# HG changeset patch # User Glenn Morris # Date 1189053618 0 # Node ID 40b5b59581cc7d3a1ab20835b537b4a90c1b3dec # Parent 0560c07ceabf5f35d84caf705e68b0996647d1d4 Move to ../doc/emacs/, misc/ diff -r 0560c07ceabf -r 40b5b59581cc man/sending.texi --- a/man/sending.texi Thu Sep 06 04:40:11 2007 +0000 +++ /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 @@ -1,724 +0,0 @@ -@c This is part of the Emacs manual. -@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, -@c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. -@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. -@node Sending Mail -@chapter Sending Mail -@cindex sending mail -@cindex mail -@cindex message - - To send a message in Emacs, you start by typing a command (@kbd{C-x m}) -to select and initialize the @samp{*mail*} buffer. Then you edit the text -and headers of the message in this buffer, and type another command -(@kbd{C-c C-s} or @kbd{C-c C-c}) to send the message. - -@table @kbd -@item C-x m -Begin composing a message to send (@code{compose-mail}). -@item C-x 4 m -Likewise, but display the message in another window -(@code{compose-mail-other-window}). -@item C-x 5 m -Likewise, but make a new frame (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}). -@item C-c C-s -In Mail mode, send the message (@code{mail-send}). -@item C-c C-c -Send the message and bury the mail buffer (@code{mail-send-and-exit}). -@end table - -@kindex C-x m -@findex compose-mail -@kindex C-x 4 m -@findex compose-mail-other-window -@kindex C-x 5 m -@findex compose-mail-other-frame - The command @kbd{C-x m} (@code{compose-mail}) selects a buffer named -@samp{*mail*} and initializes it with the skeleton of an outgoing -message. @kbd{C-x 4 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-window}) selects the -@samp{*mail*} buffer in a different window, leaving the previous current -buffer visible. @kbd{C-x 5 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}) creates -a new frame to select the @samp{*mail*} buffer. - - Because the mail-composition buffer is an ordinary Emacs buffer, you can -switch to other buffers while in the middle of composing mail, and switch -back later (or never). If you use the @kbd{C-x m} command again when you -have been composing another message but have not sent it, you are asked to -confirm before the old message is erased. If you answer @kbd{n}, the -@samp{*mail*} buffer remains selected with its old contents, so you can -finish the old message and send it. @kbd{C-u C-x m} is another way to do -this. Sending the message marks the @samp{*mail*} buffer ``unmodified,'' -which avoids the need for confirmation when @kbd{C-x m} is next used. - - If you are composing a message in the @samp{*mail*} buffer and want to -send another message before finishing the first, rename the -@samp{*mail*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} (@pxref{Misc -Buffer}). Then you can use @kbd{C-x m} or its variants described above -to make a new @samp{*mail*} buffer. Once you've done that, you can work -with each mail buffer independently. - -@vindex mail-default-directory - The variable @code{mail-default-directory} controls the default -directory for mail buffers, and also says where to put their auto-save -files. - -@ignore -@c Commented out because it is not user-oriented; -@c it doesn't say how to do some job. -- rms. -@cindex directory servers -@cindex LDAP -@cindex PH/QI -@cindex names and addresses -There is an interface to directory servers using various protocols such -as LDAP or the CCSO white pages directory system (PH/QI), described in a -separate manual. It may be useful for looking up names and addresses. -@xref{Top,,EUDC, eudc, EUDC Manual}. -@end ignore - -@menu -* Format: Mail Format. Format of the mail being composed. -* Headers: Mail Headers. Details of permitted mail header fields. -* Aliases: Mail Aliases. Abbreviating and grouping mail addresses. -* Mode: Mail Mode. Special commands for editing mail being composed. -* Amuse: Mail Amusements. Distracting the NSA; adding fortune messages. -* Methods: Mail Methods. Using alternative mail-composition methods. -@end menu - -@node Mail Format -@section The Format of the Mail Buffer - - In addition to the @dfn{text} or @dfn{body}, a message has @dfn{header -fields} which say who sent it, when, to whom, why, and so on. Some -header fields, such as @samp{Date} and @samp{Sender}, are created -automatically when you send the message. Others, such as the recipient -names, must be specified by you in order to send the message properly. - - In the mail buffer, you can insert and edit header fields using -ordinary