---
name: "afalias"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "af"
version: "2.4.3-3"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/afalias"
---

# afalias(5)

alias files for af.

## NAME

Afalias - alias files for af.

## DESCRIPTION

*Af* alias files contain alias lines and optional blank lines and comment lines.  Comment lines begin with a semicolon (;).

Alias lines look like:

alias:real name:address list

Aliases are case-insensitive non-NULL ASCII character strings, with any embedded colons preceded by a backslash.\
 Real names are: double-quoted strings of non-NULL ASCII characters, with any embedded double-quotes preceded by a backslash; or, strings of non-NULL ASCII characters, with characters in the set ( ) \< \> \[ \] @ , . ; : " % preceded by a backslash; or any combination of the two.  In general, the obvious works: consult the Af Reference Manual for the fine detail in doubtful cases.\
 Address lists are lists of comma-or-space-separated electronic mail addresses.  For fine detail, consult the Af Reference Manual, and, if really desperate, RFC 822.

Alias lines may be folded, with a newline followed by a space or TAB being equivalent to a single space.  Folding may only occur after the alias and its following colon.

## EXAMPLE

```
; An alias specifying a few users
users:First af users:malc@thing kay@thing vato@thing vicar@thing
; Another alias specifying just one user
malc:Mr Author himself:malc
; A mailing list folded over several lines
testers:Af testing team:Malc Arnold <malc@thing>,
        Kay Dekker <kay@thing>, Ian Dickinson <vato@thing>,
        Emma Kemm <emma@thing>, Andrew Fry <vicar@thing>
```

## FILES

- $HOME/.afalias

  user's af aliases.

- /etc/af/afalias

  global af aliases.

## AUTHOR

Malc Arnold.

## SEE ALSO

[af(1)](/af/1.md), [afack(1)](/afack/1.md), \`\`The Af Reference Manual''.