MPE/iX Shell and Utilities Reference Manual, Vol 1

mailx(1) MPE/iX Shell and Utilities mailx(1)
Start-Up Files
When you invoke mailx in command mode, mailx does the following:
1. Sets all variables to their default values. Processes command-line options, using
them to override any corresponding default values.
2. Imports appropriate external environment variables, using them to override any cor-
responding default values.
3. Reads commands from the system start-up file, /etc/mailx.rcThis sets up vari-
able values and definitions that should be common to all users. If you do not want
mailx to read the system start-up file, use the –n option on the mailx command
line.
4. Reads your personal start-up file, given by the environment variable
MAILRC .By
default, this is the .mailrc under your home directory.
Typically, start-up files set up display options and define aliases; however, any command is
valid in a start-up file except for the following:
Copy edit followup Followup
mail hold preserve reply
Reply respond Respond shell
visual !
If a line in a start-up file contains an error or an invalid command, the rest of the start-up file is
ignored. mailx ignores blank lines in a start-up file.
EXAMPLES
The following example composes and sends a message to several users. Items shown in italics
are output by mailx itself.
mailx jean
Subject: Greetings
This is just a short note to say hello.
˜c juan john johann
˜.
On the first line, the message is just addressed to jean. The ˜c line adds more people who will
receive copies of the message.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
A large number of variables control the behavior of mailx. These environment variables are
divided into two classes: ones which always come from the external environment; and ones
that may be set up in either the external environment or within a mailx session.
Commands and Utilities 1-319