You can insert text from a file into a message. You can therefore prepare text separately and use MM just to mail it to someone, or you can send a file you hadn't originally planned to mail at all. Only plain text should be mailed, not binary files.
If the text is on your own PC or Macintosh, upload it before you start MM; that is, copy the file from the PC or Macintosh to the host where you use MM. See instructions for Kermit or for the communications system you use.
In MM's text mode, the command control-b lets you insert a file. You can type in text before and after using control-b, if you want to add some introductory or closing remarks.
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.): Here's the general scheme for Library of Congress: [control-b] Insert file: lcscheme [OK] Let me know if you want details. [escape] S>display text Here's the general scheme for Library of Congress: A General B Philosophy, Psychology, Religion C-F History G-L Social Sciences M-N Arts P Literature Q-V Science and Technology Z Books Let me know if you want details. S>
As in the example, you may wish to use the display command to check that you included the right file, or that the message as a whole looks right.
The command control-b uses MM's current working directory. If the file is from some other directory, include a path to that directory so the command can find it. The response shown, [OK], indicates that the file was found and included; otherwise it shows not found, so you will realize there is some problem with the file name or what directory it is in.
You can insert a file with control-b, and then, at the S> prompt, type edit to bring the message, including the inserted file, into Emacs for editing. You might want to trim the file or add to it, for purposes of the message.
Emacs has a standard command to insert text from another file. Type meta-x followed by the words insert-file with a hyphen, and press return. The prompt that appears says insert file and supplies the current working directory. Type the filename (backspace over the directory name if you want to specify a different directory) and press return. You can see the text appear on screen. The cursor is at Emacs's point, the beginning of the inserted material, and Emacs's mark is at the end of the inserted material (so you can undo the insertion with a control-w command).
-----Emacs: *MM Outgoing* (Text Fill)----All-------------------------- M-x insert-file
-----Emacs: *MM Outgoing* (Text Fill)----All-------------------------- Insert file: ~/lcscheme
-----Emacs: *MM Outgoing* (Text Fill)----All-------------------------- Mark set
If you just want to append a file to your message, use the command insert at the S> prompt. Type insert and the filename.
S>insert lcscheme S>
Use the display command if you want to see how the message looks with the file appended.
You can only mail plain text. Compressed files and compiled programs are examples of binary files that cannot be mailed. Binaries can be transferred by ftp or possibly converted to text before mailing.
Mail files like mbox are plain text and can be mailed, but they may not be usable by other mail programs except as ordinary files. If you want to send a set of messages, consider using the forward or remail commands, rather than including a mail file into a message.