1COMP(1)                     General Commands Manual                    COMP(1)
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NAME

6       comp - compose an nmh message
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SYNOPSIS

9       comp [-help] [-version] [+folder] [msg] [-form formfile] [-use |
10            -nouse] [-file file] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg]
11            [-nodraftfolder] [-editor editor] [-noedit] [-width columns]
12            [-from address] [-to address] [-cc address] [-fcc +folder] [-sub‐
13            ject text] [-whatnowproc program] [-nowhatnowproc] [-build]
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DESCRIPTION

16       comp is used to create a new message to be mailed.  It copies a message
17       form to the draft being composed and then  invokes  an  editor  on  the
18       draft  (unless -noedit is given, in which case the initial edit is sup‐
19       pressed).
20
21       The default message template “components” will direct comp to construct
22       the message draft as follows:
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24            From: {from switch} or <Local-Mailbox> or <username@hostname>
25            To: {to switch} or blank
26            cc: {cc switch} or blank
27            Fcc: {fcc switch} or +outbox
28            Subject: {subject switch} or blank
29            --------
30
31       If  a  file  named  “components” exists in the user's nmh directory, it
32       will be used instead of this form.  You may specify an alternate  forms
33       file with the switch -form formfile.
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35       You  may  also  start comp using the contents of an existing message as
36       the form.  If you supply either a +folder or msg argument, that message
37       will  be  used  as  the  message form.  You may not supply both a -form
38       formfile and a +folder or msg argument.  The line of dashes or a  blank
39       line  must  be  left between the header and the body of the message for
40       the message to be identified properly when it is sent (see send(1)).
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42       The switch -use directs comp to continue  editing  an  already  started
43       message.   That  is,  if  a comp (or dist, repl, or forw) is terminated
44       without sending the draft, the draft can  be  edited  again  via  “comp
45       -use”.
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47       The -file file switch says to use the named file as the message draft.
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49       Forms  that are selected via the -form switch are processed via the nmh
50       template system; see mh-format(5) for details.  Drafts constructed from
51       another  message  or  with  the -use or -file switches will not be pro‐
52       cessed with mh-format(5).
53
54       In addition to the standard mh-format(5) escapes, the following  compo‐
55       nent escapes are either new or have an alternate meaning:
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57            Escape  Returns  Description
58            fcc     string   Any folders specified with `-fcc folder'
59            from    string   Any addresses specified with `-from address'
60            to      string   Any addresses specified with `-to address'
61            cc      string   Any addresses specified with `-cc address'
62            subject string   Any text specified with `-subject text'
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64       By default the “To:” and “cc:” fields are empty.  You may add addresses
65       to these fields with the -to address and -cc address switches.  You may
66       give these switches multiple times to add multiple addresses.
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68       By  default the “From:” field has either the value of the Local-Mailbox
69       profile entry or a system default email address.  This default  can  be
70       overridden  by  using the -from address switch.  The default mailbox in
71       the “Fcc:” field is +outbox.   This  can  be  overridden  by  the  -fcc
72       switch.
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74       Any  text  you  give to the -subject switch will be placed in the “Sub‐
75       ject:” field in the draft.
76
77       If the draft already exists, comp will ask you as to the disposition of
78       the  draft.  A reply of quit will abort comp, leaving the draft intact;
79       replace will replace the existing draft with the appropriate form; list
80       will display the draft; use will use the draft for further composition;
81       and refile +folder will file the draft in the given  folder,  and  give
82       you  a  new  draft with the appropriate form.  (The +folder argument to
83       refile is required.)
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85       The -draftfolder +folder and -draftmessage msg switches invoke the  nmh
86       draft  folder  facility.   This is an advanced (and highly useful) fea‐
87       ture.  Consult mh-draft(5) for more information.
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89       The -editor editor switch indicates the editor to use for  the  initial
90       edit.   Upon exiting from the editor, comp will invoke the whatnow pro‐
91       gram (see whatnow(1) for a discussion of available options).  The invo‐
92       cation  of  this  program  can be inhibited by using the -nowhatnowproc
93       switch.  (In fact, it is the whatnow program which starts  the  initial
94       edit.  Hence, -nowhatnowproc will prevent any edit from occurring.)
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96       The -build switch is intended to be used by the Emacs mh-e interface to
97       nmh.  It implies -nowhatnowproc.  It causes a file <mh-dir>/draft to be
98       created,  containing the draft message that would normally be presented
99       to the user for editing.  No mail is actually sent.
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FILES

102       /etc/nmh/components The default message skeleton.
103       <mh-dir>/components The user's message skeleton.
104       $HOME/.mh_profile   The user's profile.
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PROFILE COMPONENTS

107       Path:               To determine the user's nmh directory.
108       Draft-Folder:       To specify the default draftfolder.
109       Editor:             To override the default editor.
110       Msg-Protect:        To set mode when creating a new message (draft).
111       fileproc:           Program to refile the message.
112       whatnowproc:        Program to ask the “What now?” questions
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SEE ALSO

115       dist(1), forw(1), repl(1), send(1),  whatnow(1),  mh-draft(5),  mh-pro‐
116       file(5)
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DEFAULTS

119       +folder             The current folder.
120       msg                 The current message.
121       -nodraftfolder
122       -nouse
123

CONTEXT

125       None
126

BUGS

128       If  whatnowproc  is whatnow, then comp uses a built-in whatnow, it does
129       not actually run the whatnow program.  Hence, if you  define  your  own
130       whatnowproc, don't call it whatnow since comp won't run it.
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134nmh-1.8                           2022-12-22                           COMP(1)
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