Mutt Setup, Configuration and Usage, E-mail Client Configuration

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Summary Table of Contents:

  1. What is Mutt?
  2. Starting Mutt
  3. Quitting Mutt
  4. The Two Modes of Mutt
  5. Getting Help in Mutt
  6. Writing a Message in Mutt
  7. Mutt Folders
  8. Saving a Message
  9. Addtional Mutt Options
  10. Guidelines for Using E-mail

 

1. What is Mutt?

Mutt is a small yet very powerful text-based MIME e-mail client. Mutt is highly configurable, and is well suited to the mail power user with advanced features like key bindings, keyboard macros, mail threading, regular expression searches and a powerful pattern matching language for selecting groups of messages. The capabilities of Mutt surpass what can be covered in this document. It is suggested that you look at The Mutt Manual for more detailed help.

2. Starting Mutt

Add the following lines to your .Xdefaults:

	!
!= Color info
!
xterm*colorMode:                on
xterm*dynamicColors:            on
xterm*color0: black
xterm*color1: red3
xterm*color2: green3
xterm*color3: yellow3
xterm*color4: blue3
xterm*color5: magenta3
xterm*color6: cyan3
xterm*color7: gray90
xterm*color8: gray30
xterm*color9: red
xterm*color10: green
xterm*color11: yellow
xterm*color12: blue
xterm*color13: magenta
xterm*color14: cyan
xterm*color15: white
xterm*colorUL: yellow
xterm*colorBD: white
!= End of color info

And add the following lines into your .cshrc:

	 setenv TERMINFO /opt/share/terminfo
setenv TERM color_xterm

At a Unix prompt type: mutt

3. Quitting Mutt

To quit Mutt, type "q" (quit). This will take you out of the current menu. If you are in the index, you will exit Mutt. If you are in pager mode, you will exit to the index mode.

4. The Two Modes of Mutt

Mutt has two main operating modes. The first is the index mode. Index mode provides a view of the messages in your current mailbox. In this view you will see a list of messages in the mailbox along with some details about each message. The following keys are bound while in the index view:

	c               change to a different mailbox
       ESC c           change to a folder in read-only mode
       C               copy the current message to another mailbox
       ESC C           decode a message and copy it to a folder
       ESC s           decode a message and save it to a folder
       D               delete messages matching a pattern
       d               delete the current message
       F               mark as important
       l               show messages matching a pattern
       N               mark message as new
       o               change the current sort method
       O               reverse sort the mailbox
       q               save changes and exit
       s               save-message
       t               toggle the tag on a message
       ESC t           toggle tag on entire message thread
       u               undelete-message
       v               view-attachments
       x               abort changes and exit
       <Return>        display-message
       <Tab>           jump to the next new message
       @               show the author's full e-mail address
       $               save changes to mailbox
       /               search
       ESC /           search-reverse
       ^L              clear and redraw the screen
       ^T              tag messages matching a pattern
       ^U              undelete messages matching a pattern

The other mode is a pager. This is the mode that you actually read your mail in. Hit enter in the index mode to enter into pager mode with the current message. While in pager mode the following keys are bound:

	<Return>        go down one line
       <Space>         display the next page 
			(or next message if at the end of a message)
       -               go back to the previous page
       n               display the next message
       ?               show keybindings
       /               search for a regular expression (pattern)
       \               toggle search pattern coloring

 

5. Getting Help in Mutt

To read the online help, use the Help command at the top of each screen. The help text is context sensitive so you will never see all of it at once, only the part that relates to the Mutt feature you are using will be displayed. To exit the online help, Type "q" (quit).

 

6. Writing a Message in Mutt

To write a message, type "m" (mail) to start composing a message. At the bottom of the screen you will be asked to enter the "To:" address. After that you will enter the subject and then be taken to the editor. After typing the message in the editor, you need to exit the editor and save the temp file. The default editor for Mutt is Pico, to save the temp message in Pico type:

"^x" → "y" → "Enter"

This will take you back to the compose screen; from here, typing "y" will send your message.

 

7. Mutt Folders

Incoming messages may quickly accumulate in your inbox. Mutt allows the use of many mail boxes to store and organize your messages. You may use existing folders or make new ones inside of Mutt to hold your messages. To make a new folder, type "s" (save) and type the name of the new folder.

 

8. Saving a Message

When you save a message, you are given two choices: you can save it in the default folder, or you can specify another folder.

Once you save a message, the copy in the current folder is automatically marked for deletion so that you will only have one copy of the message. When you quit Mutt, your messages marked for deletion will be deleted.

Saving a Message to the default Folder:

 

Saving a Message to a Specified Folder:

You will find it useful to create additional folders for storing messages on particular subjects.

Your message has now been saved.

At the Folder Index screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the message you want to save; or, at the Message Text screen as you view a message:

Type "s" (save) to save a message.

Mutt will ask you if you want to save it to the default folder or another folder.

Save to mailbox ('?' for list): =<author>

Press RETURN to choose the default folder: <author>.

At the Folder Index screen use the arrow keys to highlight the message you want to save; or, at the Message Text screen as you view a message:

Type "s" (save) to save a message.

Mutt will ask you if you want to save it to the default folder or another folder:

Save to mailbox ('?' for list): =<author>

Type a folder name and press RETURN.

For example, to save a message to a folder named papers, type "papers" and press RETURN.

If this is the first time you have named this folder, Mutt will ask you if you would like to create the folder:

Folder "papers" doesn't exist. Create?

Type "y" or press RETURN to create the folder.

9. Additional Mutt Options

Mutt is highly configurable and made with the power of the user in mind. Please goto The Mutt Manual for help configuring the many different features of Mutt.

 

10. Guidelines for Using E-mail

Electronic mail is a unique medium of communication. Messages can be replied to or forwarded with speed and ease, and e-mail has the potential to reach a wide audience. These features can also be misused. These are a few basic guidelines for the responsible use of e-mail that can help you avoid common mistakes while you enjoy the full benefits of this technology.

The privacy of an e-mail message cannot be guaranteed. An e-mail message may be forwarded, printed, or permanently stored by any recipient. E-mail can be misdirected, even when you are careful. Do not put something in an e-mail message that you would not want read by everyone. If you receive a message intended for someone else, let the sender know.

E-mail does not show the subtleties of voice or body language. Avoid attempts at irony or sarcasm. The most effective e-mail is short, clear, and relavent. If you receive a message that makes you upset, do not respond immediately, and in any case, avoid "flaming," that is, sending an angry or rude message.

E-mail Tips

As you use e-mail, keep the following tips in mind:

E-mail is easily forwarded to someone else. Although this is convenient, it is not always appropriate. If you are unsure, ask the sender before you forward a message.

E-mail replies may go to more people than you realize. When replying to a message, be sure to look at the list of recipients.

E-mail can be junkmail, so avoid unnecessary proliferation of messages.

E-mails takes up computer space, so delete messages you no longer need.

The integrity of an e-mail message cannot be guaranteed. If you receive a message that seems out of character for the sender, double-check before taking it seriously.

E-mail is meant for informal correspondence as well as scholarly, scientific, and clinical communications. You should not use e-mail for official record purposes where a memo would be required (eg. personnel actions, organization changes, contracts, and policy statements).

E-mail should not be considered private. Confidential information should not be sent by e-mail