X-Git-Url: https://git.hcoop.net/bpt/emacs.git/blobdiff_plain/3f715d17fef56ee78a3df7ebb00d4e8b1aec37de..73b0cd50031a714347109169ceb8bacae338612a:/doc/emacs/sending.texi diff --git a/doc/emacs/sending.texi b/doc/emacs/sending.texi dissimilarity index 83% index 1d1e13af22..02857459cc 100644 --- a/doc/emacs/sending.texi +++ b/doc/emacs/sending.texi @@ -1,724 +1,714 @@ -@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, 2008 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 +@c This is part of the Emacs manual. +@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2011 +@c Free Software Foundation, Inc. +@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. +@node Sending Mail +@chapter Sending Mail +@cindex sending mail +@cindex mail +@cindex email +@cindex message + +@kindex C-x m +@findex compose-mail + To send an @dfn{e-mail} message in Emacs, type @kbd{C-x m}. This +selects and initializes a buffer named @samp{*mail*}, where you can +edit the text and headers of the message. Finally, type @kbd{C-c C-s} +or @kbd{C-c C-c} to send the message. + +@table @kbd +@item C-x m +Begin composing mail (@code{compose-mail}). +@item C-x 4 m +Likewise, in another window (@code{compose-mail-other-window}). +@item C-x 5 m +Likewise, but in a new frame (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}). +@item C-c C-s +In the mail buffer, send the message (@code{message-send}). +@item C-c C-c +In the mail buffer, send the message and bury the buffer +(@code{message-send-and-exit}). +@end table + +@kindex C-x 4 m +@findex compose-mail-other-window +@kindex C-x 5 m +@findex compose-mail-other-frame +@noindent +The command @kbd{C-x 4 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-window}) does the +same as @kbd{C-x m}, except it displays the mail buffer in a different +window. The command @kbd{C-x 5 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-frame}) +creates a new frame for the mail buffer. + + Because the mail 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 type @kbd{C-x m} again when you have +been composing another message but have not sent it, Emacs asks for +confirmation before erasing the old message. If you answer @kbd{n}, +Emacs selects the mail buffer 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 mail buffer ``unmodified,'' which +avoids the need for confirmation when @kbd{C-x m} is next used. + + If you want to send another message before finishing the current +message, use the command @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} to rename the +current mail buffer (@pxref{Misc Buffer}). Then you can use @kbd{C-x +m} to make a new mail buffer, and work with each mail buffer +independently. + + Before using Emacs to send mail, you may need to customize the +variable @code{send-mail-function} if your system is not set up to +deliver mail directly via SMTP (@pxref{Mail Sending}). In addition, +you may need to customize @code{user-mail-address} if the system +cannot receive mail via SMTP (@pxref{Mail Headers}). + +@menu +* Format: Mail Format. Format of a mail message. +* Headers: Mail Headers. Details of some standard mail header fields. +* Aliases: Mail Aliases. Abbreviating and grouping mail addresses. +* Commands: Mail Commands. Special commands for editing mail being composed. +* Signature: Mail Signature. Adding a signature to every message. +* 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 + + An email message must contain certain pieces of information, called +@dfn{headers}, which specify the message's sender, recipient(s), and +so on. + + At the top of the mail buffer is a set of @dfn{header fields}, where +you can enter this information. You can insert and edit header fields +using ordinary editing commands. @xref{Header Editing}, for commands +specific to editing header fields. + + Some header fields are automatically pre-initialized in the buffer, +when appropriate; other headers, such as @samp{Date} and +@samp{Message-Id}, are normally omitted from the mail buffer and +created automatically when the message is sent. + +@vindex mail-header-separator + The line in the buffer that says + +@smallexample +--text follows this line-- +@end smallexample + +@noindent +separates the header fields from the @dfn{body} (or @dfn{text}) of the +message. Everything above this line is treated as part of the +headers; everything below it is treated as the body. 