1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985,86,87,93,94,95,1997,2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
4 @node Rmail, Dired, Sending Mail, Top
5 @chapter Reading Mail with Rmail
10 @vindex rmail-mode-hook
12 Rmail is an Emacs subsystem for reading and disposing of mail that you
13 receive. Rmail stores mail messages in files called Rmail files.
14 Reading the message in an Rmail file is done in a special major mode,
15 Rmail mode, which redefines most letters to run commands for managing
16 mail. The command @code{rmail-mode} is used to switch into Rmail mode,
17 and it runs the hook @code{rmail-mode-hook} as usual, but don't run this
18 command by hand; it can't do a reasonable job unless the buffer is
19 visiting a proper Rmail file.
22 * Basic: Rmail Basics. Basic concepts of Rmail, and simple use.
23 * Scroll: Rmail Scrolling. Scrolling through a message.
24 * Motion: Rmail Motion. Moving to another message.
25 * Deletion: Rmail Deletion. Deleting and expunging messages.
26 * Inbox: Rmail Inbox. How mail gets into the Rmail file.
27 * Files: Rmail Files. Using multiple Rmail files.
28 * Output: Rmail Output. Copying message out to files.
29 * Labels: Rmail Labels. Classifying messages by labeling them.
30 * Attrs: Rmail Attributes. Certain standard labels, called attributes.
31 * Reply: Rmail Reply. Sending replies to messages you are viewing.
32 * Summary: Rmail Summary. Summaries show brief info on many messages.
33 * Sort: Rmail Sorting. Sorting messages in Rmail.
34 * Display: Rmail Display. How Rmail displays a message; customization.
35 * Coding: Rmail Coding. How Rmail handles decoding character sets.
36 * Editing: Rmail Editing. Editing message text and headers in Rmail.
37 * Digest: Rmail Digest. Extracting the messages from a digest message.
38 * Out of Rmail:: Converting an Rmail file to mailbox format.
39 * Rot13: Rmail Rot13. Reading messages encoded in the rot13 code.
40 * Movemail: Movemail. More details of fetching new mail.
44 @section Basic Concepts of Rmail
46 @cindex primary Rmail file
47 @vindex rmail-file-name
48 Using Rmail in the simplest fashion, you have one Rmail file
49 @file{~/RMAIL} in which all of your mail is saved. It is called your
50 @dfn{primary Rmail file}. The command @kbd{M-x rmail} reads your primary
51 Rmail file, merges new mail in from your inboxes, displays the first
52 message you haven't read yet, and lets you begin reading. The variable
53 @code{rmail-file-name} specifies the name of the primary Rmail file.
55 Rmail uses narrowing to hide all but one message in the Rmail file.
56 The message that is shown is called the @dfn{current message}. Rmail
57 mode's special commands can do such things as delete the current
58 message, copy it into another file, send a reply, or move to another
59 message. You can also create multiple Rmail files and use Rmail to move
60 messages between them.
62 @cindex message number
63 Within the Rmail file, messages are normally arranged sequentially in
64 order of receipt; you can specify other ways to sort them. Messages are
65 assigned consecutive integers as their @dfn{message numbers}. The
66 number of the current message is displayed in Rmail's mode line,
67 followed by the total number of messages in the file. You can move to a
68 message by specifying its message number with the @kbd{j} key
69 (@pxref{Rmail Motion}).
72 @findex rmail-expunge-and-save
73 Following the usual conventions of Emacs, changes in an Rmail file
74 become permanent only when the file is saved. You can save it with
75 @kbd{s} (@code{rmail-expunge-and-save}), which also expunges deleted
76 messages from the file first (@pxref{Rmail Deletion}). To save the
77 file without expunging, use @kbd{C-x C-s}. Rmail also saves the Rmail
78 file after merging new mail from an inbox file (@pxref{Rmail Inbox}).
84 You can exit Rmail with @kbd{q} (@code{rmail-quit}); this expunges and
85 saves the Rmail file and then switches to another buffer. But there is
86 no need to ``exit'' formally. If you switch from Rmail to editing in
87 other buffers, and never happen to switch back, you have exited. (The
88 Rmail command @kbd{b}, @code{rmail-bury}, does this for you.) Just make
89 sure to save the Rmail file eventually (like any other file you have
90 changed). @kbd{C-x s} is a good enough way to do this
94 @section Scrolling Within a Message
96 When Rmail displays a message that does not fit on the screen, you
97 must scroll through it to read the rest. You could do this with
98 @kbd{C-v}, @kbd{M-v} and @kbd{M-<}, but in Rmail scrolling is so
99 frequent that it deserves to be easier to type.
103 Scroll forward (@code{scroll-up}).
105 Scroll backward (@code{scroll-down}).
107 Scroll to start of message (@code{rmail-beginning-of-message}).
110 @kindex SPC @r{(Rmail)}
111 @kindex DEL @r{(Rmail)}
112 Since the most common thing to do while reading a message is to scroll
113 through it by screenfuls, Rmail makes @key{SPC} and @key{DEL} synonyms of
114 @kbd{C-v} (@code{scroll-up}) and @kbd{M-v} (@code{scroll-down})
116 @kindex . @r{(Rmail)}
117 @findex rmail-beginning-of-message
118 The command @kbd{.} (@code{rmail-beginning-of-message}) scrolls back to the
119 beginning of the selected message. This is not quite the same as @kbd{M-<}:
120 for one thing, it does not set the mark; for another, it resets the buffer
121 boundaries to the current message if you have changed them.
124 @section Moving Among Messages
126 The most basic thing to do with a message is to read it. The way to
127 do this in Rmail is to make the message current. The usual practice is
128 to move sequentially through the file, since this is the order of
129 receipt of messages. When you enter Rmail, you are positioned at the
130 first message that you have not yet made current (that is, the first one
131 that has the @samp{unseen} attribute; @pxref{Rmail Attributes}). Move
132 forward to see the other new messages; move backward to re-examine old
137 Move to the next nondeleted message, skipping any intervening deleted
138 messages (@code{rmail-next-undeleted-message}).
140 Move to the previous nondeleted message
141 (@code{rmail-previous-undeleted-message}).
143 Move to the next message, including deleted messages
144 (@code{rmail-next-message}).
146 Move to the previous message, including deleted messages
147 (@code{rmail-previous-message}).
149 Move to the first message. With argument @var{n}, move to
150 message number @var{n} (@code{rmail-show-message}).
152 Move to the last message (@code{rmail-last-message}).
154 Move to the first message (@code{rmail-first-message}).
156 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
157 Move to the next message containing a match for @var{regexp}
158 (@code{rmail-search}).
