annotate man/sending.texi @ 81548:334bfc4cc092

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author Jay Belanger <jay.p.belanger@gmail.com>
date Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:10:39 +0000
parents 4805684e0b00
children 02b9a9aa5b0c e6fdae9180d4
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1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
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2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002,
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3 @c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
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5 @node Sending Mail
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6 @chapter Sending Mail
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7 @cindex sending mail
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8 @cindex mail
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9 @cindex message
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10
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11 To send a message in Emacs, you start by typing a command (@kbd{C-x m})
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12 to select and initialize the @samp{*mail*} buffer. Then you edit the text
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13 and headers of the message in this buffer, and type another command
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14 (@kbd{C-c C-s} or @kbd{C-c C-c}) to send the message.
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15
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16 @table @kbd
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17 @item C-x m
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18 Begin composing a message to send (@code{compose-mail}).
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19 @item C-x 4 m
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20 Likewise, but display the message in another window
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21 (@code{compose-mail-other-window}).
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22 @item C-x 5 m
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23 Likewise, but make a new frame (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}).
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24 @item C-c C-s
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25 In Mail mode, send the message (@code{mail-send}).
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26 @item C-c C-c
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27 Send the message and bury the mail buffer (@code{mail-send-and-exit}).
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28 @end table
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29
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30 @kindex C-x m
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31 @findex compose-mail
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32 @kindex C-x 4 m
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33 @findex compose-mail-other-window
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34 @kindex C-x 5 m
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35 @findex compose-mail-other-frame
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36 The command @kbd{C-x m} (@code{compose-mail}) selects a buffer named
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37 @samp{*mail*} and initializes it with the skeleton of an outgoing
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38 message. @kbd{C-x 4 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-window}) selects the
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39 @samp{*mail*} buffer in a different window, leaving the previous current
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40 buffer visible. @kbd{C-x 5 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}) creates
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41 a new frame to select the @samp{*mail*} buffer.
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42
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43 Because the mail-composition buffer is an ordinary Emacs buffer, you can
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44 switch to other buffers while in the middle of composing mail, and switch
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45 back later (or never). If you use the @kbd{C-x m} command again when you
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46 have been composing another message but have not sent it, you are asked to
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47 confirm before the old message is erased. If you answer @kbd{n}, the
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48 @samp{*mail*} buffer remains selected with its old contents, so you can
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49 finish the old message and send it. @kbd{C-u C-x m} is another way to do
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50 this. Sending the message marks the @samp{*mail*} buffer ``unmodified,''
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51 which avoids the need for confirmation when @kbd{C-x m} is next used.
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52
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53 If you are composing a message in the @samp{*mail*} buffer and want to
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54 send another message before finishing the first, rename the
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55 @samp{*mail*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} (@pxref{Misc
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56 Buffer}). Then you can use @kbd{C-x m} or its variants described above
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57 to make a new @samp{*mail*} buffer. Once you've done that, you can work
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58 with each mail buffer independently.
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59
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60 @vindex mail-default-directory
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61 The variable @code{mail-default-directory} controls the default
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62 directory for mail buffers, and also says where to put their auto-save
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63 files.
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64
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65 @ignore
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66 @c Commented out because it is not user-oriented;
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67 @c it doesn't say how to do some job. -- rms.
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68 @cindex directory servers
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69 @cindex LDAP
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70 @cindex PH/QI
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71 @cindex names and addresses
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72 There is an interface to directory servers using various protocols such
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73 as LDAP or the CCSO white pages directory system (PH/QI), described in a
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74 separate manual. It may be useful for looking up names and addresses.
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75 @xref{Top,,EUDC, eudc, EUDC Manual}.
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76 @end ignore
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77
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78 @menu
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79 * Format: Mail Format. Format of the mail being composed.
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80 * Headers: Mail Headers. Details of permitted mail header fields.
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81 * Aliases: Mail Aliases. Abbreviating and grouping mail addresses.
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82 * Mode: Mail Mode. Special commands for editing mail being composed.
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83 * Amuse: Mail Amusements. Distracting the NSA; adding fortune messages.
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84 * Methods: Mail Methods. Using alternative mail-composition methods.
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85 @end menu
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86
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87 @node Mail Format
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88 @section The Format of the Mail Buffer
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89
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90 In addition to the @dfn{text} or @dfn{body}, a message has @dfn{header
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91 fields} which say who sent it, when, to whom, why, and so on. Some
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92 header fields, such as @samp{Date} and @samp{Sender}, are created
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93 automatically when you send the message. Others, such as the recipient
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94 names, must be specified by you in order to send the message properly.
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95
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96 In the mail buffer, you can insert and edit header fields using
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97 ordinary editing commands. Mail mode provides a commands to help you
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98 edit some header fields, and some are preinitialized in the buffer
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99 automatically when appropriate.
