1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 97, 2000
3 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @node Sending Mail, Rmail, Picture, Top
11 To send a message in Emacs, you start by typing a command (@kbd{C-x m})
12 to select and initialize the @samp{*mail*} buffer. Then you edit the text
13 and headers of the message in this buffer, and type another command
14 (@kbd{C-c C-s} or @kbd{C-c C-c}) to send the message.
18 Begin composing a message to send (@code{compose-mail}).
20 Likewise, but display the message in another window
21 (@code{compose-mail-other-window}).
23 Likewise, but make a new frame (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}).
25 In Mail mode, send the message (@code{mail-send}).
27 Send the message and bury the mail buffer (@code{mail-send-and-exit}).
33 @findex compose-mail-other-window
35 @findex compose-mail-other-frame
36 The command @kbd{C-x m} (@code{compose-mail}) selects a buffer named
37 @samp{*mail*} and initializes it with the skeleton of an outgoing
38 message. @kbd{C-x 4 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-window}) selects the
39 @samp{*mail*} buffer in a different window, leaving the previous current
40 buffer visible. @kbd{C-x 5 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}) creates
41 a new frame to select the @samp{*mail*} buffer.
43 Because the mail-composition buffer is an ordinary Emacs buffer, you can
44 switch to other buffers while in the middle of composing mail, and switch
45 back later (or never). If you use the @kbd{C-x m} command again when you
46 have been composing another message but have not sent it, you are asked to
47 confirm before the old message is erased. If you answer @kbd{n}, the
48 @samp{*mail*} buffer is left selected with its old contents, so you can
49 finish the old message and send it. @kbd{C-u C-x m} is another way to do
50 this. Sending the message marks the @samp{*mail*} buffer ``unmodified,''
51 which avoids the need for confirmation when @kbd{C-x m} is next used.
53 If you are composing a message in the @samp{*mail*} buffer and want to
54 send another message before finishing the first, rename the
55 @samp{*mail*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} (@pxref{Misc
56 Buffer}). Then you can use @kbd{C-x m} or its variants described above
57 to make a new @samp{*mail*} buffer. Once you've done that, you can work
58 with each mail buffer independently.
61 * Format: Mail Format. Format of the mail being composed.
62 * Headers: Mail Headers. Details of permitted mail header fields.
63 * Aliases: Mail Aliases. Abbreviating and grouping mail addresses.
64 * Mode: Mail Mode. Special commands for editing mail being composed.
65 * Spook: Distracting NSA. How to distract the NSA's attention.
66 * Fortune:: `Fortune' items in signatures.
67 * Footnotes: Mail Footnotes. Making footnotes in messages.
68 * Mail Methods:: Using alternative mail-composition methods.
72 @section The Format of the Mail Buffer
74 In addition to the @dfn{text} or @dfn{body}, a message has @dfn{header
75 fields} which say who sent it, when, to whom, why, and so on. Some
76 header fields, such as @samp{Date} and @samp{Sender}, are created
77 automatically when you send the message. Others, such as the recipient
78 names, must be specified by you in order to send the message properly.
80 Mail mode provides a few commands to help you edit some header fields,
81 and some are preinitialized in the buffer automatically at times. You can
82 insert and edit header fields using ordinary editing commands.
84 The line in the buffer that says
87 --text follows this line--
91 is a special delimiter that separates the headers you have specified from
92 the text. Whatever follows this line is the text of the message; the
93 headers precede it. The delimiter line itself does not appear in the
94 message actually sent. The text used for the delimiter line is controlled
95 by the variable @code{mail-header-separator}.
97 Here is an example of what the headers and text in the mail buffer
102 CC: lungfish@@spam.org, byob@@spam.org
103 Subject: The Emacs Manual
104 --Text follows this line--
105 Please ignore this message.
109 @section Mail Header Fields
110 @cindex headers (of mail message)
112 A header field in the mail buffer starts with a field name at the
113 beginning of a line, terminated by a colon. Upper and lower case are
114 equivalent in field names (and in mailing addresses also). After the
115 colon and optional whitespace comes the contents of the field.