editing commands. Mail mode provides a commands to help you -edit some header fields, and some are preinitialized in the buffer -automatically when appropriate. - - The line in the buffer that says - -@example ---text follows this line-- -@end example - -@noindent -is a special delimiter that separates the headers you have specified from -the text. Whatever follows this line is the text of the message; the -headers precede it. The delimiter line itself does not appear in the -message actually sent. The text used for the delimiter line is controlled -by the variable @code{mail-header-separator}. - - Here is an example of what the headers and text in the mail buffer -might look like. - -@example -To: gnu@@gnu.org -CC: lungfish@@spam.org, byob@@spam.org -Subject: The Emacs Manual ---Text follows this line-- -Please ignore this message. -@end example - -@node Mail Headers -@section Mail Header Fields -@cindex headers (of mail message) - - A header field in the mail buffer starts with a field name at the -beginning of a line, terminated by a colon. Upper and lower case are -equivalent in field names (and in mailing addresses also). After the -colon and optional whitespace comes the contents of the field. - - You can use any name you like for a header field, but normally people -use only standard field names with accepted meanings. Here is a table -of fields commonly used in outgoing messages. - -@table @samp -@item To -This field contains the mailing addresses to which the message is -addressed. If you list more than one address, use commas, not spaces, -to separate them. - -@item Subject -The contents of the @samp{Subject} field should be a piece of text -that says what the message is about. The reason @samp{Subject} fields -are useful is that most mail-reading programs can provide a summary of -messages, listing the subject of each message but not its text. - -@item CC -This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to, -like @samp{To} except that these readers should not regard the message -as directed at them. - -@item BCC -This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to, -which should not appear in the header of the message actually sent. -Copies sent this way are called @dfn{blind carbon copies}. - -@vindex mail-self-blind -@cindex copy of every outgoing message -To send a blind carbon copy of every outgoing message to yourself, set -the variable @code{mail-self-blind} to @code{t}. To send a blind carbon -copy of every message to some other @var{address}, set the variable -@code{mail-default-headers} to @code{"Bcc: @var{address}\n"}. - -@item FCC -This field contains the name of one file and directs Emacs to append a -copy of the message to that file when you send the message. If the file -is in Rmail format, Emacs writes the message in Rmail format; otherwise, -Emacs writes the message in system mail file format. To specify -more than one file, use several @samp{FCC} fields, with one file -name in each field. - -@vindex mail-archive-file-name -To put a fixed file name in the @samp{FCC} field each time you start -editing an outgoing message, set the variable -@code{mail-archive-file-name} to that file name. Unless you remove the -@samp{FCC} field before sending, the message will be written into that -file when it is sent. - -@item From -Use the @samp{From} field to say who you are, when the account you are -using to send the mail is not your own. The contents of the @samp{From} -field should be a valid mailing address, since replies will normally go -there. If you don't specify the @samp{From} field yourself, Emacs uses -the value of @code{user-mail-address} as the default. - -@item Reply-to -Use this field to direct replies to a different address. Most -mail-reading programs (including Rmail) automatically send replies to -the @samp{Reply-to} address in preference to the @samp{From} address. -By adding a @samp{Reply-to} field to your header, you can work around -any problems your @samp{From} address may cause for replies. - -@cindex @env{REPLYTO} environment variable -@vindex mail-default-reply-to -To put a fixed @samp{Reply-to} address into every outgoing message, set -the variable @code{mail-default-reply-to} to that address (as a string). -Then @code{mail} initializes the message with a @samp{Reply-to} field as -specified. You can delete or alter that header field before you send -the message, if you wish. When Emacs starts up, if the environment -variable @env{REPLYTO} is set, @code{mail-default-reply-to} is -initialized from that environment variable. - -@item In-reply-to -This field contains a piece of text describing