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100
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101 The line in the buffer that says
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102
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103 @example
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104 --text follows this line--
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105 @end example
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106
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107 @noindent
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108 is a special delimiter that separates the headers you have specified from
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109 the text. Whatever follows this line is the text of the message; the
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110 headers precede it. The delimiter line itself does not appear in the
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111 message actually sent. The text used for the delimiter line is controlled
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112 by the variable @code{mail-header-separator}.
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113
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114 Here is an example of what the headers and text in the mail buffer
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115 might look like.
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116
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117 @example
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118 To: gnu@@gnu.org
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119 CC: lungfish@@spam.org, byob@@spam.org
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120 Subject: The Emacs Manual
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121 --Text follows this line--
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122 Please ignore this message.
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123 @end example
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124
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125 @node Mail Headers
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126 @section Mail Header Fields
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127 @cindex headers (of mail message)
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128
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129 A header field in the mail buffer starts with a field name at the
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130 beginning of a line, terminated by a colon. Upper and lower case are
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131 equivalent in field names (and in mailing addresses also). After the
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132 colon and optional whitespace comes the contents of the field.
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133
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134 You can use any name you like for a header field, but normally people
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135 use only standard field names with accepted meanings. Here is a table
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136 of fields commonly used in outgoing messages.
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137
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138 @table @samp
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139 @item To
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140 This field contains the mailing addresses to which the message is
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141 addressed. If you list more than one address, use commas, not spaces,
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142 to separate them.
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143
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144 @item Subject
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145 The contents of the @samp{Subject} field should be a piece of text
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146 that says what the message is about. The reason @samp{Subject} fields
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147 are useful is that most mail-reading programs can provide a summary of
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148 messages, listing the subject of each message but not its text.
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149
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150 @item CC
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151 This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to,
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152 like @samp{To} except that these readers should not regard the message
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153 as directed at them.
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154
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155 @item BCC
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156 This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to,
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157 which should not appear in the header of the message actually sent.
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158 Copies sent this way are called @dfn{blind carbon copies}.
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159
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160 @vindex mail-self-blind
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161 @cindex copy of every outgoing message
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162 To send a blind carbon copy of every outgoing message to yourself, set
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163 the variable @code{mail-self-blind} to @code{t}. To send a blind carbon
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164 copy of every message to some other @var{address}, set the variable
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165 @code{mail-default-headers} to @code{"Bcc: @var{address}\n"}.
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166
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167 @item FCC
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168 This field contains the name of one file and directs Emacs to append a
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169 copy of the message to that file when you send the message. If the file
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170 is in Rmail format, Emacs writes the message in Rmail format; otherwise,
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171 Emacs writes the message in system mail file format. To specify
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172 more than one file, use several @samp{FCC} fields, with one file
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173 name in each field.
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174
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175 @vindex mail-archive-file-name
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176 To put a fixed file name in the @samp{FCC} field each time you start
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177 editing an outgoing message, set the variable
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178 @code{mail-archive-file-name} to that file name. Unless you remove the
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179 @samp{FCC} field before sending, the message will be written into that
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180 file when it is sent.
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181
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182 @item From
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183 Use the @samp{From} field to say who you are, when the account you are
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184 using to send the mail is not your own. The contents of the @samp{From}
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185 field should be a valid mailing address, since replies will normally go
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186 there. If you don't specify the @samp{From} field yourself, Emacs uses
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187 the value of @code{user-mail-address} as the default.
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188
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189 @item Reply-to
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190 Use this field to direct replies to a different address. Most
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191 mail-reading programs (including Rmail) automatically send replies to
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192 the @samp{Reply-to} address in preference to the @samp{From} address.
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193 By adding a @samp{Reply-to} field to your header, you can work around
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194 any problems your @samp{From} address may cause for replies.
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195
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196 @cindex @env{REPLYTO} environment variable
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197 @vindex mail-default-reply-to
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198 To put a fixed @samp{Reply-to} address into every outgoing message, set
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199 the variable @code{mail-default-reply-to} to that address (as a string).
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200 Then @code{mail} initializes the message with a @samp{Reply-to} field as
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201 specified. You can delete or alter that header field before you send
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202 the message, if you wish. When Emacs starts up, if the environment
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203 variable @env{REPLYTO} is set, @code{mail-default-reply-to} is
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204 initialized from that environment variable.
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205
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206 @item In-reply-to
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207 This field contains a piece of text describing the message you are
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208 replying to. Some mail systems can use this information to correlate
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diff changeset
209 related pieces of mail. Normally this field is filled in by Rmail
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210 when you reply to a message in Rmail, and you never need to
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211 think about it (@pxref{Rmail}).
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212
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213 @item References
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214 This field lists the message IDs of related previous messages. Rmail
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215 sets up this field automatically when you reply to a message.
