1DIST(1) [nmh-1.3] DIST(1)
2
6 dist - redistribute a message to additional addresses
7
9 dist [+folder] [msgs] [-form formfile] [-annotate | -noannotate]
10 [-inplace | -noinplace] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg]
11 [-nodraftfolder] [-editor editor] [-noedit] [-whatnowproc program]
12 [-nowhatnowproc] [-version] [-help]
13
15 Dist is similar to forw. It prepares the specified message for redis‐
16 tribution to addresses that (presumably) are not on the original
17 address list.
18 The default message form contains the following elements:
20 Resent-To:
22 Resent-cc:
23 Resent-fcc:
24 If a file named “distcomps” exists in the user's nmh directory, it will
26 be used instead of this default form. You may specify an alternate
27 forms file with the switch -form formfile. The form used will be
28 prepended to the message being resent.
29 If the draft already exists, dist will ask you as to the disposition of
31 the draft. A reply of quit will abort dist, leaving the draft intact;
32 replace will replace the existing draft with a blank skeleton; and list
33 will display the draft.
34 Only those addresses in “Resent-To:”, “Resent-cc:”, and “Resent-Bcc:”
36 will be sent. Also, a “Resent-Fcc: folder” will be honored (see
37 send(1)). Note that with dist, the draft should contain only
38 “Resent-xxx:” fields and no body. The headers and the body of the
39 original message are copied to the draft when the message is sent. Use
40 care in constructing the headers for the redistribution.
41 If the -annotate switch is given, the message being distributed will
43 be annotated with the lines:
44 Resent: date
46 Resent: addrs
47 where each address list contains as many lines as required. This anno‐
49 tation will be done only if the message is sent directly from dist. If
50 the message is not sent immediately from dist, “comp -use” may be used
51 to re-edit and send the constructed message, but the annotations won't
52 take place. Normally annotations are done inplace in order to preserve
53 any links to the message. You may use the -noinplace switch to change
54 this.
55 See comp(1) for a description of the -editor and -noedit switches.
57 Note that while in the editor, the message being resent is available
58 through a link named “@” (assuming the default whatnowproc). In addi‐
59 tion, the actual pathname of the message is stored in the environment
60 variable $editalt, and the pathname of the folder containing the mes‐
61 sage is stored in the environment variable $mhfolder.
62 The -draftfolder +folder and -draftmessage msg switches invoke the nmh
64 draft folder facility. This is an advanced (and highly useful) fea‐
65 ture. Consult the mh-draft(5) man page for more information.
66 Upon exiting from the editor, dist will invoke the whatnow program.
68 See whatnow(1) for a discussion of available options. The invocation
69 of this program can be inhibited by using the -nowhatnowproc switch.
70 (In truth of fact, it is the whatnow program which starts the initial
71 edit. Hence, -nowhatnowproc will prevent any edit from occurring.)
72
75 /etc/nmh/distcomps The standard message skeleton
76 or <mh-dir>/distcomps Rather than the standard skeleton
77 $HOME/.mh_profile The user profile
78 <mh-dir>/draft The draft file
79
82 Path: To determine the user's nmh directory
83 Current-Folder: To find the default current folder
84 Draft-Folder: To find the default draft-folder
85 Editor: To override the default editor
86 fileproc: Program to refile the message
87 whatnowproc: Program to ask the “What now?” questions
88
91 comp(1), forw(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1)
92
95 `+folder' defaults to the current folder
96 `msg' defaults to cur
97 `-noannotate'
98 `-nodraftfolder'
99 `-inplace'
100
103 If a folder is given, it will become the current folder. The message
104 distributed will become the current message.
105
108 Dist originally used headers of the form “Distribute-xxx:” instead of
109 “Resent-xxx:”. In order to conform with the ARPA Internet standard,
110 RFC-822, the “Resent-xxx:” form is now used. Dist will recognize “Dis‐
111 tribute-xxx:” type headers and automatically convert them to
112 “Resent-xxx:”.
113
116 Dist does not rigorously check the message being distributed for adher‐
117 ence to the transport standard, but post called by send does. The post
118 program will balk (and rightly so) at poorly formatted messages, and
119 dist won't correct things for you.
120 If whatnowproc is whatnow, then comp uses a built-in whatnow, it does
122 not actually run the whatnow program. Hence, if you define your own
123 whatnowproc, don't call it whatnow since comp won't run it.
124 If your current working directory is not writable, the link named “@”
126 is not available.
127MH.6.8 1 June 2008 DIST(1)