117 You can use any name you like for a header field, but normally people
118 use only standard field names with accepted meanings. Here is a table
119 of fields commonly used in outgoing messages.
123 This field contains the mailing addresses to which the message is
124 addressed. If you list more than one address, use commas, not spaces,
128 The contents of the @samp{Subject} field should be a piece of text
129 that says what the message is about. The reason @samp{Subject} fields
130 are useful is that most mail-reading programs can provide a summary of
131 messages, listing the subject of each message but not its text.
134 This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to,
135 like @samp{To} except that these readers should not regard the message
139 This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the message to,
140 which should not appear in the header of the message actually sent.
141 Copies sent this way are called @dfn{blind carbon copies}.
143 @vindex mail-self-blind
144 To send a blind carbon copy of every outgoing message to yourself, set
145 the variable @code{mail-self-blind} to @code{t}.
148 This field contains the name of one file and directs Emacs to append a
149 copy of the message to that file when you send the message. If the file
150 is in Rmail format, Emacs writes the message in Rmail format; otherwise,
151 Emacs writes the message in system mail file format.
153 @vindex mail-archive-file-name
154 To put a fixed file name in the @samp{FCC} field each time you start
155 editing an outgoing message, set the variable
156 @code{mail-archive-file-name} to that file name. Unless you remove the
157 @samp{FCC} field before sending, the message will be written into that
158 file when it is sent.
161 Use the @samp{From} field to say who you are, when the account you are
162 using to send the mail is not your own. The contents of the @samp{From}
163 field should be a valid mailing address, since replies will normally go
164 there. If you don't specify the @samp{From} field yourself, Emacs uses
165 the value of @code{user-mail-address} as the default.
168 Use this field to direct replies to a different address. Most
169 mail-reading programs (including Rmail) automatically send replies to
170 the @samp{Reply-to} address in preference to the @samp{From} address.
171 By adding a @samp{Reply-to} field to your header, you can work around
172 any problems your @samp{From} address may cause for replies.
174 @cindex @code{REPLYTO} environment variable
175 @vindex mail-default-reply-to
176 To put a fixed @samp{Reply-to} address into every outgoing message, set
177 the variable @code{mail-default-reply-to} to that address (as a string).
178 Then @code{mail} initializes the message with a @samp{Reply-to} field as
179 specified. You can delete or alter that header field before you send
180 the message, if you wish. When Emacs starts up, if the environment
181 variable @code{REPLYTO} is set, @code{mail-default-reply-to} is
182 initialized from that environment variable.
185 This field contains a piece of text describing a message you are
186 replying to. Some mail systems can use this information to correlate
187 related pieces of mail. Normally this field is filled in by Rmail
188 when you reply to a message in Rmail, and you never need to
189 think about it (@pxref{Rmail}).
192 This field lists the message IDs of related previous messages. Rmail
193 sets up this field automatically when you reply to a message.
196 The @samp{To}, @samp{CC}, @samp{BCC} and @samp{FCC} header fields can
197 appear any number of times, and each such header field can contain
198 multiple addresses, separated by commas. This way, you can specify any
199 number of places to send the message. A @samp{To}, @samp{CC}, or
200 @samp{BCC} field can also have continuation lines: one or more lines
201 starting with whitespace, following the starting line of the field, are
202 considered part of the field. Here's an example of a @samp{To} field
203 with a continuation line:@refill
207 To: foo@@here.net, this@@there.net,
208 me@@gnu.cambridge.mass.usa.earth.spiral3281
212 @vindex mail-from-style
213 When you send the message, if you didn't write a @samp{From} field
214 yourself, Emacs puts in one for you. The variable
215 @code{mail-from-style} controls the format:
219 Use just the email address, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com}.
221 Use both email address and full name, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com (Elvis
224 Use both email address and full name, as in @samp{Elvis Parsley
225 <king@@grassland.com>}.
227 Allow the system to insert the @samp{From} field.
231 @section Mail Aliases
233 @cindex @file{.mailrc} file
236 You can define @dfn{mail aliases} in a file named @file{~/.mailrc}.
237 These are short mnemonic names which stand for mail addresses or groups of
238 mail addresses. Like many other mail programs, Emacs expands aliases
239 when they occur in the @samp{To}, @samp{From}, @samp{CC}, @samp{BCC}, and
240 @samp{Reply-to} fields, plus their @samp{Resent-} variants.
