WATCH_MAIL, UTILITIES, Automatically reply to (and/or copy) new mail --- DESCRIPTION --- The purpose of this procedure is to automatically reply to new mail with a specified message for a specified time interval, and possibly also copy that mail to one or more other users. For example, if you are on vacation or away on business, the replies can be used to let others know that you won't be able to respond to their mail for some period of time, and also possibly inform them of other people they might consider contacting in your absence. The copies (if enabled) might be checked by someone else to see if something urgent comes up in your absence. --- INSTALLATION --- Simply copy the procedure to a private or shared directory: $ COPY/LOG FREEWARE$CD:[WATCH_MAIL]WATCH_MAIL.COM The advantage of a shared location is that it allows multiple people to use the procedure without incurring the disk space costs of multiple copies. The procedure provides several features for facilitating the use and management of such a shared copy. --- USAGE --- Invoke the procedure interactively (e.g., @WATCH_MAIL), answering the questions and providing input files as requested. A batch job will then be submitted to perform some additional checking and subsequent mail processing. Have a nice vacation (or whatever)! Upon your return, new mail that has been successfully processed by this procedure will be found in your WATCH_MAIL mail folder. You may also have new mail that has come in since the last time the batch job ran, or to which the procedure has had difficulty replying. --- ADVANTAGES --- The procedure is installed by simply copying the command file, and no privileges are required to install or use it. It allows group- and system-specific tailoring of some default parameters, as may be desired by a system manager. There are several features to "delight" the user and system manager, as detailed in the internal documentation (e.g., specify dates using weekday notation ("Monday+8:00"), create or edit the reply file after supplying its specification ("/EDIT"), etc.). --- LIMITATIONS --- The chief limitation is that system crashes and batch queue-related problems may result in the batch job disappearing, and hence the loss of automatic replies to and copies of your new mail. --- MORE INFORMATION --- See the extensive documentation contained in the comments within the command file. In particular, see the section on known restrictions and bugs. On-line help is also available by entering a question mark (?) in response to one of the procedure's prompts.