Chaff

Handset keyboardism, minutia, and errata.

MAIL(1) – General Commands Manual

NAME

mail, mailx – send and receive mail

SYNOPSIS

mail [-EiInv] [-s subject] [-c cc-addr] [-b bcc-addr] [-F] to-addr ...
mail [-EHiInNv] [-F] -f [name]
mail [-EHiInNv] [-F] [-u user]
mail -e [-f name]
mail [-H]

INTRODUCTION

The mail utility is an intelligent mail processing system, which has a command syntax reminiscent of ed(1) with lines replaced by messages.

The following options are available:

-v

Verbose mode. The details of delivery are displayed on the user's terminal.

-e

Test for the presence of mail in the (by default, system) mailbox. An exit status of 0 is returned if it has mail; otherwise, an exit status of 1 is returned.

-H

Write a header summary only.

-E

Do not send messages with an empty body. This is useful for piping errors from cron(8) scripts.

-i

Ignore tty interrupt signals. This is particularly useful when using mail on noisy phone lines.

-I

Force mail to run in interactive mode even when input is not a terminal. In particular, the '~' special character when sending mail is only active in interactive mode.

-n

Inhibit reading the system-wide mail.rc files upon startup.

-N

Inhibit the initial display of message headers when reading mail or editing a mail folder.

-s subject

Specify subject on command line. (Only the first argument after the -s flag is used as a subject; be careful to quote subjects containing spaces.)

-c cc-addr

Send carbon copies to cc-addr list of users. The cc-addr argument should be a comma-separated list of names.

-b bcc-addr

Send blind carbon copies to bcc-addr list of users. The bcc-addr argument should be a comma-separated list of names.

-f

Use an alternate mailbox. Defaults to the user's mbox if no file is specified. When quit, mail writes undeleted messages back to this file.

-F

Record the message in a file named after the first recipient. The name is the login-name portion of the address found first on the “To:“ line in the mail header. Overrides the record variable, if set.

-u

Is equivalent to:

> mail -f /var/mail/user

Startup Actions

At startup time mail will execute commands in the system command files /usr/share/misc/mail.rc, /usr/local/etc/mail.rc and /etc/mail.rc in order, unless explicitly told not to by the use of the -n option. Next, the commands in the user's personal command file ~/.mailrc are executed. The mail utility then examines its command line options to determine whether a new message is to be sent, or whether an existing mailbox is to be read.

Sending Mail

To send a message to one or more people, mail can be invoked with arguments which are the names of people to whom the mail will be sent. You are then expected to type in your message, followed by a <control-D> at the beginning of a line. The section below Replying To or Originating Mail, describes some features of mail available to help you compose your letter.

Reading Mail

In normal usage mail is given no arguments and checks your mail out of the post office, then prints out a one line header of each message found. The current message is initially the first message (numbered 1) and can be printed using the print command (which can be abbreviated p). You can move among the messages much as you move between lines in ed(1), with the commands + and - moving backwards and forwards, and simple numbers.

Disposing of Mail

After examining a message you can delete (d) the message or reply (r) to it. Deletion causes the mail program to forget about the message. This is not irreversible; the message can be undeleted (u) by giving its number, or the mail session can be aborted by giving the exit (x) command. Deleted messages will, however, usually disappear never to be seen again.

Specifying Messages

Commands such as print and delete can be given a list of message numbers as arguments to apply to a number of messages at once. Thus “delete 1 2“ deletes messages 1 and 2, while “delete 1-5“ deletes messages 1 through 5. The special name '*' addresses all messages, and '$' addresses the last message; thus the command top which prints the first few lines of a message could be used in “top *“ to print the first few lines of all messages.

Replying To or Originating Mail

You can use the reply command to set up a response to a message, sending it back to the person who it was from. Text you then type in, up to an end-of-file, defines the contents of the message. While you are composing a message, mail treats lines beginning with the character '~' specially. For instance, typing ~m (alone on a line) will place a copy of the current message into the response right shifting it by a tabstop (see indentprefix variable, below). Other escapes will set up subject fields, add and delete recipients to the message and allow you to escape to an editor to revise the message or to a shell to run some commands. (These options are given in the summary below.)

Ending a Mail Processing Session

You can end a mail session with the quit (q) command. Messages which have been examined go to your mbox file unless they have been deleted in which case they are discarded. Unexamined messages go back to the post office. (See the -f option above).

Personal and System Wide Distribution Lists

It is also possible to create a personal distribution lists so that, for instance, you can send mail to “cohorts“ and have it go to a group of people. Such lists can be defined by placing a line like

alias cohorts bill ozalp jkf mark kridle@ucbcory

in the file .mailrc in your home directory. The current list of such aliases can be displayed with the alias command in mail. System wide distribution lists can be created by editing /etc/mail/aliases, see aliases(5) and sendmail(8); these are kept in a different syntax. In mail you send, personal aliases will be expanded in mail sent to others so that they will be able to reply to the recipients. System wide aliases are not expanded when the mail is sent, but any reply returned to the machine will have the system wide alias expanded as all mail goes through sendmail(8).

Recipient address specifications

Recipient addresses (any of the “To”, “Cc” or “Bcc” header fields) are subject to expansion when the expandaddr option is set.

An address may be expanded as follows:

  • An address that starts with a pipe ('|') character is treated as a command to run. The command immediately following the '|' is executed with the message as its standard input.

  • An address that starts with a '+' character is treated as a folder.

  • An address that contains a '/' character but no '!', '%', or '@' characters is also treated as a folder.

  • If none of the above apply, the recipient is treated as a local or network mail address.

If the expandaddr option is not set (the default), no expansion is performed and the recipient is treated as a local or network mail address.

