User Configuration Variables


allow_8bit
Type: Boolean
Default value: set

This variable controls whether or not 8-bit data contained in outgoing messages should be converted to 7-bit format using MIME encodings. Note that if your message is trasmitted over the Internet, it is still possible for your message to be MIME encoded along the way, since some Mail Transport Agents (MTAs) opt to change 8-bit data into 7-bit format.

askcc
Type: boolean
Default value: unset

This variable controls whether or not Mutt prompts you for a Cc: line when you send a new message, or reply or forward an existing message. Note that this only controls the initial CC prompt, you can still set a CC header in the Send menu, or when editing the outgoing message when edit_hdrs is set.

askcopy
Type: boolean
Default value: unset

By default, Mutt will always save a copy of your outgoing messages if the variable record is set. However, if askcopy is set, Mutt will ask you if you wish to save a copy of your message after you send it.

askdelete
Type: boolean
Default value: set

This variable controls whether or not Mutt will ask you to confirm whether or not to erase messages when exiting a folder.

askmove
Type: boolean
Default value: set

Controls whether or not Mutt will ask you to confirm moving read messages from your spoolfile folder to your mbox folder. Note: the variable hold must be unset for this to be in effect.

askpostpone
Type: boolean
Default value: set

When you choose not to send the message you are editing, you will be asked if you want to postpone the message for later submission if this variable is set. Also see the postponed variable.

askreplyto
Type: boolean
Default value: unset

If set, Mutt will ask you if you want to use the address listed in the Reply-To header field when replying to a message. If you answer no, it will use the address in the From: header field instead. This option is useful for reading a mailing list that sets the Reply-To header field to the list address and you want to send a private message to the author of a message.

attribution
Type: Format String
Default value: "On %M %N, %n wrote:"

This is the string that will precede a message which has been included in a reply.

edit_hdrs
Type: boolean
Default value: unset

This option allows you to edit the header of your outgoing messages along with the body of your message. This is provided as an alternative to the Send menu interface.

editor
Type: String
Default value: value of environment variable $VISUAL, $EDITOR, or "vi" as a last resort.

This variable specifies which editor to use when composing messages.

folder
Type: String

Default value: ~

Specifies where your mailboxes can be found.

force_name
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

When set, Mutt will save outgoing messages in a folder specified by the username of the person you are mailing to.

This variable overrides the outbox variable.

hdr_format
Type: Format string
Default value: %M %2N %-15.15F (%6c) %s

This variable allows you to customize the message index display to your personal taste. See the section on format strings for a complete list of escape sequences.

header
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

When set, this variable causes Mutt to include the full header of the message you are replying to into the edit buffer.

hold
Type: Boolean
Default value: set

If set, this causes Mutt not to move read messages from your "spool" file to your "mbox" file.

in_reply_to
Type: Format string
Default value: "%i; from \"%n\" on %d"

This specifies the format of the In-Reply-To: header added when replying to a message.

indentprefix
Type: Format string
Default value: "> "

This is the string that will be prepended to all lines in messages included when replying.

keep_empty
Type: boolean
Default value: unset

By default, Mutt will remove any mailboxes which contain zero messages. This variable overrides that default and causes Mutt to never remove mailboxes.

keepsave
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

If set, Mutt will not delete messages which have been saved to another folder. This causes the "save" and "copy" commands to become identical.

localsignature
Type: String
Default value: none

The filename of your signature file which should be copied into the message buffer when the recipients are all local. Note: setting this variable overrides the value of signature.

mbox
Type: String
Default value: +inbox

This specifies the folder into which read mail in your "spool" folder will be appended.

metoo
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

If set, Mutt will not remove your address from the list of recipients when replying to a message.

mime_forward
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

If set, forwarded messages will be included as attachments instead of inserted into the editor buffer.

msginc
Type: Number
Default value: 10

When a folder is being read, Mutt will show it's status after msginc messages have been read. People with slow connections might want to make this something like 25 or 50.

pointnew
Type: boolean
Default value: set

This variable controls whether mutt will position you at the first new (or unread) message in the mailbox when the mailbox is first opened.

post_indent_str
Type: Format String
Default value: none

Similar to the attribution variable, Mutt will append this string after the inclusion of a message which is being replied to.

postponed
Type: string
Default value: ~/postponed

Mutt allows you to indefinitely postpone sending a message which you are editing. When you choose to postpone a message, Mutt saves it in the folder specified by this variable. Also see the askpostpone variable.

pgp
Type: string
Default value: system dependent

This variable allows you to override the compile time definition of where the PGP binary resides on your system.

print
Type: String
Default value: lpr

This specifies the command that should be used to print messages.

realname
Type: String
Default value: GCOS field from /etc/passwd

This variable specifies what "real" or "personal" name should be used when sending messages.

record
Type: String
Default value: none

This specifies the file into which your outgoing messages should be appended. This is meant as the primary method for saving a copy of your messages, but another way to do this is using the my_hdr command to create a BCC: field with your email address in it.

remotesignature
Type: String
Default value: none

The filename of the signature file which should be appended to the message buffer when the destination of the message is a remote host. Note: setting this variable overrides the value of signature.

reverse_alias
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

This variable controls whether or not mutt will display the "personal" name from your aliases in the index menu if it finds an alias that matches the message's sender. For example, if you have the following alias:

alias juser abd30425@somewhere.net (Joe User)

and then you receive mail which contains the following header:

From: abd30425@somewhere.net

It would be displayed in the index menu as "Joe User" instead of "abd30425@somewhere.net". This is useful when the person's e-mail address is not human friendly (like CompuServe addresses).

sendmail
Type: String
Default value: /usr/lib/sendmail

This variable specifies the path to the program used to deliver your outgoing messages. This allows you to insert a filter between Mutt and sendmail, if so desired.

show_host
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

When set, Mutt will display the local hostname with the current folder name. This is useful for those people who read mail in many places and end up getting confused. :-)

sigdashes
Type: Boolean
Default value: set

This variable controls whether or not a line containing "-- " is appended to outgoing messages before your signature is added.

signature
Type: String
Default value: ~/.signature

Specifies the filename of your signature, which is appended to all outgoing messages. Note: This variable is overridden by both the remotesignature and localsignature commands.

spoolfile
Type: String
Default value: most likely /var/mail/$USER or /usr/spool/mail/$USER

If your spool mailbox is in a non-default place where Mutt cannot find it, you can specify its location with this variable. Mutt will automatically set this variable to the value of the environment variable MAIL if it is set.

xterm_mouse
Type: Boolean
Default value: unset

This variable controls whether or not Mutt will take control of interpreting mouse events inside an xterm. This allows you to use a "toolbar" inside of Mutt. Note: you can still use the normal xterm cut and paste operations using the <SHIFT> key.


Last updated on July 12, 1996.
© 1996 Michael R. Elkins