---
name: "checkmail"
section: "1x"
platform: "linux"
package: "nas"
version: "1.2p5-3"
release: "Debian 2.0 (Hamm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/checkmail/1x"
---

# checkmail(1x)

plays a sound file when the user receives mail

## NAME

checkmail - plays a sound file when the user receives mail

## SYNOPSIS

**checkmail**

## DESCRIPTION

The *checkmail* program checks the status of the user's mail drop. If new mail is waiting, *checkmail* runs *playbucket* to play a sound and returns an exit status of 0.  If mail has been cleared, an exit status of 2 is returned.  If there has been no change, an exit status of 1 is returned.

The *checkmail* program is intended to be used with the **checkCommand** resource of *xbiff*.  To set this resource, add the following line to your *.Xdefaults* file:

xbiff\*checkCommand: checkmail

## FILES

- /usr/spool/mail/$USER

  the user's mail drop

- $HOME/.mailstat

  holds the previous mail drop size

- $HOME/.mailsound

  audio file to play when there's new mail

## SEE ALSO

playbucket(1), [xbiff(1)](/xbiff/1.md), nas(1)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright 1994 Network Computing Devices, Inc.

## AUTHOR

Greg Renda, Network Computing Devices, Inc.