Network Mail (ARPA, UUCP, Berknet)

See mailaddr(7) for a description of network addresses.

The mail utility has a number of options which can be set in the .mailrc file to alter its behavior; thus “set askcc“ enables the askcc feature. (These options are summarized below.)

SUMMARY

(Adapted from the Mail Reference Manual.)

Each command is typed on a line by itself, and may take arguments following the command word. The command need not be typed in its entirety — the first command which matches the typed prefix is used. For commands which take message lists as arguments, if no message list is given, then the next message forward which satisfies the command's requirements is used. If there are no messages forward of the current message, the search proceeds backwards, and if there are no good messages at all, mail types “No applicable messages“ and aborts the command.

-

Print out the preceding message. If given a numeric argument n, goes to the n'th previous message and prints it.

#

ignore the remainder of the line as a comment.

?

Prints a brief summary of commands.

!

Executes the shell (see sh(1) and csh(1)) command which follows.

Print

(P) Like print but also prints out ignored header fields. See also print, ignore and retain.

Reply

(R) Reply to originator. Does not reply to other recipients of the original message.

Type

(T) Identical to the Print command.

alias

(a) With no arguments, prints out all currently-defined aliases. With one argument, prints out that alias. With more than one argument, creates a new alias or changes an old one.

alternates

(alt) The alternates command is useful if you have accounts on several machines. It can be used to inform mail that the listed addresses are really you. When you reply to messages, mail will not send a copy of the message to any of the addresses listed on the alternates list. If the alternates command is given with no argument, the current set of alternative names is displayed.

chdir

(c) Changes the user's working directory to that specified, if given. If no directory is given, then changes to the user's login directory.

copy

(co) The copy command does the same thing that save does, except that it does not mark the messages it is used on for deletion when you quit.

delete

(d) Takes a list of messages as argument and marks them all as deleted. Deleted messages will not be saved in mbox, nor will they be available for most other commands.

dp

(also dt) Deletes the current message and prints the next message. If there is no next message, mail says “at EOF”.

edit

(e) Takes a list of messages and points the text editor at each one in turn. On return from the editor, the message is read back in.

exit

(ex or x) Effects an immediate return to the shell without modifying the user's system mailbox, his mbox file, or his edit file in -f.

file

(fi) The same as folder.

folders

List the names of the folders in your folder directory.

folder

(fo) The folder command switches to a new mail file or folder. With no arguments, it tells you which file you are currently reading. If you give it an argument, it will write out changes (such as deletions) you have made in the current file and read in the new file. Some special conventions are recognized for the name. '#' means the previous file, '%' means your system mailbox, “%user“ means user's system mailbox, '&' means your mbox file, and “+folder“ means a file in your folder directory.

from

(f) Takes a list of messages and prints their message headers.

headers

(h) Lists the current range of headers, which is an 18-message group. If a '+' argument is given, then the next 18-message group is printed, and if a '-' argument is given, the previous 18-message group is printed.

help

A synonym for ?.

hold

(ho, also preserve) Takes a message list and marks each message therein to be saved in the user's system mailbox instead of in mbox. Does not override the delete command.

ignore

Add the list of header fields named to the ignored list. Header fields in the ignore list are not printed on your terminal when you print a message. This command is very handy for suppression of certain machine-generated header fields. The Type and Print commands can be used to print a message in its entirety, including ignored fields. If ignore is executed with no arguments, it lists the current set of ignored fields.

inc

Incorporate any new messages that have arrived while mail is being read. The new messages are added to the end of the message list, and the current message is reset to be the first new mail message. This does not renumber the existing message list, nor does it cause any changes made so far to be saved.

mail

(m) Takes as argument login names and distribution group names and sends mail to those people.

mbox

Indicate that a list of messages be sent to mbox in your home directory when you quit. This is the default action for messages if you do not have the hold option set.

more

(mo) Takes a list of messages and invokes the pager on that list.

next

(n, like + or CR) Goes to the next message in sequence and types it. With an argument list, types the next matching message.

preserve

(pre) A synonym for hold.

print

(p) Takes a message list and types out each message on the user's terminal.

quit

(q) Terminates the session, saving all undeleted, unsaved messages in the user's mbox file in his login directory, preserving all messages marked with hold or preserve or never referenced in his system mailbox, and removing all other messages from his system mailbox. If new mail has arrived during the session, the message “You have new mail“ is given. If given while editing a mailbox file with the -f flag, then the edit file is rewritten. A return to the shell is effected, unless the rewrite of edit file fails, in which case the user can escape with the exit command.

reply

(r) Takes a message list and sends mail to the sender and all recipients of the specified message. The default message must not be deleted.

respond

A synonym for reply.

retain

Add the list of header fields named to the retained list. Only the header fields in the retained list are shown on your terminal when you print a message. All other header fields are suppressed. The type and print commands can be used to print a message in its entirety. If retain is executed with no arguments, it lists the current set of retained fields.

save

(s) Takes a message list and a filename and appends each message in turn to the end of the file. The filename in quotes, followed by the line count and character count is echoed on the user's terminal.

set

(se) With no arguments, prints all variable values. Otherwise, sets option. Arguments are of the form option=value (no space before or after '=') or option. Quotation marks may be placed around any part of the assignment statement to quote blanks or tabs, i.e. “set indentprefix="->"“

saveignore

Saveignore is to save what ignore is to print and type. Header fields thus marked are filtered out when saving a message by save or when automatically saving to mbox.

saveretain

Saveretain is to save what retain is to print and type. Header fields thus marked are the only ones saved with a message when saving by save or when automatically saving to mbox. Saveretain overrides saveignore.

