patch-metamail(1)					      General Commands Manual						 patch-metamail(1)

NAME

       patch-metamail - Install a patch to the latest metamail release

SYNOPSIS

       patch-metamail	source-tree-root patch-number [hostname [dirname [prefix]]]

DESCRIPTION

       The  patch-metamail  program  will attempt to retreive a patch file for the metamail distribution, using anonymous ftp to a trusted server,
       and then install that patch in your local copy of the distribution.

       The first two arguments, which are required, are the root directory of your local copy of the metamail source directory, and the patch num-
       ber.  The former is site-dependent, the latter is patch-dependent.

       In general, patch-metamail is intended to be called via metamail, with a mailcap entry like the following:

       application/x-metamail-patch;patch-metamail source-tree-root %{patchnumber}; needsterminal

       The  default  values for the host to ftp to, the directory name to retrieve the file from, and the patch file name prefix are hard-wired to
       thumper.bellcore.com, pub/nsb, and "mm.patch.".	While you can override these on the command line, it would be a big mistake to make  these
       parameterized  based on the contents of a mail message, because then someone could spoof you into retrieving a new version of metamail with
       a Trojan horse from their site!	However, as long as you retain control over what host and directory the patches are retrieved  from,  this
       program is reasonably safe (as safe as the host you're depending on, anyway).

SEE ALSO

       metamail(1)

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (c) 1991 Bell Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore)

       Permission  to  use,  copy, modify, and distribute this material for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
       copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies, and that the name of Bellcore not be used  in	advertising  or  publicity
       pertaining  to this material without the specific, prior written permission of an authorized representative of Bellcore.  BELLCORE MAKES NO
       REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OR SUITABILITY OF THIS MATERIAL FOR ANY PURPOSE.  IT IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
       WARRANTIES.

AUTHOR

       Nathaniel S. Borenstein, Bellcore

								     Release 1							 patch-metamail(1)