242 To define an alias in @file{~/.mailrc}, write a line in the following
246 alias @var{shortaddress} @var{fulladdresses}
250 Here @var{fulladdresses} stands for one or more mail addresses for
251 @var{shortaddress} to expand into. Separate multiple addresses with
252 spaces; if an address contains a space, quote the whole address with a
253 pair of double-quotes.
255 For instance, to make @code{maingnu} stand for
256 @code{gnu@@gnu.org} plus a local address of your own, put in
260 alias maingnu gnu@@gnu.org local-gnu
263 Emacs also recognizes include commands in @samp{.mailrc} files.
267 source @var{filename}
271 The file @file{~/.mailrc} is used primarily by other mail-reading
272 programs; it can contain various other commands. Emacs ignores
273 everything in it except for alias definitions and include commands.
275 @findex define-mail-alias
276 Another way to define a mail alias, within Emacs alone, is with the
277 @code{define-mail-alias} command. It prompts for the alias and then the
278 full address. You can use it to define aliases in your @file{.emacs}
282 (define-mail-alias "maingnu" "gnu@@gnu.org")
286 @code{define-mail-alias} records aliases by adding them to a
287 variable named @code{mail-aliases}. If you are comfortable with
288 manipulating Lisp lists, you can set @code{mail-aliases} directly. The
289 initial value of @code{mail-aliases} is @code{t}, which means that
290 Emacs should read @file{.mailrc} to get the proper value.
292 @vindex mail-personal-alias-file
293 You can specify a different file name to use instead of
294 @file{~/.mailrc} by setting the variable
295 @code{mail-personal-alias-file}.
297 @findex expand-mail-aliases
298 Normally, Emacs expands aliases when you send the message. You do not
299 need to expand mail aliases before sending the message, but you can
300 expand them if you want to see where the mail will actually go. To do
301 this, use the command @kbd{M-x expand-mail-aliases}; it expands all mail
302 aliases currently present in the mail headers that hold addresses.
304 If you like, you can have mail aliases expand as abbrevs, as soon as
305 you type them in (@pxref{Abbrevs}). To enable this feature, execute the
309 (add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'mail-abbrevs-setup)
313 @findex define-mail-abbrev
315 This can go in your @file{.emacs} file. @xref{Hooks}. If you use this
316 feature, you must use @code{define-mail-abbrev} instead of
317 @code{define-mail-alias}; the latter does not work with this package.
318 Note that the mail abbreviation package uses the variable
319 @code{mail-abbrevs} instead of @code{mail-aliases}, and that all alias
320 names are converted to lower case.
322 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Mail mode)}
323 @findex mail-interactive-insert-alias
324 The mail abbreviation package also provides the @kbd{C-c C-a}
325 (@code{mail-interactive-insert-alias}) command, which reads an alias
326 name (with completion) and inserts its definition at point. This is
327 useful when editing the message text itself or a header field such as
328 @samp{Subject} in which Emacs does not normally expand aliases.
330 Note that abbrevs expand only if you insert a word-separator character
331 afterward. However, you can rebind @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{M->} to cause
332 expansion as well. Here's how to do that:
335 (add-hook 'mail-setup-hook
337 (substitute-key-definition
338 'next-line 'mail-abbrev-next-line
339 mail-mode-map global-map)
340 (substitute-key-definition
341 'end-of-buffer 'mail-abbrev-end-of-buffer
342 mail-mode-map global-map)))
350 The major mode used in the mail buffer is Mail mode, which is much
351 like Text mode except that various special commands are provided on the
352 @kbd{C-c} prefix. These commands all have to do specifically with
353 editing or sending the message. In addition, Mail mode defines the
354 character @samp{%} as a word separator; this is helpful for using the
355 word commands to edit mail addresses.
357 Mail mode is normally used in buffers set up automatically by the
358 @code{mail} command and related commands. However, you can also switch
359 to Mail mode in a file-visiting buffer. That is a useful thing to do if
360 you have saved draft message text in a file.