160 @item - M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
161 Move to the previous message containing a match for @var{regexp}.
164 @kindex n @r{(Rmail)}
165 @kindex p @r{(Rmail)}
166 @kindex M-n @r{(Rmail)}
167 @kindex M-p @r{(Rmail)}
168 @findex rmail-next-undeleted-message
169 @findex rmail-previous-undeleted-message
170 @findex rmail-next-message
171 @findex rmail-previous-message
172 @kbd{n} and @kbd{p} are the usual way of moving among messages in
173 Rmail. They move through the messages sequentially, but skip over
174 deleted messages, which is usually what you want to do. Their command
175 definitions are named @code{rmail-next-undeleted-message} and
176 @code{rmail-previous-undeleted-message}. If you do not want to skip
177 deleted messages---for example, if you want to move to a message to
178 undelete it---use the variants @kbd{M-n} and @kbd{M-p}
179 (@code{rmail-next-message} and @code{rmail-previous-message}). A
180 numeric argument to any of these commands serves as a repeat
183 In Rmail, you can specify a numeric argument by typing just the
184 digits. You don't need to type @kbd{C-u} first.
186 @kindex M-s @r{(Rmail)}
188 @cindex searching in Rmail
189 The @kbd{M-s} (@code{rmail-search}) command is Rmail's version of
190 search. The usual incremental search command @kbd{C-s} works in Rmail,
191 but it searches only within the current message. The purpose of
192 @kbd{M-s} is to search for another message. It reads a regular
193 expression (@pxref{Regexps}) nonincrementally, then searches starting at
194 the beginning of the following message for a match. It then selects
195 that message. If @var{regexp} is empty, @kbd{M-s} reuses the regexp
196 used the previous time.
198 To search backward in the file for another message, give @kbd{M-s} a
199 negative argument. In Rmail you can do this with @kbd{- M-s}.
201 It is also possible to search for a message based on labels.
204 @kindex j @r{(Rmail)}
205 @kindex > @r{(Rmail)}
206 @kindex < @r{(Rmail)}
207 @findex rmail-show-message
208 @findex rmail-last-message
209 @findex rmail-first-message
210 To move to a message specified by absolute message number, use @kbd{j}
211 (@code{rmail-show-message}) with the message number as argument. With
212 no argument, @kbd{j} selects the first message. @kbd{<}
213 (@code{rmail-first-message}) also selects the first message. @kbd{>}
214 (@code{rmail-last-message}) selects the last message.
217 @section Deleting Messages
219 @cindex deletion (Rmail)
220 When you no longer need to keep a message, you can @dfn{delete} it. This
221 flags it as ignorable, and some Rmail commands pretend it is no longer
222 present; but it still has its place in the Rmail file, and still has its
225 @cindex expunging (Rmail)
226 @dfn{Expunging} the Rmail file actually removes the deleted messages.
227 The remaining messages are renumbered consecutively. Expunging is the only
228 action that changes the message number of any message, except for
229 undigestifying (@pxref{Rmail Digest}).
233 Delete the current message, and move to the next nondeleted message
234 (@code{rmail-delete-forward}).
236 Delete the current message, and move to the previous nondeleted
237 message (@code{rmail-delete-backward}).
239 Undelete the current message, or move back to a deleted message and
240 undelete it (@code{rmail-undelete-previous-message}).
242 Expunge the Rmail file (@code{rmail-expunge}).
245 @kindex d @r{(Rmail)}
246 @kindex C-d @r{(Rmail)}
247 @findex rmail-delete-forward
248 @findex rmail-delete-backward
249 There are two Rmail commands for deleting messages. Both delete the
250 current message and select another message. @kbd{d}
251 (@code{rmail-delete-forward}) moves to the following message, skipping
252 messages already deleted, while @kbd{C-d} (@code{rmail-delete-backward})
253 moves to the previous nondeleted message. If there is no nondeleted
254 message to move to in the specified direction, the message that was just
255 deleted remains current. A numeric argument to either command reverses
256 the direction of motion after deletion.
258 @vindex rmail-delete-message-hook
259 Whenever Rmail deletes a message, it runs the hook
260 @code{rmail-delete-message-hook}. When the hook functions are invoked,
261 the message has been marked deleted, but it is still the current message
264 @cindex undeletion (Rmail)
265 @kindex x @r{(Rmail)}
266 @findex rmail-expunge
267 @kindex u @r{(Rmail)}
268 @findex rmail-undelete-previous-message
269 To make all the deleted messages finally vanish from the Rmail file,
270 type @kbd{x} (@code{rmail-expunge}). Until you do this, you can still
271 @dfn{undelete} the deleted messages. The undeletion command, @kbd{u}
272 (@code{rmail-undelete-previous-message}), is designed to cancel the
273 effect of a @kbd{d} command in most cases. It undeletes the current
274 message if the current message is deleted. Otherwise it moves backward
275 to previous messages until a deleted message is found, and undeletes
278 You can usually undo a @kbd{d} with a @kbd{u} because the @kbd{u}
279 moves back to and undeletes the message that the @kbd{d} deleted. But
280 this does not work when the @kbd{d} skips a few already-deleted messages
281 that follow the message being deleted; then the @kbd{u} command
282 undeletes the last of the messages that were skipped. There is no clean
283 way to avoid this problem. However, by repeating the @kbd{u} command,
284 you can eventually get back to the message that you intend to
285 undelete. You can also select a particular deleted message with
286 the @kbd{M-p} command, then type @kbd{u} to undelete it.
288 A deleted message has the @samp{deleted} attribute, and as a result
289 @samp{deleted} appears in the mode line when the current message is
290 deleted. In fact, deleting or undeleting a message is nothing more than
291 adding or removing this attribute. @xref{Rmail Attributes}.
294 @section Rmail Files and Inboxes
297 The operating system places incoming mail for you in a file that we
298 call your @dfn{inbox}. When you start up Rmail, it runs a C program
299 called @code{movemail} to copy the new messages from your inbox into
300 your primary Rmail file, which also contains other messages saved from
301 previous Rmail sessions. It is in this file that you actually read the
302 mail with Rmail. This operation is called @dfn{getting new mail}. You
303 can get new mail at any time in Rmail by typing @kbd{g}.
305 @vindex rmail-primary-inbox-list
306 @cindex @env{MAIL} environment variable
307 The variable @code{rmail-primary-inbox-list} contains a list of the
308 files which are inboxes for your primary Rmail file. If you don't set
309 this variable explicitly, it is initialized from the @env{MAIL}
310 environment variable, or, as a last resort, set to @code{nil}, which
311 means to use the default inbox. The default inbox is
312 @file{/var/mail/@var{username}}, @file{/usr/spool/mail/@var{username}},
313 or @file{/usr/mail/@var{username}}, depending on your operating system.