shell

(sh) Invokes an interactive version of the shell.

size

Takes a message list and prints out the size in characters of each message.

source

The source command reads commands from a file.

top

Takes a message list and prints the top few lines of each. The number of lines printed is controlled by the variable toplines and defaults to 5.

type

(t) A synonym for print.

unalias

Takes a list of names defined by alias commands and discards the remembered groups of users. The group names no longer have any significance.

undelete

(u) Takes a message list and marks each message as not being deleted.

unread

(U) Takes a message list and marks each message as not having been read.

unset

Takes a list of option names and discards their remembered values; the inverse of set.

visual

(v) Takes a message list and invokes the display editor on each message.

write

(w) Similar to save, except that only the message body (without the header) is saved. Extremely useful for such tasks as sending and receiving source program text over the message system.

xit

(x) A synonym for exit.

z

The mail utility presents message headers in windowfuls as described under the headers command. You can move mail's attention forward to the next window with the z command. Also, you can move to the previous window by using z-.

Tilde/Escapes

Here is a summary of the tilde escapes, which are used when composing messages to perform special functions. Tilde escapes are only recognized at the beginning of lines. The name “tilde escape” is somewhat of a misnomer since the actual escape character can be set by the option escape.

~a

Inserts the autograph string from the sign= option into the message.

~A

Inserts the autograph string from the Sign= option into the message.

~b name ...

Add the given names to the list of carbon copy recipients but do not make the names visible in the Cc: line (“blind” carbon copy).

~c name ...

Add the given names to the list of carbon copy recipients.

~d

Read the file dead.letter from your home directory into the message.

~e

Invoke the text editor on the message collected so far. After the editing session is finished, you may continue appending text to the message.

~f messages

Read the named messages into the message being sent. If no messages are specified, read in the current message. Message headers currently being ignored (by the ignore or retain command) are not included.

~F messages

Identical to ~f, except all message headers are included.

~h

Edit the message header fields by typing each one in turn and allowing the user to append text to the end or modify the field by using the current terminal erase and kill characters.

~i string

Inserts the value of the named option into the text of the message.

~m messages

Read the named messages into the message being sent, indented by a tab or by the value of indentprefix. If no messages are specified, read the current message. Message headers currently being ignored (by the ignore or retain command) are not included.

~M messages

Identical to ~m, except all message headers are included.

~p

Print out the message collected so far, prefaced by the message header fields.

~q

Abort the message being sent, copying the message to dead.letter in your home directory if save is set.

~r filename, ~r !command

~< filename, ~< !command

Read the named file into the message. If the argument begins with a '!', the rest of the string is taken as an arbitrary system command and is executed, with the standard output inserted into the message.

~R string

Use string as the Reply-To field.

~s string

Cause the named string to become the current subject field.

~t name ...

Add the given names to the direct recipient list.

~v

Invoke an alternative editor (defined by the VISUAL environment variable) on the message collected so far. Usually, the alternative editor will be a screen editor. After you quit the editor, you may resume appending text to the end of your message.

~w filename

Write the message onto the named file.

~x

Exits as with ~q, except the message is not saved in dead.letter.

~! command

Execute the indicated shell command, then return to the message.

~| command, ~^ command

Pipe the message through the command as a filter. If the command gives no output or terminates abnormally, retain the original text of the message. The command fmt(1) is often used as command to rejustify the message.

~: mail-command, ~_ mail-command

Execute the given mail command. Not all commands, however, are allowed.

~.

Simulate end-of-file on input.

~?

Print a summary of the available command escapes.

~~ string

Insert the string of text in the message prefaced by a single '~'. If you have changed the escape character, then you should double that character in order to send it.

Mail Options

Options can be set with the set command and can be disabled with the unset or set noname commands. Options may be either binary, in which case it is only significant to see whether they are set or not; or string, in which case the actual value is of interest. If an option is not set, mail will look for an environment variable of the same name. The available options include the following:

append

Causes messages saved in mbox to be appended to the end rather than prepended. This should always be set (preferably in one of the system-wide mail.rc files). Default is noappend.

ask, asksub

Causes mail to prompt you for the subject of each message you send. If you respond with simply a newline, no subject field will be sent. Default is asksub.

askbcc

Causes you to be prompted for additional blind carbon copy recipients at the end of each message. Responding with a newline indicates your satisfaction with the current list. Default is noaskbcc.

askcc

Causes you to be prompted for additional carbon copy recipients at the end of each message. Responding with a newline indicates your satisfaction with the current list. Default is noaskcc.

autoinc

Causes new mail to be automatically incorporated when it arrives. Setting this is similar to issuing the inc command at each prompt, except that the current message is not reset when new mail arrives. Default is noautoinc.

autoprint

Causes the delete command to behave like dp; thus, after deleting a message, the next one will be typed automatically. Default is noautoprint.

crt

The valued option crt is used as a threshold to determine how long a message must be before PAGER is used to read it. If crt is set without a value, then the height of the terminal screen stored in the system is used to compute the threshold (see stty(1)). Default is nocrt.

debug

Setting the binary option debug is the same as specifying -d on the command line and causes mail to output all sorts of information useful for debugging mail. Default is nodebug.

dot

The binary option dot causes mail to interpret a period alone on a line as the terminator of a message you are sending. Default is nodot.

escape

If defined, the first character of this option gives the character to use in place of '~' to denote escapes.

expandaddr

Causes mail to expand message recipient addresses, as explained in the section Recipient address specifications.

flipr

Reverses the sense of reply and Reply commands. Default is noflipr.

