.\"
.\" %nmhwarning%
-.\" $Id$
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.TH MHPATH %manext1% "%nmhdate%" MH.6.8 [%nmhversion%]
.SH NAME
.RB [ \-help ]
.ad
.SH DESCRIPTION
-.B Mhpath
+.B mhpath
expands and sorts the message list `msgs' and writes the full
pathnames of the messages to the standard output separated by newlines.
If no `msgs' are specified,
.B mhpath
-outputs the folder pathname
+outputs the current mail folder's pathname
instead. If the only argument is `+', your
.B nmh
-\*(lqPath\*(rq is output; this can be useful is shell scripts.
+\*(lqPath\*(rq is output; this can be useful in shell scripts.
.PP
Contrasted with other
.B nmh
that do not exist: a single numeric message name, the single message name
\*(lqcur\*(rq, and (obviously) the single message name \*(lqnew\*(rq.
All other message designations must refer to at least one existing
-message.
+message, if the folder contains messages.
.IP 3) 4
An empty folder is not in itself an error.
.PP
-Message numbers greater than the highest existing message in a folder
-as part of a range designation are replaced with the next free message
-number.
+A message number less than that of the smallest existing message in a
+folder is treated as if the message already exists. A message number
+greater than that of the highest existing message in a folder causes
+an \*(lqout of range\*(rq error message to be displayed.
+.PP
+As part of a range designation that contains messages that do exist,
+message numbers less than the smallest, or greater than the highest,
+existing message in a folder are ignored.
.PP
Examples: The current folder foo contains messages 3 5 6.
Cur is 4.
/r/phyl/Mail/foo/6
% mhpath 2001
-/r/phyl/Mail/foo/7
+mhpath: message 2001 out of range 1-6
% mhpath 1\-2001
/r/phyl/Mail/foo/3
/r/phyl/Mail/foo/7
% mhpath last\-new
-bad message list \*(lqlast\-new\*(rq.
+mhpath: bad message list last\-new
% mhpath cur
/r/phyl/Mail/foo/4
% mhpath 1\-2
-no messages in range \*(lq1\-2\*(rq.
+mhpath: no messages in range 1\-2
% mhpath first:2
/r/phyl/Mail/foo/3