315 To see what the default is on your system, use @kbd{C-h v
316 rmail-primary-inbox @key{RET}}. You can specify the inbox file(s) for
317 any Rmail file with the command @code{set-rmail-inbox-list}; see
320 There are two reasons for having separate Rmail files and inboxes.
324 The inbox file format varies between operating systems and according to
325 the other mail software in use. Only one part of Rmail needs to know
326 about the alternatives, and it need only understand how to convert all
327 of them to Rmail's own format.
330 It is very cumbersome to access an inbox file without danger of losing
331 mail, because it is necessary to interlock with mail delivery.
332 Moreover, different operating systems use different interlocking
333 techniques. The strategy of moving mail out of the inbox once and for
334 all into a separate Rmail file avoids the need for interlocking in all
335 the rest of Rmail, since only Rmail operates on the Rmail file.
338 Rmail was written to use Babyl format as its internal format. Since
339 then, we have recognized that the usual inbox format on Unix and GNU
340 systems is adequate for the job, and we plan to change Rmail to use that
341 as its internal format. However, the Rmail file will still be separate
342 from the inbox file, even on systems where their format is the same.
345 @section Multiple Rmail Files
347 Rmail operates by default on your @dfn{primary Rmail file}, which is named
348 @file{~/RMAIL} and receives your incoming mail from your system inbox file.
349 But you can also have other Rmail files and edit them with Rmail. These
350 files can receive mail through their own inboxes, or you can move messages
351 into them with explicit Rmail commands (@pxref{Rmail Output}).
354 @item i @var{file} @key{RET}
355 Read @var{file} into Emacs and run Rmail on it (@code{rmail-input}).
357 @item M-x set-rmail-inbox-list @key{RET} @var{files} @key{RET}
358 Specify inbox file names for current Rmail file to get mail from.
361 Merge new mail from current Rmail file's inboxes
362 (@code{rmail-get-new-mail}).
364 @item C-u g @var{file} @key{RET}
365 Merge new mail from inbox file @var{file}.
368 @kindex i @r{(Rmail)}
370 To run Rmail on a file other than your primary Rmail file, you may use
371 the @kbd{i} (@code{rmail-input}) command in Rmail. This visits the file
372 in Rmail mode. You can use @kbd{M-x rmail-input} even when not in
375 The file you read with @kbd{i} should normally be a valid Rmail file.
376 If it is not, Rmail tries to decompose it into a stream of messages in
377 various known formats. If it succeeds, it converts the whole file to an
378 Rmail file. If you specify a file name that doesn't exist, @kbd{i}
379 initializes a new buffer for creating a new Rmail file.
381 @vindex rmail-secondary-file-directory
382 @vindex rmail-secondary-file-regexp
383 You can also select an Rmail file from a menu. Choose first the menu
384 bar Classify item, then from the Classify menu choose the Input Rmail
385 File item; then choose the Rmail file you want. The variables
386 @code{rmail-secondary-file-directory} and
387 @code{rmail-secondary-file-regexp} specify which files to offer in the
388 menu: the first variable says which directory to find them in; the
389 second says which files in that directory to offer (all those that match
390 the regular expression). These variables also apply to choosing a file
391 for output (@pxref{Rmail Output}).
393 @findex set-rmail-inbox-list
394 Each Rmail file can contain a list of inbox file names; you can specify
395 this list with @kbd{M-x set-rmail-inbox-list @key{RET} @var{files}
396 @key{RET}}. The argument can contain any number of file names, separated
397 by commas. It can also be empty, which specifies that this file should
398 have no inboxes. Once a list of inboxes is specified, the Rmail file
399 remembers it permanently until you specify a different list.
401 As a special exception, if your primary Rmail file does not specify any
402 inbox files, it uses your standard system inbox.
404 @kindex g @r{(Rmail)}
405 @findex rmail-get-new-mail
406 The @kbd{g} command (@code{rmail-get-new-mail}) merges mail into the
407 current Rmail file from its specified inboxes. If the Rmail file
408 has no inboxes, @kbd{g} does nothing. The command @kbd{M-x rmail}
409 also merges new mail into your primary Rmail file.
411 To merge mail from a file that is not the usual inbox, give the
412 @kbd{g} key a numeric argument, as in @kbd{C-u g}. Then it reads a file
413 name and merges mail from that file. The inbox file is not deleted or
414 changed in any way when @kbd{g} with an argument is used. This is,
415 therefore, a general way of merging one file of messages into another.
418 @section Copying Messages Out to Files
420 These commands copy messages from an Rmail file into another file.
423 @item o @var{file} @key{RET}
424 Append a copy of the current message to the file @var{file}, using Rmail
425 file format by default (@code{rmail-output-to-rmail-file}).
427 @item C-o @var{file} @key{RET}
428 Append a copy of the current message to the file @var{file}, using
429 system inbox file format by default (@code{rmail-output}).
431 @item w @var{file} @key{RET}
432 Output just the message body to the file @var{file}, taking the default
433 file name from the message @samp{Subject} header.
436 @kindex o @r{(Rmail)}
437 @findex rmail-output-to-rmail-file
438 @kindex C-o @r{(Rmail)}
440 The commands @kbd{o} and @kbd{C-o} copy the current message into a
441 specified file. This file may be an Rmail file or it may be in system
442 inbox format; the output commands ascertain the file's format and write
443 the copied message in that format.
445 The @kbd{o} and @kbd{C-o} commands differ in two ways: each has its
446 own separate default file name, and each specifies a choice of format to
447 use when the file does not already exist. The @kbd{o} command uses
448 Rmail format when it creates a new file, while @kbd{C-o} uses system
449 inbox format for a new file. The default file name for @kbd{o} is the
450 file name used last with @kbd{o}, and the default file name for
451 @kbd{C-o} is the file name used last with @kbd{C-o}.
453 If the output file is an Rmail file currently visited in an Emacs buffer,
454 the output commands copy the message into that buffer. It is up to you
455 to save the buffer eventually in its file.
457 @kindex w @r{(Rmail)}
458 @findex rmail-output-body-to-file
459 Sometimes you may receive a message whose body holds the contents of a
460 file. You can save the body to a file (excluding the message header)
461 with the @kbd{w} command (@code{rmail-output-body-to-file}). Often
462 these messages contain the intended file name in the @samp{Subject}
463 field, so the @kbd{w} command uses the @samp{Subject} field as the
464 default for the output file name. However, the file name is read using
465 the minibuffer, so you can specify a different name if you wish.
