|
|
|
modify the message (perhaps with new recipients) and send it again.
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-c C-c} (@code{mail-send-and-exit}) sends and then deletes the
|
|
|
|
window or switches to another buffer. It puts the mail buffer at the
|
|
|
|
lowest priority for reselection by default, since you are finished with
|
|
|
|
using it. This is the usual way to send the message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In a file-visiting buffer, sending the message does not clear the
|
|
|
|
modified flag, because only saving the file should do that. As a
|
|
|
|
result, you don't get a warning if you try to send the same message
|
|
|
|
twice.
|
|
|
|
|
2001-02-21 15:29:46 +00:00
|
|
|
@c This is indexed in mule.texi, node "Recognize Coding".
|
|
|
|
@c @vindex sendmail-coding-system
|
2003-11-02 07:01:19 +00:00
|
|
|
When you send a message that contains non-@acronym{ASCII} characters, they need
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
to be encoded with a coding system (@pxref{Coding Systems}). Usually
|
|
|
|
the coding system is specified automatically by your chosen language
|
|
|
|
environment (@pxref{Language Environments}). You can explicitly specify
|
|
|
|
the coding system for outgoing mail by setting the variable
|
2001-02-21 15:29:46 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{sendmail-coding-system} (@pxref{Recognize Coding}).
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the coding system thus determined does not handle the characters in
|
|
|
|
a particular message, Emacs asks you to select the coding system to use,
|
|
|
|
showing a list of possible coding systems.
|
|
|
|
|
2003-02-23 12:09:07 +00:00
|
|
|
@cindex SMTP
|
|
|
|
@cindex Feedmail
|
|
|
|
@cindex Sendmail
|
|
|
|
@vindex send-mail-function
|
|
|
|
The variable @code{send-mail-function} controls how the default mail
|
|
|
|
user agent sends mail. It should be set to a function. The default
|
|
|
|
is @code{sendmail-send-it}, which delivers mail using the Sendmail
|
|
|
|
installation on the local host. To send mail through a SMTP server,
|
|
|
|
set it to @code{smtpmail-send-it} and set up the Emacs SMTP library
|
2003-04-06 21:12:02 +00:00
|
|
|
(@pxref{Top,, Sending mail via SMTP,smtpmail}). A third option is
|
2003-02-23 12:09:07 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{feedmail-send-it}, see the commentary section of the
|
|
|
|
@file{feedmail.el} package for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
@node Header Editing
|
|
|
|
@subsection Mail Header Editing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mail mode provides special commands to move to particular header
|
|
|
|
fields and to complete addresses in headers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-f C-t
|
|
|
|
Move to the @samp{To} header field, creating one if there is none
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-to}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-f C-s
|
|
|
|
Move to the @samp{Subject} header field, creating one if there is
|
|
|
|
none (@code{mail-subject}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-f C-c
|
|
|
|
Move to the @samp{CC} header field, creating one if there is none
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-cc}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-f C-b
|
|
|
|
Move to the @samp{BCC} header field, creating one if there is none
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-bcc}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-f C-f
|
|
|
|
Move to the @samp{FCC} header field, creating one if there is none
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-fcc}).
|
|
|
|
@item M-@key{TAB}
|
|
|
|
Complete a mailing address (@code{mail-complete}).
