# NeoMutt Workflows and Usage (Gmail Users Guide) This guide translates familiar **Gmail web UI concepts** into **NeoMutt workflows**. It covers interface navigation, reading, replying, searching, composing, attaching files, and sending emails directly from the command line. --- ## 1. Key Concepts: Gmail vs. NeoMutt | Gmail Concept | NeoMutt Equivalent | Explanation / Behavior | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Labels / Folders** | **Mailboxes / Folders** | Gmail labels map to IMAP folders like `+[Gmail]/All Mail`, `+[Gmail]/Sent Mail`, etc. | | **Archive (`e` or `y`)** | **Delete / Move (`d` or `s`)** | In Gmail, "archiving" removes the `INBOX` label. In NeoMutt, move (`s`) the message to `+[Gmail]/All Mail`. | | **Threads / Conversations** | **Threaded View (`sort = threads`)** | NeoMutt displays email chains visually nested as tree structures. | | **Search Bar (`/`)** | **Search (`/`) & Limit (`l`)** | Search filters current mailbox; Limit filters displayed list to matching patterns. | | **Starred Messages** | **Flagged Messages (`F`)** | Flagging a message sets the `F` flag, which maps to Gmail Stars. | | **Drafts** | **Postponed Messages (`P`)** | Saving an unfinished email stores it in `+[Gmail]/Drafts` (Postponed folder). | --- ## 2. Understanding the NeoMutt Interface The NeoMutt UI is split into key sections: ```text +------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Sidebar | Index View (Email List) | | | | | N 1 Inbox (12) | 1 N Jan 12 Alice Smith (1.2K) Meeting Notes | | 2 Sent | 2 Jan 11 Bob Johnson (4.5K) Re: Project Update | | 3 Drafts (1) | 3 F Jan 10 Server Alerts (10K) [URGENT] High Load | | 4 All Mail | | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Status Bar | -- NeoMutt: Inbox [Msgs:12 New:1 Flagged:1] (threads) --- | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Help Line | q:Quit d:Del r:Reply m:Mail c:ChangeFolder /:Search | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+ ``` ### Status Flags in Index View * `N`: New / Unread email * `O`: Old (unread, but seen in previous session) * `r`: Replied to * `F`: Flagged / Starred * `D`: Marked for deletion * `+`: Message is addressed specifically to you --- ## 3. Navigation & Reading Messages ### Moving Between Messages and Folders * **`j` / `k`** (or `Down` / `Up` arrows): Move to next/previous email in list. * **`Enter` / `Space`**: Open highlighted email in **Pager view**. * **`q`**: Exit current view (leave message view back to index, or quit NeoMutt from index). * **`c`**: Change mailbox (e.g. type `+[Gmail]/Spam` or `=INBOX` and press Enter). * **Sidebar Controls**: * `Ctrl+n`: Move to next folder in sidebar. * `Ctrl+p`: Move to previous folder in sidebar. * `Ctrl+o`: Open highlighted folder in sidebar. * `B`: Toggle sidebar visibility. ### Reading Messages in Pager View * **`Space`**: Page down / scroll down through email text. * **`-`**: Page up / scroll up. * **`J` / `K`**: Jump to next / previous thread. * **`v`**: View attachments list inside the email. * **`h`**: Toggle display of raw email headers. --- ## 4. Searching & Filtering Mail NeoMutt provides powerful search syntax using pattern modifiers: ### Search within Current Mailbox (`/`) Press `/` and enter a search pattern: * **`/ Alice`**: Search subject and body for "Alice". * **`/~f Alice`**: Search messages **From** Alice. * **`/~s Meeting`**: Search messages with **Subject** containing "Meeting". * **`/~b "project update"`**: Search message **Body** for phrase. * **`/~N`**: Search for **New** (unread) messages. * **`/~F`**: Search for **Flagged** (starred) messages. * **`/~d <1d`**: Search for messages received in the last 1 day. Press `n` to jump to the next search match, or `N` to jump to the previous match. ### Filtering (Limiting) the View (`l`) Press `l` (lowercase L) to hide all emails except those matching a pattern: * **`l ~N`**: Show *only* unread emails. * **`l ~f boss@example.com`**: Show *only* emails from boss@example.com. * **`l all`**: Reset limit (show all emails again). --- ## 5. Replying, Forwarding & Managing Mail * **`r`**: Reply to sender. * **`g`**: Group reply (Reply All). * **`f`**: Forward message. * **`d`**: Mark message for deletion (purged on exit/folder sync). * **`u`**: Undelete marked message. * **`F`**: Flag / Star message. * **`N`**: Toggle new/read status. * **`s`**: Save / Move message to another IMAP folder. --- ## 6. Composing & Drafting Emails ### Creating a New Email (`m`) 1. Press `m` in index view. 2. Enter recipient address (`To:`) and press Enter. 3. Enter subject (`Subject:`) and press Enter. 4. NeoMutt opens your configured text editor (e.g. Vim, Nano). 5. Type your email body, save, and exit the editor. ### The Compose Menu After exiting your editor, you are placed in NeoMutt's **Compose Menu**: ```text -- NeoMutt: Compose [To: user@example.com, Subject: Test] ------------------- From: Your Name To: user@example.com Cc: Bcc: Subject: Test Attachments: - I 1 /tmp/neomutt-body [text/plain, 7bit, 0.1K] y:Send q:Abort p:Postpone e:EditBody a:AttachFile t:To c:Cc s:Subj ``` * **`y`**: **Send** the email immediately. * **`a`**: **Attach file** (opens file browser to select file). * **`p`**: **Postpone** (saves email to Gmail Drafts folder to edit later). * **`e`**: Re-edit email body in text editor. * **`t`**: Edit `To:` recipient. * **`c`**: Add `Cc:` recipient. * **`b`**: Add `Bcc:` recipient. * **`s`**: Edit `Subject:`. * **`q`**: Cancel / Abort composition. ### Resuming Postponed Drafts (`R`) Press `R` in index view to open the postponed draft list and resume editing. --- ## 7. Command Line Sending & Attachments NeoMutt can be executed non-interactively directly from the shell or scripts to send emails with attachments. ### Send Simple Email from Terminal ```bash echo "This is the email body." | neomutt -s "Server Notification" recipient@example.com ``` ### Send Email with Attachment (`-a`) ```bash neomutt -s "Quarterly Report" -a /path/to/report.pdf -- recipient@example.com < /path/to/message.txt ``` > **Note:** The `--` separator is required to denote the end of attachment flags before recipient addresses. ### Send to Multiple Recipients with Attachments ```bash neomutt -s "Project Backup" -a /tmp/backup.tar.gz -a /tmp/logs.txt -- user1@example.com user2@example.com < /dev/null ```