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- @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
- @c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2017 Free Software
- @c 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 email message from Emacs, type @kbd{C-x m}. This
- switches to a buffer named @file{*unsent mail*}, where you can edit
- the text and headers of the message. When done, type @kbd{C-c C-s} or
- @kbd{C-c C-c} to send it.
- @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
- The mail buffer is an ordinary Emacs buffer, so you can switch to
- other buffers while composing the mail. If you want to send another
- mail before finishing the current one, type @kbd{C-x m} again to open
- a new mail buffer whose name has a different numeric suffix
- (@pxref{Misc Buffer}). If you invoke the command with a prefix
- argument, @w{@kbd{C-u C-x m}}, Emacs switches back to the last mail
- buffer, and asks if you want to erase the message in that buffer; if
- you answer no, this lets you pick up editing the message where you
- left off.
- @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 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}) does it in a new frame.
- When you type @kbd{C-c C-c} or @kbd{C-c C-s} to send the mail, Emacs
- may ask you how it should deliver the mail---either directly via SMTP,
- or using some other method. @xref{Mail Sending}, for details.
- @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
- Here is an example of the contents of a mail buffer:
- @example
- To: subotai@@example.org
- CC: mongol.soldier@@example.net, rms@@gnu.org
- Subject: Re: What is best in life?
- From: conan@@example.org
- --text follows this line--
- To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to
- hear the lamentation of their women.
- @end example
- @noindent
- At the top of the mail buffer is a set of @dfn{header fields}, which
- are used for specifying information about the email's recipient(s),
- subject, and so on. The above buffer contains header fields for
- @samp{To}, @samp{Cc}, @samp{Subject}, and @samp{From}. Some header
- fields are automatically pre-initialized in the mail buffer, when
- appropriate.
- The line that says @samp{--text follows this line--} separates the
- header fields from the @dfn{body} (or @dfn{text}) of the message.
- Everything above that 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.
- You can insert and edit header fields using ordinary editing
- commands. @xref{Header Editing}, for commands specific to editing
- header fields. Certain headers, such as @samp{Date} and
- @samp{Message-Id}, are normally omitted from the mail buffer and are
- created automatically when the message is sent.
- @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. 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.
- @vindex user-full-name
- @vindex user-mail-address
- The @samp{From} header field identifies the person sending the email
- (i.e., you). This should be a valid mailing address, as replies are
- normally sent there. The default contents of this header field are
- computed from the variables @code{user-full-name} (which specifies
- your full name) and @code{user-mail-address} (your email address). On
- some operating systems, Emacs initializes these two variables using
- environment variables (@pxref{General Variables}). If this
- information is unavailable or wrong, you should 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 contents of 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 <king@@grassland.com>}.
- @item any other value
- Use @code{angles} normally. But 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
- Apart from @samp{From}, here is a table of commonly-used fields:
- @table @samp
- @item To
- The mailing address(es) to which the message is addressed. To list
- more than one address, use commas to separate them.
- @item Subject
- The subject of the message.
- @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. @samp{BCC} stands
- for @dfn{blind carbon copies}.
- @item FCC
- The name of a 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 in Babyl format. 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}.
- This is used if, for some reason, your @samp{From} address cannot
- 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
- One of more address(es) to use as default recipient(s) for follow-up
- messages. This is typically used when you reply to a message from a
- mailing list that you are subscribed to, and want replies to go to the
- list without sending an extra copy to you.
- @item In-reply-to
- An identifier for the message you are replying to. Most mail readers
- use this information to group related messages together. Normally,
- this header is filled in automatically when you reply to a message in
- any mail program built into Emacs.
- @item References
- Identifiers for previous related messages. Like @samp{In-reply-to},
- this is normally filled in 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
- @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 one or more mailing 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 like this:
- @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:
- @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 <none@@example.com>"
- @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" <none@@example.com>}.
- 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 @file{*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
- @table @kbd
- @item C-c C-c
- Send the message, and bury 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
- @vindex message-kill-buffer-on-exit
- The usual command to send a message is @kbd{C-c C-c}
- (@code{mail-send-and-exit}). This sends the message and then
- buries the mail buffer, putting it at the lowest priority for
- reselection. If you want it to kill the mail buffer instead, change
- the variable @code{message-kill-buffer-on-exit} to @code{t}.
- @findex message-send-and-exit
- The command @kbd{C-c C-s} (@code{message-send}) sends the message
- and 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}. It also
- marks the mail buffer as unmodified, except if the mail buffer is also
- a file-visiting buffer (in that case, only saving the file does that,
- and you don't get a warning if you try to send the same message
- twice).
- @cindex SMTP
- @cindex Feedmail
- @cindex Sendmail
- @cindex Mailclient
- @vindex send-mail-function
- The variable @code{send-mail-function} controls how the message is
- delivered. Its value should be one of the following functions:
- @table @code
- @item sendmail-query-once
- Query for a delivery method (one of the other entries in this list),
- and use that method for this message; then save the method to
- @code{send-mail-function}, so that it is used for future deliveries.
- This is the default, unless you have already set the variables for
- sending mail via @code{smtpmail-send-it} (see below).
- @item smtpmail-send-it
- Send mail through an external mail host, such as your
- Internet service provider's outgoing SMTP mail server. If you have
- not told Emacs how to contact the SMTP server, it prompts for this
- information, which is saved in the @code{smtpmail-smtp-server} variable
- and the file @file{~/.authinfo}.
- @xref{Top,,Emacs SMTP Library, smtpmail, Sending mail via SMTP}.
- @item sendmail-send-it
- Send mail using the system's default @command{sendmail} program, or
- equivalent. This requires the system to be set up for delivering mail
- directly via SMTP.
- @item mailclient-send-it
- Pass the mail buffer on to the system's designated mail client. See
- the commentary section in the file @file{mailclient.el} for details.
- @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 details.
- @end table
- @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.
- @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 the mail reader, as a citation
- (@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 works only if
- the mail buffer is invoked from a mail reader 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 mml-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 Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
- (@acronym{MIME}) 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.
- @findex mail-add-attachment
- The @code{mml-attach-file} command is specific to Message mode; in
- Mail mode use @kbd{mail-add-attachment} instead. It will prompt only
- for the name of the file, and will determine the content type and the
- disposition automatically. If you want to include some description of
- the attached file, type that in the message 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 message-mode-hook
- @vindex message-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 message-signature-file
- @vindex message-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{message-signature} determines how Emacs handles the
- mail signature.
- The default value of @code{message-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{message-signature-file}.
- If you change @code{message-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{message-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.
- @vindex mail-signature-file
- @vindex mail-signature
- If you use Mail mode rather than Message mode for composing your
- mail, the corresponding variables that determine how your signature is
- sent are @code{mail-signature} and @code{mail-signature-file} instead.
- 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}).
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