comp(1mh)																 comp(1mh)

Name
       comp - compose a message

Syntax
       comp [ msg ] [ +folder ] [ options ]

Description
       Use  to create a new message for mailing.  When you run it provides a message template for you to fill in and invokes an editor so that you
       can complete the message.

       The command normally creates the new message in your draft folder, if you have one set up, or in the file if you do not have a draft folder
       set  up.   If  you  wish  to use an existing message as the basis of your new draft message, you can use the msg or +folder arguments.  The
       +folder argument takes the current message in the named folder as the basis of the new draft message.  The msg  argument  takes	the  named
       message from your draft folder, or if you do not have a draft folder set up, from your current folder.  In both cases, the mail system asks
       you what you want to do with the existing message.  You cannot use the msg and +folder arguments together.

       A mail message consists of a mail header and the body of the message.  The mail header contains all the information that determines who	is
       going  to  receive  the	mail  message.	It can also give the recipients some information about the sender.  The body of the message is the
       actual text of the message that you want to send.  The header is separated from the body of the text by a  blank  line  or  by  a  line	of
       dashes.	 The  header must be separated from the body of the message in this way for the message to be identified properly when it is sent;
       see

       The standard message header looks like this:
       To:
       cc:
       Subject:
       --------

       You can specify an alternative mail header by setting up a file called in your Mail directory.  This is used instead of	the  default  mail
       header by

       If  you	do not have a draft folder set up, creates your new draft 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 will ask 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.

       use	 Allows you to edit the existing draft.

       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 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

       If you set up a draft folder, all draft messages are created in that folder.  If you decide not to send the draft, by typing  quit  at  the
       What  now?  prompt,  the message is stored in the draft folder.	You can then re-edit the message, or send it at a later date, by using the
       -use option to

Options
       -draftfolder +folder
       -nodraftfolder
		 Specifies the folder in which the draft message is created.  If you do not send the draft, it is stored 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
		 Specifies  the  name of a file in which a draft message is created.  If no absolute pathname is given, this file is assumed to be
		 in your Mail directory.  If the file already exists, the mail system will ask you what you want to do with  its  contents  before
		 the draft message is created.

		 If  the named file does not contain a message header, the -draftmessage option does not create one.  If you want to create a mes-
		 sage in an empty file, use the -file option.  You cannot use -draftmessage to specify a file name with the -draftfolder option.

       -editor editor-name
		 Specifies the editor used to create the draft message.  The default editor is see You can specify any approved ULTRIX	editor	as
		 an alternative.

		 If  you  regularly  use the same editor, you can specify it in the Editor: line of your The following entry sets up as the editor
		 you use to compose mail messages:
		 Editor: /usr/ucb/vi

       -file filename
		 Uses the named file to create the draft message in.  If no absolute pathname is given, the file is assumed to	be  in	your  Mail
		 directory.   If  the  file already exists, the mail system will ask you what you want to do with its contents before the draft is
		 created.

		 Unlike the -draftmessage option, this option creates a message header for a new draft.  This means that you can create a draft in
		 an empty file and send it successfully.

       -form form-file
		 Specifies  an	alternative mail header for your draft.  The named form-file contains a message header, which uses when it creates
		 the draft message.  If no absolute pathname is given, it is assumed that the file is in your Mail directory.

		 If you do not specify the -form option, takes the message header from the file in your Mail  directory,  or,  if  this  does  not
		 exist, it uses the system default header.

		 You cannot use the -form option with either a +folder or a msgs argument.

       -help	 Prints a list of the valid options for this command.

       -noedit	 Creates a draft without invoking an editor.  You are placed immediately at the What now? prompt, without being given the opportu-
		 nity to edit the draft at all.  This option is only useful if you are sending an existing draft using the -use option	to  Other-
		 wise it will produce a draft with no addresses and no content.

       -use
       -nouse	 Uses  an  existing  draft as the new draft message.  If you have saved a previous unsent draft in a drafts folder or in the file,
		 you can edit and send it using the -use option.  The previous draft is displayed on your screen and  the  editor  is  invoked	to
		 allow you to edit the draft.  When you exit from the editor, you receive the What now? prompt in the usual way.

		 If  you  have	a  draft folder set up, or specify one with the -draftfolder option, the mail system will use the current draft in
		 that folder as the new draft message.	If you do not have a draft folder, it will use the contents of the file.  If  you  do  not
		 want to use the current message in a folder, you can supply a message number.	You can also use a message in a file by giving the
		 file name using the -file or the -draftmessage options.

		 If you want to send an existing draft without editing it further, you can supply the -use option in conjunction with the  -noedit
		 option.  This will place you at the What now? prompt without invoking an editor.

       -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:

	      +foldername defaults to the current folder
	      msg defaults to the current message
	      -nodraftfolder
	      -nouse

Profile Components
       Path:	       To determine your Mail directory
       Draft-Folder:   To find the default draft folder
       Editor:	       To override the default editor
       Msg-Protect:    To set mode when creating a new message (draft)
       fileproc:       Program to refile the message
       whatnowproc:    Program to ask the "What now?" questions

Files
       The default system template for draft messages.

       The user-supplied alternative to the default draft template.

       Your user profile.

       The draft file.

See Also
       dist(1mh), forw(1mh), prompter(1mh), repl(1mh), send(1mh), whatnow(1mh), mh_profile(5mh)

																	 comp(1mh)