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216 @end table
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217
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218 The @samp{To}, @samp{CC}, and @samp{BCC} header fields can appear
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
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219 any number of times, and each such header field can contain multiple
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
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220 addresses, separated by commas. This way, you can specify any number
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
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221 of places to send the message. These fields can also have
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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222 continuation lines: one or more lines starting with whitespace,
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
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223 following the starting line of the field, are considered part of the
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
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224 field. Here's an example of a @samp{To} field with a continuation
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225 line:
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226
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227 @example
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228 @group
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229 To: foo@@here.net, this@@there.net,
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230 me@@gnu.cambridge.mass.usa.earth.spiral3281
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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231 @end group
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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232 @end example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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233
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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234 @vindex mail-from-style
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235 When you send the message, if you didn't write a @samp{From} field
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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236 yourself, Emacs puts in one for you. The variable
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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237 @code{mail-from-style} controls the format:
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238
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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239 @table @code
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240 @item nil
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241 Use just the email address, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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242 @item parens
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243 Use both email address and full name, as in:@*
4805684e0b00 wording for 8.5x11
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244 @samp{king@@grassland.com (Elvis Parsley)}.
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245 @item angles
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246 Use both email address and full name, as in:@*
4805684e0b00 wording for 8.5x11
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247 @samp{Elvis Parsley <king@@grassland.com>}.
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248 @item system-default
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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249 Allow the system to insert the @samp{From} field.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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250 @end table
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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251
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252 @vindex mail-default-headers
36178
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253 You can direct Emacs to insert certain default headers into the
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
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254 outgoing message by setting the variable @code{mail-default-headers}
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
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parents: 34922
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255 to a string. Then @code{C-x m} inserts this string into the message
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
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256 headers. If the default header fields are not appropriate for a
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
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257 particular message, edit them as appropriate before sending the
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
258 message.
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259
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260 @node Mail Aliases
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261 @section Mail Aliases
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262 @cindex mail aliases
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263 @cindex @file{.mailrc} file
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264 @cindex mailrc file
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265
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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266 You can define @dfn{mail aliases} in a file named @file{~/.mailrc}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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267 These are short mnemonic names which stand for mail addresses or groups of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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268 mail addresses. Like many other mail programs, Emacs expands aliases
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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269 when they occur in the @samp{To}, @samp{From}, @samp{CC}, @samp{BCC}, and
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diff changeset
270 @samp{Reply-to} fields, plus their @samp{Resent-} variants.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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271
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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272 To define an alias in @file{~/.mailrc}, write a line in the following
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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273 format:
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274
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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275 @example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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276 alias @var{shortaddress} @var{fulladdresses}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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277 @end example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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278
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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279 @noindent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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280 Here @var{fulladdresses} stands for one or more mail addresses for
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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281 @var{shortaddress} to expand into. Separate multiple addresses with
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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282 spaces; if an address contains a space, quote the whole address with a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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283 pair of double-quotes.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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284
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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285 For instance, to make @code{maingnu} stand for
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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286 @code{gnu@@gnu.org} plus a local address of your own, put in
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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287 this line:@refill
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288
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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289 @example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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290 alias maingnu gnu@@gnu.org local-gnu
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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291 @end example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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292
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9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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293 @noindent
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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294 Addresses specified in this way should use doublequotes around an
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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295 entire address when the address contains spaces. But you need not
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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296 include doublequotes around parts of the address, such as the person's
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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297 full name. Emacs puts them in if they are needed. For example,
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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298
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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299 @example
60472
87dfc61450d5 (Mail Aliases): Double up @'s.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
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300 alias chief-torturer "George W. Bush <bush@@whitehouse.gov>"
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9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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301 @end example
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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302
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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303 @noindent
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304 is correct in @samp{.mailrc}. Emacs will insert the address as
4d628cade603 fix overfull/underfull boxes
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305 @samp{"George W. Bush" <bush@@whitehouse.gov>}.
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9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
