man > dist(1mh)

DIST(1mh)                                                                                  DIST(1mh)

NAME
       dist - distribute an nmh message to additional addresses

SYNOPSIS


       dist [-help] [-version] [+folder] [msg] [-form formfile] [-annotate | -noannotate] [-inplace
            | -noinplace] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder] [-editor edi‐
            tor] [-noedit] [-width columns] [-from address] [-to address] [-cc address] [-fcc
            +folder] [-whatnowproc program] [-nowhatnowproc] [-atfile] [-noatfile]

DESCRIPTION
       dist  is  similar to forw.  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-From: {from switch} or <Local-Mailbox> or <username@hostname>
            Resent-To: {to switch} or blank
            Resent-cc: {cc switch} or blank
            Resent-fcc: {fcc switch} or blank

       If a file named “distcomps” exists in the user's nmh directory, it will be  used  instead  of
       this  default  form.  You may specify an alternate forms file with the switch -form formfile.
       Forms are processed via the nmh template system; see mh-format(5)  for  details.   Components
       from the redistributed message are available as standard component escapes in the forms file.

       In  addition  to  the standard mh-format(5) escapes, the following component escapes are also
       supported:

            Escape    Returns   Description
            fcc       string    Any folders specified with `-fcc folder'
            nmh-from  string    Addresses specified with `-from address'
            nmh-to    string    Addresses specified with `-to address'
            nmh-cc    string    Addresses specified with `-cc address'

       See forw(1) for descriptions of the -from, -to, -cc, and -fcc switches.

       If the draft already exists, dist will ask you as to the disposition of the draft.   A  reply
       of  quit  will  abort dist, 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 send(1)).  Note that with dist, the draft should
       contain only “Resent-xxx:” fields and no body.  The headers and the body of the original mes‐
       sage are copied to the draft when the message is sent.  Use care in constructing the  headers
       for the redistribution.

       Because the draft is minimal, the prompter(1) editor is quite useful with dist.

       If  the  -annotate switch is given, the  message being distributed 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 dist.  If the message is not sent immediately from
       dist, “comp -use” may be used to re-edit and send the constructed message,  but  the  annota‐
       tions  won't  take  place.   Normally  annotations are done in place in order to preserve any
       links to the message.  You may use the -noinplace switch to change this.

       See comp(1) for a description of the -editor and -noedit switches.  Note that  while  in  the
       editor,  with  -atfile  and if the current directory is writable, the message being resent is
       available through a link named “@” (assuming the default whatnowproc).  In addition, the  ac‐
       tual pathname of the message is stored in the environment variable $editalt, and the pathname
       of  the  folder  containing the message is stored in the environment variable $mhfolder.  The
       creation of the “@” file is controlled via the -atfile and -noatfile options.

       The -draftfolder +folder and -draftmessage msg switches invoke the nmh draft folder facility.
       This is an advanced (and highly useful) feature.  Consult mh-draft(5) for more information.

       Upon exiting from the editor, dist will invoke the whatnow program.   See  whatnow(1)  for  a
       discussion  of  available  options.  The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using
       the -nowhatnowproc switch.  (In fact, it is the whatnow  program  which  starts  the  initial
       edit.  Hence, -nowhatnowproc will prevent any edit from occurring.)

FILES
       /etc/nmh/distcomps  The default message skeleton.
       <mh-dir>/distcomps  The user's message skeleton.
       $HOME/.mh_profile   The user's profile.
       <mh-dir>/draft      The draft file.

PROFILE COMPONENTS
       Path:               To determine the user's nmh directory.
       Current-Folder:     To find the default current folder.
       Draft-Folder:       To specify the default draftfolder.
       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), mh-draft(5), prompter(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1)

DEFAULTS
       +folder             The current folder.
       msg                 The current message.
       -noannotate
       -nodraftfolder
       -inplace
       -noatfile

CONTEXT
       If a folder is given, it will become the current folder.  The message distributed will become
       the current message.

HISTORY
       dist  originally used headers of the form “Distribute-xxx:” instead of “Resent-xxx:”.  In or‐
       der to conform with the ARPA Internet standard, RFC 822, the “Resent-xxx:” form is now  used.
       dist  will  recognize  “Distribute-xxx:”  type headers and automatically convert them to “Re‐
       sent-xxx:”.

BUGS
       dist does not rigorously check the message being distributed for adherence to  the  transport
       standard,  but  post  called  by  send  does.  The post program will balk (and rightly so) at
       poorly formatted messages, and dist won't correct things for you.

       If whatnowproc is whatnow, then comp uses a built-in whatnow, it does not  actually  run  the
       whatnow program.  Hence, if you define your own whatnowproc, don't call it whatnow since comp
       won't run it.

nmh-1.8                                      2022-12-22                                    DIST(1mh)