.IR columns ]
.RI [ files
.IR \&... ]
-.RB [ \-version ]
+.RB [ \-Version ]
.RB [ \-help ]
.ad
.SH DESCRIPTION
The default format file used by
.B mhl
is called
-.RI \*(lq mhl.format \*(rq.
+.RI ` mhl.format '.
.B mhl
will first search for this file in the user's
.B mmh
The format file can contain information controlling
screen size, wrap\-around control, transparent text, component ordering,
and component formatting. Also, a list of components to ignore may be
-specified, and a couple of \*(lqspecial\*(rq components are defined
+specified, and a couple of `special' components are defined
to provide added functionality. Message output will be in the order
specified by the order in the format file.
.PP
.IP \(bu 4
A line containing only a `:' produces a blank line in the output.
.IP \(bu 4
-A line beginning with \*(lqcomponent:\*(rq defines the format for the specified
+A line beginning with `component:' defines the format for the specified
component,
.IP \(bu 4
Remaining lines define the global environment.
.PP
defines the screen size to be 80 columns by 40 rows, specifies that the
overflow indentation
-is 5, and that overflow text should be flagged with \*(lq***\*(rq.
+is 5, and that overflow text should be flagged with `***'.
.PP
Following are all of the current variables and their arguments. If they
follow a component, they apply only to that component, otherwise, their
.I "variable type semantics
width integer screen width or component width
length integer component length
-offset integer positions to indent \*(lqcomponent: \*(rq
+offset integer positions to indent `component: '
overflowtext string text to use at the beginning of an
overflow line
overflowoffset integer positions to indent overflow lines
uppercase flag output text of this component in all
upper case
nouppercase flag don't uppercase
-component string/L name to use instead of \*(lqcomponent\*(rq for
+component string/L name to use instead of `component' for
this component
-nocomponent flag don't output \*(lqcomponent: \*(rq for this
+nocomponent flag don't output `component: ' for this
component
center flag center component on line (works for
one\-line components only)
follow their name with an equals\-sign and the value. Integer\-valued
variables are given decimal values, while string\-valued variables
are given arbitrary text bracketed by double\-quotes. If a value is
-suffixed by \*(lq/G\*(rq or \*(lq/L\*(rq, then its value is useful in
+suffixed by `/G' or `/L', then its value is useful in
a global\-only or local\-only context (respectively).
.PP
A line of the form:
.PP
specifies a list of components which are never output.
.PP
-The component \*(lqMessageName\*(rq (case\-insensitive) will output the
+The component `MessageName' (case\-insensitive) will output the
message file name as a one-line header, similar to
.BR show .
E.g. ``(Message 42)''
.PP
-The component \*(lqExtras\*(rq will output all of the components of the
+The component `Extras' will output all of the components of the
message which were not matched by explicit components, or included in
the ignore list. If this component is not specified, an ignore list is
not needed since all non\-specified components will be ignored.
.PP
-If \*(lqnocomponent\*(rq is NOT specified, then the component name will
+If `nocomponent' is NOT specified, then the component name will
be output as it appears in the format file.
.PP
The default format file is:
.fi
.RE
.PP
-The variable \*(lqformatfield\*(rq specifies a format string (see
+The variable `formatfield' specifies a format string (see
.BR mh\-format (5)).
-The flag variables \*(lqaddrfield\*(rq and
-\*(lqdatefield\*(rq (which are mutually exclusive), tell
+The flag variables `addrfield' and
+`datefield' (which are mutually exclusive), tell
.B mhl
to interpret the escapes in the format string as either addresses or
dates, respectively.
switch does only take file names, but no format strings with a prepended
equal sign `='.
.PP
-The \*(lqnonewline\*(rq option interacts badly with \*(lqcompress\*(rq
-and \*(lqsplit\*(rq.
+The `nonewline' option interacts badly with `compress'
+and `split'.