post(8) System Manager's Manual post(8)
NAME
post - deliver a message
SYNOPSIS
/usr/lib/mh/post [options] file
OPTIONS
Specifies a file that post should take aliases from. More than one file can be specified, each being preceded with the -alias option. The
post program automatically consults the system alias file, /usr/lib/mh/MailAliases. If there is an Aliasfile entry in your post also con-
sults the file named in that entry. Filters (re-formats) messages sent to blind copy recipients. Recipients named in the Bcc: field nor-
mally receive a new message which includes a copy of the message sent to the other recipients. If this option is specified, this copy of
the message is filtered according to the instructions in the named file. The default is -nofilter. Formats messages so as to conform to
ARPAnet Internet Message Format protocol. This is the default behavior. You can post from formatting messages in this way by using the
-noformat option. Prints a list of the valid options to this command. Adds a Message-ID: or Resent-Message-ID: field to the header.
Specifies the mail system over which mail is sent. The only value allowed is smtp, which is the standard mail system. Additional values
are supported only for use with other mail systems. Informs the user of each step of the posting/filing process. Allows the user to watch
the transport system's handling of the message (for example, local and fast delivery). Specifies the preferred length of the header compo-
nents that contain addresses.
The default settings for post are:
-alias /usr/lib/mh/MailAliases -format -nomsgid -mts smtp -noverbose -nowatch -width 72 -nofilter
DESCRIPTION
The program post is called by send(1) to deliver the message in the named file to local and remote users. In fact, all of the functions at-
tributed to send on its reference page are performed by post, with send acting as a relatively simple pre-processor. Thus, it is post which
parses the various header fields, appends From: and Date: lines, and interacts with the transport system.
Normally, post would not be called directly by the user.
It searches the To:, cc:, Bcc:, and Resent-xxx: header lines of the specified message for destination addresses, checks these addresses for
validity, and formats them so as to conform to ARPAnet Internet Message Format protocol (unless the -noformat option is set). This will
normally cause @local-site to be appended to each local destination address, as well as any local return addresses.
If a Bcc: field is encountered, the mail system will use its addresses for delivery. The Bcc: is removed from the message sent to original
recipients. The copied recipients will receive an entirely new message with a minimal set of headers. The mail system includes a copy of
the message sent to the original recipients in the body of the message.
This command consults the environment variable $SIGNATURE to determine the sender's personal name in constructing the From: line of the
message.
RESTRICTIONS
For this version, the -mts option only supports the value smtp. Additional values are supported for use only with other mail systems.
PROFILE COMPONENTS
The post command does not consult the user's
FILES
The system customization file. The program to process Fcc:s. The program to process Bcc:s. The system alias file.
SEE ALSO
Commands: comp(1), mhmail(1), send(1)
Files: mh-alias(4), mh-mail(4), mtstailor(4)
Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text Messages (RFC 822)
post(8)
Check Out this Related Man Page
send(1) General Commands Manual send(1)
NAME
send - send a message (only available within the message handling system, mh)
SYNOPSIS
send [options] [file...]
OPTIONS
Directs send to consult the named files for alias definitions. More than one file, each preceded by -alias, can be named. See mh-alias(4)
for more information. Specifies that the current draft is the message to be sent. If you do not give a file argument, send will query
whether the current draft is the file that you intend to send. You can suppress this question by using this option. Specifies the draft
folder from which the draft message is taken. The send command will search the specified folder for the draft message and will deliver it
to the specified recipients. The current message in the named folder is used. If you wish to use another message, you can use the
-draftmessage option with -draftfolder. If there is no current draft message in the specified folder, send will display an error message.
Specifies the draft message to be used. If you specify a folder with the -draftfolder option, the -draftmessage option takes the number of
a message in that folder. If you do not specify a folder, -draftmessage takes the name of a file. If you do not give an absolute pathname
(one beginning with / or or ), -draftmessage assumes that the file is located in your Mail directory. Filters (re-formats) messages sent
to blind copy recipients. Recipients named in the Bcc: field usually receive a new message which includes a copy of a message sent to the
other recipients. If this option is given, this copy of the message is filtered according to the instructions in the named file. The
default is -nofilter. Replaces each of the entries in the To: and cc: fields with standard format entries. This standard format is
designed to be usable by all of the message handlers on the various systems around the Internet. If -noformat is given, then headers are
output exactly as they appear in the message draft. The default is -format. Forwards a copy of a draft message that cannot be sent to the
sender. This option can only be used with the -push option. If you have specified -push and the draft message cannot be sent, a failure
notice is generated and sent to you. If you also give this option, a copy of the problem message is forwarded with the failure notice.
