forward(F)
forward --
Mail forwarding file
Description
While MMDF is working on delivering a message, it (submit) looks
in the user's home directory to see if they have a .forward file.
If this file exists,
is owned by either the user or an MMDF ``privileged'' user,
and is publicly readable
then its contents are treated as an alias and used to send the mail to the
specified address(es).
The format of alias values is described in
tables(F).
MMDF acts as if the alias were:
user: contents-of-file
Notes
There is a ``magic'' address (@@)
which is like any other bad address
except that if it occurs in a .forward
file or alias no complaint to
supportaddr is issued.
This can be used to prevent mail from being accepted
for certain users, similar to aliasing such users to a nonexistent address but
without the notification that is generated every time a true bad address is
referenced.
An alias to @@ can itself be used in
aliases without generating warning mail,
so that an alias like this can be set up:
@@: nosuchuser
This way the less cryptic address nosuchuser
can be used in aliases and .forward files.
Files
$HOME/.forward
See also
rcvtrip(C),
resend(C),
maildelivery(F),
tables(F)
Standards conformance
MMDF is not part of any currently supported standard; it
was developed at the University of Delaware and is used with permission.
© 2004 The SCO Group, Inc. All rights reserved.