There are three main ways to use the elm mailer. One way to use the mailer is to specify a list of addresses on the command line when the mailer is invoked. This will allow sending of a single message to the specified recipients with all the options usually available in the elm system itself. For example, the command

        elm -s testing joe

The second way, used most commonly when transmitting files and such, is to specify the subject of the message and the recipients using the command line and redirect a file as standard input. For example, the command

        elm -s testing joe < test.c

The third way, elm is invoked with neither subject nor addresses specified on the command line and without standard input redirected. You can then read any messages in your incoming mailbox (or specified folder), reply to messages in the mailbox, mail messages, etc.

Options are:

-a

Arrow - force the arrow cursor (instead of the inverse bar)

-c

Checkalias - expand the following aliases and return.

-d level

Debug - set specified debug level - Output to "$HOME/ELM:debug.info"

-f alternative-folder

Folder - read folder (specified) rather than the incoming mailbox.

-h

Help - give a list of starting options.

-i file

Include - include prepared file in edit buffer for sending.

-?

Synonymous with the "-h" option.

-k

Keypad - force knowledge of HP terminal keyboard, to allow the use of the NEXT, PREV and HOME/SHIFT-HOME keys.

-K

Keypad + softkeys - enable use of softkeys on HP terminals only.

-M

Magic mode - treat all folders as if they were the spool folder (lock, update Status: headers, etc.).

-m

Menu off - Use the extra lines for more message headers.

-r elmrc

Rcfile - use file specified rather than the default elmrc.

-s subj

Subject - specify subject for message to mail.

-t

tite - turn off usage of the termcap/terminfo ti/te sequence.

-v

Version - print version and configuration information.

-z

Zero - don't enter Elm if no mail is pending.