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biff(1)
NAME
  biff - Notifies users when mail arrives

SYNOPSIS
  biff [y | n]

DESCRIPTION
  The biff command informs the system whether you want to be notified when
  mail arrives during the current terminal session. The following command
  enables notification:

       biff y

  The following command disables notification:

       biff n

  When mail notification is enabled, the From: and Subject: header lines and
  up to the first five lines of the message are displayed. The total display
  is 560 characters, or seven lines terminated by newline characters,
  whichever occurs first.

  The biff y command is often included in the $HOME/.login or $HOME/.profile
  file to be executed each time you log in.

  The biff command operates asynchronously. For synchronous notification, use
  the MAIL variable of sh or ksh, or the mail variable of csh.

EXAMPLES
   1.  To display the current setting, enter:
	    biff

   2.  To be notified during the current terminal session whenever mail
       arrives, enter the following in your $HOME/.login or $HOME/.profile
       file:
	    biff y

FILES
  $HOME/.login
      Read by login shell (after .cshrc) at login.

  $HOME/.profile
      User profile.

SEE ALSO
  Commands:  comsat(8), csh(1), ksh(1), mail(1), mailx(1), Bourne Shell
  sh(1b), POSIX Shell sh(1p)

Index for Section 1

Alphabetical listing for B

Top of page