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-f C-t @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-to
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-f C-s @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-subject
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-f C-c @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-cc
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-f C-b @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-bcc
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-f C-f @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-fcc
|
|
|
|
There are five commands to move point to particular header fields, all
|
|
|
|
based on the prefix @kbd{C-c C-f} (@samp{C-f} is for ``field''). They
|
|
|
|
are listed in the table above. If the field in question does not exist,
|
|
|
|
these commands create one. We provide special motion commands for these
|
|
|
|
particular fields because they are the fields users most often want to
|
|
|
|
edit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-complete
|
|
|
|
@kindex M-TAB @r{(Mail mode)}
|
2005-02-16 10:17:29 +00:00
|
|
|
While editing a header field that contains mailing addresses, such
|
|
|
|
as @samp{To:}, @samp{CC:} and @samp{BCC:}, you can complete a mailing
|
|
|
|
address by typing @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} (@code{mail-complete}). It
|
|
|
|
inserts the full name corresponding to the address, if it can
|
|
|
|
determine the full name. The variable @code{mail-complete-style}
|
|
|
|
controls whether to insert the full name, and what style to use, as in
|
|
|
|
@code{mail-from-style} (@pxref{Mail Headers}). (If your window
|
2005-03-06 17:42:39 +00:00
|
|
|
manager defines @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} to switch windows, you can type
|
|
|
|
@kbd{@key{ESC} @key{TAB}} or @kbd{C-M-i}.)
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For completion purposes, the valid mailing addresses are taken to be
|
2001-05-05 22:35:54 +00:00
|
|
|
the local users' names plus your personal mail aliases. You can
|
2005-01-30 11:23:17 +00:00
|
|
|
specify additional sources of valid addresses; see the customization
|
|
|
|
group @samp{mailalias} to see the variables for customizing this
|
|
|
|
feature (@pxref{Customization Groups}).
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2001-05-05 22:35:54 +00:00
|
|
|
If you type @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} in the body of the message,
|
|
|
|
@code{mail-complete} invokes @code{ispell-complete-word}, as in Text
|
|
|
|
mode.
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Citing Mail
|
|
|
|
@subsection Citing Mail
|
|
|
|
@cindex citing mail
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mail mode also has commands for yanking or @dfn{citing} all or part of
|
|
|
|
a message that you are replying to. These commands are active only when
|
|
|
|
you started sending a message using an Rmail command.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-y
|
|
|
|
Yank the selected message from Rmail (@code{mail-yank-original}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-r
|
|
|
|
Yank the region from the Rmail buffer (@code{mail-yank-region}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-q
|
|
|
|
Fill each paragraph cited from another message
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-fill-yanked-message}).
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-y @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-yank-original
|
|
|
|
When mail sending is invoked from the Rmail mail reader using an Rmail
|
|
|
|
command, @kbd{C-c C-y} can be used inside the mail buffer to insert
|
|
|
|
the text of the message you are replying to. Normally it indents each line
|
|
|
|
of that message three spaces and eliminates most header fields. A numeric
|
|
|
|
argument specifies the number of spaces to indent. An argument of just
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-u} says not to indent at all and not to eliminate anything.
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-c C-y} always uses the current message from the Rmail buffer,
|
|
|
|
so you can insert several old messages by selecting one in Rmail,
|
|
|
|
switching to @samp{*mail*} and yanking it, then switching back to
|
|
|
|
Rmail to select another.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@vindex mail-yank-prefix
|
|
|
|
You can specify the text for @kbd{C-c C-y} to insert at the beginning
|
|
|
|
of each line: set @code{mail-yank-prefix} to the desired string. (A
|
|
|
|
value of @code{nil} means to use indentation; this is the default.)
|
|
|
|
However, @kbd{C-u C-c C-y} never adds anything at the beginning of the
|
|
|
|
inserted lines, regardless of the value of @code{mail-yank-prefix}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-r @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-yank-region
|
|
|
|
To yank just a part of an incoming message, set the region in Rmail to
|
|
|
|
the part you want; then go to the @samp{*Mail*} message and type
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-c C-r} (@code{mail-yank-region}). Each line that is copied is
|
|
|
|
indented or prefixed according to @code{mail-yank-prefix}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-q @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-fill-yanked-message
|
|
|
|
After using @kbd{C-c C-y} or @kbd{C-c C-r}, you can type @kbd{C-c C-q}
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-fill-yanked-message}) to fill the paragraphs of the yanked
|
|
|
|
old message or messages. One use of @kbd{C-c C-q} fills all such
|
|
|
|
paragraphs, each one individually. To fill a single paragraph of the
|
|
|
|
quoted message, use @kbd{M-q}. If filling does not automatically
|
|
|
|
handle the type of citation prefix you use, try setting the fill prefix
|
|
|
|
explicitly. @xref{Filling}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Mail Mode Misc
|
|
|
|
@subsection Mail Mode Miscellany
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@table @kbd
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-t
|
|
|
|
Move to the beginning of the message body text (@code{mail-text}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-w
|
|
|
|
Insert the file @file{~/.signature} at the end of the message text
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-signature}).