folder

The name of the directory to use for storing folders of messages. If this name begins with a '/', mail considers it to be an absolute pathname; otherwise, the folder directory is found relative to your home directory.

header

If defined, initially display message headers when reading mail or editing a mail folder. Default is header. This option can be disabled by giving the -N flag on the command line.

hold

This option is used to hold messages in the system mailbox by default. Default is nohold.

ignore

Causes interrupt signals from your terminal to be ignored and echoed as @'s. Default is noignore.

ignoreeof

An option related to dot is ignoreeof which makes mail refuse to accept a <control-D> as the end of a message. Ignoreeof also applies to mail command mode. Default is noignoreeof.

indentprefix

String used by the ~m tilde escape for indenting messages, in place of the normal tab character (^I). Be sure to quote the value if it contains spaces or tabs.

metoo

Usually, when a group is expanded that contains the sender, the sender is removed from the expansion. Setting this option causes the sender to be included in the group. Default is nometoo.

quiet

Suppresses the printing of the version when first invoked. Default is noquiet.

record

If defined, gives the pathname of the file used to record all outgoing mail. If not defined, outgoing mail is not saved. Default is norecord.

Replyall

Reverses the sense of reply and Reply commands. Default is noReplyall.

save

If this option is set, and you abort a message with two RUBOUT (erase or delete), mail will copy the partial letter to the file dead.letter in your home directory. Default is save.

searchheaders

If this option is set, then a message-list specifier in the form “/x:y“ will expand to all messages containing the substring y in the header field x. The string search is case insensitive. If x is omitted, it will default to the “Subject“ header field. The form “/to:y“ is a special case, and will expand to all messages containing the substring y in the “To”, “Cc“ or “Bcc“ header fields. The check for “to“ is case sensitive, so that “/To:y“ can be used to limit the search for y to just the “To:“ field. Default is nosearchheaders.

toplines

If defined, gives the number of lines of a message to be printed out with the top command; normally, the first five lines are printed.

verbose

Setting the option verbose is the same as using the -v flag on the command line. When mail runs in verbose mode, the actual delivery of messages is displayed on the user's terminal. Default is noverbose.

ENVIRONMENT

DEAD

Pathname of the file to save partial messages to in case of interrupts or delivery errors. Default is ~/dead.letter.

EDITOR

Pathname of the text editor to use in the edit command and ~e escape. If not defined, then a default editor is used.

HOME

Pathname of the user's home directory.

LISTER

Pathname of the directory lister to use in the folders command. Default is /bin/ls.

MAIL

Location of the user's mailbox. Default is /var/mail.

MAILRC

Pathname of file containing initial mail commands. Default is ~/.mailrc.

MBOX

The name of the mailbox file. It can be the name of a folder. The default is mbox in the user's home directory.

PAGER

Pathname of the program to use in the more command or when crt variable is set. The default paginator more(1) is used if this option is not defined.

REPLYTO

If set, will be used to initialize the Reply-To field for outgoing messages.

SHELL

Pathname of the shell to use in the ! command and the ~! escape. A default shell is used if this option is not defined.

VISUAL

Pathname of the text editor to use in the visual command and ~v escape.

USER

Login name of the user executing mail.

FILES

*/var/mail/**

Post office.

~/mbox

User's old mail.

~/.mailrc

File giving initial mail commands. This can be overridden by setting the MAILRC environment variable.

*/tmp/R**

Temporary files.

/usr/share/misc/mail.help*

Help files.

/usr/share/misc/mail.rc

/usr/local/etc/mail.rc

/etc/mail.rc

System-wide initialization files. Each file will be sourced, in order, if it exists.

SEE ALSO

fmt(1), newaliases(1), vacation(1), aliases(5), mailaddr(7), sendmail(8)

The Mail Reference Manual.

HISTORY

A mail command appeared in Version1 AT&T UNIX. This man page is derived from The Mail Reference Manual originally written by Kurt Shoens.

BUGS

Usually, mail is just a link to Mail and mailx, which can be confusing.

The name of the alternates list is incorrect English (it should be “alternatives”), but is retained for compatibility.

macOS 12.7 – February 29, 2004

/startTracking

  • Action  – startTracking
  • Parameters  – none
  • Description  – This will start recording a track.
  • gpstracks://x-callback-url/startTracking

/stopTracking

  • Action  – stopTracking
  • stopAction [string:required] : This will let you choose to save or delete the track. The two options are “save” or “delete”.
  • trackName [string:optional] : This will be the name of the track if you want to save it.

Description  – This will stop recording a track and either save it with the track name or delete it.

Examples

  • gpstracks://x-callback-url/stopTracking?stopAction=save&trackName=Track1
  • gpstracks://x-callback-url/stopTracking?stopAction=delete

/pauseTracking

  • Action  – pauseTracking
  • Parameters  – none
  • Description  – This will pause recording of a track if it is already recording.
  • gpstracks://x-callback-url/pauseTracking

/addWaypoint

  • Action  – addWaypoint
  • waypointName [string:optional] : This will be the name of the waypoint.
  • waypointFolder [string:required] : This is the name of the folder in which the waypoint will be saved. If the folder does not exist, then it will be created.
  • latitude [string:optional] : Latitude of the waypoint in decimal format.
  • longitude [string:optional] : Longitude of the waypoint in decimal format.

Description  – This will save a waypoint in the app. If the latitude or longitude are left blank then it will try to use your current location.

