Manpages

NAME

comp - compose an nmh message

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

comp is used to create a new message to be mailed. It copies a message form to the draft being composed and then invokes an editor on the draft (unless -noedit is given, in which case the initial edit is suppressed).

The default message template “components” will direct comp to construct the message draft as follows:

From: {from switch} or <Local-Mailbox> or <username@hostname>
To: {to switch} or blank
cc: {cc switch} or blank
Fcc: {fcc switch} or +outbox
Subject: {subject switch} or blank
--------

If a file named “components” exists in the user’s nmh directory, it will be used instead of this form. You may specify an alternate forms file with the switch -form formfile.

You may also start comp using the contents of an existing message as the form. If you supply either a +folder or msg argument, that message will be used as the message form. You may not supply both a -form formfile and a +folder or msg argument. The line of dashes or a blank line must be left between the header and the body of the message for the message to be identified properly when it is sent (see send(1)).

The switch -use directs comp to continue editing an already started message. That is, if a comp (or dist, repl, or forw) is terminated without sending the draft, the draft can be edited again via “comp -use”.

The -file file switch says to use the named file as the message draft.

Forms that are selected via the -form switch are processed via the nmh template system; see mh-format(5) for details. Drafts constructed from another message or with the -use or -file switches will not be processed with mh-format(5).

In addition to the standard mh-format(5) escapes, the following component escapes are either new or have an alternate meaning:

Escape Returns Description

By default the “To:” and “cc:” fields are empty. You may add addresses to these fields with the -to address and -cc address switches. You may give these switches multiple times to add multiple addresses.

By default the “From:” field has either the value of the Local-Mailbox profile entry or a system default email address. This default can be overridden by using the -from address switch. The default mailbox in the “Fcc:” field is +outbox. This can be overridden by the -fcc switch.

Any text you give to the -subject switch will be placed in the “Subject:” field in the draft.

If the draft already exists, comp will ask you as to the disposition of the draft. A reply of quit will abort comp, leaving the draft intact; replace will replace the existing draft with the appropriate form; list will display the draft; use will use the draft for further composition; and refile +folder will file the draft in the given folder, and give you a new draft with the appropriate form. (The +folder argument to refile is required.)

The -draftfolder +folder and -draftmessage msg switches invoke the nmh draft folder facility. This is an advanced (and highly useful) feature. Consult mh-draft(5) for more information.

The -editor editor switch indicates the editor to use for the initial edit. Upon exiting from the editor, comp will invoke the whatnow program (see whatnow(1) for a discussion of available options). The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using the -nowhatnowproc switch. (In fact, it is the whatnow program which starts the initial edit. Hence, -nowhatnowproc will prevent any edit from occurring.)

The -build switch is intended to be used by the Emacs mh-e interface to nmh. It implies -nowhatnowproc. It causes a file <mh-dir>/draft to be created, containing the draft message that would normally be presented to the user for editing. No mail is actually sent.

FILES

PROFILE COMPONENTS

SEE ALSO

dist(1), forw(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1), mh-draft(5), mh-profile(5)

DEFAULTS

CONTEXT

None

BUGS

If whatnowproc is whatnow, then comp uses a built-in whatnow, it does not actually run the whatnow program. Hence, if you define your own whatnowproc, don’t call it whatnow since comp won’t run it.