Network Working Group                                         S. Sluizer
Request for Comments: 785                                      J. Postel
                                                                     ISI
                                                               July 1981

                        MAIL TRANSFER PROTOCOL:
                      ISI TOPS20 FILE DEFINITIONS


INTRODUCTION

   This document defines the ISI TOPS20s interface between the Mail
   Transfer Protocol (MTP) and a mail creation system (e.g., MM, HERMES,
   etc.) in terms of the files which implement it.  The internal
   structure and name of each file is described below.

   For a complete understanding of the MTP protocol as well as the terms
   used within this document, see RFC 780, "Mail Transfer Protocol".

DESCRIPTION

   For each piece of mail, the TOPS20 interface between a mail creation
   system and MTP is comprised of two files.  The first file must be
   named "^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-CONTROL--^V].MTP.-1", where "^V" represents
   the character "control V" (ASCII code 026) and the generation number
   "-1" indicates the next higher generation number (at the time of the
   file's creation).  It is strongly suggested that the second file be
   named "^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-FILE--^V].MTP.-1", where "^V" and "-1" are as
   defined before.  (However, the actual file name may be chosen by the
   mail creation system.)  Both these files reside in the directory of
   the user who created the mail (as is currently the case with the
   MAILER-based system).

   "^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-CONTROL--^V].MTP.-1" is the control file.  It is an
   ASCIZ file and contains all information necessary to relay the mail
   through MTP.  It consists of a pointer to the mail text, the
   source-path, and all destination-paths.

   First is "FILE:" followed by the FULL mail text file name (which must
   include directory name and generation number) followed by <CRLF>
   (ASCII code 15 followed by ASCII code 12).  Note that a structure
   name is allowed; if not given "PS:" will be assumed.  Also note that
   for each character that must be quoted in a file name the quote
   character (^V) must be present in the string following "FILE:".  Next
   is "FROM:" followed by the <FROM-path> followed by <CRLF>.  Finally,
   each destination is given in the form "TO:" followed by the <TO-path>
   followed by <CRLF>.  The FROM- and TO-paths include surrounding angle
   brackets (i.e., <...>) and are identical respectively to the source-
   and destination-paths described in RFC 780.





Sluizer & Postel                                                Page [1]



                                                                        
July 1981                                                        RFC 785
ISI TOPS20 File Definitions                                             



  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       +------------------------+
                       |FILE: <File name> <CRLF>|
                       +------------------------+
                       |FROM: <FROM-path> <CRLF>|
                       +------------------------+
                       |  TO: <TO-path> <CRLF>  |
                       +------------------------+
                       |           ...          |
                       +------------------------+
                       |  TO: <TO-path> <CRLF>  |
                       +------------------------+

        File structure for ^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-CONTROL--^V].MTP.-1
                                Figure 1
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------

   "^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-FILE--^V].MTP.-1" is the mail text file.  (Note
   that this is the file to which <File name> in the control file
   refers.)  It is mail which conforms to the standard described in RFC
   733, "Standard for the Format of ARPA Network Text Messages".

DISCUSSION

   The older mail creation systems create N copies of a mail text file,
   one for each of the N addresses in the TO, CC, and BCC fields.  Each
   file is named "^V[--UNSENT-MAIL--^V].<mailbox>^V@<host>.-1", where
   <mailbox> and <host> are as defined in MTP, and "^V" and "-1" are as
   defined above.

   The interface between the mail creation system and MTP requires only
   the creation of two files, regardless of the number of addresses in
   the TO, CC, and BCC fields.  The control file contains the
   source-path and destination-paths information as well as a pointer to
   the mail text file.  The mail text file contains the the RFC 733
   header and body.













Page [2]                                                Sluizer & Postel



                                                                        
RFC 785                                                        July 1981
                                                  Mail Transfer Protocol



EXAMPLE

   In this example, there were no previously existing versions of either
   the control file or the mail text file in directory <LINDA> where the
   message was created.  Figure 2 shows the mail text file and figure 3
   shows the control file.

   ------------------------------------------------------------------
      DATE: April 6, 1981
      Sender: Linda at ISIF
      From: Jon Postel <postel@isif>
      To: DCrocker at UDel, Cerf at ISIA
      Cc: postel@ISIF
      Bcc: sluizer@isif
      Subject: MTP discussion
      
      Your comments on the MTP document were most helpful.  A revised
      version will be forthcoming shortly.
      
      Thanks again,
      --jon

        File contents of <LINDA>^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-FILE--^V].MTP.1
                                Figure 2
   ------------------------------------------------------------------

   ------------------------------------------------------------------
          +--------------------------------------------------+
          |FILE:<LINDA>^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-FILE--^V].MTP.1<CRLF>|
          +--------------------------------------------------+
          |FROM:<Linda@ISIF><CRLF>                           |
          +--------------------------------------------------+
          |TO:<DCrocker@UDel><CRLF>                          |
          +--------------------------------------------------+
          |TO:<Cerf@ISIA><CRLF>                              |
          +--------------------------------------------------+
          |TO:<postel@ISIF><CRLF>                            |
          +--------------------------------------------------+
          |TO:<sluizer@isif><CRLF>                           |
          +--------------------------------------------------+

          File contents of ^V[--UNSENT-MAIL-CONTROL--^V].MTP.1
                                Figure 3
   ------------------------------------------------------------------





Sluizer & Postel                                                Page [3]



Mail Transfer Protocol: ISI TOPS20 file definitions

RFC TOTAL SIZE: 7032 bytes
PUBLICATION DATE: Thursday, October 15th, 1992
LEGAL RIGHTS: The IETF Trust (see BCP 78)