Examples

  • gpstracks://x-callback-url/addWaypoint?waypointname=wpt1&waypointFolder=Hiking&latitude=37.3324&longitude=-122.0312
  • gpstracks://x-callback-url/addWaypoint?waypointname=wpt1&waypointFolder=Hiking
  • gpstracks://x-callback-url/addWaypoint?waypointFolder=Camping

Battery Status
– Battery Percentage: 100%
– Battery State: Charged

Storage Usage
– Used: 302.7 GB (30.3 %)
– Free: 697.8 GB (69.7 %)
– Total Storage: 1000.5 GB

CPU Usage
– Usage: 1.6 %
– Idle: 98.4 %
– Avg Load (1, 5, 15 min): 1.74, 1.90, 1.96

Memory
– Wired: 1864.9 MB
– Active: 4819.0 MB
– Inactive: 4547.2 MB
– Other: 2647.2 MB
– Free: 1802.0 MB
– Total Memory: 15680.3 MB

System Uptime
– Boot Time: 4/22/24, 11:21 PM
– Uptime: 1d 18h 1m

Connection
– Default Gateway IP: 192.168.0.1
– DNS Server IP: 192.168.0.1
– External IP: 173.18.64.198
– External IP Hostname: 173-18-64-198.client.mchsi.com
– External IP AS Number: AS30036
– External IP AS Name: MEDIACOM-ENTERPRISE-BUSINESS
– Default Gateway IPv6: fe80::be4d:fbff:fe78:7ed2
– DNS Server IPv6: 2604:2d80:4d09:6300:be4d:fbff:fe78:7ed2
– External IPv6: 2604:2d80:4d09:6300:e1e5:4223:f63:3cd6
– External IPv6 Hostname: N/A
– External IPv6 AS Number: AS30036
– External IPv6 AS Name: MEDIACOM-ENTERPRISE-BUSINESS
– HTTP Proxy: N/A

Wi-Fi Information
– Network Connected: Yes
– SSID: N/A
– BSSID: N/A
– IP Address: 192.168.0.21
– Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
– IPv6 Addresses: fe80::1412:37b2:4a0f:e162 / 64, 2604:2d80:4d09:6300:d5:6ef:6c60:c02 / 64, 2604:2d80:4d09:6300:e1e5:4223:f63:3cd6 / 64, fd00:bc4d:fb78:7ed2:1845:6fe3:a029:7156 / 64, 2604:2d80:4d09:6300::2 / 64
– Received Since Boot: 4.01 GB
– Sent Since Boot: 3.31 GB

David Blue +1 (573) 823-4380  bilge.world

Battery Status
– Battery Percentage: 100%
– Battery State: Charged

Storage Usage
– Used: 302.7 GB (30.3 %)
– Free: 697.8 GB (69.7 %)
– Total Storage: 1000.5 GB

CPU Usage
– Usage: 1.6 %
– Idle: 98.4 %
– Avg Load (1, 5, 15 min): 1.74, 1.90, 1.96

Memory
– Wired: 1864.9 MB
– Active: 4819.0 MB
– Inactive: 4547.2 MB
– Other: 2647.2 MB
– Free: 1802.0 MB
– Total Memory: 15680.3 MB

System Uptime
– Boot Time: 4/22/24, 11:21 PM
– Uptime: 1d 18h 1m

Connection
– Default Gateway IP: 192.168.0.1
– DNS Server IP: 192.168.0.1
– External IP: 173.18.64.198
– External IP Hostname: 173-18-64-198.client.mchsi.com
– External IP AS Number: AS30036
– External IP AS Name: MEDIACOM-ENTERPRISE-BUSINESS
– Default Gateway IPv6: fe80::be4d:fbff:fe78:7ed2
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– Received Since Boot: 4.01 GB
– Sent Since Boot: 3.31 GB

David Blue +1 (573) 823-4380  bilge.world

{{Languages|Press Kit}} {{Template:Press Menu}} TOC

'''OpenStreetMap'''

'''The free worldmap'''

''Last update: {{REVISIONDAY}}.{{REVISIONMONTH}}.{{REVISIONYEAR}}''

== Brief facts == [[Image:public-images-osm_logo.svg|noframe|right|200px]] * ­'''A free street map of the world created by thousands of volunteers, something like Wikipedia.''' * ­'''A project where everyone can contribute and add objects.''' * ­'''{{Contributors/count}} participant accounts with more than 16,000 (and rapidly growing) of those highly active members.''' * ­'''A worldwide project conducted in multiple languages.''' * ­'''Anyone can access the OSM map data for free, and it already is being used in many applications.''' * ­'''There already is full coverage in most urban areas.''' * ­'''The data can be used in commercial applications.'''

== What is OpenStreetMap ? ==

'''OpenStreetMap (OSM)''' is a project that is building a free map of the whole world. Thousands of members are teamed to create an accurate, detailed and up-to-date map that is as good or better than commercial products. Like Wikipedia OpenStreetMap benefits from the ongoing input of thousands of people around the world.

==What is in the maps?== Worldwide, the OSM community '''collects data''' about roads, railways, paths, waterways and even bicycle routes. In addition to the transportation ways that are mapped, data is gathered on features along the roads, such as businesses, buildings (private and public), parks and natural areas, land use, cultural resources, and recreational facilities. There are more than 43 categories and hundreds of individual types of data that are gathered. For example, if you need to find a gas station near your location, it likely will be marked on an OSM map.

==How is data gathered?== OpenStreetMap data is gathered in several ways. Roads and streets can be mapped '''by tracing aerial imagery''' (several organizations provide imagery to OSM) or using GPS units to record a route. In the United States, the extensive road data available from the Census Bureauâ's [[TIGER]] database is used as a starting point, though it often requires editing. Also important is the import of data from a wide range of public sources. And, perhaps most important, OSM members either '''walk or drive a route''', recording everything from coffee shops to bus stops to public toilets to add to the maps rich database of information. Further, members don't have to own a GPS unit to participate; they can contribute just by correcting a street name or adding a school right in their own neighborhood. Besides being comprehensive, the data of OSM maps also is '''of high quality'''. On other maps, roads may not be precisely aligned, trails may missing and important features can be ignored. Further, other maps can include nonexistent 'trap streets' to catch illicit copiers. However, at OSM data is reviewed and corrected by dozens of contributors, especially data from urban areas, and they are free to fix any errors they find.

