UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I am trying to send a fax from the unix box through our mail server. I am able to send pages, files, etc. but for the fax the mail server requires a space that I can't get unix to accept. The syntax is:

mail "[fax: bh@9999494178]"

Unix will take the command without the space, but the mail server has to have the space. Does anyone know how I can get unix to accept the space?

Does anyone know how to get unix to ignore a space. I know how to ignore a special character, how to ignore a line, but this I'm lost on. I've searched the web, talked to everyone I know personally who has anything to do with Unix and so far nothing.

Most shells take anything inside single quotes without changing or substituting the value.

i.e.,

Code:

mail '[fax: bh@9999494178]'

If this is not what mail sees, then mail is changing the value.
Not unix shell.

If thinks that [fax: is argv[1] and bh@9999494178] argv[2] then
you need to read up on what version of mail you have installed - or try mailx or sendmail.

# mail '[fax: bh@9999494178]'
[fax:bh@9999494178] contains invalid character '['


#mail "[fax: bh@9999494178]"
[fax:bh@9999494178] contains invalid character '['


Seems you may have problems other than with a SPACE with this idea........ since I'm not sure how you are aliasing the fax service (the TO ADDR), I can't help further, sorry.

From man.....



mail [-BFintv~] [-s subject] [-a attachment ] [-c cc-addr] [-b bcc-addr] [-r from-addr] [-h hops] to-addr ...

My system doesn't have a problem with the brackets. Just with the space. Thanks for your help - guess I'll keep working on this one in my spare time and do a work around for now. I've looked through very manual I can find and bothered everyone I know who knows anything about Unix. If I figure it out I'll post the solution. Thanks again.