4 .TH REPL %manext1% "%nmhdate%" MH.6.8 [%nmhversion%]
6 repl \- reply to a message
13 .RB [ \-annotate " | " \-noannotate ]
14 .RB [ \-group " | " \-nogroup ]
19 .RB [ \-query " | " \-noquery ]
22 .RB [ \-format " | " \-noformat ]
25 .RB [ \-inplace " | " \-noinplace ]
26 .RB [ \-mime " | " \-nomime ]
35 .RB [ \-nodraftfolder ]
41 .RB [ \-nowhatnowproc ]
52 may be used to produce a reply to an existing message.
54 In its simplest form (with no arguments),
57 message\-form skeleton in reply to the current message in the current
58 folder, and invoke the whatnow shell.
60 In order to construct the message draft of the reply,
63 a reply template to guide its actions. A reply template is simply a
71 is given (it is on by default), then
73 will use the standard forms file \*(lqreplcomps\*(rq. This will construct
74 a draft message that is intended to be sent only to the author of the
75 message to which you are replying. If a file named \*(lqreplcomps\*(rq
78 directory, it will be used instead of this
81 The default reply template \*(lqreplcomps\*(rq will direct
83 to construct the reply message draft as follows:
87 To: <Mail\-Reply\-To> or <Reply\-To> or <From>
88 cc: <To> and <cc> and <personal address>
89 Fcc: {fcc switch} or +outbox
90 Subject: Re: <Subject>
91 In\-Reply\-To: <Message\-Id>
92 References: <Message\-Id>
93 Comments: In\-Reply\-To <From> or <apparently from> or <Sender>
100 where field names enclosed in angle brackets (<\ >) indicate the
101 contents of the named field from the message to which the reply is
104 By default, the \*(lqcc:\*(rq field is empty. You may selectively add
105 addresses to this default with the
108 switch. This switch takes an
110 .IR all / to / cc / me )
111 which specifies who gets added to the default
112 \*(lqcc:\*(rq list of the reply. You may give this switch multiple times (with
113 different arguments) if you wish to add multiple types of addresses.
120 standard forms file \*(lqreplgroupcomps\*(rq. This will construct a
121 draft message that is intended as a group or followup reply. If a file
122 named \*(lqreplgroupcomps\*(rq exists in the user's nmh directory, it
123 will be used instead of this default forms file.
125 The default group reply template \*(lqreplgroupcomps\*(rq will direct
127 to construct the reply message draft as follows:
131 To: <Mail\-Followup\-To>
132 Subject: Re: <Subject>
133 In\-Reply\-To: Message from <From> of <Date>.
134 .ti +\w'In\-Reply\-To: 'u
140 or if the field <Mail\-Followup\-To> is not available:
144 To: <Mail\-Reply\-To> or <Reply\-To> or <From>
145 cc: <To> and <cc> and <personal address>
146 Subject: Re: <Subject>
147 In\-Reply\-To: Message from <From> of <Date>.
148 .ti +\w'In\-Reply\-To: 'u
154 By default, the \*(lqcc:\*(rq contains all the addresses shown. You may
155 selectively remove addresses from this default with the
159 This switch takes an argument (
160 .IR all / to / cc / me )
161 which specifies who gets removed
162 from the default \*(lqcc:\*(rq list of the reply. You may give this switch
163 multiple times (with different arguments) if you wish to remove multiple types
166 In any case, you may specify an alternate forms file with the switch
172 switch modifies the action of
176 interactively asking you if each address that normally would be placed in
177 the \*(lqTo:\*(rq and \*(lqcc:\*(rq list should actually be sent a copy.
178 This is useful for special\-purpose replies. Note that the position of
183 switches, like all other switches which take a
184 positive and negative form, is important.
186 Lines beginning with the fields \*(lqTo:\*(rq, \*(lqcc:\*(rq, and
187 \*(rqBcc:\*(rq will be standardized and have duplicate addresses removed.
193 formatting of these fields.
195 If the draft already exists,
197 will ask you as to the disposition
198 of the draft. A reply of
205 will replace the existing draft with a blank
208 will display the draft.
212 for a description of the
216 switches. Note that while in the editor, the message being replied
217 to is available through a link named \*(lq@\*(rq (assuming the default
219 In addition, the actual pathname of the message is
220 stored in the environment variable
223 the folder containing the message is stored in the environment variable
225 The creation of the \*(lq@\*(rq file and associated environment variables
226 can be controlled via the
234 uses a forms file to direct it how to construct
235 the beginning of the draft, it uses a message filter file to direct
236 it as to how the message to which you are replying should be filtered
237 (re\-formatted) in the body of the draft. The filter file for
239 should be a standard form file for
245 to format the message to which you are replying.
254 which message filter file to use.
258 is given (it is the default), then the message
259 to which you are replying is not included in the body of the draft.
263 is given, then a default message filter file
264 is used. This default message filter should be adequate for most users.
266 .RI \*(lq mhl.reply \*(rq
275 which outputs each line of the body of the message prefaced with the
276 \*(lq>\*(rq character and a space.
