answer(1) CLIX answer(1)
NAME
answer - Runs a phone message transcription system
SYNOPSIS
answer
DESCRIPTION
The answer command is a part of the Elm Mail System and allows users to
transcribe telephone messages into electronic mail.
Before the answer command can be used, a computer account and an alias
file must be created. Running the answer command from a separate account
avoids the problems of using one alias file for the user-defined aliases
and aliases for phone messages.
Once a separate account has been created, log into the account and create
an alias file. (For more information about aliases and the structure of
alias files, see The Elm Alias System User's Guide.) Each alias in the
file may be defined to include unique last names, unique first names,
first initial and last name, and other variations. (The various forms of
a person's name may make it easier for the command to match an entered
name or variation to the correct alias.) Once the alias file is complete,
run the newalias command to install the aliases. The user is now ready to
use the answer command.
Start the command by entering answer and then type a user's name at the
Message to: prompt. Then type the message, ending with a blank line.
Names can be entered as Firstname Lastname. The system tries to find a
mail alias based on the first letter of the first name plus the last name.
For example, entering the name John Smith causes the command to search for
the alias j_smith in the file (note the transliteration into lowercase).
If the alias is found, the message is sent; if not, an error message
displays. The answer command continues until it is killed or exited.
The answer command is exited by entering quit, exit, done, or bye at the
Message to: prompt.
EXAMPLES
To send a phone message to John Smith, enter answer at the system prompt.
answer
The Message to: prompt will now appear. Type the name of the person to
receive the phone message, which in this example is John Smith.
Message to: John Smith
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answer(1) CLIX answer(1)
Now type the message to John Smith, ending with a blank line.
John Smith--Please call Jane Doe of ABC Company, 123-4567.
The command will search for the alias j_smith. If the alias exists, the
message is mailed to that mail alias. If the alias does not exist, an
error message displays and the command continues to prompt for the mail
alias.
To exit the command, enter quit, exit, done, or bye at the Message to:
prompt.
FILES
/usr/lib/elm/aliases.text System alias source.
/usr/lib/elm/aliases.hash System alias hash table.
/usr/lib/elm/aliases.data System alias data table.
$HOME/.elm/aliases.text User alias source.
$HOME/.elm/aliases.hash User alias hash table.
$HOME/.elm/aliases.data User alias data table.
/tmp/snd.$$ Edit buffer for outgoing mail.
NOTES
Be certain to run answer from an account created exclusively for the use
of this command. If a user's account and alias file are used, the entered
name and the desired alias may not be matched correctly.
DIAGNOSTICS
If a specified alias is not found, this message appears:
address ''
Sorry, could not find 'alias' [alias] in list!
The Message to: prompt displays, ready for another alias.
EXIT VALUES
The exit values are not valid.
RELATED INFORMATION
Commands: newalias(1), checkalias(1), frm(1), printmail(1)
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answer(1) CLIX answer(1)
Files: aliases.text(4)
``The Elm Alias System User's Guide'' in The Elm User's and Reference
Guides
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