==Why do we emphasize that OSM is free?== There are a lot of free maps on the Internet, but they are only free to view, not to '''use the data''' for an application, such as your own web page. By contrast, OpenStreetMap makes it possible to use freely the map and all its data. The data is released under a free [[license]] (Open Data Commons Open Database License 1.0).

=== Why do people join OSM?=== OpenStreetMap is a project in which everyone can participate and enter map information. More than that, those who are technically skilled can write or improve the OpenStreetMap software and extend the documentation. Others can work to help organize the project in many local areas worldwide or to publicize OSM in their area. Most important, for many, are the mapping parties in dozens of local areas worldwide where members gather data, upload it to the map and then socialize. Some say their biggest motivation is that they can see the map growing daily, while others freely admit that they find mapping happily addictive. Whatever their motivation, members are absolutely clear, that OSM is just plain fun.

See also: [[Getting Involved]]

=== Growth === [[Image:Osmdbstats1.png|thumb]] The OpenStreetMap community grows by about 10% per month. At the beginning of 2008 OSM had 20,000 members, but in December 2008 OSM already had 80,000. The level of 200,000 volunteers was reached in January 2010, 500,000 in November 2011, 1,000,000 in December 2012, and currently there are '''{{Contributors/count}}''' registered users. [https://www.openstreetmap.org/stats/data_stats.html User statistic] As with any online community, only a small proportion of registered users go as far as contributing, but the project sees many thousands of active contributors in any given week. Germany and the United Kingdom are the countries with the largest local communities, but there are local user groups around the globe. Participation in the United States is growing rapidly, and a formal U.S. Chapter was founded in 2010.

See also: [http://usergroups.openstreetmap.de Local OSM usergroups]

=== Coverage ===

Generally countries in Europe and North America already have quite good coverage. All bigger cities tend to be mapped nearly completely. In the countryside at least the most important roads are mapped as well. In stark contrast to other maps on the Internet, '''hiking trails, tracks and cycleways are available'''. Commercial maps are usually created for drivers and so take no account of these features.

As our community grows, we fix blank areas on the map, filling in new roads and areas. If you see something missing you can't hang around for long. Visit the map again in a few months and it might be completely mapped.

In a global comparison, '''Germany''' is one of the best covered countries in OpenStreetMap, although the project started in the UK and even here there weren't any big donated imports like in the Netherlands or in the US. If you take a closer look on the map, you will see that this is a worldwide project and there is almost nowhere where no people are working on completing the map.

But as OpenStreetMap is an open system, the map can never be 'complete'. Even if in the first stages, the highways, 'all roads that have names' and 'all roads' have been completed, the level of detail progress. People adding information on buildings, points of interest and improve existing objects. Even the road network isn't static but changes continuously. There is always plenty to do.

=== up to date === New entries or changes appear within minutes on the map. The possible speed of this update process makes OSM much better to all other competitors. So new buildings, constructions, blocked roads etc. can be immediately visualized. NGOs use OpenStreetMap in areas that were hit by disasters to plan their arrivals after earthquakes, burning forests, landslips or other cataclysm. We support them via the [[Humanitarian OSM Team]].

== How does OpenStreetMap work? ==

=== From a walk towards a complete map === [[Image:First Page2.PNG|center|779px]]

In areas that have no data in the OSM database, you create a skeleton of roads etc. With a GPS unit, you walk or drive along a way within the area, while the device '''logs your position'''. A bicycle is very useful, for residential areas as well as within the woods. The mappers take notes of road names, public telephones, playgrounds and so on. Tools are classic pen&paper but also Dictaphone, digicams etc. Everybody has their own favorite.

See also: [https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Newbie#Neue_Daten_sammeln...]

[[Image:JOSM-Jan-2009.jpg|thumb]] The recorded track is now in the storage of the device. This raw data can already be uploaded to the project, but we don't recover roads and ways back automatically! We have to do this step manually (called mapping). Most people use our tools [[JOSM]] or [[iD]]. This '''plotting along the track''' remembers somewhat like 'paint by numbers', as you know it from paint books. Here we simplify the track (a straight road can be recorded as jittered line due GPS precision limits or if you change the side of the road). So we do a abstraction.

Now the road is a bunch of lines (vectors). You can add tags to it. First its name is important, so you add a tag that represents it: ({{tag|name|Royal Avenue}}). Further features are for example the class of the road, is there a cycle lane or is it one-way? The repository of already used map features/tags is really huge. But you will remember the most important ones, after a little bit of training. The editors support you by offering presets, that lookup the right strings..

See also: [[Map_Features]]

The freshly designed data can now be uploaded to the project and become immediately accessible for everyone. Now others can '''view, correct and improve'''. Step by step this data becomes more and more precise and you can see the map growing, that motivates you to take part in this process..

=== Data vs. Map === To be honest, OpenStreetMap is neither a map or a city plan, '''but a database'''. There we store all the individual objects of the map. You can do whatever you want as long as you respect the license. But as it's not that simple to create maps out the data by end users, the project (so volunteers again) create these maps for you. This step is called 'rendering' The top maps are '''Mapnik''' and '''Osmarender''' as well as [http://www.opencyclemap.org OpenCycleMap]. There are also [http://topo.openstreetmap.de hike- and bike-maps] available. But there are so many more and every day you'll get some new ones.

