Sends a reply to the sender of the message that you are currently
reading or to the sender of the last message you read. If you
do not specify the name of a file to be sent as your reply, Mail
prompts you for the text of your reply.
You can use the ANSWER command and the REPLY command
interchangeably because they work the same way. You must be
reading a message in order to answer it.
Format
ANSWER [file-spec]
1 – Parameter
file-spec
Indicates the name of the file to be sent as a reply.
2 – Qualifiers
2.1 /CC_PROMPT
/CC_PROMPT
/NOCC_PROMPT
Enables the prompt for the CC: line in the mail header. At the
CC: prompt, enter the names of other users to whom you want to
send a copy of the mail message.
The /NOCC_PROMPT qualifier disables the CC: prompt. The /CC_
PROMPT and /NOCC_PROMPT qualifiers override the SET CC_PROMPT and
SET NOCC_PROMPT commands.
2.2 /EDIT
/EDIT
/NOEDIT
Invokes a text editor to edit the reply you are sending. Unless
you have entered the SET EDITOR command, the TPU-based EVE
editor is invoked. When you exit from the editor, Mail sends
the edited message. To cancel sending the message, enter the
command to quit. If you enter the DCL command MAIL/EDIT=(REPLY)
and then decide that you do not want to invoke the editor for
your response, enter the command ANSWER/NOEDIT.
2.3 /EXTRACT
Invokes an editor to enable you to edit the current message to
which you are replying. Unless you have selected a different
editor, the TPU-based EVE editor is invoked.
2.4 /LAST
Specifies that the last message you sent will be used as text
for the reply to the message that you are reading. You can use
the /LAST qualifier with the /EDIT qualifier to edit the message
before sending it.
2.5 /PERSONAL_NAME
/PERSONAL_NAME=name
/NOPERSONAL_NAME
Specifies a personal name to be used when answering a message.
A personal name is a field of text that is appended to the end
of the From: field of mail messages you send. You can fill this
field with your full name or any other information.
The /PERSONAL NAME qualifier overrides the default personal name
specified with the SET PERSONAL_NAME command for this message
only. The /NOPERSONAL_NAME qualifier sends a message with a null
personal name field.
2.6 /SELF
/SELF
/NOSELF
Determines whether Mail sends a copy of the response to you. The
default qualifier is /NOSELF unless you have used the SET COPY_
SELF command to specify that copies be sent to you automatically.
The /NOSELF qualifier overrides the SET COPY_SELF SEND command.
2.7 /SIGNATURE_FILE
/SIGNATURE_FILE[=file-name]
/NOSIGNATURE_FILE
Specifies a file to be appended to the end of a mail message.
The signature file contains text and has a default file type of
.SIG. An example of a signature file is a text file formatted
as business card, containing the user's company name, address,
telephone, and Internet address.
Specify the /SIGNATURE_FILE qualifier when you want to override
the default established by the SET SIGNATURE_FILE command (if you
want to send a signature file that is different from that default
specification). If there is no default setting, specify the
/SIGNATURE_FILE qualifier to interactively include a signature
file with a particular mail message.
To determine if the SET SIGNATURE_FILE command is in effect, use
the SHOW SIGNATURE_FILE or SHOW ALL command.
When you use the /SIGNATURE_FILE qualifier, note the following:
o When you create a mail message that includes a signature
file, that message requires more temporary disk space than
a conventional message because temporary files are created
during the operation. After the message is sent, those
temporary files are deleted.
o If you do not specify a directory, the Mail utility looks for
the signature file in your mail directory.
o If you do not specify a file, the Mail utility uses the file
specification in your user profile. If there is no default
signature file in the profile, Mail will send the message
without one.
o If a specified signature file does not exist, the system
displays an error message.
Specify the /NOSIGNATURE_FILE qualifier when you do not want
to include a signature file with a particular mail message.
Specifying this qualifier overrides the current setting,
including any specifications in your user profile.
2.8 /SUBJECT
/SUBJECT="subject-text"
Enables you to specify a different subject when replying to a
message. Use quotation marks (" ") around the subject heading to
include more than one word, to print in lowercase letters, or to
include any spaces or nonalphanumeric characters.
3 – Examples
1.MAIL> ANSWER
To: AUTUMN::GREGG
Subj: RE: Nova Scotia
Enter your message below. Press Ctrl/Z when complete, or Ctrl/C to quit:
This example shows how to use the ANSWER command to respond to
a message sent by a user named GREGG on node AUTUMN.
2.MAIL> ANSWER/EDIT
To: ARCTIC::SWENSON
Subj: RE: SIAM
[End of file]
Buffer MAIN |Insert | Forward
This example shows how to use the /EDIT qualifier with the
ANSWER command to respond to a message from a user named
SWENSON on node ARCTIC. When you use the EVE editor, the [End
of file] sign moves down the screen as you enter text.