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 ]
55 may be used to produce a reply to an existing message.
57 In its simplest form (with no arguments),
60 message\-form skeleton in reply to the current message in the current
61 folder, and invoke the whatnow shell.
63 In order to construct the message draft of the reply,
66 a reply template to guide its actions. A reply template is simply a
74 is given (it is on by default), then
76 will use the standard forms file \*(lqreplcomps\*(rq. This will construct
77 a draft message that is intended to be sent only to the author of the
78 message to which you are replying. If a file named \*(lqreplcomps\*(rq
81 directory, it will be used instead of this
84 The default reply template \*(lqreplcomps\*(rq will direct
86 to construct the reply message draft as follows:
90 To: <Mail\-Reply\-To> or <Reply\-To> or <From>
91 cc: <To> and <cc> and <personal address>
92 Fcc: {fcc switch} or +outbox
93 Subject: Re: <Subject>
94 In\-Reply\-To: <Message\-Id>
95 References: <Message\-Id>
96 Comments: In\-Reply\-To <From> or <apparently from> or <Sender>
103 where field names enclosed in angle brackets (<\ >) indicate the
104 contents of the named field from the message to which the reply is
107 By default, the \*(lqcc:\*(rq field is empty. You may selectively add
108 addresses to this default with the
111 switch. This switch takes an
113 .IR all / to / cc / me )
114 which specifies who gets added to the default
115 \*(lqcc:\*(rq list of the reply. You may give this switch multiple times (with
116 different arguments) if you wish to add multiple types of addresses.
123 standard forms file \*(lqreplgroupcomps\*(rq. This will construct a
124 draft message that is intended as a group or followup reply. If a file
125 named \*(lqreplgroupcomps\*(rq exists in the user's nmh directory, it
126 will be used instead of this default forms file.
128 The default group reply template \*(lqreplgroupcomps\*(rq will direct
130 to construct the reply message draft as follows:
134 To: <Mail\-Followup\-To>
135 Subject: Re: <Subject>
136 In\-Reply\-To: Message from <From> of <Date>.
137 .ti +\w'In\-Reply\-To: 'u
143 or if the field <Mail\-Followup\-To> is not available:
147 To: <Mail\-Reply\-To> or <Reply\-To> or <From>
148 cc: <To> and <cc> and <personal address>
149 Subject: Re: <Subject>
150 In\-Reply\-To: Message from <From> of <Date>.
151 .ti +\w'In\-Reply\-To: 'u
157 By default, the \*(lqcc:\*(rq contains all the addresses shown. You may
158 selectively remove addresses from this default with the
162 This switch takes an argument (
163 .IR all / to / cc / me )
164 which specifies who gets removed
165 from the default \*(lqcc:\*(rq list of the reply. You may give this switch
166 multiple times (with different arguments) if you wish to remove multiple types
169 In any case, you may specify an alternate forms file with the switch
175 switch modifies the action of
179 interactively asking you if each address that normally would be placed in
180 the \*(lqTo:\*(rq and \*(lqcc:\*(rq list should actually be sent a copy.
181 This is useful for special\-purpose replies. Note that the position of
186 switches, like all other switches which take a
187 positive and negative form, is important.
189 Lines beginning with the fields \*(lqTo:\*(rq, \*(lqcc:\*(rq, and
190 \*(rqBcc:\*(rq will be standardized and have duplicate addresses removed.
196 formatting of these fields.
198 If the draft already exists,
200 will ask you as to the disposition
201 of the draft. A reply of
208 will replace the existing draft with a blank
211 will display the draft.
215 for a description of the
219 switches. Note that while in the editor, the message being replied
220 to is available through a link named \*(lq@\*(rq (assuming the default
222 In addition, the actual pathname of the message is
223 stored in the environment variable
226 the folder containing the message is stored in the environment variable
228 The creation of the \*(lq@\*(rq file and associated environment variables
229 can be controlled via the
237 uses a forms file to direct it how to construct
238 the beginning of the draft, it uses a message filter file to direct
239 it as to how the message to which you are replying should be filtered
240 (re\-formatted) in the body of the draft. The filter file for
242 should be a standard form file for
248 to format the message to which you are replying.
257 which message filter file to use.
261 is given (it is the default), then the message
262 to which you are replying is not included in the body of the draft.
266 is given, then a default message filter file
267 is used. This default message filter should be adequate for most users.
269 .RI \*(lq mhl.reply \*(rq
278 which outputs each line of the body of the message prefaced with the
279 \*(lq>\*(rq character and a space.