|
|
|
|
@item C-c C-i @var{file} @key{RET}
|
|
|
|
Insert the contents of @var{file} at the end of the outgoing message
|
|
|
|
(@code{mail-attach-file}).
|
|
|
|
@item M-x ispell-message
|
2001-07-17 10:50:35 +00:00
|
|
|
Perform spelling correction on the message text, but not on citations from
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
other messages.
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-t @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-text
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-c C-t} (@code{mail-text}) moves point to just after the header
|
|
|
|
separator line---that is, to the beginning of the message body text.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-c C-w @r{(Mail mode)}
|
|
|
|
@findex mail-signature
|
|
|
|
@vindex mail-signature
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-c C-w} (@code{mail-signature}) adds a standard piece of text at
|
|
|
|
the end of the message to say more about who you are. The text comes
|
|
|
|
from the file @file{~/.signature} in your home directory. To insert
|
|
|
|
your signature automatically, set the variable @code{mail-signature} to
|
2001-07-17 10:50:35 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{t}; after that, starting a mail message automatically inserts the
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
contents of your @file{~/.signature} file. If you want to omit your
|
|
|
|
signature from a particular message, delete it from the buffer before
|
|
|
|
you send the message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You can also set @code{mail-signature} to a string; then that string
|
|
|
|
is inserted automatically as your signature when you start editing a
|
|
|
|
message to send. If you set it to some other Lisp expression, the
|
|
|
|
expression is evaluated each time, and its value (which should be a
|
|
|
|
string) specifies the signature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@findex ispell-message
|
|
|
|
You can do spelling correction on the message text you have written
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|
|
with the command @kbd{M-x ispell-message}. If you have yanked an
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|
|
incoming message into the outgoing draft, this command skips what was
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|
yanked, but it checks the text that you yourself inserted. (It looks
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|
for indentation or @code{mail-yank-prefix} to distinguish the cited
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|
lines from your input.) @xref{Spelling}.
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@kindex C-c C-i @r{(Mail mode)}
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|
@findex mail-attach-file
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|
|
To include a file in the outgoing message, you can use @kbd{C-x i},
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|
|
the usual command to insert a file in the current buffer. But it is
|
|
|
|
often more convenient to use a special command, @kbd{C-c C-i}
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|
(@code{mail-attach-file}). This command inserts the file contents at
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|
|
the end of the buffer, after your signature if any, with a delimiter
|
2005-03-06 17:42:39 +00:00
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|
line that includes the file name. Note that this is not a MIME
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|
attachment.
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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@vindex mail-mode-hook
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@vindex mail-setup-hook
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|
Turning on Mail mode (which @kbd{C-x m} does automatically) runs the
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|
normal hooks @code{text-mode-hook} and @code{mail-mode-hook}.
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|
|
Initializing a new outgoing message runs the normal hook
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|
|
@code{mail-setup-hook}; if you want to add special fields to your mail
|
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|
|
header or make other changes to the appearance of the mail buffer, use
|
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|
|
that hook. @xref{Hooks}.
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|
The main difference between these hooks is just when they are
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|
|
invoked. Whenever you type @kbd{M-x mail}, @code{mail-mode-hook} runs
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|
|
as soon as the @samp{*mail*} buffer is created. Then the
|
2001-07-17 10:50:35 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{mail-setup} function inserts the default contents of the buffer.
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
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|
After these default contents are inserted, @code{mail-setup-hook} runs.