467 You can also output a message to an Rmail file chosen with a menu.
468 Choose first the menu bar Classify item, then from the Classify menu
469 choose the Output Rmail File menu item; then choose the Rmail file you want.
470 This outputs the current message to that file, like the @kbd{o} command.
471 The variables @code{rmail-secondary-file-directory} and
472 @code{rmail-secondary-file-regexp} specify which files to offer in the
473 menu: the first variable says which directory to find them in; the
474 second says which files in that directory to offer (all those that match
475 the regular expression).
477 @vindex rmail-delete-after-output
478 Copying a message gives the original copy of the message the
479 @samp{filed} attribute, so that @samp{filed} appears in the mode line
480 when such a message is current. If you like to keep just a single copy
481 of every mail message, set the variable @code{rmail-delete-after-output}
482 to @code{t}; then the @kbd{o} and @kbd{C-o} commands delete the original
483 message after copying it. (You can undelete the original afterward if
486 Copying messages into files in system inbox format uses the header
487 fields that are displayed in Rmail at the time. Thus, if you use the
488 @kbd{t} command to view the entire header and then copy the message, the
489 entire header is copied. @xref{Rmail Display}.
491 @vindex rmail-output-file-alist
492 The variable @code{rmail-output-file-alist} lets you specify
493 intelligent defaults for the output file, based on the contents of the
494 current message. The value should be a list whose elements have this
498 (@var{regexp} . @var{name-exp})
502 If there's a match for @var{regexp} in the current message, then the
503 default file name for output is @var{name-exp}. If multiple elements
504 match the message, the first matching element decides the default file
505 name. The subexpression @var{name-exp} may be a string constant giving
506 the file name to use, or more generally it may be any Lisp expression
507 that returns a file name as a string. @code{rmail-output-file-alist}
508 applies to both @kbd{o} and @kbd{C-o}.
512 @cindex label (Rmail)
513 @cindex attribute (Rmail)
515 Each message can have various @dfn{labels} assigned to it as a means
516 of classification. Each label has a name; different names are different
517 labels. Any given label is either present or absent on a particular
518 message. A few label names have standard meanings and are given to
519 messages automatically by Rmail when appropriate; these special labels
520 are called @dfn{attributes}.
522 (@xref{Rmail Attributes}.)
524 All other labels are assigned only by users.
527 @item a @var{label} @key{RET}
528 Assign the label @var{label} to the current message (@code{rmail-add-label}).
529 @item k @var{label} @key{RET}
530 Remove the label @var{label} from the current message (@code{rmail-kill-label}).
531 @item C-M-n @var{labels} @key{RET}
532 Move to the next message that has one of the labels @var{labels}
533 (@code{rmail-next-labeled-message}).
534 @item C-M-p @var{labels} @key{RET}
535 Move to the previous message that has one of the labels @var{labels}
536 (@code{rmail-previous-labeled-message}).
537 @item C-M-l @var{labels} @key{RET}
538 Make a summary of all messages containing any of the labels @var{labels}
539 (@code{rmail-summary-by-labels}).
542 @kindex a @r{(Rmail)}
543 @kindex k @r{(Rmail)}
544 @findex rmail-add-label
545 @findex rmail-kill-label
546 The @kbd{a} (@code{rmail-add-label}) and @kbd{k}
547 (@code{rmail-kill-label}) commands allow you to assign or remove any
548 label on the current message. If the @var{label} argument is empty, it
549 means to assign or remove the same label most recently assigned or
552 Once you have given messages labels to classify them as you wish, there
553 are two ways to use the labels: in moving and in summaries.
555 @kindex C-M-n @r{(Rmail)}
556 @kindex C-M-p @r{(Rmail)}
557 @findex rmail-next-labeled-message
558 @findex rmail-previous-labeled-message
559 The command @kbd{C-M-n @var{labels} @key{RET}}
560 (@code{rmail-next-labeled-message}) moves to the next message that has
561 one of the labels @var{labels}. The argument @var{labels} specifies one
562 or more label names, separated by commas. @kbd{C-M-p}
563 (@code{rmail-previous-labeled-message}) is similar, but moves backwards
564 to previous messages. A numeric argument to either command serves as a
567 The command @kbd{C-M-l @var{labels} @key{RET}}
568 (@code{rmail-summary-by-labels}) displays a summary containing only the
569 messages that have at least one of a specified set of labels. The
570 argument @var{labels} is one or more label names, separated by commas.
571 @xref{Rmail Summary}, for information on summaries.@refill
573 If the @var{labels} argument to @kbd{C-M-n}, @kbd{C-M-p} or
574 @kbd{C-M-l} is empty, it means to use the last set of labels specified
575 for any of these commands.
577 @node Rmail Attributes
578 @section Rmail Attributes
580 Some labels such as @samp{deleted} and @samp{filed} have built-in
581 meanings and are assigned to or removed from messages automatically at
582 appropriate times; these labels are called @dfn{attributes}. Here is a
583 list of Rmail attributes:
587 Means the message has never been current. Assigned to messages when
588 they come from an inbox file, and removed when a message is made
589 current. When you start Rmail, it initially shows the first message
590 that has this attribute.
592 Means the message is deleted. Assigned by deletion commands and
593 removed by undeletion commands (@pxref{Rmail Deletion}).
595 Means the message has been copied to some other file. Assigned by the
596 file output commands (@pxref{Rmail Files}).
598 Means you have mailed an answer to the message. Assigned by the @kbd{r}
599 command (@code{rmail-reply}). @xref{Rmail Reply}.
601 Means you have forwarded the message. Assigned by the @kbd{f} command
602 (@code{rmail-forward}). @xref{Rmail Reply}.
604 Means you have edited the text of the message within Rmail.
605 @xref{Rmail Editing}.
607 Means you have resent the message. Assigned by the command @kbd{M-x
608 rmail-resend}. @xref{Rmail Reply}.
611 All other labels are assigned or removed only by the user, and have no
615 @section Sending Replies
617 Rmail has several commands that use Mail mode to send outgoing mail.
618 @xref{Sending Mail}, for information on using Mail mode, including
619 certain features meant to work with Rmail. What this section documents
620 are the special commands of Rmail for entering Mail mode. Note that the
621 usual keys for sending mail---@kbd{C-x m}, @kbd{C-x 4 m}, and @kbd{C-x 5
622 m}---are available in Rmail mode and work just as they usually do.