See also: [[Applications of OpenStreetMap]]

[[Image:German Power Grid Voltage Map screenshot.png|thumb|Power grid in Germany]] Also anyone can create for themselves '''a map according to their own wishes'''. No matter whether only rivers and lakes are shown (as anm angling map), a railway map is desired (for train lovers), or food shops are to be prominent. However different the maps may look then, they are based on the same base information, differing in which features are displayed.

Further applications going beyond making maps are also possible. An [http://www.openrouteservice.org on-line routing service] already exists for example that works wholly with OpenStreetMap data. Also the data can be converted in such a way that you can load it into [[Software/PNA|personal navigation devices]]. Besides ever more [[GIS software|specialised GIS programs]] support the OpenStreetMap format. Since it is the first time the fact that a so large geographical data base is available to everyone it is not yet able to be assessed which further areas of application will open themselves.

=== Alternative data sources === The basis of OpenStreetMap is the great number of helpful users who explore the country with their GPS units, to complete the map. But a lot of work can be done even without GPS. Everybody knows the street names in their neighborhood, where the next bakery is located, how to find the next post box and so on. Exactly such useful information can be drawn onto the map to improve it. ([[Reporting bugs]])

[[Image:TorontoHarbour-landsat.png|thumb]] There is however also still further information that is of use in OpenStreetMap and that allows people to take part without GPS equipment. Satellite photographs are usually protected by copyright and thus unavailable for use in OSM. However there are companies, institutions and private individuals who cooperate with OpenStreetMap by releasing photographss, mapping information, street maps and more that can be used in OpenStreetMap.

So we can use the '''satellite imagery''' by Yahoo and since a recently by Microsoft (Bing-Maps) for OSM. So we can provide a nearly global coverage of a lot of details, starting with rivers, forests and lakes, to roads, power lines and even buildings. More detailed are the high resolution orthographic photos (digital ortho photos (DOP)) by the Bavarian State Office for Survey and Geoinformation, that can be used during a pilot project and show how useful this can be for creating a free map. We hope that this will be a good example for public public partnership and that further examples will follow in future. Even in France, we got the permission to use all online published cadastre data as starting point for OSM. Even commercial providers as Aero-West offer us photo material for free..

Sometimes this external information can be imported directly, instead of tracing them. These imports are something special for OSM. During this processing we add high value and complex map informations directly to our database. This not always easy on the technical level, but can improve the quality of an area immediately. Some examples:

  • Import of US-public domain [[TIGER|TIGER data]]
  • Company [[AND Data|AND Automotive Navigation Data]] with data for the Netherlands and parts of China and india .
  • Import of [[Import/Catalogue/KreisgrenzenDeutschland2005|German boundaries]] by Infas-Geodaten
  • Import in Austria by [[WikiProjectAustria/Importplan.at|“plan.at”]]

See also: [[Import/Catalogue]], [[Potential Datasources]]

With these multiple sources, that support the survey with GPS, OpenStreetMap has achieved an impressive quality already. Upcoming data donations will certainly increase them, too.

=== One Database, thousands of maps, infinite possibilities === Because we offer the raw geodata, commercial providers take an interest in OSM. This isn't prohibited by our license: only the data has to stay under the free license. A number of companies provide commercial services based on OSM data, including online maps and mobile routing apps.

See also: [[OSM Internet Links]], and [[List of Companies offering OSM Consulting]]

Our data makes applications possible, that no commercial provider can offer, because the cost of proprietary data collection would be prohibitive. For example, [[Wheelchair-Routing]] and [[HaptoRender]].

== Interesting ==

=== Prominent Users === And what does the state offices when they like to publish some positions on a 'open' base? Right! They use our maps: http://www.prtr.bund.de

The [http://www.whitehouse.gov/change White House] uses OpenStreetMap data, and [http://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/organisation/anfahrt.html Bundesverfassungsgericht Germany]. So does [http://foursquare.com/ foursquare] and [http://www.usatoday.com/weather/ USA Today].

See also: [[OSM Internet Links]]

=== OpenStreetMap back in school === [[Image:Notizen machen.jpg|thumb]] Working on OpenStreetMap can be part of the school education as lessons or as a project. Topics of course like Geography, Mathematics and Informatics can be taught in the daily environment of the pupils. In the past some projects of this kind already took place. Often they created a map of a town or suburb. Mostly the idea was that fascinating to pupils, that some become active for OSM in their spare time, too: * [[Geomatik-Projekt-Borgholzhausen|Geomatik-Projekt 2008 in Borgholzhausen (Teutoburger Wald)]] * [[DE:Mapping-Aktion am Elisabeth-von-Thüringen-Gymnasium|Elisabeth-von-Thüringen-Gymnasium Köln]] * [[User:Thomas.eberth|Anne-Frank-Realschule Montabaur – Rheinland Pfalz]] * [http://www.wossidlogymnasium.de/streiflichter-mainmenu-154/projekte-mainmenu-144 Mapping Projekt] am Richard-Wossidlo-Gymnasium und [http://www.wossidlogymnasium.de/streiflichter-mainmenu-154/projekte-mainmenu-144/411-projekt-openstreetmap-vogelpark-marlow Vogelpark Marlow] in [[M-V]] * [http://www.map-your-world.ch/ MapYourWorld – Schweiz]

OpenStreetMap supports such kind of projects. Thanks to a donation, we can offer GPS units for free: [http://www.openstreetmap.de/gps-verleih/] Often one or two of our mappers support such actions of schools. But even without, it's easy enough for teachers to understand the project within a few days.