This differs from putting send in the background, because the output is trapped and analyzed by MH. This is the default behavior. It can be
suppressed by specifying the -noforward option. Prints a list of the valid options to this command. Adds a Message-ID: field to the mes-
sage. Specifies the mail system over which mail is sent. The only value allowed is smtp, which is the standard mail system. Additional
values are supported only for use with other mail systems. Instructs send to perform its actions in the background. If a draft fails to be
sent, a failure notice is generated and sent to the sender of the problem message. If you also specify the -forward option, the message is
forwarded with the failure notice. Informs the user of each step of the sending process, prior to actual delivery. Monitors the delivery
of local and network mail. A large amount of information can be gathered about each step of the message's entry into the transport system
by specifying both this and the -verbose option. Specifies the length of header lines containing addresses.
The defaults for the send command are:
file defaults to <mh-dir>/draft alias /usr/lib/mh/MailAliases -nodraftfolder -nofilter -format -forward -nomsgid -mts smtp -nopush -nover-
bose -nowatch -width 72
DESCRIPTION
Use send to send the draft message to the specified recipients. You normally choose send as one of the options from the whatnow program.
However, you can use send just like any other MH command.
If you do not have a draft folder set up, messages are created in a file called draft in your Mail directory. The draft message remains in
the file draft until it is either sent or deleted. This means that you can only have one draft message at a time. If you do have a draft
folder set up, or if you have specified one using the -draftfolder option, the draft message is created in this folder, which enables you
to store multiple draft messages. For more information, see comp(1).
The command send will normally search for the draft message in the file draft or in your draft folder and cause it to be delivered to each
of the destinations in the To:, cc:, Bcc:, and Fcc: fields of the message. If send is redistributing a message, as invoked from dist, the
corresponding Resent-xxx fields are examined instead. The delivery is carried out using post(8).
If you wish to send a named file instead of an existing draft message, you can specify the file as the file argument. If you do not give
an absolute pathname (one beginning with / or or ) send assumes that the named file is in your directory. Note that the file must be for-
matted as a legal mail message. If you want to send an existing mail message rather than a named file, you should use the -draftfolder or
-draftmessage option.
Once the transport system has successfully received the message, the mail system will rename the file with a leading comma. This allows it
to be retrieved until the next draft message is sent. If there are errors in the formatting of the message, send will abort and issue an
error message.
If the environment variable $SIGNATURE is set, then its value is used as your personal name when constructing the From: line of the mes-
sage. If this variable is not set, then send will consult the profile entry Signature: for this information.
If send is redistributing a message (when invoked by dist), then the mail system will prepend Resent- to each of these fields: From, Date,
and Message-ID. If the message already contains a From: field, then the mail system will add a Sender: user@local field add as well.
If an Fcc: field is encountered, the mail system copies the message to the specified folder for the sender in the format in which it
appears to any normal recipients of the message. That is, it includes the fields appended by the mail system, and the fields are re-format-
ted. The Fcc: fields are removed from all outgoing copies of the message.
If the message includes a Bcc: field, recipients in this field receive a new copy of the message, which includes the body text of the orig-
inal message. The new message has a minimal set of headers. The Bcc: field does not appear on copies of the message sent to recipients in
the To: and cc: fields.
Prior to sending the message, the mail system appends Date: and From: to the headers in the message, for example:
Date: Wed, 07 June 1989 11:18:00 WET From: rabb@hostname
RESTRICTIONS
For this version, the -mts option only supports the value smtp. Additional values are supported for use only with other mail systems.
PROFILE COMPONENTS
Path: To determine the user's MH directory
Draft-Folder: To determine the default draft folder
Signature: To determine the user's mail signature
mailproc: Program to post failure notices
postproc: Program to post the message
FILES
The user profile.
SEE ALSO
comp(1), dist(1), forw(1), repl(1), mh-alias(4), post(8)
send(1)