279 .RI \*(lq mhl.reply \*(rq
283 it will be used instead of this form. You may specify an alternate
284 message filter file with the switch
288 Other reply filters are commonly used, such as:
293 body:nocomponent,compwidth=9,offset=9
297 which says to output a blank line and then the body of the message
298 being replied\-to, indented by one tab\-stop. Another popular format
303 message-id:nocomponent,\|nonewline,\\
304 formatfield=\*(lqIn message %{text},\ \*(rq
305 from:nocomponent,\|formatfield=\*(lq%(decode(friendly{text})) writes:\*(rq
306 body:component=\*(lq>\*(rq,\|overflowtext=\*(lq>\*(rq,\|overflowoffset=0
310 This message filter file cites the Message-ID and author of the message
311 being replied\-to, and then outputs each line of the body prefaced with
312 the \*(lq>\*(rq character.
314 You can also use an external format program to format the message body.
315 The format program is specified by the
317 profile entry, and is enabled by the \*(lqformat\*(rq flag. A message
318 filter using an external format program would look like this:
322 body:component=\*(lq>\*(rq,\|nowrap,\|format
328 documentation for more information.
330 To use the MIME rules for encapsulation, specify the
342 automatically, unless you
343 add this line to your
351 Otherwise, you must specifically give the command
357 prior to sending the draft.
361 switch is given, the message being replied\-to will
362 be annotated with the lines
369 where the address list contains one line for each addressee.
370 The annotation will be done only if the message is sent directly from
372 If the message is not sent immediately from
374 .RB \*(lq "comp\ \-use" \*(rq
375 may be used to re\-edit and send the constructed
376 message, but the annotations won't take place. Normally annotations are
377 done inplace in order to preserve any links to the message. You may use
380 switch to change this.
382 Although the default template specifies that a copy of the reply will be
388 switch is given it will override the default value.
389 More than one folder, each preceded by
394 In addition to the standard
398 also recognizes the following additional
404 .ta \w'Escape 'u +\w'Returns 'u
405 .I "Escape Returns Description"
406 fcc string Any folders specified with `\-fcc\ folder'
410 To avoid reiteration,
412 strips any leading `Re: ' strings from
426 draft folder facility. This is an advanced (and highly
427 useful) feature. Consult the
432 Upon exiting from the editor,
438 for a discussion of available
439 options. The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using the
441 switch. (In truth of fact, it is the
443 program which starts the initial edit. Hence,
446 prevent any edit from occurring.)
450 switch is intended to be used by the Emacs mh-e interface
454 .BR \-nowhatnowproc .
457 to be created, containing the draft message that would normally be presented
458 to the user for editing.
459 No mail is actually sent.
464 switch specifies the message to be replied to as an
465 exact filename rather than as an
467 folder and message number. It is
468 intended to be used by the
472 The same caveats apply to this option as to the
479 .ta \w'%etcdir%/ExtraBigFileName 'u
480 ^%etcdir%/replcomps~^The standard reply template
481 ^or <mh\-dir>/replcomps~^Rather than the standard template
482 ^%etcdir%/replgroupcomps~^The standard `reply -group' template
483 ^or <mh\-dir>/replgroupcomps~^Rather than the standard template
484 ^%etcdir%/mhl.reply~^The standard message filter
485 ^or <mh\-dir>/mhl.reply~^Rather than the standard filter
486 ^$HOME/\&.mh\(ruprofile~^The user profile
487 ^<mh\-dir>/draft~^The draft file
490 .SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"
494 .ta \w'ExtraBigProfileName 'u
495 ^Path:~^To determine the user's nmh directory
496 ^Alternate\-Mailboxes:~^To determine the user's mailboxes
497 ^Current\-Folder:~^To find the default current folder
498 ^Draft\-Folder:~^To find the default draft\-folder
499 ^Editor:~^To override the default editor
500 ^Msg\-Protect:~^To set mode when creating a new message (draft)
501 ^fileproc:~^Program to refile the message
502 ^mhlproc:~^Program to filter message being replied\-to
503 ^whatnowproc:~^Program to ask the \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq questions
507 mhbuild(1), comp(1), forw(1), send(1), whatnow(1), mh\-format(5)
511 .RB ` +folder "' defaults to the current folder"
512 .RB ` msg "' defaults to cur"
514 .RB ` "\-nocc\ all" "' with `\-nogroup', `\-cc\ all' with `\-group'"
516 .RB ` \-nodraftfolder '
522 .RB ` "\-width\ 72" '
526 If a folder is given, it will become the current folder. The message
527 replied\-to will become the current message.
530 If any addresses occur in the reply template, addresses in the template
531 that do not contain hosts are defaulted incorrectly. Instead of using
532 the localhost for the default,
534 uses the sender's host.
535 Moral of the story: if you're going to include addresses in a reply
536 template, include the host portion of the address.
541 switch is only used to do address-folding; other
542 headers are not line\-wrapped.
552 it does not actually run the
555 Hence, if you define your own
563 If your current working directory is not writable, the link named
564 \*(lq@\*(rq is not available.