---
name: "ali"
section: "1mh"
platform: "linux"
package: "nmh"
version: "1.8-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ali/1mh"
---

# ali(1mh)

list nmh mail aliases

## NAME

ali - list nmh mail aliases

## SYNOPSIS

**ali** \[**-help**\] \[**-version**\] \[**-alias** *aliasfile*\] \[**-list** \| **-nolist**\] \[**-user** \| **-nouser**\] \[*aliases* ...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**ali** searches the named mail alias files for each of the given *aliases*. It creates a list of addresses for those *aliases*, and writes that list on standard output.  If no arguments are given, **ali** outputs all alias entries.

By default, when an alias expands to multiple addresses, the addresses are separated by commas and printed on as few lines as possible.  If the **-list** switch is specified, and an address expands to multiple addresses, each address will appear on a separate line.

The **-user** switch directs **ali** to perform its processing in an inverted fashion: instead of listing the addresses that each given alias expands to, **ali** will list the aliases that expand to each given address.

The files specified by the profile entry “*Aliasfile*” and any additional alias files given by the **-alias** *aliasfile* switch will be read.  Each *alias* is processed as described in [*mh-alias*(5)](/mh-alias/5.md).

## FILES

Alias files are looked up in multiple locations: if the pathname is absolute or starts with “*.*” or “*..*” it is accessed directly; otherwise tilde expansion is done on usernames, then files are searched for in the user's *Mail* directory as specified in their profile.  If not found there, the directory “*/etc/nmh*” is checked.

- $HOME/.mh\_profile

  The user's profile.

## PROFILE COMPONENTS

- Path:

  To determine the user's nmh directory

- Aliasfile:

  For a default alias file

## SEE ALSO

[*mh-alias*(5)](/mh-alias/5.md)

## DEFAULTS

- aliasfile

  /etc/nmh/MailAliases

- \-nolist

  - \-nouser

  ## CONTEXT

None