mailx

mailx is a Unix utility program for sending and receiving mail, also known as a Mail User Agent program. A console application with a command syntax similar to ed, it is an improved version of the original mail utility.

Usage

A simplified syntax with some commonly used options might include:

 mailx [-s subject] [-c cc-addr] to-addr . . .
   -s   subject of email (could be inserted later)
   -c   send carbon copies to a user or users

The end of message is indicated by a single '.' or by hitting ctrl+d.

By default, users compose messages in mailx line by line, without the use of a text editor. The user may issue a command to mailx by entering a line that begins with a tilde (~). The ~v command causes mailx to invoke a text editor (defined by the VISUAL environment variable) on the message in progress, saved in a temporary file.

Example usage:

  $ mailx -s "From mailx" abc@cde.com
  type the body
  ...
  EOT (Ctrl+d)
  $

See also

• Heirloom Project
• mail (Unix)

External links

• History of mail and mailx from the Heirloom Project
• mailx Tutorial from the engineering Dpt. at Purdue University