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@@example.org +CC: lungfish@@example.com, byob@@example.net +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 commonly-used fields. Emacs pre-initializes some of these, +depending on various options you can set. You can delete or alter any +header field before you send the message, if you wish. + +@table @samp +@item From +@vindex user-mail-address +The address of the sender (you). This should be a valid mailing +address, as replies will normally go there. Emacs initializes this +field using the variables @code{user-full-name} and +@code{user-mail-address}; see below. + +@item To +The mailing address(es) to which the message is addressed. To list +more than one address, use commas (not spaces) to separate them. + +@item Subject +A piece of text saying what the message is about. Most mail-reading +programs can display a summary of messages, listing the subject of +each message but not its text. + +@item CC +Additional mailing address(es) to send the message to. This is like +@samp{To}, except that these readers should not regard the message as +directed at them. + +@item BCC +Additional mailing address(es) to send the message to, which should +not appear in the header of the message actually sent. ``BCC'' stands +for @dfn{blind carbon copies}. + +@item FCC +The name of one file, to which a copy of the sent message should be +appended. Emacs writes the message in mbox format, unless the file is +in Babyl format (used by Rmail before Emacs 23), in which case Emacs +writes Babyl. If an Rmail buffer is visiting the file, Emacs updates +it accordingly. To specify more than one file, use several @samp{FCC} +fields, with one file name in each field. + +@item Reply-to +An address to which replies should be sent, instead of @samp{From}. +You can use this header if, for some reason, your @samp{From} address +is unable to receive replies. + +@item Mail-reply-to + This field takes precedence over @samp{Reply-to}. It is used because +some mailing lists set the @samp{Reply-to} field for their own purposes +(a somewhat controversial practice). + +@item Mail-followup-to + This field contains one or more addresses. It is typically used when +you reply to a message from a mailing list that you are subscribed to. +It usually indicates that you want replies to go to the list, and that +you do not need an extra copy sent directly to you. + +@c Message mode handles this differently... +@c @vindex mail-mailing-lists +@c The variable @code{mail-mailing-lists} holds a list of mailing list +@c addresses that you are subscribed to. If it is non-@code{nil}, Emacs +@c inserts an appropriate @samp{Mail-followup-to} header when sending mail +@c to a mailing list. + +@item In-reply-to +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, you never need to think about this, because it is filled in +automatically when you reply to a message in Rmail (or any other mail +program built into Emacs). + +@item References +The Message-Ids of previous related messages (a Message-Id is a unique +identifier generated when a message is sent). Like +@samp{In-reply-to}, this is normally set up automatically for you. +@end table + +@noindent +The @samp{To}, @samp{CC}, and @samp{BCC} 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@@example.net, this@@example.net, + bob@@example.com +@end group +@end example + +@vindex user-full-name +@vindex user-mail-address + The default contents of the @samp{From} header field are computed +from the variables @code{user-full-name} and @code{user-mail-address}. +On some operating systems, Emacs initializes these two variables using +environment variables (@pxref{General Variables}). If this +information is unavailable or wrong, you can customize the variables +yourself (@pxref{Easy Customization}). + +@vindex mail-from-style + The value of the variable @code{mail-from-style} specifies how to +format the address in the @samp{From} field: + +@table @asis +@item @code{nil} +Use just the address, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com}. +@item @code{parens} +Use both address and full name, as in:@* +@samp{king@@grassland.com (Elvis Parsley)}. +@item @code{angles} +Use both address and full name, as in:@* +@samp{Elvis Parsley }. +@item any other value +Use @code{angles} for most addresses. However, if the address must be +``quoted'' to remain syntactically-valid under the @code{angles} +format but not under the @code{parens} format, use @code{parens} +instead. This is the default. +@end table + +@c There is also mail-specify-envelope-from and mail-envelope-from, but +@c these are probably not topics for the Emacs manual. + +@vindex mail-default-headers + You can direct Emacs to insert certain default headers into the mail +buffer by setting the variable @code{mail-default-headers} to a +string. Then @kbd{C-x m} inserts this string into the message +headers. For example, here is how to add a @samp{Reply-to} and +@samp{FCC} header to each message: + +@smallexample +(setq mail-default-headers + "Reply-to: foo@@example.com\nFCC: ~/Mail/sent") +@end smallexample + +@noindent +If the default header fields are not appropriate for a +particular message, edit them as necessary before sending the message. + +@node Mail Aliases +@section Mail Aliases +@cindex mail aliases +@cindex @file{.mailrc} file +@cindex mailrc file +@vindex mail-personal-alias-file + + You can define @dfn{mail aliases}, which are short mnemonic names +that stand for mail addresses or groups of mail addresses. By +default, mail aliases are defined in the file @file{~/.mailrc}. You +can specify a different file name to use, by setting the variable +@code{mail-personal-alias-file}. + + To define an alias in @file{.mailrc}, write a line in the following +format: + +@example +alias @var{nick} @var{fulladdresses} +@end example + +@noindent +This means that @var{nick} should expand into @var{fulladdresses}, +where @var{fulladdresses} can be either a single address, or multiple +addresses separated with spaces. 