282 .RI \*(lq mhl.reply \*(rq
286 it will be used instead of this form. You may specify an alternate
287 message filter file with the switch
291 Other reply filters are commonly used, such as:
296 body:nocomponent,compwidth=9,offset=9
300 which says to output a blank line and then the body of the message
301 being replied\-to, indented by one tab\-stop. Another popular format
306 message-id:nocomponent,\|nonewline,\\
307 formatfield=\*(lqIn message %{text},\ \*(rq
308 from:nocomponent,\|formatfield=\*(lq%(decode(friendly{text})) writes:\*(rq
309 body:component=\*(lq>\*(rq,\|overflowtext=\*(lq>\*(rq,\|overflowoffset=0
313 This message filter file cites the Message-ID and author of the message
314 being replied\-to, and then outputs each line of the body prefaced with
315 the \*(lq>\*(rq character.
317 You can also use an external format program to format the message body.
318 The format program is specified by the
320 profile entry, and is enabled by the \*(lqformat\*(rq flag. A message
321 filter using an external format program would look like this:
325 body:component=\*(lq>\*(rq,\|nowrap,\|format
331 documentation for more information. The format program can be changed by
339 To use the MIME rules for encapsulation, specify the
351 automatically, unless you
352 add this line to your
360 Otherwise, you must specifically give the command
366 prior to sending the draft.
370 switch is given, the message being replied\-to will
371 be annotated with the lines
378 where the address list contains one line for each addressee.
379 The annotation will be done only if the message is sent directly from
381 If the message is not sent immediately from
383 .RB \*(lq "comp\ \-use" \*(rq
384 may be used to re\-edit and send the constructed
385 message, but the annotations won't take place. Normally annotations are
386 done inplace in order to preserve any links to the message. You may use
389 switch to change this.
391 Although the default template specifies that a copy of the reply will be
397 switch is given it will override the default value.
398 More than one folder, each preceded by
403 In addition to the standard
407 also recognizes the following additional
413 .ta \w'Escape 'u +\w'Returns 'u
414 .I "Escape Returns Description"
415 fcc string Any folders specified with `\-fcc\ folder'
419 To avoid reiteration,
421 strips any leading `Re: ' strings from
435 draft folder facility. This is an advanced (and highly
436 useful) feature. Consult the
441 Upon exiting from the editor,
447 for a discussion of available
448 options. The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using the
450 switch. (In truth of fact, it is the
452 program which starts the initial edit. Hence,
455 prevent any edit from occurring.)
459 switch is intended to be used by the Emacs mh-e interface
463 .BR \-nowhatnowproc .
466 to be created, containing the draft message that would normally be presented
467 to the user for editing.
468 No mail is actually sent.
473 switch specifies the message to be replied to as an
474 exact filename rather than as an
476 folder and message number. It is
477 intended to be used by the
481 The same caveats apply to this option as to the
488 .ta \w'%etcdir%/ExtraBigFileName 'u
489 ^%etcdir%/replcomps~^The standard reply template
490 ^or <mh\-dir>/replcomps~^Rather than the standard template
491 ^%etcdir%/replgroupcomps~^The standard `reply -group' template
492 ^or <mh\-dir>/replgroupcomps~^Rather than the standard template
493 ^%etcdir%/mhl.reply~^The standard message filter
494 ^or <mh\-dir>/mhl.reply~^Rather than the standard filter
495 ^$HOME/\&.mh\(ruprofile~^The user profile
496 ^<mh\-dir>/draft~^The draft file
499 .SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"
503 .ta \w'ExtraBigProfileName 'u
504 ^Path:~^To determine the user's nmh directory
505 ^Alternate\-Mailboxes:~^To determine the user's mailboxes
506 ^Current\-Folder:~^To find the default current folder
507 ^Draft\-Folder:~^To find the default draft\-folder
508 ^Editor:~^To override the default editor
509 ^Msg\-Protect:~^To set mode when creating a new message (draft)
510 ^fileproc:~^Program to refile the message
511 ^mhlproc:~^Program to filter message being replied\-to
512 ^whatnowproc:~^Program to ask the \*(lqWhat now?\*(rq questions
516 mhbuild(1), comp(1), forw(1), send(1), whatnow(1), mh\-format(5)
520 .RB ` +folder "' defaults to the current folder"
521 .RB ` msg "' defaults to cur"
523 .RB ` "\-nocc\ all" "' with `\-nogroup', `\-cc\ all' with `\-group'"
525 .RB ` \-nodraftfolder '
531 .RB ` "\-width\ 72" '
535 If a folder is given, it will become the current folder. The message
536 replied\-to will become the current message.
539 If any addresses occur in the reply template, addresses in the template
540 that do not contain hosts are defaulted incorrectly. Instead of using
541 the localhost for the default,
543 uses the sender's host.
544 Moral of the story: if you're going to include addresses in a reply
545 template, include the host portion of the address.
550 switch is only used to do address-folding; other
551 headers are not line\-wrapped.
561 it does not actually run the
564 Hence, if you define your own
572 If your current working directory is not writable, the link named
573 \*(lq@\*(rq is not available.