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306
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
307 Emacs also recognizes ``include'' commands in @samp{.mailrc} files.
25829
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308 They look like this:
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309
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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310 @example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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311 source @var{filename}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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312 @end example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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313
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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314 @noindent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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315 The file @file{~/.mailrc} is used primarily by other mail-reading
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
316 programs; it can contain various other commands. Emacs ignores
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
317 everything in it except for alias definitions and include commands.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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318
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
319 @findex define-mail-alias
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
320 Another way to define a mail alias, within Emacs alone, is with the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
321 @code{define-mail-alias} command. It prompts for the alias and then the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
322 full address. You can use it to define aliases in your @file{.emacs}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
323 file, like this:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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324
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
325 @example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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326 (define-mail-alias "maingnu" "gnu@@gnu.org")
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
327 @end example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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328
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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329 @vindex mail-aliases
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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330 @code{define-mail-alias} records aliases by adding them to a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
331 variable named @code{mail-aliases}. If you are comfortable with
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
332 manipulating Lisp lists, you can set @code{mail-aliases} directly. The
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
333 initial value of @code{mail-aliases} is @code{t}, which means that
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
334 Emacs should read @file{.mailrc} to get the proper value.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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335
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
336 @vindex mail-personal-alias-file
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
337 You can specify a different file name to use instead of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
338 @file{~/.mailrc} by setting the variable
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
339 @code{mail-personal-alias-file}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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340
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
341 @findex expand-mail-aliases
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
342 Normally, Emacs expands aliases when you send the message. You do not
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
343 need to expand mail aliases before sending the message, but you can
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
344 expand them if you want to see where the mail will actually go. To do
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
345 this, use the command @kbd{M-x expand-mail-aliases}; it expands all mail
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
346 aliases currently present in the mail headers that hold addresses.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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347
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
348 If you like, you can have mail aliases expand as abbrevs, as soon as
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
349 you type them in (@pxref{Abbrevs}). To enable this feature, execute the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
350 following:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
351
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
352 @example
34922
962646fc3a58 *** empty log message ***
Gerd Moellmann <gerd@gnu.org>
parents: 34151
diff changeset
353 (add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'mail-abbrevs-setup)
25829
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354 @end example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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355
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
356 @noindent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
357 @findex define-mail-abbrev
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
358 @vindex mail-abbrevs
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
359 This can go in your @file{.emacs} file. @xref{Hooks}. If you use this
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
360 feature, you must use @code{define-mail-abbrev} instead of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
361 @code{define-mail-alias}; the latter does not work with this package.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
362 Note that the mail abbreviation package uses the variable
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
363 @code{mail-abbrevs} instead of @code{mail-aliases}, and that all alias
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
364 names are converted to lower case.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
365
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
366 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
367 @findex mail-interactive-insert-alias
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
368 The mail abbreviation package also provides the @kbd{C-c C-a}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
369 (@code{mail-interactive-insert-alias}) command, which reads an alias
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
370 name (with completion) and inserts its definition at point. This is
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
371 useful when editing the message text itself or a header field such as
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
372 @samp{Subject} in which Emacs does not normally expand aliases.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
373
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
374 Note that abbrevs expand only if you insert a word-separator character
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
375 afterward. However, you can rebind @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{M->} to cause
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
376 expansion as well. Here's how to do that:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
377
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
378 @smallexample
34922
962646fc3a58 *** empty log message ***
Gerd Moellmann <gerd@gnu.org>
parents: 34151
diff changeset
379 (add-hook 'mail-mode-hook
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Karl Berry <karl@gnu.org>
parents: 70448
diff changeset
380 (lambda ()
4d628cade603 fix overfull/underfull boxes
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parents: 70448
diff changeset
381 (define-key
4d628cade603 fix overfull/underfull boxes
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parents: 70448
diff changeset
382 mail-mode-map [remap next-line] 'mail-abbrev-next-line)
4d628cade603 fix overfull/underfull boxes
Karl Berry <karl@gnu.org>
parents: 70448
diff changeset
383 (define-key
4d628cade603 fix overfull/underfull boxes
Karl Berry <karl@gnu.org>
parents: 70448
diff changeset
384 mail-mode-map [remap end-of-buffer] 'mail-abbrev-end-of-buffer)))
25829
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parents:
diff changeset
385 @end smallexample
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
386
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
387 @node Mail Mode
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
388 @section Mail Mode
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
389 @cindex Mail mode
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
390 @cindex mode, Mail
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
391
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
392 The major mode used in the mail buffer is Mail mode, which is much
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
393 like Text mode except that various special commands are provided on the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
394 @kbd{C-c} prefix. These commands all have to do specifically with
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
395 editing or sending the message. In addition, Mail mode defines the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
396 character @samp{%} as a word separator; this is helpful for using the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
397 word commands to edit mail addresses.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
398
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
399 Mail mode is normally used in buffers set up automatically by the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
400 @code{mail} command and related commands. However, you can also switch
38461
23f63206a867 Proofreading fixes from Chris Green <chris_e_green@yahoo.com>.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 37578
diff changeset
401 to Mail mode in a file-visiting buffer. This is a useful thing to do if
23f63206a867 Proofreading fixes from Chris Green <chris_e_green@yahoo.com>.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 37578
diff changeset
402 you have saved the text of a draft message in a file.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
403
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
404 @menu
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
405 * Mail Sending:: Commands to send the message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
406 * Header Editing:: Commands to move to header fields and edit them.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
407 * Citing Mail:: Copying all or part of a message you are replying to.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
408 * Mail Mode Misc:: Spell checking, signatures, etc.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
409 @end menu
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
410
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
411 @node Mail Sending
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
412 @subsection Mail Sending
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
413
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
414 Mail mode has two commands for sending the message you have been
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
415 editing:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
416
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
417 @table @kbd
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
418 @item C-c C-s
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
419 Send the message, and leave the mail buffer selected (@code{mail-send}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
420 @item C-c C-c
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
421 Send the message, and select some other buffer (@code{mail-send-and-exit}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
422 @end table
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
423
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
424 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
425 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
426 @findex mail-send
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
427 @findex mail-send-and-exit
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
428 @kbd{C-c C-s} (@code{mail-send}) sends the message and marks the mail
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
429 buffer unmodified, but leaves that buffer selected so that you can
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
430 modify the message (perhaps with new recipients) and send it again.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
431 @kbd{C-c C-c} (@code{mail-send-and-exit}) sends and then deletes the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
432 window or switches to another buffer. It puts the mail buffer at the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
433 lowest priority for reselection by default, since you are finished with
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
434 using it. This is the usual way to send the message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
435
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
436 In a file-visiting buffer, sending the message does not clear the
68700
2ce71d4cf3fd Minor clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68639
diff changeset
437 modified flag, because only saving the file should do that. Also, you
2ce71d4cf3fd Minor clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68639
diff changeset
438 don't get a warning if you try to send the same message twice.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
439
36263
11db0318031d Remove redundant index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 36178
diff changeset
440 @c This is indexed in mule.texi, node "Recognize Coding".
