Name

dist − redistribute a message to additional addresses

Syntax

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

Description

Use dist to redistribute the current message to addresses that are not on the original address list.

The program dist is similar to forw. The main difference between the two commands is that forw encapsulates the message, whereas dist merely resends it. This is manifested in the scan listing of the messages.  A message that has been forwarded will appear to have been sent by the person who forwarded the message.  A message that has been redistributed using dist will appear to have come from the sender of the original message.  In the following example, messages one and two are identical apart from the method used to send the message on to additional recipients.

1    20/06 goodman   ULTRIX <<As you will see from the attached
2+   21/06 John      As previous, but forwarded <<------- Forwa

When you use dist, you will get a message form to fill in with the details of the additional recipients.  The default message form contains the following elements:

Resent-To:
Resent-cc:

You can only put recognized header lines in this message form. The dist program recognizes addresses in the following fields:
Resent−To:
Resent−cc:
Resent−Bcc:
Resent−Fcc: folder

The Resent−Fcc: field will be honored only if you have a corresponding Resent−Fcc: folder set up in your mh_profile (see send().)). The headers and the body of the original message are copied to the draft when the message is sent.

If the file named distcomps exists in your MH directory, it is used instead of the standard mail header. In either case, the file specified by −form formfile is used if given. 

If the draft already exists, dist asks you what you want to do with the existing draft. A reply of quit aborts dist, leaving the draft intact; replace replaces the existing draft with a blank skeleton; and list displays the draft.

Options

If the −annotate option is used, the  message being distributed is annotated with the lines:

Resent: date
Resent: addrs

where each address list contains as many lines as required. This annotation is done only if the message 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 annotations do not take place. The −inplace option causes annotation to be done in place in order to preserve links to the annotated message.

The −editor and −noedit switches allow you to specify an editor of your choice; or to suppress the editor entirely.

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

The dist command normally creates the draft of the message in the draft file, or in the +drafts folder if you have one set up.  The −draftfolder +folder and −draftmessage filename options allow you to create draft messages in alternative locations.  See comp() for more details.

When you exit from the editor, dist invokes the whatnow program. See whatnow() for details of the available options. The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using the −nowhatnowproc switch. However the whatnow program starts the initial edit, hence, −nowhatnowproc prevents any edit from occurring.

The dist command does not rigorously check the message being distributed for adherence to the transport standard, but post called by send does.

The post program will not deliver poorly formatted messages, and dist will not correct things for you.

If whatnowproc is whatnow, then dist uses the built-in whatnow, program.  However, it does not actually run the whatnow program. Hence, if you define your own whatnowproc, do not call it whatnow since dist will not run it.

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

Context

If a folder is given, it will become the current folder.  The message distributed will become the current message.  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 used.  Dist will recognize distribute−xxx: type headers and automatically convert them to Resent −xxx.  The defaults for dist are:

+foldername defaults to the current folder
msg defaults to cur
−noannotate
−nodraftfolder
−noinplace

Files

Profile Components

See Also

comp(1mh), forw(1mh), repl(1mh), send(1mh), whatnow(1mh)