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MAILBOX for OpenVMS

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Features > MAILBOX Features
> MAILBOX Command-line tool features and documentation
> Comparison chart : MAIL vs. MAILBOX

> MAILBOX Features

>Sending messages [Screenshot] :

  • MAILBOX is MIME-compliant software, and supports attachments, as well as TO, CC (Carbon Copy), and BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) recipients.

  • MAILBOX selects the best transport protocol to use depending on the message to send. Simple messages are transported by VMSMail, as messages sent with the OpenVMS MAIL utility. Rich messages with BCC recipients and/or attachments are sent using the SMTP protocol.

  • SMTP transport may be forced (new in 0.7)

>Reading messages and extracting attachments :

  • MAILBOX enables to read and print text-only messages as well as MIME-encoded messages. [Screenshot]

  • Attachments are displayed along with their MIME type and can be easily saved to files. [Screenshot]

  • Systems administrators may block attachments depending on their type and/or extension, thus protecting the system against dangerous attachments. (new in 0.7) [Screenshot]

>Managing messages with folders [Screenshot] :

  • Messages may be easily stored in different folders.

  • Deleted messages are sent to a folder called WASTEBASKET, enabling the user to easily retrieve deleted messages.

>Replying and forwarding messages :

  • MAILBOX uses the editor of your choice for writing messages (new in 0.7). By default, the EVE/TPU editor is used. [Screenshot]

  • When replying a message, original text may be quoted. [Screenshot]

>Personal address book : MAILBOX features a personal address book that simplifies managing often used e-mail addresses. [Screenshot]

>Printing : Messages, folder contents and list of folders may be printed using both text or PostScript printers [Screenshot]

>Online Help : MAILBOX features a comprehensive and VMS compliant help system, available at your fingertips from any screen. [Screenshot]

>VMSMail compatibility

  • While bringing exciting features, MAILBOX is fully compatible with the OpenVMS classic MAIL utility.

  • Your mailbox is not affected by the use of MAILBOX. Messages may be sent, read and managed with both MAIL and MAILBOX. Moreover, MAILBOX may use MAIL distribution lists.

>Multilingual user interface [Screenshot] :

  • MAILBOX user-friendly character-cell interface supports multiple languages. The current language can be changed without quitting and restarting MAILBOX.

  • A default language may be defined for all users (new in 0.7)

  • Translating MAILBOX into another language is a matter of minutes.


> MAILBOX command-line tool features and documentation

>MAILBOX command-line tool enables to send complex messages within command procedures. It supports :

  • attaching files to a message

  • TO, CC (Carbon Copy) and BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) recipients

  • OpenVMS distribution lists

>Syntax

$ MLB_CMD action options

action :

  • SEND sends a message

  • VERSION displays version information

options :

  • /Body (required) : message body : plain text file specification

  • /Subject (required) : message subject : string

  • /To (required) : TO recipients : recipient or list of recipients (see below)

  • /Cc : CC recipients : recipient or list of recipients (see below)

  • /Bcc : BCC recipients : recipient or list of recipients (see below)

  • /Attachments : file(s) to attach : filename specification or list of comma-separated filenames.

A recipient may be :

  • an OpenVMS username (eg. SCULLY)

  • an email address embraced by double quotes (eg. "mulder@fbi.gov")

  • a filename specification for a VMSMail distribution list, preceded by an @ sign  and embraced by double quotes (eg. "@agents.dis")

A list of recipients is a comma-separated list of any number of recipients, in any order. Eg. (CHRIS, "@friends.dis", "me@myself.com").

>Example :

$ MLB_CMD SEND /Subject="Here are the files you requested" -
/Body=MESSAGE_BODY.TXT -
/Attachments=("INTRO.TXT", "CHART.XLS", "LISTING.C", "PIC.BMP") -
/To=(fred, "thisguy@sky.com", bob, chris) -
/Cc=("myboss@my-firm.com", "@colleagues.dis") -
/Bcc="mulder@fbi.gov"

$ MLB_CMD VERSION


> MAIL vs. MAILBOX

  MAIL MAILBOX
Sending text messages YES

YES

Sending MIME-encoded messages (with attachments) NO YES
Sending messages to TO and CC recipients YES YES
Sending messages to BCC recipients NO YES
Reply or forward a message YES YES
Quote original message, prefix quoted text NO YES
User-defined signature YES YES
Personal address book NO YES
Distribution lists YES YES
Reading text messages YES YES
Reading MIME-encoded messages and extracting attachments NO YES
Manage folders, WASTEBASKET folder YES YES
Printing messages YES YES
Automatically forward incoming messages YES YES
Multilingual user-friendly interface NO YES
Command-line tool (for use in scripts) YES YES

© Copyright Patrick LE QUÉRÉ 2001 - Last updated on 02/07/01