11db0318031d Remove redundant index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 36178
diff changeset
441 @c @vindex sendmail-coding-system
52979
3649390c0f91 Replace @sc{ascii} and ASCII with @acronym{ASCII}.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 52401
diff changeset
442 When you send a message that contains non-@acronym{ASCII} characters, they need
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
443 to be encoded with a coding system (@pxref{Coding Systems}). Usually
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
444 the coding system is specified automatically by your chosen language
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
445 environment (@pxref{Language Environments}). You can explicitly specify
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
446 the coding system for outgoing mail by setting the variable
36263
11db0318031d Remove redundant index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 36178
diff changeset
447 @code{sendmail-coding-system} (@pxref{Recognize Coding}).
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
448
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
449 If the coding system thus determined does not handle the characters in
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
450 a particular message, Emacs asks you to select the coding system to use,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
451 showing a list of possible coding systems.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
452
49923
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
453 @cindex SMTP
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
454 @cindex Feedmail
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
455 @cindex Sendmail
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
456 @vindex send-mail-function
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
457 The variable @code{send-mail-function} controls how the default mail
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
458 user agent sends mail. It should be set to a function. The default
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
459 is @code{sendmail-send-it}, which delivers mail using the Sendmail
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
460 installation on the local host. To send mail through a SMTP server,
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
461 set it to @code{smtpmail-send-it} and set up the Emacs SMTP library
69892
ec3278dd3d95 (Mail Sending): In send-mail-function @pxref smtpmail, put info and printed
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 69770
diff changeset
462 (@pxref{Top,,Emacs SMTP Library, smtpmail, Sending mail via SMTP}). A
69770
8b9279d58ebd 5-arg pxref
Karl Berry <karl@gnu.org>
parents: 69506
diff changeset
463 third option is @code{feedmail-send-it}, see the commentary section of
8b9279d58ebd 5-arg pxref
Karl Berry <karl@gnu.org>
parents: 69506
diff changeset
464 the @file{feedmail.el} package for more information.
49923
6977eaede7a8 Remove SMTP section.
