5 .\" include the -mh macro file
8 .TH DIST %manext1% MH.6.8 [%nmhversion%]
10 dist \- redistribute a message to additional addresses
16 \%[\-annotate] \%[\-noannotate]
18 \%[\-inplace] \%[\-noinplace]
21 \%[\-draftfolder\ +folder] \%[\-draftmessage\ msg]
24 \%[\-editor\ editor] \%[\-noedit]
26 \%[\-whatnowproc\ program] \%[\-nowhatnowproc]
32 \fIDist\fR is similar to \fIforw\fR. It prepares the specified message
33 for redistribution to addresses that (presumably) are not on the original
36 The default message form contains the following elements:
42 .so %etcdir%/distcomps
47 If a file named \*(lqdistcomps\*(rq exists in the user's nmh directory, it
48 will be used instead of this default form. You may specify an alternate
49 forms file with the switch `\-form\ formfile'. The form used will be
50 prepended to the message being resent.
52 If the draft already exists, \fIdist\fR will ask you as to the disposition
53 of the draft. A reply of \fBquit\fR will abort \fIdist\fR, leaving the
54 draft intact; \fBreplace\fR will replace the existing draft with a blank
55 skeleton; and \fBlist\fR will display the draft.
57 Only those addresses in \*(lqResent\-To:\*(rq, \*(lqResent\-cc:\*(rq,
58 and \*(lqResent\-Bcc:\*(rq will be sent. Also, a
59 \*(lqResent\-Fcc:\ folder\*(rq will be honored (see \fIsend\fR\0(1)).
60 Note that with \fIdist\fR, the draft should contain only
61 \*(lqResent\-xxx:\*(rq fields and no body. The headers and the body of
62 the original message are copied to the draft when the message is sent.
63 Use care in constructing the headers for the redistribution.
65 If the `\-annotate' switch is given, the message being distributed will
66 be annotated with the lines:
71 where each address list contains as many lines as required. This
72 annotation will be done only if the message is sent directly from
73 \fIdist\fR. If the message is not sent immediately from \fIdist\fR,
74 \*(lqcomp \-use\*(rq may be used to re\-edit and send the constructed
75 message, but the annotations won't take place. Normally annotations are
76 done inplace in order to preserve any links to the message. You may use
77 the '\-noinplace' switch to change this.
79 See \fIcomp\fR\0(1) for a description of the `\-editor' and `\-noedit'
80 switches. Note that while in the editor, the message being resent
81 is available through a link named \*(lq@\*(rq (assuming the default
82 \fIwhatnowproc\fR\0). In addition, the actual pathname of the message is
83 stored in the environment variable \fB$editalt\fR, and the pathname of
84 the folder containing the message is stored in the environment variable
87 The `\-draftfolder\ +folder' and `\-draftmessage\ msg' switches invoke
88 the \fInmh\fR draft folder facility. This is an advanced (and highly
89 useful) feature. Consult the \fImh-draft\fR(5) man page for more
92 Upon exiting from the editor, \fIdist\fR will invoke the \fIwhatnow\fR
93 program. See \fIwhatnow\fR\0(1) for a discussion of available
94 options. The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using the
95 `\-nowhatnowproc' switch. (In truth of fact, it is the \fIwhatnow\fR
96 program which starts the initial edit. Hence, `\-nowhatnowproc' will
97 prevent any edit from occurring.)
99 ^%etcdir%/distcomps~^The standard message skeleton
100 ^or <mh\-dir>/distcomps~^Rather than the standard skeleton
101 ^$HOME/\&.mh\(ruprofile~^The user profile
102 ^<mh\-dir>/draft~^The draft file
104 ^Path:~^To determine the user's nmh directory
106 ^Current\-Folder:~^To find the default current folder
108 ^Draft\-Folder:~^To find the default draft\-folder
110 ^Editor:~^To override the default editor
112 ^fileproc:~^Program to refile the message
114 ^whatnowproc:~^Program to ask the \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq questions
116 comp(1), forw(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1)
118 `+folder' defaults to the current folder
120 `msg' defaults to cur
129 If a folder is given, it will become the current folder. The message
130 distributed will become the current message.
132 \fIDist\fR originally used headers of the form \*(lqDistribute\-xxx:\*(rq
133 instead of \*(lqResent\-xxx:\*(rq. In order to conform with the ARPA
134 Internet standard, RFC\-822, the \*(lqResent\-xxx:\*(rq form is now used.
135 \fIDist\fR will recognize \*(lqDistribute\-xxx:\*(rq type headers and
136 automatically convert them to \*(lqResent\-xxx:\*(rq.
138 \fIDist\fR does not \fIrigorously\fR check the message being distributed
139 for adherence to the transport standard, but \fIpost\fR called by
140 \fIsend\fR does. The \fIpost\fR program will balk (and rightly so) at
141 poorly formatted messages, and \fIdist\fR won't correct things for you.
143 If \fIwhatnowproc\fR is \fIwhatnow\fR, then \fIdist\fR uses a built\-in
144 \fIwhatnow\fR, it does not actually run the \fIwhatnow\fR program.
145 Hence, if you define your own \fIwhatnowproc\fR, don't call it
146 \fIwhatnow\fR since \fIdist\fR won't run it.
148 If your current working directory is not writable, the link named
149 \*(lq@\*(rq is not available.