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 +If an address contains a space, quote the whole address with a pair of +double quotes, like this: + +@example +alias jsmith "John Q. Smith " +@end example + +@noindent +Note that you need not include double quotes around individual parts +of the address, such as the person's full name. Emacs puts them in if +they are needed. For instance, it inserts the above address as +@samp{"John Q. Smith" }. + + Emacs also recognizes ``include'' commands in @file{.mailrc}. They +look like this: + +@example +source @var{filename} +@end example + +@noindent +The @file{.mailrc} file is not unique to Emacs; many other +mail-reading programs use it for mail aliases, and it can contain +various other commands. However, Emacs ignores everything except +alias definitions and include commands. + +@findex mail-abbrev-insert-alias + Mail aliases expand as abbrevs---that is to say, as soon as you type +a word-separator character after an alias (@pxref{Abbrevs}). This +expansion takes place only within the @samp{To}, @samp{From}, +@samp{CC}, @samp{BCC}, and @samp{Reply-to} header fields (plus their +@samp{Resent-} variants); it does not take place in other header +fields, such as @samp{Subject}. + + You can also insert an aliased address directly, using the command +@kbd{M-x mail-abbrev-insert-alias}. This reads an alias name, with +completion, and inserts its definition at point. + +@node Mail Commands +@section Mail Commands +@cindex Message mode +@cindex mode, Message + + The default major mode for the @samp{*mail*} buffer is called +Message mode. It behaves like Text mode in many ways, but provides +several additional commands on the @kbd{C-c} prefix, which make +editing a message more convenient. + + In this section, we will describe some of the most commonly-used +commands available in Message mode. +@ifnottex +Message mode also has its own manual, where its features are described +in greater detail. @xref{Top,,Message, message, Message}. +@end ifnottex + +@menu +* Mail Sending:: Commands to send the message. +* Header Editing:: Commands to move to header fields and edit them. +* Citing Mail:: Quoting a message you are replying to. +* Mail Misc:: Attachments, spell checking, etc. +@end menu + +@node Mail Sending +@subsection Mail Sending + + There are two commands to send a message you have been editing: + +@table @kbd +@item C-c C-c +Send the message, and deselect the mail buffer (@code{message-send-and-exit}). +@item C-c C-s +Send the message, and leave the mail buffer selected (@code{message-send}). +@end table + +@kindex C-c C-s @r{(Message mode)} +@kindex C-c C-c @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-send + If you want to send a message and be done with it, type @kbd{C-c +C-c} (@code{mail-send-and-exit}). This sends the message and then +either deletes the window or switches to another buffer. It also +``buries'' the mail buffer, putting it at the lowest priority for +reselection. This is the usual command for sending a message. + +@findex message-send-and-exit + The command @kbd{C-c C-s} (@code{message-send}) sends the message +and marks the mail buffer unmodified, but leaves the buffer selected. +Use this command if you want to modify the message (perhaps with new +recipients) and send it again. + +@vindex message-send-hook + Sending a message runs the hook @code{message-send-hook}. + + 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. + +@vindex sendmail-coding-system + When you send a message containing 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 +@cindex Mailclient +@vindex send-mail-function + The variable @code{send-mail-function} controls how the default mail +user agent sends mail. Its value should be a function, which can be +one of the following: + +@table @code +@item sendmail-send-it +Send mail using the system's default @command{sendmail} (or +@command{sendmail}-compatible) program. This is the default on Unix +and GNU, and works provided the system is a valid @dfn{mail host} +(that is, provided it can deliver mail via SMTP). + +@item mailclient-send-it +Pass the mail buffer on to the system's designated mail client (see +@file{mailclient.el}). This is the default on Mac OS X and +MS-Windows. + +@item smtpmail-send-it +Send mail through an external mail host (e.g., your Internet service +provider's SMTP server). You will need to tell Emacs how to contact +the SMTP server, by customizing the variables +@code{smtpmail-smtp-server} and @code{smtpmail-auth-credentials}. +@xref{Top,,Emacs SMTP Library, smtpmail, Sending mail via SMTP}. + +@item feedmail-send-it +This is similar to @code{sendmail-send-it}, but allows you to queue +messages for later sending. See the commentary section in the file +@file{feedmail.el} for more information. +@end table + +@node Header