dist(1mh) dist(1mh)
Name
dist - redistribute a message to additional addresses
Syntax
dist [ msg ] [ +folder ] [ options ]
Description
Use to redistribute a message to addresses that are not on the original address list.
You can specify the message which you want to redistribute by giving a message number as the msg argument. If you do not supply a message
number, takes the current message. You can only redistribute one message at a time. You can also specify a message in another folder by
giving the +folder argument. This argument can be used in conjunction with the msg argument.
The program is similar to The main difference between the two commands is that encapsulates the message, whereas merely resends it. You
cannot add any new text of your own to a message that you re-distribute using A message that has been forwarded will appear to have been
sent by the person who forwarded the message. A message that has been redistributed using will appear to have come from the sender of the
original message. This is shown in the scan listing of the messages. In the following example, messages 1 and 2 are identical apart from
the method used to send the message on to additional recipients:
1 20/06 goodman ULTRIX <<As you will see from th
2+ 21/06 John As previous, but forwarded <<---
When you use you will get a message form to fill in with the details of the additional recipients. The default message form contains the
following elements:
Resent-To:
Resent-cc:
If the file named exists in your Mail directory, standardly it is used instead of the standard mail header. If the option -form formfile
is given, it overrides both of these.
You can only put recognized header lines in your message form. The program recognizes values in the following fields:
Resent-To:
Resent-cc:
Resent-Bcc:
Resent-Fcc:
Resent-Xmts:
The headers and the body of the original message are copied to the draft when the message is sent. You cannot add any new body text of
your own when redistributing a message with
If you do not have a draft folder set up, creates the message form in a file called in your Mail directory. This file must be empty before
you can create a new draft, which means that you can only store one draft at a time. If it is not empty, the mail system asks you what you
want to do with the existing contents. The options are:
quit Aborts leaving the draft intact.
replace Replaces the existing draft with the appropriate message form.
list Displays the draft message.
refile Refiles the existing draft message in the specified folder, and provides a new message form for you to complete.
If you want to be able to have more than one draft at a time, you can set up a draft folder in your This allows you to keep as many unsent
drafts as space allows, and still create new messages as you wish. To do this, make sure that the following line is in your
Draft-folder: +drafts
For more information on how to do this, see
You cannot store unsent messages created using in your draft folder. If you attempt to do so, only the message form is stored. This does
not contain the original message that you are redistributing, so you will not be able to send it later.
If you use to reply to a message resent to you by the reply will go to the sender of the original message, rather than the person who for-
warded it to you. The command ignores the Resent-xxx: fields when creating the header for your draft reply.
Options
-annotate
-noannotate
Annotates the message that you are redistributing. The following lines are added to the message that you are redistributing:
Resent: date
Resent: addrs
The first line records the time at which the message was redistributed; the second records the addresses of the recipients of the
redistributed message.
The command only annotates messages when they are successfully sent. If you do not send the message immediately and file the
unsent draft, it will not be annotated.
-draftfolder +folder
-nodraftfolder
Specifies the folder in which the draft message is created. If you do not send the draft, the mail system will store it in this
folder.
This option is usually set up in your See for more information. If you have this option set up, you can override it by using the
-nodraftfolder option.
-draftmessage file-name
Specifies the file in which the draft message is created. If no absolute pathname is given, the file is assumed to be in your
Mail directory, standardly If you do not send the message, it is stored in the named file until you delete it, or send it at a
later date.
-editor editorname
Specifies the editor that you want to use to edit your forwarded message.
You can also set up an editor in your file; see for more information.
-form formfile
Specifies the message header to be used in the draft message. If this option is present, takes the header of the draft message
from the named file. If this option is not present, the header is taken from the file in your Mail directory, or failing that,
from the mail system default header.
-inplace
-noinplace
Causes annotation to be done in place, to preserve links to the annotated message. This option only works with the -annotate
option.
-help Prints a list of the valid options for this command.
-noedit Suppresses editing of the draft message altogether.
-whatnowproc program
-nowhatnowproc
Specifies an alternative program. Normally, invokes the default program. See for a discussion of available options. You can
specify your own alternative to the default program using the -whatnowproc program option. If you do specify your own program,
you should not call it
You can suppress the program entirely by using the -nowhatnowproc option. However, as the program normally starts the initial
edit, the -nowhatnowproc option will prevent you from editing the message.
The defaults for are:
+folder defaults to the current folder
msg defaults to cur
-noannotate
-nodraftfolder
-noinplace
Profile Components
Path: To determine your Mail directory (<mh-dir>)
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
Files
The default system template for re-distributed messages.
The user-supplied alternative to the default system template.
The user profile.
The draft file.
See Also
comp(1mh), forw(1mh), repl(1mh), send(1mh), whatnow(1mh)
dist(1mh)