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ELM(1L)                                                                ELM(1L)

NAME
       elm - an interactive mail system

SYNOPSIS
       elm [ -achkKMmrtwz ] [ -f alternate-folder ] [ -d debug-level ]
       elm [ -s subject ] list of aliases or addresses

DESCRIPTION
       Elm is an interactive screen-oriented mailer program that supersedes
       mail and mailx.

       There are three main ways to use the elm mailer.  One way to use the
       mailer is to specify a list of addresses on the command line when the
       mailer is invoked.  This will allow sending of a single message to the
       specified recipients with all the options usually available in the elm
       system itself. For example, the command

            elm -s testing joe

       would initiate the sending of a message to the alias joe with the
       subject "testing" indicated and would put you into an editor for you to
       enter the text of the message.  If the subject flag and argument were
       not present, you would be prompted for a message subject.

       The second way, used most commonly when transmitting files and such, is
       to specify the subject of the message and the recipients using the
       command line and redirect a file as standard input.  For example, the
       command

            elm -s testing joe < test.c

       would mail a copy of the file test.c to alias joe, with the subject
       "testing" indicated.  The subject flag and argument are optional.

       The third way, elm is invoked with neither subject nor addresses
       specified on the command line and without standard input redirected.
       You can then read any messages in your incoming mailbox (or specified
       folder), reply to messages in the mailbox, mail messages, etc.

       Options are:

         -a      Arrow - force the arrow cursor (instead of the inverse bar)

         -c      Checkalias - expand the following aliases and return.

         -d level
                 Debug - set specified debug level - Output to
                 "$HOME/ELM:debug.info"

         -f alternative-folder
                 Folder - read folder (specified) rather than the incoming
                 mailbox.

         -h      Help - give a list of starting options.

         -i file
                 Include - include prepared file in edit buffer for sending.

         -?      Synonymous with the "-h" option.

         -k      Keypad - force knowledge of HP terminal keyboard, to allow
                 the use of the NEXT, PREV and HOME/SHIFT-HOME keys.

         -K      Keypad + softkeys - enable use of softkeys on HP terminals
                 only.

         -M      Magic mode - treat all folders as if they were the spool
                 folder (lock, update Status: headers, etc.).

         -m      Menu off - Use the extra lines for more message headers.

         -r elmrc
                 Rcfile - use file specified rather than the default elmrc.

         -s subj
                 Subject - specify subject for message to mail.

         -t      tite - turn off usage of the termcap/terminfo ti/te sequence.

         -v      Version - print version and configuration information.

         -z      Zero - don't enter Elm if no mail is pending.

AUTHOR
       Elm Development Group

SEE ALSO
       The Elm documentation package, including: The Elm Users Guide, The Elm
       Reference Guide, The Elm Alias System Users Guide, The Elm Forms Mode
       Guide, The Elm Filter Guide, The Elm Configuration Guide

       checkalias(1L), frm(1L), mail(1), mailx(1), newalias(1L),
       printmail(1L), readmsg(1L)

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
       REPLYTO        Default replyto address.
       TERM           The user's terminal type.
       LOGNAME        User login name.
       USER           Altername user login name.
       HOME           The user's home directory.
       MAIL           Location of mail file.
       LINES               Number of row on the screen.
       COLUMNS             Number of columns on the screen.
       SHELL               The user's shell of choice.
       PAGER               Command to use for displaying multiple
                           page mails.  Defaults to "builtin+".
       TMPDIR              Directory to place temporary files.
       EDITOR              Editor to use.
       NOMETAMAIL          If set, do not use metamail.

FILES
       /usr/local/lib/elm-help.*         help files
       /usr/local/lib/aliases.text       system alias source
       /usr/local/lib/aliases.dir        system alias dbz directory table
       /usr/local/lib/aliases.pag        system alias dbz hash table
       /usr/local/lib/aliases            system alias data table
       /usr/local/lib/aliases.hash       system alias hash table
       /usr/local/lib/aliases.data       system alias data table
       $HOME/.elm/aliases.text           user alias source
       $HOME/.elm/aliases.dir            user alias dbz directory table
       $HOME/.elm/aliases.pag            user alias dbz hash table
       $HOME/.elm/aliases                user alias data table
       $HOME/.elm/elmrc                  customized mailer parameters
       $HOME/.elm/elmheaders             customized message headers
       /tmp/snd.$$                       outgoing mail edit buffer
       /tmp/mbox.logname            temporary mailbox
       $HOME/ELM:debug.info              Debug output if turned on

DIAGNOSTICS
       Should know about keyboards/softkey terminals other than HP.  (If only
       termcap were that powerful!)

BUG REPORTS TO
       Bill Pemberton  flash@virginia.edu

COPYRIGHTS
       Copyright 1988-1995 by The USENET Community Trust
       Derived from Elm 2.0,  Copyright 1986, 1987 by Dave Taylor

USENET Community Trust          Elm Version 2.5                        ELM(1L)