Simon Josefsson <jas@extundo.com>
parents: 49906
diff changeset
465
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
466 @node Header Editing
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
467 @subsection Mail Header Editing
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
468
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
469 Mail mode provides special commands to move to particular header
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
470 fields and to complete addresses in headers.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
471
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
472 @table @kbd
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
473 @item C-c C-f C-t
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
474 Move to the @samp{To} header field, creating one if there is none
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
475 (@code{mail-to}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
476 @item C-c C-f C-s
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
477 Move to the @samp{Subject} header field, creating one if there is
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
478 none (@code{mail-subject}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
479 @item C-c C-f C-c
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
480 Move to the @samp{CC} header field, creating one if there is none
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
481 (@code{mail-cc}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
482 @item C-c C-f C-b
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
483 Move to the @samp{BCC} header field, creating one if there is none
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
484 (@code{mail-bcc}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
485 @item C-c C-f C-f
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
486 Move to the @samp{FCC} header field, creating one if there is none
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
487 (@code{mail-fcc}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
488 @item M-@key{TAB}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
489 Complete a mailing address (@code{mail-complete}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
490 @end table
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
491
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
492 @kindex C-c C-f C-t @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
493 @findex mail-to
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
494 @kindex C-c C-f C-s @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
495 @findex mail-subject
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
496 @kindex C-c C-f C-c @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
497 @findex mail-cc
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
498 @kindex C-c C-f C-b @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
499 @findex mail-bcc
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
500 @kindex C-c C-f C-f @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
501 @findex mail-fcc
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
502 There are five commands to move point to particular header fields, all
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
503 based on the prefix @kbd{C-c C-f} (@samp{C-f} is for ``field''). They
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
504 are listed in the table above. If the field in question does not exist,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
505 these commands create one. We provide special motion commands for these
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
506 particular fields because they are the fields users most often want to
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
507 edit.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
508
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
509 @findex mail-complete
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
510 @kindex M-TAB @r{(Mail mode)}
60113
f7a3d5a80994 (Header Editing): ESC TAB alternative for M-TAB.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59798
diff changeset
511 While editing a header field that contains mailing addresses, such
f7a3d5a80994 (Header Editing): ESC TAB alternative for M-TAB.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59798
diff changeset
512 as @samp{To:}, @samp{CC:} and @samp{BCC:}, you can complete a mailing
f7a3d5a80994 (Header Editing): ESC TAB alternative for M-TAB.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59798
diff changeset
513 address by typing @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} (@code{mail-complete}). It
f7a3d5a80994 (Header Editing): ESC TAB alternative for M-TAB.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59798
diff changeset
514 inserts the full name corresponding to the address, if it can
f7a3d5a80994 (Header Editing): ESC TAB alternative for M-TAB.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59798
diff changeset
515 determine the full name. The variable @code{mail-complete-style}
f7a3d5a80994 (Header Editing): ESC TAB alternative for M-TAB.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59798
diff changeset
516 controls whether to insert the full name, and what style to use, as in
f7a3d5a80994 (Header Editing): ESC TAB alternative for M-TAB.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59798
diff changeset
517 @code{mail-from-style} (@pxref{Mail Headers}). (If your window
60436
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 60113
diff changeset
518 manager defines @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} to switch windows, you can type
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 60113
diff changeset
519 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{TAB}} or @kbd{C-M-i}.)
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
520
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
521 For completion purposes, the valid mailing addresses are taken to be
37578
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 36263
diff changeset
522 the local users' names plus your personal mail aliases. You can
59798
0816b427495a Don't say just "option" when talking about variables.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 54476
diff changeset
523 specify additional sources of valid addresses; see the customization
0816b427495a Don't say just "option" when talking about variables.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 54476
diff changeset
524 group @samp{mailalias} to see the variables for customizing this
0816b427495a Don't say just "option" when talking about variables.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 54476
diff changeset
525 feature (@pxref{Customization Groups}).
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
526
37578
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 36263
diff changeset
527 If you type @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} in the body of the message,
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 36263
diff changeset
528 @code{mail-complete} invokes @code{ispell-complete-word}, as in Text
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 36263
diff changeset
529 mode.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
530
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
531 @node Citing Mail
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
532 @subsection Citing Mail
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
533 @cindex citing mail
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
534
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
535 Mail mode also has commands for yanking or @dfn{citing} all or part of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
536 a message that you are replying to. These commands are active only when
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
537 you started sending a message using an Rmail command.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
538
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
539 @table @kbd
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
540 @item C-c C-y
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
541 Yank the selected message from Rmail (@code{mail-yank-original}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
542 @item C-c C-r
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
543 Yank the region from the Rmail buffer (@code{mail-yank-region}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
544 @item C-c C-q
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
545 Fill each paragraph cited from another message
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
546 (@code{mail-fill-yanked-message}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
547 @end table
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
548
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
549 @kindex C-c C-y @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
550 @findex mail-yank-original
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
551 When mail sending is invoked from the Rmail mail reader using an Rmail
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
552 command, @kbd{C-c C-y} can be used inside the mail buffer to insert
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
553 the text of the message you are replying to. Normally it indents each line
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
554 of that message three spaces and eliminates most header fields. A numeric
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
555 argument specifies the number of spaces to indent. An argument of just
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
556 @kbd{C-u} says not to indent at all and not to eliminate anything.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
557 @kbd{C-c C-y} always uses the current message from the Rmail buffer,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
558 so you can insert several old messages by selecting one in Rmail,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
559 switching to @samp{*mail*} and yanking it, then switching back to
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
560 Rmail to select another.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
561
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
562 @vindex mail-yank-prefix
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
563 You can specify the text for @kbd{C-c C-y} to insert at the beginning
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
564 of each line: set @code{mail-yank-prefix} to the desired string. (A
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
565 value of @code{nil} means to use indentation; this is the default.)