See also [[Education]]

===Humanitarian Openstreetmap Team=== [[Image:Haiti Quake Map.png|thumb]]

As the earthquake hit [[Haiti]] we extracted masses data of aerial imagery for the first time, to support the rescue squads on the ground.

Since this time, the [[HOT]] tries after each disaster to get sponsors of imagery and to update our map for the place.

=== Impressive examples === *[[osm:#map=17/52.50867/13.33920|Berliner Zoo]] * [http://www.opencyclemap.org/?zoom=13&lat=50.69152&lon=7.01991&layers=B000 Bikemap] * [http://www.openrouteservice.org/ Routing-Service for pedestrians and cyclists] * [http://www.OpenSeaMap.org/ OpenSeaMap – the free nautical chart] * ''local maps and examples? Get in [[Contact]]''

=== Numbers, dates, facts === * Founded by [[User:Steve|Steve Coast]] (London) in July 2004 * Real start of bigger survey in March 2006 * {{Contributors/count}} volunteers work worldwide (10% increase per month by March 2015) * ~ 33 Million kilometres road network (May 2009) * ~ 250 000 towns/villages/places in Europe * > 5 billion nodes * ...

See also: [[Statistics]]

== Links for Beginners == {{:Essential links for begginers}}

== References ==

[[Category:Press]] [[Category:Portals]]

Sent from my iPhone

Finally got around to – once again – washing DAVÖD as thoroughly as I could last week. Discovered that the crud in all the door sills problem is not coming from car soap at the wash...

Dear Hiring Manager,

In the realm of content creation, the power of the written word is undeniable. It's the difference between a mere passerby and a dedicated reader, between a glance and a memorable impact. I'm reaching out to express my interest in the Content Writer position, armed with a fervent passion for crafting narratives that resonate and a proven track record of engaging audiences.

My journey in content writing has been one of continuous evolution, with each sentence meticulously honed to captivate and inform. I bring to the table a blend of creativity and analytical prowess, ensuring that every piece is not only a pleasure to read but also strategically aligned with overarching business goals. My portfolio is a testament to my ability to adapt tone and style to suit diverse topics and platforms, a versatility that I believe aligns perfectly with the dynamic nature of your content needs.

What truly excites me about the opportunity at your company is the prospect of contributing to a brand that values insightful, quality content. I am particularly drawn to the challenge of distilling complex ideas into clear, engaging narratives that empower readers and elevate the brand. My approach is a harmonious blend of innovation and precision, ensuring that each article, blog post, or social media update is not just seen, but remembered.

I am eager to delve into the specifics of how my skills and experiences can be an asset to your team. Perhaps we could arrange a meeting to discuss this symbiotic potential further? I am ready to hit the ground running and am confident that my enthusiasm for content creation will translate into tangible results for your brand.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your team's success.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Sent from my iPhone

David Blue

+1 (573) 823-4380  bilge.world

epistolary

Adjective

  1. written in the form of or carried on by letters or correspondence; “an endless sequence of epistolary love affairs”; “the epistolatory novel”
    • Synonyms
      • epistolatory
    • Similar to
      • informal
    • Related
      • epistle

Adjective

  1. Literature (of a literary work) in the form of letters an epistolary novel

Literary relating to the writing of letters.

Origin

mid 17th century: from French épistolaire or Latin epistolaris, from epistola (see epistle)

askance

Adjective

  1. (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy; “her eyes with their misted askance look”- Elizabeth Bowen; “sidelong glances”
    • Synonyms
      • askant
      • asquint
      • squint
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    • Similar to
      • indirect

Adverb

  1. with suspicion or disapproval; “he looked askance at the offer”
  2. with a side or oblique glance; “did not quite turn all the way back but looked askance at me with her dark eyes”
  • askance – LookUp adverb
  • with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval the mystical tradition | his jeans

Thesaurus

Adverb 1. she looked askance at her neighbour

Similar Words: obliquely sideways indirectly out of the corner of one's eye

  1. they look askance at almost anything foreign

Similar Words: suspiciously with suspicion sceptically with misgivings cynically mistrustfully distrustfully with distrust doubtfully dubiously with doubt disapprovingly with disapproval with disfavour contemptuously scornfully disdainfully suspect mistrust distrust disapprove of frown on be hostile towards

Opposites: welcomingly approvingly

pellucid

Adjective

  1. transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity; “the cold crystalline water of melted snow”; “crystal clear skies”; “could see the sand on the bottom of the limpid pool”; “lucid air”; “a pellucid brook”; “transparent crystal”
    • Synonyms
      • crystalline
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      • transparent
    • Similar to
      • clear
    • Related
      • transparency
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  2. (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable; “writes in a limpid style”; “lucid directions”; “a luculent oration”- Robert Burton; “pellucid prose”; “a crystal clear explanation”; “a perspicuous argument”
    • Synonyms
      • limpid
      • lucid
      • luculent
      • crystal clear
      • perspicuous
    • Similar to
      • clear
    • Related
      • perspicuity
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    • Topic Members
      • language
      • linguistic communication
  • pellucid – LookUp adjective
  • literary translucently clear mountains reflected in the pellucid waters

easily understood; lucid he writes, as always, in pellucid prose

Thesaurus

Adjective 1. the pellucid Caribbean waters | a pellucid singing tone

Similar Words: translucent transparent clear crystal clear crystalline bright glassy limpid unclouded

  1. pellucid prose

Similar Words: easily understood easily grasped comprehensible understandable intelligible articulate coherent lucid clear crystal clear crystalline graspable fathomable digestible straightforward direct simple plain well constructed graphic explicit unambiguous user-friendly

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