Sending mail actually consists of three logical steps. In MM, they are usually done in this order: addressing, writing the message, sending.
The standard procedure in MM is to type send at the MM> prompt, and fill in the address, subject and text. When you are done, you enter Send Mode, shown by the S> prompt.
MM>send To: fb2 cc: mm33, hk12 Subject: Meeting on Sept 21 Message (End with CTRL/D or ESC Use CTRL/B to insert a file, CTRL/E to enter editor, CTRL/F to run text through a filter, CTRL/K to redisplay message, CTRL/L to clear screen and redisplay, CTRL/N to abort, CTRL/P to run a program and insert output.): Let's meet on Sept 21 at 2:00 to go over plans for this semester. Joe [escape] S>
There are two address fields, To and cc. You would generally use the To field to indicate who the message is for.
The cc field is based on the longstanding business practice of sending copies of memos or letters for information purposes. The origins of cc are debatable; it may be carbon copy or courtesy copy, or may be simply a plural of copy (like pp for pages). The cc field is used to show someone else what message you sent, but the message is basically addressed to the people in the To field.
An alternative form of the send command is to put the address on the same line with the command. Doing so cuts out both the To and cc prompts of the standard procedure.
MM>send fb2 Subject: Meeting on Sept 21 Message (End with CTRL/D or ESC Use CTRL/B to insert a file, CTRL/E to enter editor, CTRL/F to run text through a filter, CTRL/K to redisplay message, CTRL/L to clear screen and redisplay, CTRL/N to abort, CTRL/P to run a program and insert output.): ...
This effect is controlled by a variable, prompt-rcpt-always, normally set to no: if you supply an address with the send command it doesn't ask for any other addresses. If you don't want to skip the other address prompts, type the command set prompt-rcpt-always yes and then the command save-init.
You can cut off the send procedure at almost any point by typing control-n. Once you reach the S> prompt, type the command quit to do the same thing. This is known as aborting, and the message, or as much of it as you typed, is thrown away. (Actually, it's still in memory, and you can type continue at the MM> prompt to go back, if you abort by accident.)
This shows control-n being used at the Subject prompt, but remember you can use control-n at any point in the procedure.
MM>send To: fb2 cc: mm33, hk12 Subject: Meeting on [control-n] Abort? y MM>
The question Abort? gives you a chance to stop it, in case you hit control-n by mistake; you can type n and continue writing the message.
The behavior of control-n is controlled by a variable, control-n-abort, which is usually set to ask, resulting in the question as shown. You can reset it with the command set control-n-abort always or never, and then save the setting with the save-init command. The setting always means control-n will abort immediately, without giving you a chance to stop it, and never means control-n does nothing (to abort, you would have to get to the S> prompt and use the quit command there).
At the S> prompt, the most commonly used commands are probably send, to send the message, and quit, to abort. Both send and quit leave the send level and return you to the prompt you started from (either MM> or R>).
To check a message before sending, type display or just d. You can verify that the addresses are correct and that the text is OK.
S>d From: Joseph Brennan <jb51@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> To: fb2 Cc: mm33, hk12 Subject: Meeting on Sept 21 Let's meet on Sept 21 at 2:00 to go over plans for this semester. Joe S>
If you see something you don't like, there are a variety of commands you can use at the S> prompt that let you add and delete material from the message, the subject of most of the sections in this chapter.