DIST(1) 							     [nmh-1.5]								   DIST(1)

NAME

       dist - redistribute a message to additional addresses

SYNOPSIS

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

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 the forw(1) man page 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
       message are copied to the draft when the message is sent.  Use care in constructing the headers for the redistribution.

       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  annotations
       won't  take place.  Normally annotations are done inplace 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, the message being  resent  is  available
       through	a link named "@" (assuming the default whatnowproc).  In addition, the actual 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 and associated environment variables can be 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) fea-
       ture.  Consult the mh-draft(5) man page 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 truth of fact, it is the whatnow program which starts the initial
       edit.  Hence, -nowhatnowproc will prevent any edit from occurring.)

FILES

       /etc/nmh/distcomps	  The standard 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 nmh 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'
       `-inplace'
       `-atfile'

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 order 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
       "Resent-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.

       If your current working directory is not writable, the link named "@" is not available.

MH.6.8								   11 June 2012 							   DIST(1)