the message you are -replying to. Some mail systems can use this information to correlate -related pieces of mail. Normally this field is filled in by Rmail -when you reply to a message in Rmail, and you never need to -think about it (@pxref{Rmail}). - -@item References -This field lists the message IDs of related previous messages. Rmail -sets up this field automatically when you reply to a message. -@end table - - The @samp{To}, @samp{CC}, and @samp{BCC} header fields can appear -any number of times, and each such header field can contain multiple -addresses, separated by commas. This way, you can specify any number -of places to send the message. These fields can also have -continuation lines: one or more lines starting with whitespace, -following the starting line of the field, are considered part of the -field. Here's an example of a @samp{To} field with a continuation -line: - -@example -@group -To: foo@@here.net, this@@there.net, - me@@gnu.cambridge.mass.usa.earth.spiral3281 -@end group -@end example - -@vindex mail-from-style - When you send the message, if you didn't write a @samp{From} field -yourself, Emacs puts in one for you. The variable -@code{mail-from-style} controls the format: - -@table @code -@item nil -Use just the email address, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com}. -@item parens -Use both email address and full name, as in:@* -@samp{king@@grassland.com (Elvis Parsley)}. -@item angles -Use both email address and full name, as in:@* -@samp{Elvis Parsley }. -@item system-default -Allow the system to insert the @samp{From} field. -@end table - -@vindex mail-default-headers - You can direct Emacs to insert certain default headers into the -outgoing message by setting the variable @code{mail-default-headers} -to a string. Then @code{C-x m} inserts this string into the message -headers. If the default header fields are not appropriate for a -particular message, edit them as appropriate before sending the -message. - -@node Mail Aliases -@section Mail Aliases -@cindex mail aliases -@cindex @file{.mailrc} file -@cindex mailrc file - - You can define @dfn{mail aliases} in a file named @file{~/.mailrc}. -These are short mnemonic names which stand for mail addresses or groups of -mail addresses. Like many other mail programs, Emacs expands aliases -when they occur in the @samp{To}, @samp{From}, @samp{CC}, @samp{BCC}, and -@samp{Reply-to} fields, plus their @samp{Resent-} variants. - - To define an alias in @file{~/.mailrc}, write a line in the following -format: - -@example -alias @var{shortaddress} @var{fulladdresses} -@end example - -@noindent -Here @var{fulladdresses} stands for one or more mail addresses for -@var{shortaddress} to expand into. Separate multiple addresses with -spaces; if an address contains a space, quote the whole address with a -pair of double-quotes. - -For instance, to make @code{maingnu} stand for -@code{gnu@@gnu.org} plus a local address of your own, put in -this line:@refill - -@example -alias maingnu gnu@@gnu.org local-gnu -@end example - -@noindent -Addresses specified in this way should use doublequotes around an -entire address when the address contains spaces. But you need not -include doublequotes around parts of the address, such as the person's -full name. Emacs puts them in if they are needed. For example, - -@example -alias chief-torturer "George W. Bush " -@end example - -@noindent -is correct in @samp{.mailrc}. Emacs will insert the address as -@samp{"George W. Bush" }. - - Emacs also recognizes ``include'' commands in @samp{.mailrc} files. -They look like this: - -@example -source @var{filename} -@end example - -@noindent -The file @file{~/.mailrc} is used primarily by other mail-reading -programs; it can contain various other commands. Emacs ignores -everything in it except for alias definitions and include commands. - -@findex define-mail-alias - Another way to define a mail alias, within Emacs alone, is with the -@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 -(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'mail-abbrevs-setup) -@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 -(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook - (lambda () - (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))) -@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 -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. - -@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. Also, you -don't get a warning if you try to send the same message twice. - -@c This is indexed in mule.texi, node "Recognize Coding". -@c @vindex sendmail-coding-system - When you