363 * Mail Sending:: Commands to send the message.
364 * Header Editing:: Commands to move to header fields and edit them.
365 * Citing Mail:: Copying all or part of a message you are replying to.
366 * Mail Mode Misc:: Spell checking, signatures, etc.
370 @subsection Mail Sending
372 Mail mode has two commands for sending the message you have been
377 Send the message, and leave the mail buffer selected (@code{mail-send}).
379 Send the message, and select some other buffer (@code{mail-send-and-exit}).
382 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Mail mode)}
383 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Mail mode)}
385 @findex mail-send-and-exit
386 @kbd{C-c C-s} (@code{mail-send}) sends the message and marks the mail
387 buffer unmodified, but leaves that buffer selected so that you can
388 modify the message (perhaps with new recipients) and send it again.
389 @kbd{C-c C-c} (@code{mail-send-and-exit}) sends and then deletes the
390 window or switches to another buffer. It puts the mail buffer at the
391 lowest priority for reselection by default, since you are finished with
392 using it. This is the usual way to send the message.
394 In a file-visiting buffer, sending the message does not clear the
395 modified flag, because only saving the file should do that. As a
396 result, you don't get a warning if you try to send the same message
399 @vindex sendmail-coding-system
400 When you send a message that contains non-ASCII characters, they need
401 to be encoded with a coding system (@pxref{Coding Systems}). Usually
402 the coding system is specified automatically by your chosen language
403 environment (@pxref{Language Environments}). You can explicitly specify
404 the coding system for outgoing mail by setting the variable
405 @code{sendmail-coding-system}.
407 If the coding system thus determined does not handle the characters in
408 a particular message, Emacs asks you to select the coding system to use,
409 showing a list of possible coding systems.
412 @subsection Mail Header Editing
414 Mail mode provides special commands to move to particular header
415 fields and to complete addresses in headers.
419 Move to the @samp{To} header field, creating one if there is none
422 Move to the @samp{Subject} header field, creating one if there is
423 none (@code{mail-subject}).
425 Move to the @samp{CC} header field, creating one if there is none
428 Move to the @samp{BCC} header field, creating one if there is none
431 Move to the @samp{FCC} header field, creating one if there is none
434 Complete a mailing address (@code{mail-complete}).
437 @kindex C-c C-f C-t @r{(Mail mode)}
439 @kindex C-c C-f C-s @r{(Mail mode)}
441 @kindex C-c C-f C-c @r{(Mail mode)}
443 @kindex C-c C-f C-b @r{(Mail mode)}
445 @kindex C-c C-f C-f @r{(Mail mode)}
447 There are five commands to move point to particular header fields, all
448 based on the prefix @kbd{C-c C-f} (@samp{C-f} is for ``field''). They
449 are listed in the table above. If the field in question does not exist,
450 these commands create one. We provide special motion commands for these
451 particular fields because they are the fields users most often want to
454 @findex mail-complete
455 @kindex M-TAB @r{(Mail mode)}
456 While editing a header field that contains mailing addresses, such as
457 @samp{To:}, @samp{CC:} and @samp{BCC:}, you can complete a mailing
458 address by typing @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} (@code{mail-complete}). It inserts
459 the full name corresponding to the address, if it can determine the full
460 name. The variable @code{mail-complete-style} controls whether to insert
461 the full name, and what style to use, as in @code{mail-from-style}
462 (@pxref{Mail Headers}).
464 For completion purposes, the valid mailing addresses are taken to be
465 the local users' names plus your personal mail aliases. You can specify
466 additional sources of valid addresses; use the customization buffer
467 to see the options for this.
469 If you type @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} in the body of the message, it invokes
470 @code{ispell-complete-word}, as in Text mode.
473 @subsection Citing Mail
476 Mail mode also has commands for yanking or @dfn{citing} all or part of
477 a message that you are replying to. These commands are active only when
478 you started sending a message using an Rmail command.
