Sending TeX files via e-mail.

If you have a TeX file that you want to mail somewhere (i.e., to a journal or a colleague at another university) there are many possibilities which depend mostly on what e-mail client you use and what e-mail client the recipient uses.

The standard way of sending files is by attaching them with a mime-compliant e-mail client. The Department offers an e-mail client called "pine" which is easy to use and mime-compliant.

To attach a file in pine, first get into pine by typing the name of the program ("pine"). Choose "C" to compose a message. Type in the address of the recipient, then go down to the attachment field. Here you can type in a path to the file or you can press "^T" (Ctrl-T) to browse for the file in your home directory. Repeat this process for as many files as you want to send. Write a message in the body of the e-mail if desired (i.e., "Here is the file you asked for") then press "^X" (Ctrl-X) to send the message.

If you don't want to use pine, you can include the file in the body of the e-mail message. This is NOT attaching a file and if your recipient is expecting an attachment they will be disappointed. Also, note that because of certain e-mail conventions your message may be altered slightly. If it's a TeX file, then there may be errors in the document when it's processed. (This is most often changing the word "From" to ">From" when it appears after a blank line in the message.)

You can include a text file (like a TeX file) in the body of your e-mail if you use the "mail" program by typing "~r filename". This is on the colored handout "Using Electronic Mail" available in the Math Consulting Office (MS6115).

If you're not sure what you should send and your recipient hasn't specified, you could both attach the file and include it in the body of the e-mail. That way if your recipient can't deal with attachments, they can save the body of the e-mail. Otherwise, they can deal with the attachment. To include a file in the body of an e-mail in "pine", go to the location where you want the file then press "^R" (Ctrl-R). You will be prompted for a filename (you can press "^T" to browse for the file).

by Carl Hunt
June 18, 1998