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
566 However, @kbd{C-u C-c C-y} never adds anything at the beginning of the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
567 inserted lines, regardless of the value of @code{mail-yank-prefix}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
568
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
569 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
570 @findex mail-yank-region
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
571 To yank just a part of an incoming message, set the region in Rmail to
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
572 the part you want; then go to the @samp{*Mail*} message and type
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
573 @kbd{C-c C-r} (@code{mail-yank-region}). Each line that is copied is
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
574 indented or prefixed according to @code{mail-yank-prefix}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
575
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
576 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
577 @findex mail-fill-yanked-message
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
578 After using @kbd{C-c C-y} or @kbd{C-c C-r}, you can type @kbd{C-c C-q}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
579 (@code{mail-fill-yanked-message}) to fill the paragraphs of the yanked
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
580 old message or messages. One use of @kbd{C-c C-q} fills all such
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
581 paragraphs, each one individually. To fill a single paragraph of the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
582 quoted message, use @kbd{M-q}. If filling does not automatically
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
583 handle the type of citation prefix you use, try setting the fill prefix
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
584 explicitly. @xref{Filling}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
585
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
586 @node Mail Mode Misc
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
587 @subsection Mail Mode Miscellany
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
588
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
589 @table @kbd
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
590 @item C-c C-t
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
591 Move to the beginning of the message body text (@code{mail-text}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
592 @item C-c C-w
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
593 Insert the file @file{~/.signature} at the end of the message text
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
594 (@code{mail-signature}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
595 @item C-c C-i @var{file} @key{RET}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
596 Insert the contents of @var{file} at the end of the outgoing message
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
597 (@code{mail-attach-file}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
598 @item M-x ispell-message
38461
23f63206a867 Proofreading fixes from Chris Green <chris_e_green@yahoo.com>.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 37578
diff changeset
599 Perform spelling correction on the message text, but not on citations from
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
600 other messages.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
601 @end table
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
602
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
603 @kindex C-c C-t @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
604 @findex mail-text
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
605 @kbd{C-c C-t} (@code{mail-text}) moves point to just after the header
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
606 separator line---that is, to the beginning of the message body text.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
607
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
608 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Mail mode)}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
609 @findex mail-signature
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
610 @vindex mail-signature
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
611 @kbd{C-c C-w} (@code{mail-signature}) adds a standard piece of text at
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
612 the end of the message to say more about who you are. The text comes
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
613 from the file @file{~/.signature} in your home directory. To insert
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
614 your signature automatically, set the variable @code{mail-signature} to
38461
23f63206a867 Proofreading fixes from Chris Green <chris_e_green@yahoo.com>.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 37578
diff changeset
615 @code{t}; after that, starting a mail message automatically inserts the
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
616 contents of your @file{~/.signature} file. If you want to omit your
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
617 signature from a particular message, delete it from the buffer before
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
618 you send the message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
619
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
620 You can also set @code{mail-signature} to a string; then that string
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
621 is inserted automatically as your signature when you start editing a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
622 message to send. If you set it to some other Lisp expression, the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
623 expression is evaluated each time, and its value (which should be a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
624 string) specifies the signature.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
625
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
626 @findex ispell-message
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
627 You can do spelling correction on the message text you have written
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
628 with the command @kbd{M-x ispell-message}. If you have yanked an
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
629 incoming message into the outgoing draft, this command skips what was
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630 yanked, but it checks the text that you yourself inserted. (It looks
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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631 for indentation or @code{mail-yank-prefix} to distinguish the cited
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parents:
diff changeset
632 lines from your input.) @xref{Spelling}.
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633
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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634 @kindex C-c C-i @r{(Mail mode)}
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635 @findex mail-attach-file
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
636 To include a file in the outgoing message, you can use @kbd{C-x i},
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
637 the usual command to insert a file in the current buffer. But it is
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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638 often more convenient to use a special command, @kbd{C-c C-i}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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639 (@code{mail-attach-file}). This command inserts the file contents at
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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640 the end of the buffer, after your signature if any, with a delimiter
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9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 60113
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641 line that includes the file name. Note that this is not a MIME
9c630fb92215 (Sending Mail): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 60113
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642 attachment.
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643
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644 @vindex mail-mode-hook
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645 @vindex mail-setup-hook
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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646 Turning on Mail mode (which @kbd{C-x m} does automatically) runs the
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647 normal hooks @code{text-mode-hook} and @code{mail-mode-hook}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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648 Initializing a new outgoing message runs the normal hook
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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649 @code{mail-setup-hook}; if you want to add special fields to your mail
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650 header or make other changes to the appearance of the mail buffer, use
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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651 that hook. @xref{Hooks}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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652
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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653 The main difference between these hooks is just when they are
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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654 invoked. Whenever you type @kbd{M-x mail}, @code{mail-mode-hook} runs
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655 as soon as the @samp{*mail*} buffer is created. Then the
38461
23f63206a867 Proofreading fixes from Chris Green <chris_e_green@yahoo.com>.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 37578
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656 @code{mail-setup} function inserts the default contents of the buffer.