Editing +@subsection Mail Header Editing + + Message mode provides the following 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 (@code{message-goto-to}). +@item C-c C-f C-s +Move to the @samp{Subject} header (@code{message-goto-subject}). +@item C-c C-f C-c +Move to the @samp{CC} header (@code{message-goto-cc}). +@item C-c C-f C-b +Move to the @samp{BCC} header (@code{message-goto-bcc}). +@item C-c C-f C-r +Move to the @samp{Reply-To} header (@code{message-goto-reply-to}). +@item C-c C-f C-f +Move to the @samp{Mail-Followup-To} header field +(@code{message-goto-followup-to}). +@item C-c C-f C-w +Add a new @samp{FCC} header field, with file-name completion +(@code{message-goto-fcc}). +@item C-c C-b +Move to the start of the message body (@code{message-goto-body}). +@item @key{TAB} +Complete a mailing address (@code{message-tab}). +@end table + +@kindex C-c C-f C-t @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-goto-to +@kindex C-c C-f C-s @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-goto-subject +@kindex C-c C-f C-c @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-goto-cc +@kindex C-c C-f C-b @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-goto-bcc +@kindex C-c C-f C-r @r{(Message mode)} +@findex goto-reply-to +@kindex C-c C-f C-f @r{(Message mode)} +@findex goto-followup-to +@kindex C-c C-f C-w @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-goto-fcc + The commands to move point to particular header fields are all based +on the prefix @kbd{C-c C-f} (@samp{C-f} is for ``field''). If the +field in question does not exist, the command creates one (the +exception is @code{mail-fcc}, which creates a new field each time). + +@kindex C-c C-b @r{(Message mode)} +@findex mail-text + The command @kbd{C-c C-b} (@code{message-goto-body}) moves point to +just after the header separator line---that is, to the beginning of +the body. + +@findex message-tab +@kindex TAB @r{(Message mode)} + While editing a header field that contains addresses, such as +@samp{To:}, @samp{CC:} and @samp{BCC:}, you can complete an address by +typing @key{TAB} (@code{message-tab}). This attempts to insert the +full name corresponding to the address based on a couple of methods, +including EUDC, a library that recognizes a number of directory server +protocols (@pxref{Top,,EUDC,eudc, The Emacs Unified Directory +Client}). Failing that, it attempts to expand the address as a mail +alias (@pxref{Mail Aliases}). If point is on a header field that does +not take addresses, or if it is in the message body, then @key{TAB} +just inserts a tab character. + +@node Citing Mail +@subsection Citing Mail +@cindex citing mail + +@table @kbd +@item C-c C-y +Yank the selected message from Rmail (@code{message-yank-original}). +@item C-c C-q +Fill each paragraph cited from another message +(@code{message-fill-yanked-message}). +@end table + +@kindex C-c C-y @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-yank-original +@findex message-yank-prefix + You can use the command @kbd{C-c C-y} (@code{message-yank-original}) +to @dfn{cite} a message that you are replying to. This inserts the +text of that message into the mail buffer. This command is active +only when the mail buffer is invoked from a mail program running in +Emacs, such as Rmail. + + By default, Emacs inserts the string @samp{>} in front of each line +of the cited text; this prefix string is specified by the variable +@code{message-yank-prefix}. If you call @code{message-yank-original} +with a prefix argument, the citation prefix is not inserted. + +@kindex C-c C-q @r{(Message mode)} +@findex mail-fill-yanked-message + After using @kbd{C-c C-y}, you can type @kbd{C-c C-q} +(@code{message-fill-yanked-message}) to fill the paragraphs of the +cited message. 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}. + +@vindex mail-citation-hook + You can customize mail citation through the hook +@code{mail-citation-hook}. For example, you can use the Supercite +package, which provides more flexible citation +(@pxref{Introduction,,,sc, Supercite}). + +@node Mail Misc +@subsection Mail Miscellany + +@kindex C-c C-a @r{(Message mode)} +@findex mail-attach-file +@cindex MIME +@cindex Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions + You can @dfn{attach} a file to an outgoing message by typing +@kbd{C-c C-a} (@code{mml-attach-file}) in the mail buffer. Attaching +is done using the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) +standard. + + The @code{mml-attach-file} command prompts for the name of the file, +and for the attachment's @dfn{content type}, @dfn{description}, and +@dfn{disposition}. The content type is normally detected +automatically; just type @key{RET} to accept the default. The +description is a single line of text that the recipient will see next +to the attachment; you may also choose to leave this empty. The +disposition is either @samp{inline} (the default), which means the +recipient will see a link to the attachment within the message body, +or @samp{attachment}, which means the link will be separate from