4.3BSD - /usr/man/cat1/biff.0

BIFF(1)                                                                BIFF(1)


NAME
       biff - be notified if mail arrives and who it is from

SYNOPSIS
       biff [ yn ]

DESCRIPTION
       Biff  informs  the  system  whether  you  want to be notified when mail
       arrives during the current terminal session.  The command

              biff y

       enables notification; the command

              biff n

       disables it.  When mail notification is enabled, the header  and  first
       few  lines  of the message will be printed on your screen whenever mail
       arrives.  A ‘‘biff y’’ command is often included in the file .login  or
       .profile to be executed at each login.

       Biff  operates  asynchronously.   For  synchronous notification use the
       MAIL variable of sh(1) or the mail variable of csh(1).

SEE ALSO
       csh(1), sh(1), mail(1), comsat(8C)


4th Berkeley Distribution       April 29, 1985                         BIFF(1)