.forward File

Purpose

Automatically forwards mail as it is received.

Description

When mail is sent to a local user, the sendmail command checks for the $HOME/.forward file. The $HOME/.forward file can contain one or more addresses or aliases. If the file exists, the message is not sent to the user. The message is sent to the addresses or aliases in the .forward file. For example, if user mickey's .forward file on host disney contains:

donald@wonderful.world.disney
pluto

Copies of messages sent to mickey are forwarded to user donald on host wonderful.world.disney, and to pluto on the local system.

Note:

The addresses listed in the .forward file can be a comma-separated list of addresses; for example:
```
donald@wonderful.world.disney, pluto
```
Addresses can specify programs. The following example forwards a message to the vacation command:
```
mickey, "|/usr/bin/vacation mickey"
```
This example sends a message to user mickey and to the vacation program.
This file must be created by the user in the $HOME directory.

To stop forwarding mail, use the rm command to remove the .forward file from your home directory:

rm .forward

The .forward file is deleted. Incoming mail is delivered to the user's system mailbox.

Files

Item	Description
$HOME/.forward	Specifies the path of the file.