482 Yank the selected message from Rmail (@code{mail-yank-original}).
484 Yank the region from the Rmail buffer (@code{mail-yank-region}).
486 Fill each paragraph cited from another message
487 (@code{mail-fill-yanked-message}).
490 @kindex C-c C-y @r{(Mail mode)}
491 @findex mail-yank-original
492 When mail sending is invoked from the Rmail mail reader using an Rmail
493 command, @kbd{C-c C-y} can be used inside the mail buffer to insert
494 the text of the message you are replying to. Normally it indents each line
495 of that message three spaces and eliminates most header fields. A numeric
496 argument specifies the number of spaces to indent. An argument of just
497 @kbd{C-u} says not to indent at all and not to eliminate anything.
498 @kbd{C-c C-y} always uses the current message from the Rmail buffer,
499 so you can insert several old messages by selecting one in Rmail,
500 switching to @samp{*mail*} and yanking it, then switching back to
501 Rmail to select another.
503 @vindex mail-yank-prefix
504 You can specify the text for @kbd{C-c C-y} to insert at the beginning
505 of each line: set @code{mail-yank-prefix} to the desired string. (A
506 value of @code{nil} means to use indentation; this is the default.)
507 However, @kbd{C-u C-c C-y} never adds anything at the beginning of the
508 inserted lines, regardless of the value of @code{mail-yank-prefix}.
510 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Mail mode)}
511 @findex mail-yank-region
512 To yank just a part of an incoming message, set the region in Rmail to
513 the part you want; then go to the @samp{*Mail*} message and type
514 @kbd{C-c C-r} (@code{mail-yank-region}). Each line that is copied is
515 indented or prefixed according to @code{mail-yank-prefix}.
517 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Mail mode)}
518 @findex mail-fill-yanked-message
519 After using @kbd{C-c C-y} or @kbd{C-c C-r}, you can type @kbd{C-c C-q}
520 (@code{mail-fill-yanked-message}) to fill the paragraphs of the yanked
521 old message or messages. One use of @kbd{C-c C-q} fills all such
522 paragraphs, each one individually. To fill a single paragraph of the
523 quoted message, use @kbd{M-q}. If filling does not automatically
524 handle the type of citation prefix you use, try setting the fill prefix
525 explicitly. @xref{Filling}.
528 @subsection Mail Mode Miscellany
532 Move to the beginning of the message body text (@code{mail-text}).
534 Insert the file @file{~/.signature} at the end of the message text
535 (@code{mail-signature}).
536 @item C-c C-i @var{file} @key{RET}
537 Insert the contents of @var{file} at the end of the outgoing message
538 (@code{mail-attach-file}).
539 @item M-x ispell-message
540 Do spelling correction on the message text, but not on citations from
544 @kindex C-c C-t @r{(Mail mode)}
546 @kbd{C-c C-t} (@code{mail-text}) moves point to just after the header
547 separator line---that is, to the beginning of the message body text.
549 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Mail mode)}
550 @findex mail-signature
551 @vindex mail-signature
552 @kbd{C-c C-w} (@code{mail-signature}) adds a standard piece of text at
553 the end of the message to say more about who you are. The text comes
554 from the file @file{~/.signature} in your home directory. To insert
555 your signature automatically, set the variable @code{mail-signature} to
556 @code{t}; then starting a mail message automatically inserts the
557 contents of your @file{~/.signature} file. If you want to omit your
558 signature from a particular message, delete it from the buffer before
559 you send the message.
561 You can also set @code{mail-signature} to a string; then that string
562 is inserted automatically as your signature when you start editing a
563 message to send. If you set it to some other Lisp expression, the
564 expression is evaluated each time, and its value (which should be a
565 string) specifies the signature.
567 @findex ispell-message
568 You can do spelling correction on the message text you have written
569 with the command @kbd{M-x ispell-message}. If you have yanked an
570 incoming message into the outgoing draft, this command skips what was
571 yanked, but it checks the text that you yourself inserted. (It looks
572 for indentation or @code{mail-yank-prefix} to distinguish the cited
573 lines from your input.) @xref{Spelling}.