626 Send a message (@code{rmail-mail}).
628 Continue editing the already started outgoing message (@code{rmail-continue}).
630 Send a reply to the current Rmail message (@code{rmail-reply}).
632 Forward the current message to other users (@code{rmail-forward}).
634 Resend the current message to other users (@code{rmail-resend}).
636 Try sending a bounced message a second time (@code{rmail-retry-failure}).
639 @kindex r @r{(Rmail)}
641 @cindex reply to a message
642 The most common reason to send a message while in Rmail is to reply to
643 the message you are reading. To do this, type @kbd{r}
644 (@code{rmail-reply}). This displays the @samp{*mail*} buffer in another
645 window, much like @kbd{C-x 4 m}, but preinitializes the @samp{Subject},
646 @samp{To}, @samp{CC} and @samp{In-reply-to} header fields based on the
647 message you are replying to. The @samp{To} field starts out as the
648 address of the person who sent the message you received, and the
649 @samp{CC} field starts out with all the other recipients of that
652 @vindex rmail-dont-reply-to-names
653 You can exclude certain recipients from being placed automatically in
654 the @samp{CC}, using the variable @code{rmail-dont-reply-to-names}. Its
655 value should be a regular expression (as a string); any recipient that
656 the regular expression matches, is excluded from the @samp{CC} field.
657 The default value matches your own name, and any name starting with
658 @samp{info-}. (Those names are excluded because there is a convention
659 of using them for large mailing lists to broadcast announcements.)
661 To omit the @samp{CC} field completely for a particular reply, enter
662 the reply command with a numeric argument: @kbd{C-u r} or @kbd{1 r}.
664 Once the @samp{*mail*} buffer has been initialized, editing and
665 sending the mail goes as usual (@pxref{Sending Mail}). You can edit the
666 presupplied header fields if they are not right for you. You can also
667 use the commands of Mail mode (@pxref{Mail Mode}), including @kbd{C-c
668 C-y} which yanks in the message that you are replying to. You can
669 switch to the Rmail buffer, select a different message there, switch
670 back, and yank the new current message.
672 @kindex M-m @r{(Rmail)}
673 @findex rmail-retry-failure
674 @cindex retrying a failed message
675 @vindex rmail-retry-ignored-headers
676 Sometimes a message does not reach its destination. Mailers usually
677 send the failed message back to you, enclosed in a @dfn{failure
678 message}. The Rmail command @kbd{M-m} (@code{rmail-retry-failure})
679 prepares to send the same message a second time: it sets up a
680 @samp{*mail*} buffer with the same text and header fields as before. If
681 you type @kbd{C-c C-c} right away, you send the message again exactly
682 the same as the first time. Alternatively, you can edit the text or
683 headers and then send it. The variable
684 @code{rmail-retry-ignored-headers}, in the same format as
685 @code{rmail-ignored-headers} (@pxref{Rmail Display}), controls which
686 headers are stripped from the failed message when retrying it.
688 @kindex f @r{(Rmail)}
689 @findex rmail-forward
690 @cindex forwarding a message
691 Another frequent reason to send mail in Rmail is to @dfn{forward} the
692 current message to other users. @kbd{f} (@code{rmail-forward}) makes
693 this easy by preinitializing the @samp{*mail*} buffer with the current
694 message as the text, and a subject designating a forwarded message. All
695 you have to do is fill in the recipients and send. When you forward a
696 message, recipients get a message which is ``from'' you, and which has
697 the original message in its contents.
699 @findex unforward-rmail-message
700 Forwarding a message encloses it between two delimiter lines. It also
701 modifies every line that starts with a dash, by inserting @w{@samp{- }}
702 at the start of the line. When you receive a forwarded message, if it
703 contains something besides ordinary text---for example, program source
704 code---you might find it useful to undo that transformation. You can do
705 this by selecting the forwarded message and typing @kbd{M-x
706 unforward-rmail-message}. This command extracts the original forwarded
707 message, deleting the inserted @w{@samp{- }} strings, and inserts it
708 into the Rmail file as a separate message immediately following the
712 @dfn{Resending} is an alternative similar to forwarding; the
713 difference is that resending sends a message that is ``from'' the
714 original sender, just as it reached you---with a few added header fields
715 @samp{Resent-From} and @samp{Resent-To} to indicate that it came via
716 you. To resend a message in Rmail, use @kbd{C-u f}. (@kbd{f} runs
717 @code{rmail-forward}, which is programmed to invoke @code{rmail-resend}
718 if you provide a numeric argument.)
720 @kindex m @r{(Rmail)}
722 The @kbd{m} (@code{rmail-mail}) command is used to start editing an
723 outgoing message that is not a reply. It leaves the header fields empty.
724 Its only difference from @kbd{C-x 4 m} is that it makes the Rmail buffer
725 accessible for @kbd{C-c C-y}, just as @kbd{r} does. Thus, @kbd{m} can be
726 used to reply to or forward a message; it can do anything @kbd{r} or @kbd{f}
729 @kindex c @r{(Rmail)}
730 @findex rmail-continue
731 The @kbd{c} (@code{rmail-continue}) command resumes editing the
732 @samp{*mail*} buffer, to finish editing an outgoing message you were
733 already composing, or to alter a message you have sent.@refill
735 @vindex rmail-mail-new-frame
736 If you set the variable @code{rmail-mail-new-frame} to a
737 non-@code{nil} value, then all the Rmail commands to start sending a
738 message create a new frame to edit it in. This frame is deleted when
739 you send the message, or when you use the @samp{Cancel} item in the
742 All the Rmail commands to send a message use the mail-composition
743 method that you have chosen (@pxref{Mail Methods}).
747 @cindex summary (Rmail)
749 A @dfn{summary} is a buffer containing one line per message to give
750 you an overview of the mail in an Rmail file. Each line shows the
751 message number and date, the sender, the line count, the labels, and
752 the subject. Moving point in the summary buffer selects messages as
753 you move to their summary lines. Almost all Rmail commands are valid
754 in the summary buffer also; when used there, they apply to the message
755 described by the current line of the summary.
757 A summary buffer applies to a single Rmail file only; if you are
758 editing multiple Rmail files, each one can have its own summary buffer.
759 The summary buffer name is made by appending @samp{-summary} to the
760 Rmail buffer's name. Normally only one summary buffer is displayed at a
764 * Rmail Make Summary:: Making various sorts of summaries.
765 * Rmail Summary Edit:: Manipulating messages from the summary.
768 @node Rmail Make Summary
769 @subsection Making Summaries
771 Here are the commands to create a summary for the current Rmail file.
772 Once the Rmail file has a summary buffer, changes in the Rmail file
773 (such as deleting or expunging messages, and getting new mail)
774 automatically update the summary.
