Auto-email in php?

I'm not sure this is the right place to post this, and I'm not quite sure that the title I chose for the post is the best option, but I can't think of anything better at the moment...

I've been requested to build a status reporting system for a specific webpage. The page is built in php, so once I get the source code I can probably program in the status tracking portion of it fairly easily. Thing is, it's supposed to signal someone when the status markers go past a set of predefined parameters. Does anyone here know how to program a php file to automatically email someone with a set message? I suspect that I can build the message in the code, but I have no clue how to send it off.

If no one here knows how to do this, does anyone have any suggestions for other webpages I might be able to search for such information?

Thanks in advance,
-EnderX

I solved the first part of my problem with the obvious...I apologize for bringing something so simple up before the board. Now, though, I'm running into another problem with my setup, and I have no way I can think of to find where I am in error. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

I'm trying to run a php script on a linux server, and retrieve data from the script whenever a set of target parameters are met. This data is to be emailed to me to review. I found the mail() feature in php, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to be working. That is, I'm permitted to send the message, and my code echoes out for the 'mail = true' if statement, but after numerous tests, I have yet to receive any of the data I've been trying to send myself; the mailed message simply never shows up in my email inbox. Is there anyone who might know of a reason for this, and if so, a way to work around it?

Thanks in advance,
-EnderX