Set the file reading mode.

    Syntax

      MODE  mode

1  –  Parameters

 mode

    Required parameter specifying the file reading mode in which
    files are to be accessed. There are four supported modes: TEXT,
    BLOCK, RECORD, and RECORD-ATTRIBUTE.

2  –  Description

    Under OpenVMS, files can be read (accessed) in a variety of
    ways. The MODE command controls the method used to read the
    files the mail server returns. Note that default modes apply
    automatically to various sorts of files; this command provides a
    way to override these defaults.

    The possible values for mode are:

    TEXT            Read files as ordinary text files. In TEXT mode,
                    files are read as a sequence of records and sent
                    as ordinary text. TEXT mode is the default for
                    files when no other mode has been set.
    BLOCK           Read files as raw binary data. Any record
                    boundary information, including carriage returns,
                    line feeds, line length counts, and indexing
                    information for indexed files simply becomes
                    part of the data. The resulting data typically
                    can only be used on the computer system it is
                    intended for. (Note that this not necessarily
                    restricted to OpenVMS; it is possible to store
                    files intended for other systems as VMS files.)
                    This is the recommend mode to use for binary
                    files.
    RECORD          Read files as a series of records. No record
                    boundaries of any kind appear in the output data.
                    This mode is appropriate for fixed length records
                    or records that are internally self-delimiting.
    RECORD-         Read files as a series of records. If the record
    ATTRIBUTE       attributes of the file indicate that boundaries
                    should be placed between the records (i.e.,
                    some form of carriage control is requested), a
                    boundary delimiter will be placed between each
                    record. This character is normally a line feed.

    The reading mode specified with the MODE command applies to
    all subsequent SEND commands in the same message. It can be
    overridden with a subsequent MODE command or, on a per command,
    basis with the SEND command's /MODE qualifier. And, of course,
    reading modes established in previous messages sent to the server
    have no effect on subsequent messages which you might send.

    See the SEND command description for further information on the
    usage of this command.

3  –  Examples

      The commands,

        MODE BLOCK
        ENCODING BASE64
        SEND [.GIF]BOATS*.GIF
        SEND/MODE=TEXT [GIF]INDEX.TXT

      set the default reading mode to BLOCK and the default file
      encoding to BASE64. Any files matching the specification
      [GIF]BOATS*.GIF will be sent using these defaults. However,
      the file [GIF]INDEX.TXT will be sent as an ordinary text file
      owing to the use of the /MODE=TEXT qualifier.

4  –  Error messages

  %MAILSERV-W-IVKEYW, unrecognized keyword -
 check validity and spelling

      You specified an unknown mode. Resend the command specifying a
      legal value for the mode parameter.

  %MAILSERV-W-INSFPRM, missing command parameters

      You failed to specify the mode parameter. Resend the command
      specifying a legal value for the mode parameter.