779 Summarize all messages (@code{rmail-summary}).
780 @item l @var{labels} @key{RET}
781 @itemx C-M-l @var{labels} @key{RET}
782 Summarize messages that have one or more of the specified labels
783 (@code{rmail-summary-by-labels}).
784 @item C-M-r @var{rcpts} @key{RET}
785 Summarize messages that have one or more of the specified recipients
786 (@code{rmail-summary-by-recipients}).
787 @item C-M-t @var{topic} @key{RET}
788 Summarize messages that have a match for the specified regexp
789 @var{topic} in their subjects (@code{rmail-summary-by-topic}).
790 @item C-M-s @var{regexp}
791 Summarize messages whose headers and the subject line match the
792 specified regular expression @var{regexp}
793 (@code{rmail-summary-by-regexp}).
796 @kindex h @r{(Rmail)}
797 @findex rmail-summary
798 The @kbd{h} or @kbd{C-M-h} (@code{rmail-summary}) command fills the summary buffer
799 for the current Rmail file with a summary of all the messages in the file.
800 It then displays and selects the summary buffer in another window.
802 @kindex l @r{(Rmail)}
803 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Rmail)}
804 @findex rmail-summary-by-labels
805 @kbd{C-M-l @var{labels} @key{RET}} (@code{rmail-summary-by-labels}) makes
806 a partial summary mentioning only the messages that have one or more of the
807 labels @var{labels}. @var{labels} should contain label names separated by
810 @kindex C-M-r @r{(Rmail)}
811 @findex rmail-summary-by-recipients
812 @kbd{C-M-r @var{rcpts} @key{RET}} (@code{rmail-summary-by-recipients})
813 makes a partial summary mentioning only the messages that have one or more
814 of the recipients @var{rcpts}. @var{rcpts} should contain mailing
815 addresses separated by commas.@refill
817 @kindex C-M-t @r{(Rmail)}
818 @findex rmail-summary-by-topic
819 @kbd{C-M-t @var{topic} @key{RET}} (@code{rmail-summary-by-topic})
820 makes a partial summary mentioning only the messages whose subjects have
821 a match for the regular expression @var{topic}.
823 @kindex C-M-s @r{(Rmail)}
824 @findex rmail-summary-by-regexp
825 @kbd{C-M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}} (@code{rmail-summary-by-regexp})
826 makes a partial summary which mentions only the messages whose headers
827 (including the date and the subject lines) match the regular
828 expression @var{regexp}.
830 Note that there is only one summary buffer for any Rmail file; making one
831 kind of summary discards any previously made summary.
833 @vindex rmail-summary-window-size
834 @vindex rmail-summary-line-count-flag
835 The variable @code{rmail-summary-window-size} says how many lines to
836 use for the summary window. The variable
837 @code{rmail-summary-line-count-flag} controls whether the summary line
838 for a message should include the line count of the message.
840 @node Rmail Summary Edit
841 @subsection Editing in Summaries
843 You can use the Rmail summary buffer to do almost anything you can do
844 in the Rmail buffer itself. In fact, once you have a summary buffer,
845 there's no need to switch back to the Rmail buffer.
847 You can select and display various messages in the Rmail buffer, from
848 the summary buffer, just by moving point in the summary buffer to
849 different lines. It doesn't matter what Emacs command you use to move
850 point; whichever line point is on at the end of the command, that
851 message is selected in the Rmail buffer.
853 Almost all Rmail commands work in the summary buffer as well as in the
854 Rmail buffer. Thus, @kbd{d} in the summary buffer deletes the current
855 message, @kbd{u} undeletes, and @kbd{x} expunges. @kbd{o} and @kbd{C-o}
856 output the current message to a file; @kbd{r} starts a reply to it. You
857 can scroll the current message while remaining in the summary buffer
858 using @key{SPC} and @key{DEL}.
860 The Rmail commands to move between messages also work in the summary
861 buffer, but with a twist: they move through the set of messages included
862 in the summary. They also ensure the Rmail buffer appears on the screen
863 (unlike cursor motion commands, which update the contents of the Rmail
864 buffer but don't display it in a window unless it already appears).
865 Here is a list of these commands:
869 Move to next line, skipping lines saying `deleted', and select its
872 Move to previous line, skipping lines saying `deleted', and select
875 Move to next line and select its message.
877 Move to previous line and select its message.
879 Move to the last line, and select its message.
881 Move to the first line, and select its message.
882 @item M-s @var{pattern} @key{RET}
883 Search through messages for @var{pattern} starting with the current
884 message; select the message found, and move point in the summary buffer
885 to that message's line.
888 @vindex rmail-redisplay-summary
889 Deletion, undeletion, and getting new mail, and even selection of a
890 different message all update the summary buffer when you do them in the
891 Rmail buffer. If the variable @code{rmail-redisplay-summary} is
892 non-@code{nil}, these actions also bring the summary buffer back onto
895 @kindex Q @r{(Rmail summary)}
896 @findex rmail-summary-wipe
897 @kindex q @r{(Rmail summary)}
898 @findex rmail-summary-quit
899 When you are finished using the summary, type @kbd{Q}
900 (@code{rmail-summary-wipe}) to delete the summary buffer's window. You
901 can also exit Rmail while in the summary: @kbd{q}
902 (@code{rmail-summary-quit}) deletes the summary window, then exits from
903 Rmail by saving the Rmail file and switching to another buffer.
906 @section Sorting the Rmail File
909 @item M-x rmail-sort-by-date
910 Sort messages of current Rmail file by date.
912 @item M-x rmail-sort-by-subject
913 Sort messages of current Rmail file by subject.
915 @item M-x rmail-sort-by-author
916 Sort messages of current Rmail file by author's name.
918 @item M-x rmail-sort-by-recipient
919 Sort messages of current Rmail file by recipient's names.
921 @item M-x rmail-sort-by-correspondent
922 Sort messages of current Rmail file by the name of the other
925 @item M-x rmail-sort-by-lines
926 Sort messages of current Rmail file by size (number of lines).
928 @item M-x rmail-sort-by-keywords @key{RET} @var{labels} @key{RET}
929 Sort messages of current Rmail file by labels. The argument
930 @var{labels} should be a comma-separated list of labels. The order of
931 these labels specifies the order of messages; messages with the first
932 label come first, messages with the second label come second, and so on.
933 Messages which have none of these labels come last.
936 The Rmail sort commands perform a @emph{stable sort}: if there is no
937 reason to prefer either one of two messages, their order remains
938 unchanged. You can use this to sort by more than one criterion. For
939 example, if you use @code{rmail-sort-by-date} and then
940 @code{rmail-sort-by-author}, messages from the same author appear in
943 With a numeric argument, all these commands reverse the order of
944 comparison. This means they sort messages from newest to oldest, from
945 biggest to smallest, or in reverse alphabetical order.
