Msg{UserName | SessionName | SessionID | @FileName | *} [/server:ServerName] [/time:Seconds] [/v] [/w] [Message]

UserName

The name of the user you want to receive the message.

SessionName

The name of the session you want to receive the message.

SessionID

The numeric ID of the session whose user you want to receive a message.

@ FileName

Identifies a file containing a list of user names, session names, and session IDs that you want to receive the message.

*

Sends the message to all user names on the system.

/server: ServerName

Specifies the terminal server whose session or user you want to receive the message. If unspecified, /server uses the server to which you are currently logged on.

/time: Seconds

Specifies the amount of time the message you sent is displayed on the user's screen. Once the time limit is reached, the message disappears. If no time limit is set, the message remains on the user's screen until the user sees the message and clicks OK.

/v

Displays information about the actions being performed.

/w

Waits for an acknowledgement from the user that the message has been received. Use this parameter with /time:Seconds to avoid a possible long delay if the user does not immediately respond. Using this parameter with /v is also helpful.

Message

The text of the message you want to send. If no message is typed, you are prompted for it or standard input (that is, stdin) is read for the message. To send a message that is contained in a file, type the less than (<) symbol followed by the file name.

/?

Displays help at the command prompt.

• If you do not specify a name for the user or session, msg displays an error message. When specifying the name of a session, it must be an active one.
  
  
• The user must have send message access permission to send a message.
  
  

To send the message entitled "Let's meet at 1PM today" to all sessions for user MIKES, type:

msg MIKES Let's meet at 1PM today

To send the same message to session MODEM02, type:

msg modem02 Let's meet at 1PM today

To send the message to session 12, type:

msg 12 Let's meet at 1PM today

To send the message to all sessions contained in the file USERLIST, type:

msg @userlist Let's meet at 1PM today

To send the message to all users who are logged on, type:

msg * Let's meet at 1PM today

To send the message to all users, with an acknowledgment time-out (for example, 10 seconds), type:

msg * /TIME:10 Let's meet at 1PM today