575 @kindex C-c C-i @r{(Mail mode)}
576 @findex mail-attach-file
577 To include a file in the outgoing message, you can use @kbd{C-x i},
578 the usual command to insert a file in the current buffer. But it is
579 often more convenient to use a special command, @kbd{C-c C-i}
580 (@code{mail-attach-file}). This command inserts the file contents at
581 the end of the buffer, after your signature if any, with a delimiter
582 line that includes the file name.
584 @vindex mail-mode-hook
585 @vindex mail-setup-hook
586 Turning on Mail mode (which @kbd{C-x m} does automatically) runs the
587 normal hooks @code{text-mode-hook} and @code{mail-mode-hook}.
588 Initializing a new outgoing message runs the normal hook
589 @code{mail-setup-hook}; if you want to add special fields to your mail
590 header or make other changes to the appearance of the mail buffer, use
591 that hook. @xref{Hooks}.
593 The main difference between these hooks is just when they are
594 invoked. Whenever you type @kbd{M-x mail}, @code{mail-mode-hook} runs
595 as soon as the @samp{*mail*} buffer is created. Then the
596 @code{mail-setup} function puts in the default contents of the buffer.
597 After these default contents are inserted, @code{mail-setup-hook} runs.
599 @node Distracting NSA
600 @section Distracting the NSA
604 @kbd{M-x spook} adds a line of randomly chosen keywords to an outgoing
605 mail message. The keywords are chosen from a list of words that suggest
606 you are discussing something subversive.
608 The idea behind this feature is the suspicion that the NSA snoops on
609 all electronic mail messages that contain keywords suggesting they might
610 find them interesting. (The NSA says they don't, but that's what they
611 @emph{would} say.) The idea is that if lots of people add suspicious
612 words to their messages, the NSA will get so busy with spurious input
613 that they will have to give up reading it all.
615 Here's how to insert spook keywords automatically whenever you start
616 entering an outgoing message:
619 (add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'spook)
622 Whether or not this confuses the NSA, it at least amuses people.
625 @section Putting @code{fortune} Items in Signatures
628 @findex fortune-to-signature
629 @findex fortune-from-region
630 @cindex signatures, mail/news
631 @cindex fortune cookies
632 The Fortune package uses the @code{fortune} program to create signatures
633 for mail or network news messages. (@code{fortune} prints a
634 random---with luck, interesting---adage, originally inspired by `fortune
635 cookie' messages.) It also allows you automatically to cut regions to a
636 Fortune file with @kbd{M-x fortune-from-region} and compile your own
637 Fortune database. To generate signatures, add
638 @code{fortune-to-signature} to @code{mail-setup-hook} and/or
639 @code{message-setup-hook} as appropriate.
642 @section Making Footnotes
645 @findex footnote-mode
646 @kbd{M-x footnote-mode} toggles a minor mode for making footnotes in
647 mail or network news messages. It is intended for use specifically with
648 Message mode but is not specific to that. It provides commands and
649 keybindings to insert footnotes, go to a given note, delete a note and
650 renumber notes. See the group @code{footnote} for customization and the
651 mode's documentation for keybindings. To set up Footnote mode for all
652 messages, add @code{footnote-mode} to @code{mail-mode-hook} and/or
653 @code{message-mode-hook} as appropriate.
656 @section Mail-Composition Methods
657 @cindex mail-composition methods
659 This chapter describes the usual Emacs mode for editing and sending
660 mail---Mail mode. Emacs has alternative facilities for editing and
661 sending mail, including MH-E and Message mode, not documented in this
662 manual. You can choose any of them as your preferred method. The
663 commands @code{C-x m}, @code{C-x 4 m} and @code{C-x 5 m} use whichever
664 agent you have specified. So do various other Emacs commands and
665 facilities that send mail.
667 @vindex mail-user-agent
668 To specify your mail-composition method, set the variable
669 @code{mail-user-agent}. Currently legitimate values include
670 @code{sendmail-user-agent}, @code{mh-e-user-agent}, and
671 @code{message-user-agent}.
673 If you select a different mail-composition method, the information in
674 this chapter about the @samp{*mail*} buffer and Mail mode does not
675 apply; other methods may use completely different commands with a
676 different format in a differently named buffer.