948 @section Display of Messages
950 Rmail reformats the header of each message before displaying it for
951 the first time. Reformatting hides uninteresting header fields to
952 reduce clutter. You can use the @kbd{t} command to show the entire
953 header or to repeat the header reformatting operation.
957 Toggle display of complete header (@code{rmail-toggle-header}).
960 @vindex rmail-ignored-headers
961 Reformatting the header involves deleting most header fields, on the
962 grounds that they are not interesting. The variable
963 @code{rmail-ignored-headers} holds a regular expression that specifies
964 which header fields to hide in this way---if it matches the beginning of
965 a header field, that whole field is hidden.
967 @kindex t @r{(Rmail)}
968 @findex rmail-toggle-header
969 Rmail saves the complete original header before reformatting; to see
970 it, use the @kbd{t} command (@code{rmail-toggle-header}). This
971 discards the reformatted headers of the current message and displays it
972 with the original header. Repeating @kbd{t} reformats the message
973 again. Selecting the message again also reformats.
975 One consequence of this is that if you edit the reformatted header
976 (using @kbd{e}; @pxref{Rmail Editing}), subsequent use of @kbd{t} will
977 discard your edits. On the other hand, if you use @kbd{e} after
978 @kbd{t}, to edit the original (unreformatted) header, those changes are
981 When the @kbd{t} command has a prefix argument, a positive argument
982 means to show the reformatted header, and a zero or negative argument
983 means to show the full header.
985 @vindex rmail-highlighted-headers
986 When the terminal supports multiple fonts or colors, Rmail
987 highlights certain header fields that are especially interesting---by
988 default, the @samp{From} and @samp{Subject} fields. The variable
989 @code{rmail-highlighted-headers} holds a regular expression that
990 specifies the header fields to highlight; if it matches the beginning
991 of a header field, that whole field is highlighted.
993 If you specify unusual colors for your text foreground and
994 background, the colors used for highlighting may not go well with
995 them. If so, specify different colors for the face
996 @code{rmail-highlight-face}. @xref{Faces}, for how to do this. To
997 turn off highlighting entirely in Rmail, set
998 @code{rmail-highlighted-headers} to @code{nil}.
1000 You can highlight and activate URLs in incoming messages by adding
1001 the function @code{goto-address} to the hook
1002 @code{rmail-show-message-hook}. Then you can browse these URLs by
1003 clicking on them with @kbd{Mouse-2} or by moving to one and typing
1004 @kbd{C-c @key{RET}}. @xref{Goto-address, Activating URLs, Activating URLs}.
1007 @section Rmail and Coding Systems
1009 @cindex decoding mail messages (Rmail)
1010 Rmail automatically decodes messages which contain non-ASCII
1011 characters, just as Emacs does with files you visit and with subprocess
1012 output. Rmail uses the standard @samp{charset=@var{charset}} header in
1013 the message, if any, to determine how the message was encoded by the
1014 sender. It maps @var{charset} into the corresponding Emacs coding
1015 system (@pxref{Coding Systems}), and uses that coding system to decode
1016 message text. If the message header doesn't have the @samp{charset}
1017 specification, or if @var{charset} is not recognized,
1018 Rmail chooses the coding system with the usual Emacs heuristics and
1019 defaults (@pxref{Recognize Coding}).
1021 @cindex fixing incorrectly decoded mail messages
1022 Occasionally, a message is decoded incorrectly, either because Emacs
1023 guessed the wrong coding system in the absence of the @samp{charset}
1024 specification, or because the specification was inaccurate. For
1025 example, a misconfigured mailer could send a message with a
1026 @samp{charset=iso-8859-1} header when the message is actually encoded
1027 in @code{koi8-r}. When you see the message text garbled, or some of
1028 its characters displayed as empty boxes, this may have happened.
1030 @findex rmail-redecode-body
1031 You can correct the problem by decoding the message again using the
1032 right coding system, if you can figure out or guess which one is
1033 right. To do this, invoke the @kbd{M-x rmail-redecode-body} command.
1034 It reads the name of a coding system, encodes the message body using
1035 whichever coding system was used to decode it before, then redecodes
1036 it using the coding system you specified. If you specified the right
1037 coding system, the result should be readable.
1039 Decoding and encoding using the wrong coding system is lossless for
1040 most encodings, in particular with 8-bit encodings such as iso-8859 or
1041 koi8. So, if the initial attempt to redecode the message didn't
1042 result in a legible text, you can try other coding systems until you
1045 With some coding systems, notably those from the iso-2022 family,
1046 information can be lost in decoding, so that encoding the message
1047 again won't bring back the original incoming text. In such a case,
1048 @code{rmail-redecode-body} cannot work. However, the problems that
1049 call for use of @code{rmail-redecode-body} rarely occur with those
1050 coding systems. So in practice the command works when you need it.
1053 @section Editing Within a Message
1055 Most of the usual Emacs commands are available in Rmail mode, though a
1056 few, such as @kbd{C-M-n} and @kbd{C-M-h}, are redefined by Rmail for
1057 other purposes. However, the Rmail buffer is normally read only, and
1058 most of the letters are redefined as Rmail commands. If you want to
1059 edit the text of a message, you must use the Rmail command @kbd{e}.
1063 Edit the current message as ordinary text.
1066 @kindex e @r{(Rmail)}
1067 @findex rmail-edit-current-message
1068 The @kbd{e} command (@code{rmail-edit-current-message}) switches from
1069 Rmail mode into Rmail Edit mode, another major mode which is nearly the
1070 same as Text mode. The mode line indicates this change.
1072 In Rmail Edit mode, letters insert themselves as usual and the Rmail
1073 commands are not available. When you are finished editing the message and
1074 are ready to go back to Rmail, type @kbd{C-c C-c}, which switches back to
1075 Rmail mode. Alternatively, you can return to Rmail mode but cancel all the
1076 editing that you have done, by typing @kbd{C-c C-]}.
1078 @vindex rmail-edit-mode-hook
1079 Entering Rmail Edit mode runs the hook @code{text-mode-hook}; then it
1080 runs the hook @code{rmail-edit-mode-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}). It adds the
1081 attribute @samp{edited} to the message. It also displays the full
1082 headers of the message, so that you can edit the headers as well as the
1083 body of the message, and your changes in the headers will be
1087 @section Digest Messages
1088 @cindex digest message
1091 A @dfn{digest message} is a message which exists to contain and carry
1092 several other messages. Digests are used on some moderated mailing
1093 lists; all the messages that arrive for the list during a period of time
1094 such as one day are put inside a single digest which is then sent to the
1095 subscribers. Transmitting the single digest uses much less computer
1096 time than transmitting the individual messages even though the total
1097 size is the same, because the per-message overhead in network mail
1098 transmission is considerable.
