DIST(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual DIST(1) NAME dist - redistribute a message to additional addresses SYNOPSIS dist [+folder] [msg] [-annotate] [-noannotate] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder] [-editor editor] [-noedit] [-form formfile] [-inplace] [-noinplace] [-whatnowproc program] [-nowhatnowproc] [-help] 9 _D_i_s_t is similar to _f_o_r_w. It prepares the specified message for redistribution to addresses that (presumably) are not on the original address list. The default message form contains the following elements: Resent-To: Resent-cc: If the file named "distcomps" exists in the user's MH direc- tory, it will be used instead of this form. In either case, the file specified by `-form formfile' will be used if given. The form used will be prepended to the message being resent. If the draft already exists, _d_i_s_t will ask you as to the disposition of the draft. A reply of quit will abort _d_i_s_t, leaving the draft intact; replace will replace the existing draft with a blank skeleton; and list will display the draft. Only those addresses in "Resent-To:", "Resent-cc:", and "Resent-Bcc:" will be sent. Also, a "Resent-Fcc: folder" will be honored (see _s_e_n_d (1)). Note that with _d_i_s_t, the draft should contain only "Resent-xxx:" fields and no body. The headers and the body of the original message are copied to the draft when the message is sent. Use care in con- structing the headers for the redistribution. If the `-annotate' switch is given, the message being dis- tributed will be annotated with the lines: Resent: date Resent: addrs where each address list contains as many lines as required. This annotation will be done only if the message is sent directly from _d_i_s_t. If the message is not sent immediately from _d_i_s_t, "comp -use" may be used to re-edit and send the constructed message, but the annotations won't take place. The '-inplace' switch causes annotation to be done in place in order to preserve links to the annotated message. 9 Printed 1/10/87 MH 1 DIST(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual DIST(1) See _c_o_m_p (1) for a description of the `-editor' and `-noedit' switches. Note that while in the editor, the mes- sage being resent is available through a link named "@" (assuming the default _w_h_a_t_n_o_w_p_r_o_c ). In addition, the actual pathname of the message is stored in the envariable $editalt, and the pathname of the folder containing the mes- sage is stored in the envariable $mhfolder. The `-draftfolder +folder' and `-draftmessage msg' switches invoke the _M_H draft folder facility. This is an advanced (and highly useful) feature. Consult the Advanced Features section of the _M_H manual for more information. Upon exiting from the editor, _d_i_s_t will invoke the _w_h_a_t_n_o_w program. See _w_h_a_t_n_o_w (1) for a discussion of available options. The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using the `-nowhatnowproc' switch. (In truth of fact, it is the _w_h_a_t_n_o_w program which starts the initial edit. Hence, `-nowhatnowproc' will prevent any edit from occurring.) FILES /usr/misc/mh/lib/distcomps The message skeleton or <mh-dir>/distcomps Rather than the standard skeleton $HOME/.mh_profile The user profile <mh-dir>/draft The draft file PROFILE COMPONENTS Path: To determine the user's MH directory Current-Folder: To find the default current folder Draft-Folder: To find the default draft-folder Editor: To override the default editor fileproc: Program to refile the message whatnowproc: Program to ask the "What now?" questions SEE ALSO comp(1), forw(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1) DEFAULTS `+folder' defaults to the current folder `msg' defaults to cur `-noannotate' `-nodraftfolder' `-noinplace' CONTEXT If a folder is given, it will become the current folder. The message distributed will become the current message. HISTORY _D_i_s_t originally used headers of the form "Distribute-xxx:" instead of "Resent-xxx:". In order to conform with the ARPA Internet standard, RFC-822, the "Resent-xxx:" form is now Printed 1/10/87 MH 2 DIST(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual DIST(1) used. _D_i_s_t will recognize "Distribute-xxx:" type headers and automatically convert them to "Resent-xxx:". BUGS _D_i_s_t does not _r_i_g_o_r_o_u_s_l_y check the message being distributed for adherence to the transport standard, but _p_o_s_t called by _s_e_n_d does. The _p_o_s_t program will balk (and rightly so) at poorly formatted messages, and _d_i_s_t won't correct things for you. If _w_h_a_t_n_o_w_p_r_o_c is _w_h_a_t_n_o_w, then _d_i_s_t uses a built-in _w_h_a_t_- _n_o_w, it does not actually run the _w_h_a_t_n_o_w program. Hence, if you define your own _w_h_a_t_n_o_w_p_r_o_c, don't call it _w_h_a_t_n_o_w since _d_i_s_t won't run it. If your current working directory is not writable, the link named "@" is not available. Printed 1/10/87 MH 3