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|
2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
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|
@node Mail Amusements
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|
|
@section Mail Amusements
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
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|
|
@findex spook
|
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|
|
@cindex NSA
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|
|
@kbd{M-x spook} adds a line of randomly chosen keywords to an outgoing
|
|
|
|
mail message. The keywords are chosen from a list of words that suggest
|
|
|
|
you are discussing something subversive.
|
|
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|
|
2000-08-15 13:07:55 +00:00
|
|
|
The idea behind this feature is the suspicion that the
|
|
|
|
NSA@footnote{The US National Security Agency.} snoops on
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
all electronic mail messages that contain keywords suggesting they might
|
|
|
|
find them interesting. (The NSA says they don't, but that's what they
|
|
|
|
@emph{would} say.) The idea is that if lots of people add suspicious
|
|
|
|
words to their messages, the NSA will get so busy with spurious input
|
|
|
|
that they will have to give up reading it all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here's how to insert spook keywords automatically whenever you start
|
|
|
|
entering an outgoing message:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@example
|
2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
|
|
|
(add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'spook)
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whether or not this confuses the NSA, it at least amuses people.
|
|
|
|
|
2000-01-05 23:08:00 +00:00
|
|
|
@findex fortune-to-signature
|
|
|
|
@cindex fortune cookies
|
2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
|
|
|
You can use the @code{fortune} program to put a ``fortune cookie''
|
2001-05-05 22:35:54 +00:00
|
|
|
message into outgoing mail. To do this, add
|
2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{fortune-to-signature} to @code{mail-setup-hook}:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
|
|
(add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'fortune-to-signature)
|
|
|
|
@end example
|
2000-01-05 23:08:00 +00:00
|
|
|
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
@node Mail Methods
|
|
|
|
@section Mail-Composition Methods
|
|
|
|
@cindex mail-composition methods
|
|
|
|
|
2000-08-20 22:35:49 +00:00
|
|
|
@cindex MH mail interface
|
|
|
|
@cindex Message mode for sending mail
|
2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
|
|
|
In this chapter we have described the usual Emacs mode for editing
|
|
|
|
and sending mail---Mail mode. Emacs has alternative facilities for
|
|
|
|
editing and sending mail, including
|
2000-08-20 22:35:49 +00:00
|
|
|
MH-E and Message mode, not documented in this manual.
|
2004-03-22 07:29:08 +00:00
|
|
|
@xref{Top,,MH-E,mh-e, The Emacs Interface to MH}. @xref{Top,,Message,message,
|
2000-08-20 22:35:49 +00:00
|
|
|
Message Manual}. You can choose any of them as your preferred method.
|
|
|
|
The commands @code{C-x m}, @code{C-x 4 m} and @code{C-x 5 m} use
|
2001-07-17 10:50:35 +00:00
|
|
|
whichever agent you have specified, as do various other Emacs commands
|
2000-08-20 22:35:49 +00:00
|
|
|
and facilities that send mail.
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@vindex mail-user-agent
|
2000-10-08 21:06:44 +00:00
|
|
|
To specify your mail-composition method, customize the variable
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{mail-user-agent}. Currently legitimate values include
|
2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{sendmail-user-agent} (Mail mode), @code{mh-e-user-agent},
|
2000-10-08 21:06:44 +00:00
|
|
|
@code{message-user-agent} and @code{gnus-user-agent}.
|
1999-09-29 15:17:24 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2001-02-19 02:26:38 +00:00
|
|
|
If you select a different mail-composition method, the information
|
|
|
|
in this chapter about the @samp{*mail*} buffer and Mail mode does not
|
|
|
|
apply; the other methods use a different format of text in a different
|
|
|
|
buffer, and their commands are different as well.
|
2003-09-01 15:45:59 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@ignore
|
|
|
|
arch-tag: d8a3dfc3-5d87-45c5-a7f2-69871b8e4fd6
|
|
|
|
@end ignore
|