NAME

comp − compose a message

SYNOPSIS

comp [ −editor editor ] [ −form formfile ] [ file ] [ −use ] [ −nouse ] [ −help ]

DESCRIPTION

Comp is used to create a new message to be mailed.  If file is not specified, the file named “draft” in the user’s MH directory will be used.  Comp copies a message form to the file being composed and then invokes an editor on the file.  The default editor is /bin/ned, which may be overridden with the ‘−editor’ switch or with a profile entry “Editor:”.  The default message form contains the following elements:

      To:
     cc:
     Subject:
     ----------
 

If the file named “components” exists in the user’s MH directory, it will be used instead of this form.  If ‘−form formfile’ is specified, the specified formfile (from the MH directory) will be used as the skeleton.  The line of dashes or a blank line must be left between the header and the body of the message for the message to be identified properly when it is sent (see send(1)). The switch ‘−use’ directs comp to continue editing an already started message.  That is, if a comp (or dist, repl, or forw) is terminated without sending the message, the message can be edited again via “comp −use”. 

If the specified file (or draft) already exists, comp will ask if you want to delete it before continuing.  A reply of No will abort the comp, yes will replace the existing draft with a blank skeleton, list will display the draft, and use will use it for further composition. 

Upon exiting from the editor, comp will ask “What now?”.  The valid responses are list, to list the draft on the terminal; quit, to terminate the session and preserve the draft; quit delete, to terminate, then delete the draft; send, to send the message; send verbose, to cause the delivery process to be monitored; edit <editor>, to invoke <editor> for further editing; and edit, to re-edit using the same editor that was used on the preceding round unless a profile entry “<lasteditor>−next: <editor>” names an alternative editor. 

Comp does not affect either the current folder or the current message. 

FILES

/etc/mh/componentsThe message skeleton
or <mh-dir>/componentsRather than the standard skeleton
$HOME/mh_profileThe user profile
<mh-dir>/draftThe default message file
/usr/new/sendTo send the composed message

PROFILE COMPONENTS

Path:To determine the user’s MH directory
Editor:To override the use of /bin/ned as the default editor
<lasteditor>−next:editor to be used after exit from <lasteditor>

DEFAULTS

‘file’ defaults to draft
‘−editor’ defaults to /bin/ned
‘−nouse’

4th Berkeley Distribution  —  3 August 1983