DIST(1)                       [mh.6]                      DIST(1)


NAME
       dist - redistribute a message to additional addresses

SYNOPSIS
       dist    [+folder]    [msg]    [-annotate]    [-noannotate]
            [-draftfolder +folder]            [-draftmessage msg]
            [-nodraftfolder]      [-editor editor]      [-noedit]
            [-form formfile]       [-inplace]        [-noinplace]
            [-whatnowproc program] [-nowhatnowproc] [-help]

DESCRIPTION
       Dist  is  similar to forw.  It prepares the specified mes-
       sage for redistribution to addresses that (presumably) are
       not on the original address list.

       The default message form contains the following elements:

            Resent-To:
            Resent-cc:

       If the file named distcomps exists in the user's MH direc-
       tory, it will be used instead of  this  form.   In  either
       case,  the file specified by `-form formfile' will be used
       if given.  The form used will be prepended to the  message
       being resent.

       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  dis-
       play 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  con-
       structing 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 mes-
       sage 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  annota-
       tions  won't  take  place.   The  '-inplace' switch causes
       annotation to be done in place in order to preserve  links
       to the annotated message.



MH                        April 22, 1986                        1

DIST(1)                       [mh.6]                      DIST(1)


       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 envariable
       $editalt, and the pathname of the  folder  containing  the
       message is stored in the envariable $mhfolder.

       The    `-draftfolder +folder'    and   `-draftmessage msg'
       switches invoke the MH draft folder facility.  This is  an
       advanced   (and   highly  useful)  feature.   Consult  the
       Advanced Features section of the MH manual for more infor-
       mation.

       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  occur-
       ring.)

FILES
       /usr/contrib/mh/lib/distcomps         The 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 MH 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'
       `-noinplace'

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



MH                        April 22, 1986                        2

DIST(1)                       [mh.6]                      DIST(1)


       used.   Dist  will  recognize Distribute-xxx: type headers
       and automatically convert them to Resent-xxx:.

BUGS
       Dist does not rigorously  check  the  message  being  dis-
       tributed 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 dist uses a built-in what-
       now, it does not actually run the whatnow program.  Hence,
       if you define your own whatnowproc, don't call it  whatnow
       since dist won't run it.

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








































MH                        April 22, 1986                        3