1100 @findex undigestify-rmail-message
1101 When you receive a digest message, the most convenient way to read it is
1102 to @dfn{undigestify} it: to turn it back into many individual messages.
1103 Then you can read and delete the individual messages as it suits you.
1104 To do this, select the digest message and type the command @kbd{M-x
1105 undigestify-rmail-message}. This extracts the submessages as separate
1106 Rmail messages, and inserts them following the digest. The digest
1107 message itself is flagged as deleted.
1110 @section Converting an Rmail File to Inbox Format
1111 @cindex Babyl format to Inbox format
1112 @cindex converting Rmail file to mailbox format
1115 The command @kbd{M-x unrmail} converts a file in Rmail format to inbox
1116 format (also known as the system mailbox, or mbox, format), so that
1117 you can use it with other mail-editing tools. You must specify two
1118 arguments, the name of the Rmail file and the name to use for the
1119 converted file. @kbd{M-x unrmail} does not alter the Rmail file itself.
1122 @kbd{M-x unrmail} is useful if you can run Emacs on the machine
1123 where the Rmail file resides, or can access the Rmail file remotely
1124 (@pxref{Remote Files}) from a machine where Emacs is installed. If
1125 accessing Rmail files from Emacs is impossible, you can use the
1126 @command{b2m} program instead. @command{b2m} is part of the Emacs
1127 distribution, it is installed into the same directory where all the
1128 other auxiliary programs (@command{etags} etc.) are installed, and its
1129 source is available in the Emacs source distribution, so that you
1130 could copy the source to the target machine and compile it there.
1132 To convert a file @file{@var{babyl-file}} into @file{@var{mbox-file}},
1133 invoke @command{b2m} like this:
1136 b2m < @var{babyl-file} > @var{mbox-file}
1140 @section Reading Rot13 Messages
1143 Mailing list messages that might offend some readers are sometimes
1144 encoded in a simple code called @dfn{rot13}---so named because it
1145 rotates the alphabet by 13 letters. This code is not for secrecy, as it
1146 provides none; rather, it enables those who might be offended to avoid
1147 ever seeing the real text of the message.
1149 @findex rot13-other-window
1150 To view a buffer using the rot13 code, use the command @kbd{M-x
1151 rot13-other-window}. This displays the current buffer in another window
1152 which applies the code when displaying the text.
1155 @section @code{movemail} and POP
1156 @cindex @code{movemail} program
1158 @vindex rmail-preserve-inbox
1159 When getting new mail, Rmail first copies the new mail from the inbox
1160 file to the Rmail file; then it saves the Rmail file; then it truncates
1161 the inbox file. This way, a system crash may cause duplication of mail
1162 between the inbox and the Rmail file, but cannot lose mail. If
1163 @code{rmail-preserve-inbox} is non-@code{nil}, then Rmail will copy new
1164 mail from the inbox file to the Rmail file without truncating the inbox
1165 file. You may wish to set this, for example, on a portable computer you
1166 use to check your mail via POP while traveling, so that your mail will
1167 remain on the server and you can save it later on your workstation.
1169 In some cases, Rmail copies the new mail from the inbox file
1170 indirectly. First it runs the @code{movemail} program to move the mail
1171 from the inbox to an intermediate file called
1172 @file{~/.newmail-@var{inboxname}}. Then Rmail merges the new mail from
1173 that file, saves the Rmail file, and only then deletes the intermediate
1174 file. If there is a crash at the wrong time, this file continues to
1175 exist, and Rmail will use it again the next time it gets new mail from
1179 If Rmail is unable to convert the data in
1180 @file{~/.newmail-@var{inboxname}} into Babyl format, it renames the file
1181 to @file{~/RMAILOSE.@var{n}} (@var{n} is an integer chosen to make the
1182 name unique) so that Rmail will not have trouble with the data again.
1183 You should look at the file, find whatever message confuses Rmail
1184 (probably one that includes the control-underscore character, octal code
1185 037), and delete it. Then you can use @kbd{1 g} to get new mail from
1188 Some sites use a method called POP for accessing users' inbox data
1189 instead of storing the data in inbox files. @code{movemail} can work
1190 with POP if you compile it with the macro @code{MAIL_USE_POP} defined.
1191 (You can achieve that by specifying @samp{--with-pop} when you run
1192 @code{configure} during the installation of Emacs.)
1193 @code{movemail} only works with POP3, not with older
1196 @cindex @env{MAILHOST} environment variable
1198 Assuming you have compiled and installed @code{movemail}
1199 appropriately, you can specify a POP inbox by using a ``file name'' of
1200 the form @samp{po:@var{username}}, in the inbox list of an Rmail file.
1201 @code{movemail} handles such a name by opening a connection to the POP
1202 server. The @env{MAILHOST} environment variable specifies the machine
1203 to look for the server on; alternatively, you can specify the POP server
1204 host name as part of the mailbox name using the syntax
1205 @samp{po:@var{username}:@var{hostname}}.
1207 @vindex rmail-pop-password
1208 @vindex rmail-pop-password-required
1209 Accessing mail via POP may require a password. If the variable
1210 @code{rmail-pop-password} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the password
1211 to use for POP. Alternatively, if @code{rmail-pop-password-required} is
1212 non-@code{nil}, then Rmail asks you for the password to use.
1214 @vindex rmail-movemail-flags
1215 If you need to pass additional command-line flags to @code{movemail},
1216 set the variable @code{rmail-movemail-flags} a list of the flags you
1217 wish to use. Do not use this variable to pass the @samp{-p} flag to
1218 preserve your inbox contents; use @code{rmail-preserve-inbox} instead.
1220 @cindex Kerberos POP authentication
1221 The @code{movemail} program installed at your site may support
1222 Kerberos authentication. If it is
1223 supported, it is used by default whenever you attempt to retrieve
1224 POP mail when @code{rmail-pop-password} and
1225 @code{rmail-pop-password-required} are unset.
1227 @cindex reverse order in POP inboxes
1228 Some POP servers store messages in reverse order. If your server does
1229 this, and you would rather read your mail in the order in which it was
1230 received, you can tell @code{movemail} to reverse the order of
1231 downloaded messages by adding the @samp{-r} flag to
1232 @code{rmail-movemail-flags}.
1235 arch-tag: 034965f6-38df-47a2-a9f1-b8bc8ab37e23