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Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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657 After these default contents are inserted, @code{mail-setup-hook} runs.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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658
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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659 @node Mail Amusements
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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660 @section Mail Amusements
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661
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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662 @findex spook
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663 @cindex NSA
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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664 @kbd{M-x spook} adds a line of randomly chosen keywords to an outgoing
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parents:
diff changeset
665 mail message. The keywords are chosen from a list of words that suggest
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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666 you are discussing something subversive.
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parents:
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667
30806
033b219f3c99 small fixes
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668 The idea behind this feature is the suspicion that the
033b219f3c99 small fixes
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
669 NSA@footnote{The US National Security Agency.} snoops on
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670 all electronic mail messages that contain keywords suggesting they might
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671 find them interesting. (The NSA says they don't, but that's what they
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672 @emph{would} say.) The idea is that if lots of people add suspicious
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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673 words to their messages, the NSA will get so busy with spurious input
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674 that they will have to give up reading it all.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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675
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676 Here's how to insert spook keywords automatically whenever you start
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
677 entering an outgoing message:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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678
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
679 @example
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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680 (add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'spook)
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681 @end example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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682
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683 Whether or not this confuses the NSA, it at least amuses people.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
684
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b6dec6562153 Add Fortune, Footnote.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 25829
diff changeset
685 @findex fortune-to-signature
b6dec6562153 Add Fortune, Footnote.
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parents: 25829
diff changeset
686 @cindex fortune cookies
36178
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
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parents: 34922
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687 You can use the @code{fortune} program to put a ``fortune cookie''
37578
2e1126d1c8b2 Explain use of multiple FCC fields.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 36263
diff changeset
688 message into outgoing mail. To do this, add
36178
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
689 @code{fortune-to-signature} to @code{mail-setup-hook}:
27209
b6dec6562153 Add Fortune, Footnote.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 25829
diff changeset
690
36178
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
691 @example
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parents: 34922
diff changeset
692 (add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'fortune-to-signature)
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
693 @end example
27209
b6dec6562153 Add Fortune, Footnote.
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parents: 25829
diff changeset
694
25829
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diff changeset
695 @node Mail Methods
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parents:
diff changeset
696 @section Mail-Composition Methods
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
697 @cindex mail-composition methods
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
698
30992
d694a3efafe1 (Mail Methods): xref MH, Message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30986
diff changeset
699 @cindex MH mail interface
d694a3efafe1 (Mail Methods): xref MH, Message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30986
diff changeset
700 @cindex Message mode for sending mail
36178
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
701 In this chapter we have described the usual Emacs mode for editing
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
702 and sending mail---Mail mode. Emacs has alternative facilities for
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
703 editing and sending mail, including
30992
d694a3efafe1 (Mail Methods): xref MH, Message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30986
diff changeset
704 MH-E and Message mode, not documented in this manual.
54476
a0a1889ba8bd (Mail Methods): Fix xref to Message manual.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 52979
diff changeset
705 @xref{Top,,MH-E,mh-e, The Emacs Interface to MH}. @xref{Top,,Message,message,
30992
d694a3efafe1 (Mail Methods): xref MH, Message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30986
diff changeset
706 Message Manual}. You can choose any of them as your preferred method.
d694a3efafe1 (Mail Methods): xref MH, Message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30986
diff changeset
707 The commands @code{C-x m}, @code{C-x 4 m} and @code{C-x 5 m} use
38461
23f63206a867 Proofreading fixes from Chris Green <chris_e_green@yahoo.com>.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 37578
diff changeset
708 whichever agent you have specified, as do various other Emacs commands
30992
d694a3efafe1 (Mail Methods): xref MH, Message.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30986
diff changeset
709 and facilities that send mail.
25829
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parents:
diff changeset
710
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
711 @vindex mail-user-agent
32313
31f35570f268 gnus-user-agent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30992
diff changeset
712 To specify your mail-composition method, customize the variable
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
713 @code{mail-user-agent}. Currently legitimate values include
36178
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
714 @code{sendmail-user-agent} (Mail mode), @code{mh-e-user-agent},
32313
31f35570f268 gnus-user-agent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 30992
diff changeset
715 @code{message-user-agent} and @code{gnus-user-agent}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
716
36178
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parents: 34922
diff changeset
717 If you select a different mail-composition method, the information
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
718 in this chapter about the @samp{*mail*} buffer and Mail mode does not
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
719 apply; the other methods use a different format of text in a different
1f5dd1c73a2a Delete Footnote mode info.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 34922
diff changeset
720 buffer, and their commands are different as well.
52401
695cf19ef79e Add arch taglines
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 50475
diff changeset
721
695cf19ef79e Add arch taglines
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 50475
diff changeset
722 @ignore
695cf19ef79e Add arch taglines
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 50475
diff changeset
723 arch-tag: d8a3dfc3-5d87-45c5-a7f2-69871b8e4fd6
695cf19ef79e Add arch taglines
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 50475
diff changeset
724 @end ignore