the +body. + + The actual contents of the attached file are not inserted into the +mail buffer. Instead, some placeholder text is inserted into the mail +buffer, like this: + +@smallexample +<#part type="text/plain" filename="~/foo.txt" disposition=inline> +<#/part> +@end smallexample + +@noindent +When you type @kbd{C-c C-c} or @kbd{C-c C-s} to send the message, the +attached file will be delivered with it. + +@findex ispell-message + While composing a message, you can do spelling correction on the +message text by typing @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}. + +@vindex mail-mode-hook +@vindex mail-setup-hook + Turning on Message mode (which @kbd{C-x m} does automatically) runs +the normal hooks @code{text-mode-hook} and @code{message-mode-hook}. +Initializing a new outgoing message runs the normal hook +@code{message-setup-hook}; you can use this hook if you want to make +changes to the appearance of the mail buffer. @xref{Hooks}. + + The main difference between these hooks is just when they are +invoked. Whenever you type @kbd{C-x m}, @code{message-mode-hook} runs +as soon as the mail buffer is created. Then the @code{message-setup} +function inserts the default contents of the buffer. After these +default contents are inserted, @code{message-setup-hook} runs. + + If you use @kbd{C-x m} to continue an existing composition, +@code{message-mode-hook} runs immediately after switching to the mail +buffer. If the buffer is unmodified, or if you decide to erase it and +start again, @code{message-setup-hook} runs after the default contents +are inserted. + +@node Mail Signature +@section Mail Signature + +@cindex mail signature +@vindex mail-signature-file +@vindex mail-signature + You can add a standard piece of text---your @dfn{mail +signature}---to the end of every message. This signature may contain +information such as your telephone number or your physical location. +The variable @code{mail-signature} determines how Emacs handles the +mail signature. + + The default value of @code{mail-signature} is @code{t}; this means +to look for your mail signature in the file @file{~/.signature}. If +this file exists, its contents are automatically inserted into the end +of the mail buffer. You can change the signature file via the +variable @code{mail-signature-file}. + + If you change @code{mail-signature} to a string, that specifies the +text of the signature directly. + +@kindex C-c C-w @r{(Message mode)} +@findex message-insert-signature + If you change @code{mail-signature} to @code{nil}, Emacs will not +insert your mail signature automatically. You can insert your mail +signature by typing @kbd{C-c C-w} (@code{message-insert-signature}) in +the mail buffer. Emacs will look for your signature in the signature +file. + + By convention, a mail signature should be marked by a line whose +contents are @samp{-- }. If your signature lacks this prefix, it is +added for you. The remainder of your signature should be no more than +four lines. + +@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.} and other intelligence +agencies snoop on all electronic mail messages that contain keywords +suggesting they might find them interesting. (The agencies say that +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 agencies will +get so busy with spurious input that they will have to give up reading +it all. Whether or not this is true, it at least amuses some 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 + +@noindent +You will probably need to set the variable @code{fortune-file} before +using this. + +@node Mail Methods +@section Mail-Composition Methods +@cindex mail-composition methods +@cindex Mail mode +@cindex mode, Mail + +@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---Message mode. This is only one of several +available modes. Prior to Emacs 23.2, the default mode was Mail mode, +which is similar to Message mode in many respects but lacks features +such as MIME support. Another available mode is MH-E +(@pxref{Top,,MH-E,mh-e, The Emacs Interface to MH}). + +@vindex mail-user-agent + You can choose any of these @dfn{mail user agents} as your preferred +method for editing and sending mail. The commands @code{C-x m}, +@code{C-x 4 m} and @code{C-x 5 m} use whichever agent you have +specified; so do various other parts of Emacs that send mail, such as +the bug reporter (@pxref{Bugs}). To specify a mail user agent, +customize the variable @code{mail-user-agent}. Currently, legitimate +values include @code{message-user-agent} (Message mode) +@code{sendmail-user-agent} (Mail mode), @code{gnus-user-agent}, and +@code{mh-e-user-agent}. + + If you select a different mail-composition method, the information +in this chapter about the mail buffer and Message mode does not apply; +the other methods use a different format of text in a different +buffer, and their commands are different as well. + +@vindex read-mail-command + Similarly, to specify your preferred method for reading mail, +customize the variable @code{read-mail-command}. The default is +@code{rmail} (@pxref{Rmail}).