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)