send a message that contains non-@acronym{ASCII} characters, they need -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 -@code{sendmail-coding-system} (@pxref{Recognize Coding}). - - 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. - -@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 -(@pxref{Top,,Emacs SMTP Library, smtpmail, Sending mail via SMTP}). A -third option is @code{feedmail-send-it}, see the commentary section of -the @file{feedmail.el} package for more information. - -@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)} - 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 -manager defines @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} to switch windows, you can type -@kbd{@key{ESC} @key{TAB}} or @kbd{C-M-i}.) - - For completion purposes, the valid mailing addresses are taken to be -the local users' names plus your personal mail aliases. You can -specify additional sources of valid addresses; see the customization -group @samp{mailalias} to see the variables for customizing this -feature (@pxref{Customization Groups}). - - 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. - -@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 -Perform spelling correction on the message text, but not on citations from -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 -@code{t}; after that, starting a mail message automatically inserts the -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 -with the command @kbd{M-x ispell-message}. If you have yanked an -incoming message into the outgoing draft, this command skips what was -yanked, but it checks the text that you yourself inserted. (It looks -for indentation or @code{mail-yank-prefix} to distinguish the cited -lines from your input.) @xref{Spelling}. - -@kindex C-c C-i @r{(Mail mode)} -@findex mail-attach-file - To include a file in the outgoing message, you can use @kbd{C-x i}, -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} -(@code{mail-attach-file}). This command inserts the file contents at -the end of the buffer, after your signature if any, with a delimiter -line that includes the file name. Note that this is not a MIME -attachment. - -@vindex mail-mode-hook -@vindex mail-setup-hook - Turning on Mail mode (which @kbd{C-x m} does automatically) runs the -normal hooks @code{text-mode-hook} and @code{mail-mode-hook}. -Initializing a new outgoing message runs the normal hook -@code{mail-setup-hook}; if you want to add special fields to your mail -header or make other changes to the appearance of the mail buffer, use -that hook. @xref{Hooks}. - - The main difference between these hooks is just when they are -invoked. Whenever you type @kbd{M-x mail}, @code{mail-mode-hook} runs -as soon as the @samp{*mail*} buffer is created. Then the -@code{mail-setup} function inserts the default contents of the buffer. -After these default contents are inserted, @code{mail-setup-hook} runs. - -@node Mail Amusements -@section Mail Amusements - -@findex spook -@cindex NSA - @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. - - The idea behind this feature is the suspicion that the -NSA@footnote{The US National Security Agency.} snoops on -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 -(add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'spook) -@end example - - Whether or not this confuses the NSA, it at least amuses people. - -@findex fortune-to-signature -@cindex fortune cookies - You can use the @code{fortune} program to put a ``fortune cookie'' -message into outgoing mail. To do this, add -@code{fortune-to-signature} to @code{mail-setup-hook}: - -@example -(add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'fortune-to-signature) -@end example - -@node Mail Methods -@section Mail-Composition Methods -@cindex mail-composition methods - -@cindex MH mail interface -@cindex Message mode for sending mail - 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 -MH-E and Message mode, not documented in this manual. -@xref{Top,,MH-E,mh-e, The Emacs Interface to MH}. @xref{Top,,Message,message, -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 -whichever agent you have specified, as do various other Emacs commands -and facilities that send mail. - -@vindex mail-user-agent - To specify your mail-composition method, customize the variable -@code{mail-user-agent}. Currently legitimate values include -@code{sendmail-user-agent} (Mail mode), @code{mh-e-user-agent}, -@code{message-user-agent} and @code{gnus-user-agent}. - - 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. - -@ignore - arch-tag: d8a3dfc3-5d87-45c5-a7f2-69871b8e4fd6 -@end ignore