---
name: "receive"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sendfile"
version: "2.1b.20080616-10"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/receive"
---

# receive(1)

receive files from the sendfile spool

## NAME

receive - receive files from the sendfile spool

## SYNOPSIS

**receive** \[ **-d** \] \[ **-r** \] \[ **-k** \] \[ **-P** \] \[ **-S** \] \[ **-Z spool** \] \[ **-q** \] \[ **-f***from* \] **file** \[...\]\
 **receive -n** \[ **-d** \] \[ **-r** \] \[ **-k** \] \[ **-P** \] \[ **-S** \] \[ **-Z spool** \] \[ **-q** \] *file-number* \[...\]\
 **receive** \[ **-s** \]   \[ **-l** \]   \[ **-L** \] \[ **-R** \] \[ **-f***from* \]\
 **receive -b** *user\[@host\]* \[ **-k** \] \[ **-f"***from"* \] file \[...\]\
 **receive -b** *user\[@host\]* \[ **-k** \] \[ **-f"***from"* \] **-n** *file-number \[...\]*\
 **receive -b** *user\[@host\]* \[ **-k** \] **-a**

## DESCRIPTION

**receive** files from the sendfile spool which has been sent to you.

If there is already a file with the same name you will be prompted for overwriting or renaming.

Allowed wildcards in file names are: \* ? \[abc\] \[^abc\]\
 CAUTION: you have to put wildcards and other special characters in ´´ quotes to hide them for interpretation by your shell.

## OPTIONS

- **-n**

  receive file number(s)

- **-d**

  delete instead of receive

- **-a**

  receive (or delete or bounce) all files

- **-r**

  rename before receiving

- **-k**

  keep files in spool after receiving

- **-P**

  pipe files to stdout

- **-S**

  receive only pgp-signed files

- **-s**

  list files in short format

- **-l**

  list files

- **-L**

  list files and look inside archives, too

- **-R**

  renumber files in spool

- **-b**

  bounce (forward) files to another recipient

- **-q**

  quiet mode: no questions asked

- **-f***user*

  all actions refer only to files from this user

- **-Z spool**

  specify an alternate spool directory

## EXAMPLES

*receive -L*\
 list all files in long format.

**receive 'blubb\*'**\
 receive all files starting with string "blubb".

**receive -daf microsoft.com**\
 delete all files from microsoft.com sites.

**receive -b framstag@bofh '\*.jpg'**\
 bounce all \*.jpg-files to framstag@bofh.

## FILES

- */var/spool/sendfile*

  The sendfile spool directory.

- */var/spool/sendfile/$USER/log*

  A log of the last transfers.

- */etc/sendfile.deny*

  Users which are not allowed to receive files or messages (set by root).

## SEE ALSO

[**sendfile**(1)](/sendfile/1.md).

## AUTHOR

Ulli Horlacher  -  framstag@rus.uni-stuttgart.de