If you're going to be away from your email for an extended period of time, you may wish to set an away message. This message is automatically emailed to anyone who tries to contact you via email while you are out of town, thus reassuring them that you're not ignoring them.

Setting an Away Message

1. At the unix prompt $, type "vacation":

   C$ vacation

2. If you've never set an away message before, this will automatically bring you into a pico window. The default message you see here is what will be automatically sent to people who email you while you're away. Edit this message to your heart's content and then type control-x
3. It tells you you have a message in .vacation.msg and asks if you would like to see it. Type "y" to see what your message looks like.
4. After displaying your message, the program now asks if you'd like to edit it. Type "y" if you'd like to change your message. Once you're happy with your message, type "n" to further editing.
5. Now it asks if you would like to enable the vacation feature. Type "y"

Disabling the Vacation Message

1. When you return from your trip, merely type "vacation" at the unix prompt.
2. It will ask you if you'd like to see and edit your away message. Answer according to your whim.
3. The final question asks you if you'd like to disable the vacation feature. Type "y" and everything will go back to normal.